Can I use the Bitfenix Prodigy M upside down?

[frankycrankie]

I want to get a new case that is fairly compact for my gaming pc thhat has a mATX mobo.
I read that the prodigy M has a weird cooling setup with hot air being blown out the bottom and cold air being drawn from the top.

So my question is, could i flip the case around and not have anything snap off while in operation?

 

[Rammy]

In a word, no.

Firstly, the Prodigy M isn't really upside down, it's just an awkward use of space. I'd elaborate, but it's pretty easy to see for yourself, it has (potential) intakes on the front, bottom and top and exhausts on the bottom and rear. Flipping it won't really change any of those things.

Secondly, flipping it upside down would make it incredibly top-heavy. In most cases, this wouldn't be a big deal, but the handles make Prodigy cases pretty wobbly. In fact, until you put a PSU in them as ballast, they rock very easily.

If you are set on mATX, then the Fractal Design Arc Mini or Corsair 350D are pretty popular mini towers, though it's worth pointing out the 350D isn't much smaller than a compact ATX tower. If you want a Prodigy aesthetic but a slightly less stupid layout, consider the Aerocool Dead Silence.

If you are open to format changes, it's worth considering both ITX and ATX. If you are only ever planning to use a single graphics card and want something compact, then ITX has huge potential for compact builds. If you still want a more reasonably sized board or multi graphics card support, it's worth keeping in mind that the difference in size between a mATX tower (especially one with provision for radiators like the 350D) and a compact ATX tower is pretty minimal. In most cases the least important dimension to people is the height, and that's usually all you really gain.

 

[Jakub Stachecki]

I have prodigy m for over three weeks now. I'm not an expert, yet I put some effort to create my build - i7 4790k with noctua hn-d14, gtx580 and asrock z97 mobo. I have installed my components as prodigy m orders, then I have flipped my case upside down after a week or so. The results are as follows:

- case is more wobbly, as previous post mentioned, but not significantly - it's more heavy on top, and that rubber handles make it worse, but in my opinion - it's not really a problem. If your case is standing on your desk that is constantly moved by your moves - maybe you can switch handles to something more stable - but I keep my case on the floor, and I;m not moving it too ofen - and that renders that unstable problem nonexistent.

- I have managed to reduce my cpu temps by about 3 degrees C, and GPU temps by about 5 just by flipping the case. Now airflow seems more logical and practical with colder air from below.

Also, overall room temperatures seems to be better. With original case position floor below case was warm - or even hot. The same for air below the case. After flipping all case surroundings are cold, and hot air seems to diffuse around without heating anything in the way.

Also, case dust filters are installed on top - you can just switch fans to intake on bottom and output on top - but you will be prone to dust that way. If you put your case upside down you will have correct airflow and no dust from intake without extra filters.