What type of graphics card is recommended for my case?

Replicah

Honorable
Sep 24, 2013
20
0
10,520
Hello!

I have a question about what kind of Graphics card I need for my case.
I have a Bitfenix Prodigy Green mItx case
bitfenix-prodigy,B-W-384044-13.jpg


The side panel is closed, so there is no ventilation coming in from the side.
Fan setup:

Front intake: Bitfenix Spectre 230mm
Top exhaust: 2x Noctua NF-F12 120mm
Rear exhaust: Noctua NF-A14 F1X 140mm

I would like to insert a GTX 760, but is this type of card recommended?
Nvidia-GTX-760.jpg


Or this card?
nvidia-geforce-gtx-760-asus.png



I want things to run smoothly, and the components as cool as possible.
Thank you very much in advance.

Greetings,
Leon Muizer.
 

Rammy

Honorable
The side window version of the Prodigy can have some fairly nasty effects on graphics card temperatures because it both removes the vents, and effectively moves the side panel closer to the graphics card itself, reducing the space for air to circulate.

There isn't any good reason to use a shorter graphics card when you have huge amounts of space, especially when a longer graphics card will usually have better cooling, and be closer to the case fans.

The paradox of the issue is that a reference "blower" cooler, like the first picture, is likely to perform better in a confined space as it is self-exhausting, giving a clear airflow pattern (though it doesn't solve the issue entirely) but it looks like a black plastic box, which isn't terribly attractive. If you use the side window version of the case, the only thing you can see is the graphics card itself, and it implies you want something a little more aesthetically pleasing.

Also, as a quick FYI, I don't think case fans in the roof of a Prodigy serve much of a purpose. The cooling potential from these is likely to be near to non-existent due to their position relative to other components. The type of fan suggests that you are using a 240mm rad in the roof, and in that instance it makes more sense.