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Thread: BitFenix Prodigy Review - epic budget mini ITX case for gaming!!

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    Moosing about! CAT-THE-FIFTH's Avatar
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    BitFenix Prodigy Review - epic budget mini ITX case for gaming!!

    If this enters retail for £60,it is going to be quite impressive,IMHO!!



    Edit!!

    OcUK have them on pre-order in black or white for £59.99:

    http://forums.overclockers.co.uk/sho...php?p=21998123





    Without the optical drive it can take an H100 water cooler.
    Last edited by CAT-THE-FIFTH; 26-05-2012 at 01:22 AM.

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    ALT0153™ Rob_B's Avatar
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    Re: BitFenix Prodigy Review - epic budget mini ITX case for gaming!!

    35mil long? Wow that is small

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    Headless Chicken Terbinator's Avatar
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    Re: BitFenix Prodigy Review - epic budget mini ITX case for gaming!!

    Can't bring myself to watch the video, although i'll go on a proper review hunt as it looks pretty good.

    Edit: NVM, its actually bigger than my TJ-08E.
    Kalniel: "Nice review Tarinder - would it be possible to get a picture of the case when the components are installed (with the side off obviously)?"
    CAT-THE-FIFTH: "The Antec 300 is a case which has an understated and clean appearance which many people like. Not everyone is into e-peen looking computers which look like a cross between the imagination of a hyperactive 10 year old and a Frog."
    TKPeters: "Off to AVForum better Deal - £20+Vat for Free Shipping @ Scan"
    for all intents it seems to be the same card minus some gays name on it and a shielded cover ? with OEM added to it - GoNz0.

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    DDY
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    Re: BitFenix Prodigy Review - epic budget mini ITX case for gaming!!

    I don't like it... it's huge! For an ITX system that is - which defeats the point of an ITX platform IMO, might as well make it an mATX system.

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    Headless Chicken Terbinator's Avatar
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    Re: BitFenix Prodigy Review - epic budget mini ITX case for gaming!!

    After looking at those pics, it *seems* like you can take the stupid handles off which would reduce the height somewhat.

    Edit: Although I'm not sure if the side-panel would fit on then and if it does, it wouldn't look flush.
    Kalniel: "Nice review Tarinder - would it be possible to get a picture of the case when the components are installed (with the side off obviously)?"
    CAT-THE-FIFTH: "The Antec 300 is a case which has an understated and clean appearance which many people like. Not everyone is into e-peen looking computers which look like a cross between the imagination of a hyperactive 10 year old and a Frog."
    TKPeters: "Off to AVForum better Deal - £20+Vat for Free Shipping @ Scan"
    for all intents it seems to be the same card minus some gays name on it and a shielded cover ? with OEM added to it - GoNz0.

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    Re: BitFenix Prodigy Review - epic budget mini ITX case for gaming!!

    Looks like it would make a very nice NAS/home server box too.

    5 x 3.5"/2.5" drive trays + 2 x 2.5" mounts on the side panel with the power button/usb ports.

    Would love to see a mATX version of this case.
    Last edited by SUMMONER; 26-05-2012 at 10:12 PM.

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    Re: BitFenix Prodigy Review - epic budget mini ITX case for gaming!!

    That's one massive ITX case indeed! I think I'd go with the Sugo series for a gaming ITX build to be honest. Clean and big enough but not too big.

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    Re: BitFenix Prodigy Review - epic budget mini ITX case for gaming!!

    I saw an article on the prototype a while back, internal layout is almost the same as the Cubitek Mini-tank http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/...nk,2864-2.html but without the price tag of the mini-tank

    As to the size, there's a reason, you cannot fit the amount of kit inside a smaller case, esp large coolers, that's a basic physical size restraint.
    All of the sugo series make a compromise to get the size down, this case has taken the compromise of more size for better hardware, esp cooling.

    I'm not sure about the rubber handle things, it gives it a G5 mac look, which I don't object too, in fact I quite like it, the issue for me is the flexibility of it.
    It might be tough and not easily break, snap or crack, however watching as he's chucking it around in that review, yes it holds up, but it's all a bit bouncy, I think I'd prefer a more ridged material to be used.

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    Re: BitFenix Prodigy Review - epic budget mini ITX case for gaming!!

    Quote Originally Posted by Pob255 View Post
    I saw the prototype a why back, internal layout is almost the same as the Cubitek Mini-tank http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/...nk,2864-2.html but without the price tag of the mini-tank

    As to the size, there's a reason, you cannot fit the amount of kit inside a smaller case, esp large coolers, that's a basic physical size restraint.
    All of the sugo series make a compromise to get the size down, this case has taken the compromise of more size for better hardware, esp cooling.


    I'm not sure about the rubber handle things, it gives it a G5 mac look, which I don't object too, in fact I quite like it, the issue for me is the flexibility of it.
    It might be tough and not easily break, snap or crack, however watching as he's chucking it around in that review, yes it holds up, but it's all a bit bouncy, I think I'd prefer a more ridged material to be used.
    But the case is bigger than my TJ-08E, which means it doesn't have much going for it as an ITX case other than aesthetics if you think it looks good.

    As for build quality I agree. It actually looks like it flexing/squashing when he pushes down on it.
    Kalniel: "Nice review Tarinder - would it be possible to get a picture of the case when the components are installed (with the side off obviously)?"
    CAT-THE-FIFTH: "The Antec 300 is a case which has an understated and clean appearance which many people like. Not everyone is into e-peen looking computers which look like a cross between the imagination of a hyperactive 10 year old and a Frog."
    TKPeters: "Off to AVForum better Deal - £20+Vat for Free Shipping @ Scan"
    for all intents it seems to be the same card minus some gays name on it and a shielded cover ? with OEM added to it - GoNz0.

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    DDY
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    Re: BitFenix Prodigy Review - epic budget mini ITX case for gaming!!

    I'd like to take this opprtunity to have a whinge at ITX motherboard manufacturers.

    We need more ITX motherboards with a centered CPU socket like the Asus P8Z77-I. That way we have a choice of larger coolers and the ability to orient them in plane with the rear fan as we normally do with 'larger' systems. The problem lies with the layout of most ITX boards which tend to have a CPU socket right up against the PCIe slot.

    So when we have a case like this BitFenix we can actually use large heatsinks properly and not have to mount them the wrong way, or mod them.

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    Senior Member Pob255's Avatar
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    Re: BitFenix Prodigy Review - epic budget mini ITX case for gaming!!

    Umm tj08e is 385mm long x and 375mm high
    this is 359 mm long 404mm high and remember that a good chunk of the height is those plastic handles on top and bottom, without them it'd be around 320mm
    stick handles on to the top of the tj08e and you're looking at another 40+ mm
    and this has only one less 5.25" bay and one more hard drive bay.
    it's also got out of the box radiator support.

    I love the tj08e they made that as small as they could while still supporting the hardware, bitfenix has done the same, you've got the same level of hardware support except for motherboard and miniITX isn't that much smaller than mATX.

    for a full blown gaming rig, we're talking water cooled overclocked i5 or i7, top end full length graphics card hard drive + ssd, plus a decent psu to match this is probably as small as you're going to get without a custom scratch built case.

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    Re: BitFenix Prodigy Review - epic budget mini ITX case for gaming!!

    Quote Originally Posted by Pob255 View Post
    Umm tj08e is 385mm long x and 375mm high
    this is 359 mm long 404mm high and remember that a good chunk of the height is those plastic handles on top and bottom, without them it'd be around 320mm
    stick handles on to the top of the tj08e and you're looking at another 40+ mm
    and this has only one less 5.25" bay and one more hard drive bay.
    it's also got out of the box radiator support.

    I love the tj08e they made that as small as they could while still supporting the hardware, bitfenix has done the same, you've got the same level of hardware support except for motherboard and miniITX isn't that much smaller than mATX.

    for a full blown gaming rig, we're talking water cooled overclocked i5 or i7, top end full length graphics card hard drive + ssd, plus a decent psu to match this is probably as small as you're going to get without a custom scratch built case.
    The BF is wider as well. As up above, I'm not sure if you can use it without the handles and if you can, whether the sides are still flush.

    HDD bays are equal across both. And I'm not sure how the TJ-08E isn't rad ready comparatively?
    Kalniel: "Nice review Tarinder - would it be possible to get a picture of the case when the components are installed (with the side off obviously)?"
    CAT-THE-FIFTH: "The Antec 300 is a case which has an understated and clean appearance which many people like. Not everyone is into e-peen looking computers which look like a cross between the imagination of a hyperactive 10 year old and a Frog."
    TKPeters: "Off to AVForum better Deal - £20+Vat for Free Shipping @ Scan"
    for all intents it seems to be the same card minus some gays name on it and a shielded cover ? with OEM added to it - GoNz0.

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    Moosing about! CAT-THE-FIFTH's Avatar
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    Re: BitFenix Prodigy Review - epic budget mini ITX case for gaming!!

    I was not aware of the size of the TJ08E,although unsprisingly it does look rather cramped.

    Looks pretty interesting though.



    Still surprised it cannot take an H100 due to the lack of mounts on the top of the case. The case in the OP might not be small, but it does seem to be able to more flexible on the coolers it can use,as even an H100.

    Actually,it looks like even a 620 will be a tight fit.



    The latest Shuttle cases have standard cooler mounts now,and it seems at least one integrated water cooler will run in the R5 no modification.
    Last edited by CAT-THE-FIFTH; 26-05-2012 at 10:33 PM.

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    Re: BitFenix Prodigy Review - epic budget mini ITX case for gaming!!

    Just what I needed. It's indeed comparable to TJ08-E, but is shorter, which is precisely what I was looking for, as it's going on the floor in the corner between a bookshelf and a wall.

    Just put a pre-order in.

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    Headless Chicken Terbinator's Avatar
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    Re: BitFenix Prodigy Review - epic budget mini ITX case for gaming!!

    It's good for a H80.

    I don't want to come across as a TJ-08E butt-monkey because i have one, but after delving further into the specs of the Bit-Fenix it just comes across as a none-starter to me personally.
    Kalniel: "Nice review Tarinder - would it be possible to get a picture of the case when the components are installed (with the side off obviously)?"
    CAT-THE-FIFTH: "The Antec 300 is a case which has an understated and clean appearance which many people like. Not everyone is into e-peen looking computers which look like a cross between the imagination of a hyperactive 10 year old and a Frog."
    TKPeters: "Off to AVForum better Deal - £20+Vat for Free Shipping @ Scan"
    for all intents it seems to be the same card minus some gays name on it and a shielded cover ? with OEM added to it - GoNz0.

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    Re: BitFenix Prodigy Review - epic budget mini ITX case for gaming!!

    Quote Originally Posted by Terbinator View Post
    It's good for a H80.

    I don't want to come across as a TJ-08E butt-monkey because i have one, but after delving further into the specs of the Bit-Fenix it just comes across as a none-starter to me personally.
    The case in the OP can take an H100 though and even a GTX690 or HD6990 fine without cooling limitations. I suspect it can also take probably almost any air cooler too.Your case cannot take a bigger cooler,which is why it can be made smaller.

    The TJ08E looks flawed though. A case that height and length should be able to take an H100,but it cannot do the graphics card blocking any of the tubing. Moreover,use a graphics card with a centre mounted fan,looks like a recipe for disaster. A recirculating fan will create a dead zone above the card especially,if you are using one of the other slots too.

    Putting the PSU upside down might help,but means,the other expansion slots are useless,which negates one of the main advantages of an mATX,ie, addtional expansion slots.

    On top of this,this would be partially solved,if their were mounts above the optical bay for a fan,but there are none,ie, if you ditched the optical drive.

    The hard drive cage looks orientated the wrong way,it was at right angles to the current design,the case would be tad wider,but the hard drive overhang also limits your choices,and it looks like the drives are more finicky to move. The way the hard drives are orientated alone,would make want to avoid this case.

    I can put up with that in a Shuttle case(barely) due,to the smaller size,but anything bigger,really should have quick access bays as standard.

    Maybe,when the next version is released,I might consider it.

    It looks a nice case.

    Edit!!

    Just realised the Lan Gear Da Box 100,has dropped in price:

    http://www.lan-gear.eu/shop/en/12-da...0-classic.html

    I actually prefer that case,if it were not for the limited number of drives it had(and potential QC issues the early ones had).
    Last edited by CAT-THE-FIFTH; 27-05-2012 at 12:03 AM.

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