Case Mod - In Progress [Project] BitFenix Stacked - Watercooled M-ATX Sli Prodigy - Big update 7/4/2013

So having already completed a few Bitfenix builds and posting one of my build logs on here, I decided to venture into pastures new and build something a little different. My old build wasnt too extreme, it was just about cramming as much as I thought I could into the Prodigy case, multiple Rads, more HDD's etc. I was happy with it but it never really pushed things enough, I wanted it to be more extreme!

This is how it al looked when complete...



Cute, but not manly!

So I started planning my next rig, this time based around fitting things that shouldnt fit, namely M-ATX, now after seeing other builds, this may seem lame, but at the time of planning, it was to me quite out there!!

The specs were determined by what I already had mainly, and a little extra that I could afford to throw at it, so all the water-cooling bits were things I already owned, and the fans came from the original project too as they were swapped out for the new owner, you will see.

Specs:

Asus Gene Z77 M-ATX
32Gb Corsair Vengeance RAM (I know!! Don't diss its OTT throughout!)
i7 3770k
2 x EVGA 680 2Gb
3 x Samsung 256Gb SSD's
2 x 2TB Samsung Spinpoints

Cooling

2 x 240mm Thick Phobya Rads
Laing DDC+ 18W Pump
EK Tube Reservoir
EK fittings
EK CSQ Blocks throughout!
Aquaero 5XT to control all of the above

The build is well on its way now, so here is a little taster for you all to get started, I will update the thread with build pics as I get opportunity, let me know what you all think!

 

Nice build can you provide more pictures of it?

 

funny Idea, but sizewhise it´s kinda ridiculous to take a allready quite big case for ITX mainboards, adding a podestral / top to it and then fit a matx mainboard.
Moddingwhise thumbs up, will follow that for shure.
But it hits the same "i don´t get it" spot as the new caselabs S3 with a Radiator Pedestral underneath it.

 

More pics to follow soon guys! Work in progress...

Hi mate, thanks for the reply, and that exactly the response I wanted and expected!! Kind of "uh??" or "why?".

I basically did it for the following reasons:

1. I love the case, its shape, chunky style, and the aesthetics, but found the itx too restrictive for my needs.
2. I was trying to be a little different with designing this project whilst not going too extreme.
3. Its fits my purpose perfectly both in form and performance now.

Hope that kind of makes sense, it will be a Love or Hate mod/build, but that's the beauty of nodding, its emotive!



Sent from my RM-821_eu_euro1_342 using Board Express

 

I totally understand your point, I´ve a Prodigy build in the works too, but I really feel that ITX is just a bit too limiting.
At the moment I´m running S1366 matx in a Lianli A05, which is quite compact.
a Matx board is just all you need, you can go dual gpu´s and in some setups even with a soundcard.
Point is that a little wider version of the Prodigy would be a really pleasing case.

 

Hey I really enjoy reading and seeing your Prodigy builds. I am in the same boat with a strong attraction to the Prodigy case. It is a shame that it is not just a little wider and just a little taller. I have stuffed both MicroATX and ATX motherboards into the chassis (two air cooled builds with i7-3770Ks) and still think that this BitFenix Prodigy case offers more options to the modder then most others cases in the class. My work can be seen on the TonyMacX86 website in the retail case mod section. Again keep posting the project details as they are really a good read.

Thanks
neil

 

Those EK blocks never get old.

Very clean job on the sleeving

 

Its true, I just couldn't get to grips with the lack of space for extras, they are amazing feats of technology but just a little small and restrictive for what I need, glad Im not the only one!
Yours sounds like a nice setup mate. Its surprising how little work you need to do to fit a M-ATX board in the prodigy though, have a measure you may be surprised!!

Hi mate, Ive seen your work... Im a member over on TonyMac and spend a fair bit of my time trying to get my various builds running OSX, its my favoured OS to be honest! Yeah I agree on the comments on the Prodigy too, but in my opinion its perfect, as its the ultimate modders case, I may get shot for this, but I think its the modern day TJ07??!

Personally I think the width is perfect, its already quite squat, but I agree on the height part, it could do with a little more space in the roof, but when looked at as it is designed, i.e., for an itx board its spot on! Its just that for us nodders, thats never enough!

More to come on this project so keep watching!!

Thanks pal, loving EK goodness, and ta for the kind words about the cables, its my least favourite part of the modding scene!

 

So this is about 2 weeks of work complied into a short update. During those 2 weeks, my motherboard went boom, so progress has been a little quicker as I haven't managed to play on Sim City, so more time has been focused on the build but its still reasonably slow.

So I bought some parts, first of all the fans had to be changed, they were leftovers from the BitPac build I completed, and were completely the wrong colour, so I purchased some very tidy Enermax jobbies, simply for the colours of the fans, problem was they were USB, but more on that later, less typing more pictures!!





So there they are, tada!! Not awesome as I said they are 5v USB only, so out cam the soldering iron. Also I remade the rear panel of the case from perspex laminate, Its Black-Red Translucent-Black all glued together for a decent effect which will become apparent later on. I moved the Rads too so that they are more central in the top section of the case.







They also back up against the rear of the case so that I can route the pipes externally for the watercooling, this makes the two halves completely self contained, and draining the loop, or cleaning far easier!





The PCB is for the fans, as I said they are 5v fans and run off the USB so I made the PCB with a Molex input and used the 5v rail to supply the fans, and the 12v to supply the Aquaero which will be mounted in the top of the case.

I then moved onto the Reservoir, this was mounted above the pump, which sits below the rads, and is fixed using the EK brackets, mounted to the Rads with some foam on the jaws to grip it better and longer screws through the clamping holes.




This created a problem with filling the loop, so I made this out of a few fittings to aid the process, all you need do now is fold this gizmo upright, and the screw out the stop, and replace it with a fill port, and jobs a golden!





Then you simply fold it inside the case with the stop in, and its hidden.

Fitted the lid next to see if all was well, and tapped some holes for the original thumb screws etc...







Then it was onto the exterior fittings...







Quick release fittings, expensive but awesome!!


And a few more that need no explanations...


Getting the GPU's looking blingy, and followed by a LOT of sleeving!!






Sleeving, and soldering...





And finally a teaser for next time!!





Thanks guys!

 

Seems a little quiet in here of late?!? Got another update soon as I have been very busy over the holiday weekend and managed to get some solid modding done!! Also have access to a DSLR for a while so finally some 'nice' piccies will be used. Laterz!

 

As promised heres my update!

So I started off by trying to get the cabling sorted. I installed some trunking into the base of the case and added a nice bit of Dinoc to fit in with the theme of the build again. Soldered up the Molex cables and shortened the Sata cables to make it all look a little better before I start with the sleeving.








It was then over to sleeving the various sensor cables, and LED lighting that fits into the blocks. Dont worry this was all done on the 'DEAD' mobo.




I then started to install the various components, first off the real mono, then the GPU's and then finally the CPU and RAM. I started making up the hoses and the internal fittings for the various components.





Then came the fun part, filling the loop!!!

Out came the funky spout, it folds away as I said previously...





Then we screw in the fillport...





And fill her up!! Using EK Blood red fluid, my personal favourite!





I then left her leak testing for about 4 hours whilst I took the kids to see 'Jack the Giant Slayer'

Upon my return, there was gladly no signs of any leaks, so it was on to the next stage,
pictures!!!!








and some with the DSLR...








Whaddya think?


Heres the setup in my man Cave now




RIP Asus Gene!!




Next task, I have to make two more cables for the second 680 as I'm out of crimps. I need to do sort out the Aquaero settings as the fans are all spinning too quickly, its not loud, but also not as efficient as it could be. Then I'll start overclocking the nuts off it all!

I have some serious work to do on Sketchup too. I am designing all of the panels for laser cutting out of a mixture of acrylic, no details, as you will have to wait and see!

There maybe an X79 on the way!!

 

so nice man, where is the sr2 desk?

 

Thanks pal, the SR-2 still lives, but with the issues I had with one of the CPU's and then the fact that the motherboard died on me, I have sidelined it, it kind of damped my spirits somewhat so I will return to it as and when I feel up to it. It will be V2 though, no wood, all ally and future materials!

 

two words mate Carbonfiber!

 

There will be plenty of that too, don't you worry! I think most of it will be black anodised aluminium though...

 

So the .dxf files are now with the laser cutting company, I will hopefully get the parts tomorrow so I'll have this little beasty finished over the weekend!

My next move will be a prodigy with sli titans and Sandybridge-E methinks!!!!

 

do you shower in money?

 

Nice build dude! I likez itttttttt!
MOAR DSLR pics!

 

Nope! I work hard, and save harder! It's all about the challenge dude...

That means a huge deal coming from you dude, I love your builds, thanks! More DSLR pics on the horizon too, very soon I hope!

 

Ok, had a bit of a mare getting the laser cut parts done as it turns out. But last night I finally got the call. I did some work for the guy as a payment in kind so it kind of got done as an 'as and when job', which is perfectly fine by me!

Will upload and post some videos of the machine in action later, its awesome and I want one!

Parts look incredible in my opinion and I cannot wait to get it all together now. Will have little time in the coming days but I will try to get an update on here asap. Just hope you like it!

Whilst I was waiting I've been playing around with the OC's on the CPU and GPU's so I'll try to get some info on related to that too, I'm hoping it will eventually be the fastest Prodigy out there but that depends somewhat on Ivybridge-E Keep watching...