Prodigy M Gaming Build

stakira · Mar 31, 2014

This is my plan with future SLI need in mind.

http://pcpartpicker.com/user/stakira/saved/4ed0

Please note this is a Prodigy M (Micro ATX), not a Prodigy (Mini ITX).

I wonder how will this build work, especially about:

1. That CPU cooler looks good, but I haven't had experience with any cooler that is not plain fan-on-sink ones. Will it work?

2. System cooling. Do I need extra fans? It seems the case doesn't come with any fan. Also, does the direction of GPU fan matters? Actually I don't mind CPU or GPU getting hot, but I don't wanna bake my harddrive.

3. DDRs height. These Vengeances are tall, not sure if they will be in the way of other stuff.

4. Do I get the normal back ports panel of motherboard and graphic card like a ATX tower?

Thanks.

g-unit1111 · Mar 31, 2014

To answer your questions:

1. It's not that great, get the NZXT X40 instead - $20 more but a far superior cooler to the Corsair H60.

2. Don't worry about that until you actually have your build up and running. Your rig's air flow is determined by the position of your heat sink and PSU fan.

3. Yeah that's why they're generally not recommended.

4. Yes.

However I'd trash that whole thing - Xeons offer zero additional benefit for gaming purposes (and the extra cooler isn't needed since Xeons can't be overclocked), and I wouldn't purchase a Corsair CX series either.

Do something like this:

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: Intel Core i5-4670K 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor ($227.99 @ NCIX US)
CPU Cooler: NZXT Kraken X40 98.3 CFM Liquid CPU Cooler ($89.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Motherboard: ASRock Z87M Extreme4 Micro ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($119.99 @ Newegg)
Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws X Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-2133 Memory ($84.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: OCZ Vertex 460 240GB 2.5" Solid State Disk ($171.98 @ Newegg)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($54.99 @ NCIX US)
Video Card: EVGA GeForce GTX 760 2GB Video Card ($259.99 @ Newegg)
Case: BitFenix Prodigy M Midnight MicroATX Mini Tower Case ($89.99 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: SeaSonic S12G 550W 80+ Gold Certified ATX Power Supply ($80.98 @ Newegg)
Optical Drive: Lite-On iHAS124-04 DVD/CD Writer ($14.99 @ Newegg)
Total: $1195.88
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-03-31 18:27 EDT-0400)

Rammy · Apr 1, 2014

I'd generally say don't use a Prodigy M for any build, it has too many weaknesses which mean that there is always a better option imo.
If you are planning SLI, then it's a poor case because it has really bad graphics card cooling provision (and airflow in general) and SLI means you can't use the optical drive bay. In this scenario, I'd look at some of the compact cases which do SLI well. The Fractal Design Arc Mini, Corsair 350D (admittedly quite large) or Silverstone SG09/10 are all interesting options for various reasons, and if you want something Prodigy-esque, the Aerocool DS is likely to be a better prospect.
If you decide you aren't planning to SLI, or that you can afford to spend all the money upfront to get a single better graphics card (definitely a decent idea) then you are better off with a standard ITX Prodigy which has a much better layout.

g-units build is fine, more in the right direction than your original build, but I would raise a couple of points-
You'll need a bigger PSU to SLI (the 750W original isn't a bad target, though it could be done on less) and it's also a pretty expensive unit.
A 240Gb SSD is a huge expense, I'd be tempted to go for half that capacity to push more money into graphics.
As mentioned, you can't SLI with an optical drive in that case.
If you are planning to go compact SLI, then having "blower" coolers isn't a bad idea, as you won't have a gap between cards in most cases.

stakira · Apr 1, 2014

g-unit1111 :

To answer your questions:

1. It's not that great, get the NZXT X40 instead - $20 more but a far superior cooler to the Corsair H60.

2. Don't worry about that until you actually have your build up and running. Your rig's air flow is determined by the position of your heat sink and PSU fan.

3. Yeah that's why they're generally not recommended.

4. Yes.

However I'd trash that whole thing - Xeons offer zero additional benefit for gaming purposes (and the extra cooler isn't needed since Xeons can't be overclocked), and I wouldn't purchase a Corsair CX series either.

Do something like this:

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: Intel Core i5-4670K 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor ($227.99 @ NCIX US)
CPU Cooler: NZXT Kraken X40 98.3 CFM Liquid CPU Cooler ($89.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Motherboard: ASRock Z87M Extreme4 Micro ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($119.99 @ Newegg)
Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws X Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-2133 Memory ($84.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: OCZ Vertex 460 240GB 2.5" Solid State Disk ($171.98 @ Newegg)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($54.99 @ NCIX US)
Video Card: EVGA GeForce GTX 760 2GB Video Card ($259.99 @ Newegg)
Case: BitFenix Prodigy M Midnight MicroATX Mini Tower Case ($89.99 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: SeaSonic S12G 550W 80+ Gold Certified ATX Power Supply ($80.98 @ Newegg)
Optical Drive: Lite-On iHAS124-04 DVD/CD Writer ($14.99 @ Newegg)
Total: $1195.88
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-03-31 18:27 EDT-0400)

Thanks g-unit. I think your points make sense. I selected Xeon with 3d rendering in mind. It's hard to decide between 4670k or Xeon, maybe I should just shut up and get a 4770k.

stakira · Apr 1, 2014

Rammy :

Thank you Rammy. Yes definitely a120G SSD for OS and selected softwares only. I want a >=1T for 2nd HDD anyway. It's lucky that most SFF cases support 2.5" HDD so I can reuse my laptop HDDs. I already have a 1T in my W520 CD-ROM bay already.

Thanks for metionning the blower type graphic card. It's definitely the way to go, even with only one card since the case is small.

Actually I looked up the specs and figure Prodigy is not small enough. I have moved my mind to an EVGA Hadron Air case. It seems small enough to stand on desk and not block my monitor speakers, otherwise I will just pick a mid-ATX tower.

This is the revisited list:

CPU Intel Core i5-4670K 3.4GHz Quad-Core $227.99
CPU Cooler Cooler Master Gemin II S524 77.7 CFM Sleeve Bearing $36.98
Motherboard ASRock Z87E-ITX Mini ITX LGA1150 $129.99
Memory Crucial Ballistix Sport 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR3-1600 $130.94
Storage Kingston SSDNow V300 Series 120GB 2.5" SSD $65.99
Western Digital BLACK SERIES 2TB 3.5" 7200RPM $146.99
Video Card EVGA GeForce GTX 760 2GB $254.98
Case EVGA Hadron Mini ITX Tower w/500W Power Supply $149.99
Total: $1143.85

http://pcpartpicker.com/user/stakira/saved/4eQ6

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