ITX Prodigy Build - Advice Needed!!!

[Ozydious]

Hey guys, as some of you may remember I posted here a while ago with thoughts as to building an ITX rig based around the Prodigy. I've finally gotten some funds together and am beginning the build this week! The case arrives Wednesday

The specs are as follows:

Bitfenix Prodigy - Arctic White

i53570K

ASUS P8Z77-I Deluxe

8Gb DDR3 Mushkin Radioactive/Frostbyte (undecided - probably going to paint the heatsink white or blue anyway)

Silverstone Stryder Plus 600W PSU - fully modular (using short cable kit and probably rebraiding all the cables either blue or white)

MSI ATI Radeon HD7950OC (reference) - hopefully going to watercool later

Crucial M4 128Gb SSD

1Tb 2.5" HDD (undecided brand - probably cheapest )

Corsair H100 (planning on painting/carbon wrapping the radiator and the Block/pump and possibly braiding or painting the tubes white or blue)

The colour scheme is going to be blue and white with touches of black. I'm thinking of putting a window on either side of the case - on one side the window will be in the shape of the Bitfenix logo (side where the hard drives will be mounted) and probably a more standard design on the other - however I'm thinking of just having the same design on both sides. For lighting I'm thinking of using blue and white EL wire where possible instead of LEDs (just for a change). I was also contemplating the manufacture of a heatshield/blanking plate for the motherboard - could easily have this laser cut as I personally hate the look of mobo PCBs - thoughts on the blanking plate?

So yeah, any thoughts on the spec list/build?
Also I had a few questions:

1) With regards to fans, I'd like to use the same model throughout the case where possible - the fans I want are the Bitfenix Spectre Pro ALL WHITES (going to put blue LEDs in) - I've heard that these fans aren't good when used with rads - why is that? and should I use different fans - could I not get away with these?

2) Do you guys have any tips or suggestions for the painting/braiding/modding of the components? ie: the H100 and RAM sinks; I'd be really appreciative of any advice you could give.

3) Should I forget about EL wire and just stick with LEDs?

4) I know it sounds stupid but would it be possible to cool the graphics card by modifying the bracket or something similar of a prebuilt loop? I've heard of the Antec Kuhler but I was thinking more along the lines of the H80/H100. I love the idea of a custom loop but I don't think that a loop for both the GPU and the CPU falls within my current budget - however, it may be an option in the future. However, I do like the look of the all in one systems.

 

[jamesriley94]

Why a 2.5'' drive? The case has 6 3.5'' HDD bays?

 

[Ozydious]

Why a 2.5'' drive? The case has 6 3.5'' HDD bays?

I need to remove the top section of HDD bays to accommodate for the graphics card. The lower section of HDD bays is going too because I ultimately want to fit a rad in the front to cool the GPU. The case has 3 bays in the side panel for 2.5" drives, I'm putting my SSD and my HDD there to save space - although this reduces my options with a window on that particular side.

 

[jamesriley94]

Fair enough, good idea to save on cables.

As for question 5, you cant for the H series because the pins are directly on waterblock. It is only possible on the Kuhler series because the brackets you add on yourself and are different for each socket you use. Because of this, you can add your own bracket - but you'd need to be either very well skilled with a dremmel, or have access to a CNC machine or Laser cutter to make the bracket.
But - I think the height of the block of the kuhler would cause issues on the side panel of the case, so I think you would need to do a custom loop, if you were insistent on watercooling.

 

[Ozydious]

Fair enough, good idea to save on cables.

As for question 5, you cant for the H series because the pins are directly on waterblock. It is only possible on the Kuhler series because the brackets you add on yourself and are different for each socket you use. Because of this, you can add your own bracket - but you'd need to be either very well skilled with a dremmel, or have access to a CNC machine or Laser cutter to make the bracket.
But - I think the height of the block of the kuhler would cause issues on the side panel of the case, so I think you would need to do a custom loop, if you were insistent on watercooling.

I've had a look at the Kuhler, just looking at it has made me decide a custom loop. I'll probably swap out the H100 when I do the loop and just redo the entire cooling on the rig when I get around to it. Thanks Riley

 

[airdeano]

Black and White Theme Help..

Also I had a few questions:

1) With regards to fans, I'd like to use the same model throughout the case where possible - the fans I want are the Bitfenix Spectre Pro ALL WHITES (going to put blue LEDs in) - I've heard that these fans aren't good when used with rads - why is that? and should I use different fans - could I not get away with these?

2) Do you guys have any tips or suggestions for the painting/braiding/modding of the components? ie: the H100 and RAM sinks; I'd be really appreciative of any advice you could give.

3) Should I forget about EL wire and just stick with LEDs?

4) I know it sounds stupid but would it be possible to cool the graphics card by modifying the bracket or something similar of a prebuilt loop? I've heard of the Antec Kuhler but I was thinking more along the lines of the H80/H100. I love the idea of a custom loop but I don't think that a loop for both the GPU and the CPU falls within my current budget - however, it may be an option in the future. However, I do like the look of the all in one systems.

1. Bitfenix Spectre Pros are fine fans for low fin per inch (8-12) radiators with 1200rpm and 1.5mm/h20 static. even for my midi bild, i crossed the LED lighted spectre 140 black and white and made white LED black frames with white blades. they made a light duty case fan, crap radiator fan (lack of static pressure). the pros are good for rads!
2. 95% preperation, 4% perspiration and 1% doing it.. using the right surface preperation and priming techniques for paint. for sleeving a great tool in patience and practice. grab some youtube vids and watch them several times.
3. EL is a wicked touch when used correctly. unless you have access to high wattage EL, it'd be a better way to use LED. EL isn't a wide-angle illumination device, rather a soft accent for outline definition.
4. there have been many using the H-mod for the GPU and it is doable, but many have seemed to pass on it later in the build as the failure rate is quite high. the AIO pumps are not designed for .250" open pressured systems and eventually burn out. a simple RASA EX240 kit would be nice, except the resbay/pump would have to be rethought out. a simple CPU loop vs the H100 is 15-20% price difference. the GPU isn't the pressing issue and can be added later.

here are some modded H100 parts to consider:

the pump/contoller brackets and stock Corsair fan blades were painted with a gloss white rattle can, simple accents of carbon vinyl for the radiator and contoller.

hope this helps..

airdeano

 

[Ozydious]

1. Bitfenix Spectre Pros are fine fans for low fin per inch (8-12) radiators with 1200rpm and 1.5mm/h20 static. even for my midi bild, i crossed the LED lighted spectre 140 black and white and made white LED black frames with white blades. they made a light duty case fan, crap radiator fan (lack of static pressure). the pros are good for rads!
2. 95% preperation, 4% perspiration and 1% doing it.. using the right surface preperation and priming techniques for paint. for sleeving a great tool in patience and practice. grab some youtube vids and watch them several times.
3. EL is a wicked touch when used correctly. unless you have access to high wattage EL, it'd be a better way to use LED. EL isn't a wide-angle illumination device, rather a soft accent for outline definition.
4. there have been many using the H-mod for the GPU and it is doable, but many have seemed to pass on it later in the build as the failure rate is quite high. the AIO pumps are not designed for .250" open pressured systems and eventually burn out. a simple RASA EX240 kit would be nice, except the resbay/pump would have to be rethought out. a simple CPU loop vs the H100 is 15-20% price difference. the GPU isn't the pressing issue and can be added later.
   
   hope this helps..
   
   airdeano

1. 
   
   Thanks for your input man, I think I'm going to do a custom loop with the GPU and the CPU eventually so I won't do an H-mod. The Difference in price between an h100 and a custom loop is more like 100% The loops I've been looking at (which are fairly cheap) are around the £160 mark for just the CPU which is twice the price considering that the h100 is £80. The EL wire may just be placed around the case to outline certain things, it was never intended for full illumination. Thanks again man