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.

 

[Supermellow]

Just picked up a Prodigy for my HTPC build and it's a great little case. Have a search on here and YouTube but there are vids/pics of Phanteks and D14 coolers fitting in there so I don't see why a Silver Arrow wouldnt.

Room at the fronf for up to a 220mm fan too I believe. I have fitted a AP180 fan at the front of mine but the grille had to be modded a little to slip past the HDD rack.

Not seen or used the Lian Li so no comment on that one.

Edit:

Be careful which Mobo you choose for the Mini ITX as the CPU is pretty close to the GPU on the Z77N (just fitted one myself) slot and most air coolers will not fit. I have seen the big air coolers fitted to the Asus P8Z77-I board.

 

[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.

 

[Supermellow]

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.

No Problem - I have taken a few pics as I was building the PC this week so can post a few pics if you like showing the mobo in the case and how close the CPU it is to the GPU slot.

I think I saw someone who used one of the Silverstone coolers (one of the horizontal type coolers) and it just fit - I will have a measure and get back to you later with dimensons but from what I've seen a lot of people either watercool or use a closed loop system (I will be going closed loop on payday unless I can find a good air cooler between now and then)

 

[beavis]

The Asrock Z77e also has the CPU very close to the PCI-E socket.

Also, check that the PSU fits OK in the Prodigy PSU cage. 160mm is tight, anything longer is unlikely to fit.

Room at the fronf for up to a 220mm fan too I believe. I have fitted a AP180 fan at the front of mine but the grille had to be modded a little to slip past the HDD rack.

Bitfenix make one themselves, '230mm Spectre' or '230mm Spectre PRO'. I've not got any drive racks in mine but I expect it will fit fine.

 

[DotA]

The Morris d14 fits in the prodigy on the Asus board I think. Seen a lot of people using the corsair h100 i n the ring two fans. A 240 fan can fitted to the front but If you want to use a disk drive you can only go to 230 and not have a dual rad at top.