BitFenix Prodigy Review: The Affordable Performable Mini-ITX
by Dustin Sklavos on June 1, 2012 1:55 AM EST- Posted in
- Cases/Cooling/PSUs
- Mini ITX
- bitfenix
Noise and Thermal Testing, Dedicated GPU
With our dedicated GPU testing, I decided to mix things up a bit with the BitFenix Prodigy and put the screws to it a little more. BitFenix designed this case to be able to support high end gaming systems, so I tested it with the usual Zotac GeForce GTS 450 Eco; however, I also tested with the ASUS GeForce GTX 560 Ti we ordinarily use for full ATX enclosures.
Thermals for the Prodigy are still quite good, but the 560 Ti does push it a little. Temperatures for the CPU go up substantially with the increased thermal load of the faster GeForce. Still, we're talking about the graphics card itself only hitting about 69C under load.
The fan speeds are still pretty good, though. It's reasonable to suggest there's a healthy amount of headroom in the Prodigy, just like it was designed for. Even though the GTX 560 Ti is raising temperatures across the board, the card itself isn't starving for air.
And here's the Prodigy's big win. Even with a substantially more powerful graphics card and having to contend with more heat, the Prodigy remains measurably--noticeably--quieter than the other mini-ITX cases we've tested. Thermal performance is competitive with the other cases, but BitFenix is able to do it all while generating less noise.
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SquareOFortune - Sunday, June 3, 2012 - link
Where on earth could they ever have gotten the inspiration for that external design? ;)Mumrik - Monday, June 4, 2012 - link
Finally an ITX case that comes loaded with storage bays. That means it has some pretty great NAS/server potential for a lot of people. I'd really like to have seen it tested with those bays filled with 3½" HDDs.araczynski - Tuesday, June 5, 2012 - link
we just threw out a bunch of ancient apple towers that looked like this.little late to the game?
SeanFL - Friday, June 8, 2012 - link
Just realized this case is about the same size as the mini atx builds I've done.Here's a m-itx that is really small if needed. built it a few times, it works well.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N8...
GED2 - Thursday, July 26, 2012 - link
Did you find the Easter Egg they left in the case that enables you to have BOTH a full-size GPU AND the middle bay for a total of seven drives?http://www.tonymacx86.com/user-builds/60362-geds-p...
Narg - Thursday, August 23, 2012 - link
Love this case. If they made it for Micro ATX I'd be all over it! ITX still doesn't fill the needs for my computer. But Micro ATX is perfect. Anyone know of a similar case in the Micro ATX sizes?n13L5 - Sunday, August 26, 2012 - link
For one thing, it looks like a cheap copy of an old power mac.For another, I can't understand how they can be so wasteful with space for an mITX case.
A counter productive box, I can find ATX cases that take up less room...
jansteytt - Sunday, September 23, 2012 - link
HardwareDufus,Want a 23 liter case that is 22x30x34 cm? Want 5 or more 120mm+ case fans? 1000 watt power supply? Full sized CPU cooler? And Narg wants a mATX case. Perhaps smaller than the BitFenix. Room for three 3.5 in and four 2.5" drives? Both prayers have been answered.
The Silverstone SG09 has been released in Japan. Supposed to be $99. in the USA, where it will be released in October. But costs $125 in Japan now. I was inspired by HardwareDufus and tempted to mod one of my Shuttle form factor cases (yes, the "S" in SFF was originally "Shuttle), but Silverstone has ticked every box except price. But the extra fans make it worthwhile for me; especially since fans can be ADDED!! The low temps may not be optimal for your hard drives, but everything else will rejoice.
And did I mention, room for full sized cards?
I don't need one, but I will buy one at $99.00
BlueReason - Tuesday, September 24, 2013 - link
Not sure if this was pointed out yet, but it appears you accidentally forgot to change the details when you copied and pasted the first paragraph of the Testing Methodology section, as it seems to be from the review of a different case.