Mini ITX gaming build for the other half.

[Fars]

So the missus wants a new PC for Christmas and I could do with a little advice on the final spec with emphasis on case and cooling please.

The plan is to overclock the cpu, get as quiet a build as possible, so won't be pushing the overclock to the point it makes an awful noise. It is my understanding the 2500k is a better choice over a 3570k, with the goal being a 4.2-4.5ghz overclock, the 2500k will generate less heat when oc'd?

Here is what we are at right now.

Intel Core i5-2500K
Gigabyte Z77N
Samsung Green (MV-3V4G3D/US) 8GB (2x4GB)
GTX 670
Corsair Professional Series HX+ 650W
2x Intel 330 240GB or Samsung 830 256GB

And then it comes to cases and cooling. She loves the Bitfenix Prodigy and likes the Lian Li PC-Q08A. I know the q08 will give a much smaller build, but has limits on cooling due to PSU position.

So the choices seem to be.

Lian Li PC-Q08A and some variety of closed loop water cooling (Corsair H80)
or
Bitfenix Prodigy and as much air cooling as I can squeeze in, Thermalright SA SB-E probably isn't going to fit? If not any advice on what will?

I will say I prefer air cooling over the closed loop systems, but this isn't my pc and keeping the build quiet and small is more important.


Any advice would be very much appreciated.

 

[Fars]

Cheers for that Supermellow.

The Prodigy seems to get so much love, and looking at the build photos it seems to offer so much flexibility, I think if I was wanting to go mini it would be a no contest.

The extra space and room for large fans at front and large air cooling is probably going to mean it is a fair bit quieter than the q08, would love some input from any q08 users out there.

Thanks also for the mobo advice, I'd heard something negative about the Asus P877-I, I forget what, so had dismissed it, but it seems like a solid choice for overclocking, so maybe that will end up a better choice (it's also in stock, which helps), i've always had very good luck with Asus mobo's too which doesn't hurt.