pwals ever changing MODPROD

[pwal]

Hi everyone,
This is my first thread entry so thought I would share my current rig with you all.

As you may have guessed my rig is squeezed into a Bitfenix Prodigy which I have been battling with for some time.

To give you a brief insight, I have built a couple of PCs before but this was my first attempt at a custom water cooled loop. My aim was to build the best spec PC I could with limited funds but more importantly to try and make it look as good as I could afford.

Initial Specs for the build were as follows:
Case - Bitfenix prodigy (Used)
PSU - Enermax PLatimax 500w (New)
Motherboard - MSI Z77IA-E53 (Used)
CPU - Intel I5 3570K (Used)
GPU - HD5790 with EK waterblock (Used)
Ram - 16GB Crucial Ballistix 1869Mhz (New)
SSD - Kingston NOW 250GB SSD (New)
HDD - 1TB (New)
Radiators - Phobya Xtreme 200mm Radiator, Front (Used)
- XSPC RS240mm Radiator, Roof (used)
Fans - 2 x 120mm Bitfenix led spectre fans - roof (Used)
1 x Corsair 140mm case fan rear - (Used)
1 x 200mm spectre led fan - front (new)
Water pump - Laing 18w DDC 1 with EK pump top. (used)
Reservoir - Bitspower Z multi 100mm (New)
Fittings - Various, unknown make (used)
Hose - Masterkleer (New)


The most difficult thing with this build was deciding on the best yet cleanest way to configure the waterloop, and to try and fit both hard drives in, I did a lot of research but It still gave me quite a few headaches though got there in the end.... well almost.

I Modded the side panel to insert a window, hoping to do the same to the opposite side next.

Also, I have since upgraded to a HD7950 and added a Bitfenix recon fan controller. However this has meant that I have had to place the top Radiator fans above the radiator on top of the case.
I dont like the look of this quite so much, but has enabled me to slow the fans down to make them quite, and the digital fan controller does look good. So another step still to do is to tidy the top of the Prodigy up, either with a fan shroud or a raised perspex cover.


Lastly I wish to Mod the front panel to allow better airflow for the front radiator, then , maybe it will finally be complete... maybe lol

The watercooling has had a good effect upon CPU temps OC to 4.4ghz playing BF4 at around 50 - 55C

But has a more significant effect upon the GPU - GPU OC to 1100mhz temps around 45 - 50C

Well If you made it to the end thanks for reading and looking at my pics, hope you like it.

Pete

 

[RadeonHDx]

I really love ITX builds. Just always loved the amount of power you can fit in such a small space . I have always loved the Prodigy and actually contemplated doing a build not too dissimilar to your current one.

I'd love to see more pictures of the rig as I don't think the one you have at the moment shows the full amount of work you've obviously put into the build .

Oh, and welcome to OC3D! c3d:

 

[Wraith]

Welcome to the OC3D forums.
Nice looking build from what we can see, be great if you could do some more pics.

 

[Doomslayer]

Looks good man

 

[pwal]

Thanks for all your comments, I shall try and get some better pictures and upload them soon.

 

[lAnimal]

It's always nice to see mini watercooled pc's! Nice job

 

[vorticalbox]

You thought about connecting the fans to the psu and using a voltage drop cable to make them quite? Would mean you could have the fans inside the case.

 

[pwal]

Hi all, I have manged to take a few more images, as requested, hope it gives a better idea of the prodigy build. The RHS without a window is still a bit messy and will do some cable management before modding a window.

Also you may be able to tell that the tubing has started to yellow somewhat which eventually I hope to change by trying acrylic tubing.

<dead img links>

And thanks for your suggestion vorticalbox, unfortunately though there were a number of other issues that would still prevent me from putting the fans back inside that I forgot to mention, being that the waterblock on the 7950 protruded a little higher than my original 5870, which caused fitting issues with the loop, and I would also have to change the front fan and front Radiator round and would have to route my tubing differently. Although a fun and great experience, it was also at some points frustrating, and had to compromise on exactly what I wanted, but I guess thats often the case.

Another point was that with the front radiator in place it was not possible to get the RHS door on, even after taking the HD mounts off the side door. I had to remove the USB3/power button assembly, remove the USB3 connector and remount the power button - hence the USB3 connectors fed up through to the roof of the case which I hope to incorporate into the shroud/cover when complete.

Hope you like the images, and if anyone is considering a similar build id be more than happy to share my experience if it would be helpful.