BitFenix Prodigy or Phenom?

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Boutchoo

Boutchoo

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Hi everyone, just a quick post explaning my title.

First of all, my specs:
**SKIP UNDER SPECS FOR EXPLICATIONS**

Case: NZXT Phantom 410 Orange (Mid tower)

Mobo: Asus Sabertooth Z87 (ATX)

PSU: Corsair HX750W semi modular

CPU: Intel i7 4770 quad core

Cpu cooler: Corsair H60 2013 Liquid cooler

RAM: Corsair vengeance 4x4gb (16gb) 1600hz

GPU: Nvidia GTX 770 (evga superclocked ACX cooler)

Storage: One 1TB HDD + one 2TB HDD + one Samsung 840pro 128gb SSD

As you can see, my PC is decent but really to massive for my taste nowadays.
I was looking for cases when I saw the:
Bitfenix Prodigy
( http://images.bit-tech.net/content_images/2012/09/bitfenix-prodigy-review/7-1280x1024.jpg )

then the Bitfenix Phenom M
( http://cdn.overclock.net/6/6e/6ed948eb_bitfenix_phenom.jpeg )

The thing is that Prodigy seems to take ITX mobos, and Phenom Mini ATX.

I could sell my Sabertooth and take a smaller mobo, but where will my 2 extra RAM bars will go on an ITX?
And I like the front bay on the Prodigy (maybe want to add a fan LED controller) wich the Phenom doesn't see to have.
And will the Prodigy take a H60 Liquid cooler + 4x4 RAM bars?
I'm looking for Size and Fonctionality, the Prodigy seems cute and portable, but not enough airflow.
The Phenom seems more Classy and pro looking, but bigger and no Front Bay...
Cable management seems better in Phenom, but with the right PSU.
For Prodigy, the cable management seems fine since all PSU wires are "hidden" behing the unit itself!

Leave any thoughts on what you think. Make any recommendations, any possibilities or remarks that could bring new ideas or reconsideration.
(Sorry for short post, I'm on mobile)

Thank you for your time and feedback!

Peace, Boutchoo.
 
Solution
Rammy
I'd assume the CX600M is compatible, but honestly I can't be 100% sure. It's a really awkward design to be confident in predicting.
The CX600M is pretty rubbish though. If you want something decent (though quite a bit more expensive) then check out the Seasonic G-series. They are all 160mm in length. If that's a bit too expensive, then the Antec HCG-620M is 160mm too.

Personally, I'd still advise against the Prodigy M. If you want a Prodigy, get the ITX version, and if you want mATX, get an Aerocool Dead Silence.
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Rammy

Rammy

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Bitfenix make six cases based on the Prodigy chassis-

Prodigy (ITX), Prodigy M, Phenom (ITX), Phenom M, Colossus (ITX) and Colossus M.

Roughly speaking, all of the ITX cases are internally the same, take solely ITX motherboards, and have similar advantages/disadvantages. The "M" versions also share an internal structure, take mATX boards, and are broadly speaking, rubbish.
Also, each pair of cases has their own unique qualities
Prodigy - Optical drive bay, optional mesh front, optional side window, colour options, handles
Phenom - No optical drive bay, solid front only, proper feet
Colossus - Optical drive bay hidden behind door, coloured lighting, proper feet

Without dwelling on it too much, if you go for mATX, there are better options than any of the Bitfenix cases. Generally a poor layout and poor cooling.

ITX motherboards can only ever take two DIMMs, so if you need four then you can rule it out straight away. If that's an area where you can compromise, then there isn't really an issue with any of your other requirements.
Any of the Bitfenix ITX cases are compatible with 120, 140 and 240mm radiators so you have no worries about fitting that cooler into them.
Cable management in any of these cases is basically none-existant but there are places to tuck excess cables and whatnot.

Also, you have one other problem. The Corsair HX750 has come in multiple versions, all of which are different sizes. The previous version was 180mm long, the current version is 200mm long. The Bitfenix ITX cases take PSUs up to 160mm long
 
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Boutchoo

Boutchoo

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I never saw the Prodigy M before, you just changed my whole perception!
I really like the Front bay on the Prodigy, but I kind of like the classy look of the Phenom M but has no handles or side panel window....

I hate Optical Drive bay, I never use CD/DVDs anymore, if I do I use a external disk reader :)

So for now, I have the Classy Phenom M in mind and the Prodigy M in mind.

Pros of Prodigy M:...............| Cons:
+Colors...............................| - Less airflow (but only my GPU will make heat since cpu is liquid cooled)
+Side Window.....................| - A bit more challenging to install parts inside
+Handles............................| - Normal feets
+Smaller over all size...........| - Don't seem to have a Hard Drive bay....
+Front Bay for Fan Monitor...| - Can be louder then Phenom
+Mesh grid..........................|
________________________________________________________________

Pros of Phenom M:..............| Cons:
+Classy Outside Look..........| - No Front Bay for fan monitor
+More space inside..............| - No side window
+Beautiful metal Finish.........| - Front IO is on the side, so wires always in the way when opening side of case
+More Fans mount points.....| - No Colors (keeping the classy look the only option)
+Customizable.....................| - Bigger then Prodigy in Size
+Nice Rubber feets...............| - Top Mesh can't hold one GPU + Fans since the fans won't fit outside or inside.
+Extremly Silent..................| - No Handles for easy transport
 
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Boutchoo

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After 5 PC builds in Mid tower cases, I want something more challenging, like a really small case.
So this is why I am no longer sticking with my Phantom 410 :/
I now need to be able to transport my PC around the house or at my dad's house, or when we do LAN parties too with more ease than right now :)
 
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Rammy

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Shamlessly copied and pasting my own comments-
The "M" versions of the three Bitfenix cases are awful. Most mATX boards use slots 1+2 for graphics cards, but some use 2+3 (using a PCIe x1 in slot 1). If you install an optical drive, you effectively block slots 3+4.
The graphics card(s) and cabled end of the PSU fight for space, so if one is long the other can't be, leading to confusion.
The maximum cooler height is also ambiguous as you can install HDDs on a bracket above the CPU, and these vary in thickness.
The PSU exhausts directly next to the main intake for the case. This main intake area is also a HDD mounting area.
That's just a few of the dubious design choices on that case.
Click to expand...

There's a lot not to like in the design of the mATX cases. They all share most of the same internals, so there isn't really much to pick between them apart from the aesthetics and the feet/balance. Their cooling potential is actually very similar because they lose a lot of the great airflow of the ITX versions.

If you decide ITX isn't for you, but you do want something more compact, then I'd look towards some of the popular mATX cases-
Silverstone FT03, SG09/10
Corsair 350D
Fractal Design Arc Mini/Define Mini
Aerocool Dead Silence (if you want a Prodigy clone).
 
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Boutchoo

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But for airflow, only my GPU will make heat, my cpu is liquid cooled and my PSU have a smart fan system.
And I thought the PSU fan was facing the front of the case and not the inside.
So their enginners never thought of PSU ?
Maybe there is a way to make the psu exhauste at the front mesh instead of inside?
 
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Rammy

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It's just a really poor design, because they used a case they had already made. If they'd made it a tiny bit wider, it could have fitted mATX horizontally, and basically offered the same qualities as the ITX version.
This is probably the closest image to your config
You can see the optional large intake at the bottom, which is right next to the PSU exhaust - the PSU intake is on the front panel face.
You also run into issues with the PSU.
If you want to go for it, that's up to you, but you should be aware of the problems you might face.
 
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Boutchoo

Boutchoo

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Like the guy said "I decided that after years of building full ATX rigs and using full sized cases I wanted something different..."

The silverstone SG10 seems very intresting but looks Blocky/straight foward.
My plan is to:
1:Sell my Sabertooth Z87 (220$ negociable)
2:Buy Case + MSI Z87M "Gaming" Mobo (160$)
3:Sell PSU if it doesn't fit (HX750W) (110$ negociable)
4:Buy new smaller PSU - But wich one? I can't find any good rated small PSU's...
I only need about 650W Max in my config, but it needs to be relatively small to get the max airflow/space for cables.
And 5: Sell current Case (NZXT phantom 410) for 60-70$ after few weeks of using new Case to make sure.

What do you think? :)

 
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Boutchoo

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Rammy

Rammy

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I'd assume the CX600M is compatible, but honestly I can't be 100% sure. It's a really awkward design to be confident in predicting.
The CX600M is pretty rubbish though. If you want something decent (though quite a bit more expensive) then check out the Seasonic G-series. They are all 160mm in length. If that's a bit too expensive, then the Antec HCG-620M is 160mm too.

Personally, I'd still advise against the Prodigy M. If you want a Prodigy, get the ITX version, and if you want mATX, get an Aerocool Dead Silence.
 
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Boutchoo

Boutchoo

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Can you tell me how the heck he managed to install a Sabertooth Z77 in the prodigy??
109_2551.jpg


Forum Link: Z77 In Prodigy

OK, so now my plan is to sell (all assembled) the case with Case+Mobo+PSU+RAM(4x4gb) for 600$ or so.
I will have to remove the CPU+H60+HDD/SSD+GPU and keep them for the Prodigy build.
I will find a ITX + 2x8gb Ram + Smaller PSU ( I can't find a good 100$ less PSU) and the Prodigy (not M) Green colour :)
What do you think?
 
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