First gaming build advice - Bit Phoenix prodigy case

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Kevinp3

Honorable
Jun 4, 2013
14
0
10,510
Approximate Purchase Date: 1-2 months after some more research.

Budget Range: I'd like the total to come around to $1,100-1,200

System Usage from Most to Least Important: This system will be mostly used for gaming.

Are you buying a monitor: No


Do you need to buy OS: No


Preferred Website(s) for Parts: No preference

Location: City, State/Region, Country - Massachusetts USA

Parts Preferences: Definitely intel processor and I'm more of a fan of Nvidia products but if AMD is a better solution I'm open to suggestions.

Overclocking: A bit
SLI or Crossfire: No

Your Monitor Resolution: 1920x1080

Additional Comments: It would be nice to have a relatively quiet machine but it isn't too important.

I'm going from a mac laptop to a gaming pc. The mac just isn't doing it for me.

Here's the build I have put together (not sure of which motherboard would be best/cpu cooler)
PCPartPicker part list: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/13YcC
Price breakdown by merchant: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/13YcC/by_merchant/
Benchmarks: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/13YcC/benchmarks/

CPU: Intel Core i5-3570K 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor ($189.99 @ Microcenter)
CPU Cooler: Cooler Master GeminII S524 77.7 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler ($29.99 @ Newegg)
Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws X Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($64.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Black 500GB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($74.99 @ Newegg)
Video Card: MSI GeForce GTX 770 2GB Video Card ($449.99 @ NCIX US)
Case: BitFenix Prodigy (Black) Mini ITX Tower Case ($59.99 @ Microcenter)
Power Supply: SeaSonic 620W 80 PLUS Bronze Certified ATX12V / EPS12V Power Supply ($88.98 @ SuperBiiz)
Optical Drive: Lite-On iHAS124-04 DVD/CD Writer ($17.98 @ Outlet PC)
Total: $976.90


Thanks for your time and advice. I'm super excited for my first build!!!
 
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Keep an eye out for RAM, power supplies, and the hard drive in the next couple of months. You can probably get the RAM for $50 if you watch for a sale. I just got a WD 1TB Black for $79.99 from newegg a few weeks ago (and it was at Tigerdirect for that price a few days ago). And the power supply, you can probably find one that is about that power level for cheaper. Heck, I think tigerdirect has an 800 watt silver certified power supply for $39.99 after rebates right now.
 
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Looks pretty good - wish I had a Microcenter near me, they seem to always have great deals.

Needs a motherboard. Probably the best overclocking Z77 Mini-ITX board is the Asus P8Z77-I Deluxe. You pay for it though. ASRock makes good less-expensive Mini-ITX boards that OC pretty well. Pay attention to the board's layout when making your choice.

Use "low-profile" RAM - the taller heatsinks on regular RAM modules can get in the way especially in small form-factor builds.

I do like downward-blowing CPU coolers (they keep the motherboard cooler) but understand that the Bitfenix Prodigy case can accommodate a full-sized tall CPU cooler. So you could put a Coolermaster EVO in there if you like.

If you can, try and squeeze in a 120+gb SSD for your system/performance drive. It's not going to give you more frames per second while gaming, but booting, loading, installing updates, etc. goes a lot faster on an SSD.

Hope that helps, enjoy your first build!
 
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Thanks man! Do you have any recommendations for RAM/Power supply? I'm not sure which brands are reputable.
 
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Thanks. I have thought about adding an SSD but not sure how much of a pain it is to transfer applications from one drive to another.
 
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What motherboard are you going to have?

I've built in a prodigy several times, and my current gaming rig is in one - and the prodigy itself doesn't affect much, but the motherboard you're using DOES, hugely. (By the way, that's the cooler that I would recommend if you're using the AsRock z77e-itx, but with an aftermarket 140mm fan on it. If you're using the Asus P8z77-i, then the fact that the cooler is designed to extend only in one direction hurts you rather than helps you.)
 
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When installing, you say "custom install" and tell it where you want to install to. It's not hard at all.

There are basically only two z77 motherboard I'd recommend - the AsRock z77e-itx, and the Asus p8z77-i, which is only slightly better at overclocking, but has what could be a better layout.

As for the power supply, you've got a good one there, but it's larger than you need, both physically and power-wise. Bear in mind that the Prodigy's only downside is the limited room for power supplies - I'd go with either a non modular Corsair 550w or the SeaSonic G 550, which is a much better PSU.

For the ram, well... it's ram. If you can find the stuff made by Samsung, it's a hell of an overclocker; if not, I'd go with 8GB of the Crucial Ballistix Tactical. Ugly as heck, but also good ram, and low profile. (It's the yellow ones that are noticeably shorter than everything else.)
 
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I will look for the samsung ram thanks, heard that stuff was good as well.
Oh you have a prodigy build? Do you think putting a 200mm fan in the front of the case is worth it?
 
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Installing the front fan is a great idea as long as you take out at least the top hard drive bay so it gets a little airflow. I'm using a radiator on top, and didn't need an optical bay, so I took out the bay along with the top hard drive rack, and it works beautifully.
 
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Sweet thanks for the heads up. Do you know any other websites that show you weekly/daily deals for pc parts?
 
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I mostly just sign up for neweggs daily emails and also check techbargains every day.
 
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