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Today we are going to test the BitFenix Prodigy with our MSI E350IS-E45 which uses the AMD E-350 (Zacate) APU. While this isn't the fastest and greatest Mini-ITX configuration, it is a more likely set-up for those of you who are going to be using this case as a HTPC or Media Server.
We will be using the BitFenix Prodigy in its default set-up with just 2x 120mm fans, and then we upgraded to 2x 140mm Phanteks fans. We know these will provide a greater airflow while emitting less noise. Unfortunately this motherboard only has CPU Core temps and the HDD temps available to us.
Room ambient temperatures were maintained at a steady 18c throughout testing and the coolers were all set to their maximum fan speed.
System Specs:
Processor: AMD E-350 Zacate
Motherboard: MSI E350IS-E45 (stock cooler installed)
Memory: 4GB Corsair DDR3 1333MHz
Graphics: On board
Power Supply: Akasa Venom Power 750W
Boot Drive: OCZ Vertex I 60GB SSD (OS only)
OS: Windows 7 Home Edition 64bit
Digital Sound Level Noise Decibel Meter Style 2
The airflow system of this case is much like any larger chassis with intakes at the front, and exhaust at the top and rear.
This shows that even with the CPU temperature increasing quite significantly, the HDD temperature was hardly affected. The case does manage to get the hot air out of the case, even with such diminutive dimensions.
By adding the 140mm fans it didn't really effect the processor temperatures much at all, due to the heatsink design of the motherboard – it sits below the height of the memory so airflow from the case fans doesn't pass over the CPU heatsink.
That said, it is clear that the hard drive temps were significantly better so you can still see the cooling potential of this case. With a large 230mm fitted at the front of the case the temperatures would be very low for a tiny noise output.
The white looks much nicer than the black IMO. good review, I like this case. would need a new motherboard however.
Very stylish little case and I think people need to give Bitfenix some credit. when they first came out, their cases were badly flawed and since then they have adapted to fix problems based around user feedback. anti fingerprint material,. better build quality etc.
This is an excellent little media case, i love the looks.
Waiting for availability to buy one of these, cant wait. white rocks
No one else see the similarities between these and the old coloured G4 business macintosh cases? almost identical, just reduced in size!
The Prodigy should be an example of what not to do with an ITX board. I’ve seen fully featured M-ATX chassis smaller than this behemoth. BitFenix, try again.
I have a question. The 230mm Fan in the front; is it possible to have both, the 230mm AND the 5.25in optical drive in this case? Maybe I did not read it in the review, but that sparked my interest for this case.
well ive seen one and tink its a piece of trash too big bad plastic , not so good ventilation and cmon miniitx??? 1 pcix for graphics , im i suposed to buy a motherboard for what 100$ and then have only 1 pcie16 sure .. forget all the rest sound card sli and so on
i bought one today. the guy in the shop opened up the package to show me it, and it was damaged. the top plastic bits had come loose from the main chassis. i bought it from him discounted.. now ive spent a while assembling my NAS box into it. its one of the nicest cases ive used (and there have been a few). and i didnt get cut at all. it is very high standard & well engineered, just couldve made the top & bottom plastics slightly less flexable. Also this being ITX, god knows what sort of PSU you’ll fit in here + power up 8 drives…