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Hardware BitFenix Colossus Mini-ITX Review

Discussion in 'Article Discussion' started by Meanmotion, 9 Jan 2014.

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  1. Meanmotion

    Meanmotion bleh Moderator

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    Meanmotion, 9 Jan 2014
    #1
  2. Jehla

    Jehla Minimodder

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    The lighting is in need of a mod!

    [​IMG]
     
    Jehla, 9 Jan 2014
    #2
  3. Shirty

    Shirty W*nker! Super Moderator

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    Decent case, stupid name. They should have called it the BitFenix Runt.
     
    Shirty, 9 Jan 2014
    #3
  4. toolio20

    toolio20 What's a Dremel?

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    OMG awesome, and just what the market needs - ANOTHER massive mATX case marketed as an m-ITX enclosure!! I mean seriously, this is brilliant - now all I need is a CM Cosmos II to house my NUC and we'll be all set...
     
    toolio20, 9 Jan 2014
    #4
  5. Fishlock

    Fishlock .o0o.

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    Cracking sarcasm, well done. Seems to suit the rest of your posts on this site. (Note my own sarcasm there?)

    BitFenix have made some good improvements to a very popular form factor right now. I'm looking towards downsizing and will be considering this case. Shame about the colour options with the lighting though.
     
    Fishlock, 9 Jan 2014
    #5
  6. SchizoFrog

    SchizoFrog What's a Dremel?

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    I think it's a shame that there aren't any images of the case running in a darker room so we can see what the light actually looks like.

    What a messy system in the image with the 570GTX on the last page. No wonder there is no window. :)

    Overall I think it is another good case from BitFenix but it doesn't tick all the boxes for me still and if I had to choose any I think I would still go for the Prodigy. With all the custom panels available for the Prodigy, BitFenix should just offer for the Prodigy, a replacement top panel that is clean and smooth, along with a squared off replacement base that allows you to attach normal feet.
     
    SchizoFrog, 9 Jan 2014
    #6
  7. Shirty

    Shirty W*nker! Super Moderator

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    I totally agree. Maybe the Prodigy II could be more modular, with BitFenix producing various alternative sections. Maybe next time we'll get a white mesh front panel option :nono:
     
    Shirty, 9 Jan 2014
    #7
  8. SchizoFrog

    SchizoFrog What's a Dremel?

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    I also can't help but feel that the cooling could have been helped by using a much larger front intake fan. All that mesh and nothing using the space.
     
    SchizoFrog, 9 Jan 2014
    #8
  9. Combatus

    Combatus Bit-tech Modding + hardware reviews Lover of bit-tech Super Moderator

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    The images are actually cut-outs of 1/6sec exposures in a dimly lit room so fairly indicative of what you can expect. Of course, it will be brighter and more vivid if the room was pitch black but that's just bad for your eyes ;)

    Sorry about the messy system but there really is very little space to otherwise hide the cables but that's pretty standard with cases this size. I still think there's room for both the Phenom and Colossus along side the Prodigy as there have been some useful refinements, but tbh, in re-engineering the side and top sections you may as well tweak the chassis while you're there and offer a new and attention-grabbing product. The replacement side panels and front sections are pretty easy to do, but as they could see easy ways to improve the case as well, it makes sense to offer a whole new product.

    At this end of the market, you're far more likely to find vacant fan mounts unfortunately, but at least the option of using a larger fan is there.
     
    Combatus, 9 Jan 2014
    #9
  10. SchizoFrog

    SchizoFrog What's a Dremel?

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    If is not just a shell cover for the top and bottom sections then I agree... Here's hoping to a Prodigy II that ticks all the right boxes... For me at least any way.
     
    SchizoFrog, 9 Jan 2014
    #10
  11. jizwizard

    jizwizard Modder

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    Corsair 250d cooling performance? Thought you were reviewing the bitfenix
     
    jizwizard, 9 Jan 2014
    #11
  12. jrs77

    jrs77 Modder

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    Says it all really.
     
    jrs77, 9 Jan 2014
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  13. Jehla

    Jehla Minimodder

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    Can that optical drive bay be removed (drilling out rivets) to allow deeper radiators?
     
    Jehla, 9 Jan 2014
    #13
  14. AlienwareAndy

    AlienwareAndy What's a Dremel?

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    The top section again offers space for a double 120mm radiator if you're prepared to sacrifice the 5.25in drive bay too, while the only other fan is a 120mm model in the rear fan mount.

    I would say so :)
     
    AlienwareAndy, 9 Jan 2014
    #14
  15. Corky42

    Corky42 Where's walle?

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    My thoughts exactly, well almost exactly.
    I thought of the song 'I'm So Ronery' from Team America when i saw that little fan against the vast expanse of mesh :D
     
    Corky42, 9 Jan 2014
    #15
  16. Cei

    Cei pew pew pew

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    Too big, again. ITX should be as small as possible - so why insist on full size optical bays, and a frankly silly number of HDs? EVGA got it right by putting in a slimline optical, only two HD bays and the tiny PSU, whereas BitFenix seem to be stuck at mATX size and pretending it is ITX.
     
    Cei, 10 Jan 2014
    #16
  17. SchizoFrog

    SchizoFrog What's a Dremel?

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    That is your opinion and is obviously NOT the opinion of everyone but once again the BitFenix Prodigy offers options that your compact Mini-ITX cases not only don't but can't offer. It may be silly for you but personally I do NEED more than 2 HDDs and an optical drive, although I don't care if it is full size or a discrete slimeline model.
     
    SchizoFrog, 10 Jan 2014
    #17
  18. AlienwareAndy

    AlienwareAndy What's a Dremel?

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    If I were to go ITX I would have a 7990, six hard drives and god knows what else to go in it.

    Why do you continually assume that people want tiny little cases when it's been shown that the Prodigy is a best seller?
     
    AlienwareAndy, 10 Jan 2014
    #18
  19. bawjaws

    bawjaws Multimodder

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    Pretty sure that Cei is just stating his personal opinion, and not trying to tell anyone else what they want or should have :D OTOH, if he IS trying to dictate to others what ITX must be, then he's a naughty boy!
     
    bawjaws, 10 Jan 2014
    #19
  20. jrs77

    jrs77 Modder

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    Why not build a µATX or ATX-based system then, if you need all these components? The µATX-boards are way better than any of the mITX-offerings.
     
    jrs77, 10 Jan 2014
    #20
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