Bitfenix Prodigy build with modded side panel

[nrc0]

Case - Bitfenix Prodigy (White)

Motherboard - Asus Maximus VI Impact

CPU - Intel Haswell i5 4670k

GPU - Gigabyte Windforce GTX 760

Memory - G.Skill Ripjaws X Series 8Gb (2x4gb)

Storage - OCZ Vertex 460 Series 120gb SSD (Boot Drive)
- 1TB Western Digital HDD

CPU Cooler - Corsair H60 Liquid Cooler

PSU - Corsair HX650 80 Plus Gold

OS - Windows 8.1 OEM

Optical Drive - Asus DVD/CD Writer

 

Front Fan - Bitfenix Spectre Pro 200mm

Mouse - Corsair M65 with matching MM400 mouse mat

Keyboard - Logitech G710+ Mechanical with cherry mx brown switches

 

So this build has been done for about a month now but just yesterday I finally finished the modded side panel, and its started to look really badas* IMO. The cutout isn't top quality but it sort of gives that homemade look to it which I really enjoy. I gave the trim to the side window a black coat of paint to sort of go with the black trim on the front of the case. I do plan on modding the front of the case as well, because the front 200mm I feel doesn't have access to enough air. I have no thought of an easy way to do this yet but if anyone has any ideas i'm very open to them. This is my first build AND mod after days and weeks of research so let me know what you guys think! - Thanks!

 

[EpicGeekonFire]

Any pics on you making it? that would be popping

[Jaybird]

Looks good!

[MrBucket101]

You could drill some holes in the front panel, in a circular fashion (kinda like a DIY mesh) where the front 200m fan needs to breathe

 

looks good overall though

[nrc0]

@EpicGeekonFire I wish I did but unfortunately I did not take any. It was a pretty simple process though, I just took a dremel and a jigsaw and very tediously cut out the hole I wanted. Then used painters tape and primed, then coated the trim and that was pretty much it. Oh one thing, I tried using the jigsaw to cut the acrylic, BAD IDEA. Bits and pieces went flying everywhere like glass. had to use a hand saw and go VERY slowly. When I mod the front panel and/or if I end up putting a window on the other side panel I'll make sure to put up some pics.

 

@Jaybird Thanks!

 

@MrBucket101 That definitely is something I could do, I was originally thinking about cutting a round hole the size of the 200mm fan in the front right where the fan is so you could see right through to it looking from the outside. However because the front panel has 2 layers of bitfenix's softouch plastic, I can't think of a way to cut it without really screwing it up. Thanks for you feedback!

 

Another thing I'd like to note is that the pictures of the computer that arn't the modded side panel I made a few adjustments on. That front 120mm you see was replaced with a blue LED 200mm. Also the black plastic thing on top of the drive cages was removed, as well as the ssd housing that is on the inside of the back side panel. I cut off the ac'97 plug on the front panel audio connector because I have to run the cable right through by my H60 and it was aesthetically displeasing.

 

Keep the feedback coming guys I really appreciate it!

[flibberdipper]

Not bad. I do the agree that the cut isn't the best, but it's still not bad.

[TymmVonD]

Nice. I just picked up a black Prodigy at a discount store for $23. And I ordered the windowed side panel yesterday. If I had the tools already, I would of made my own. 

[MrBucket101]

@MrBucket101 That definitely is something I could do, I was originally thinking about cutting a round hole the size of the 200mm fan in the front right where the fan is so you could see right through to it looking from the outside. However because the front panel has 2 layers of bitfenix's softouch plastic, I can't think of a way to cut it without really screwing it up. Thanks for you feedback!

 

I watched the review linus did on the case, and it looked like the front panel was just clipped on, can you not remove it and then drill the wholes?

 

Another option, would be to use a fan/rad grill. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811998059

[nrc0]

@tmcclelland455 Ya I figured for a first time modder I did a pretty decent job, ya it could be better, but with the tools I had it was really the best I could do.

 

@TymmVonD That's an awesome deal man and ya, half the battle was just finding the right tools for the job.

 

@MrBucket101 Yes it is a clip on front panel and it is relatively easy to take off. Its just that the white front screws into the black trim that's around it (Hence the 2 layers of plastic mentioned before). I very well could do some drilling, it's just that because I would have to hand drill them, I'm not sure how effective and aesthetically pleasing this will be. Especially it being plastic, I'm afraid I would ruin it somehow by cracking it from putting to much pressure from the drill. I might just be over thinking it but it's something i'm going to have to look into.

 

Thaniks for the feedback guys, keep it comin!

[flibberdipper]

@tmcclelland455 Ya I figured for a first time modder I did a pretty decent job, ya it could be better, but with the tools I had it was really the best I could do.

 

@TymmVonD That's an awesome deal man and ya, half the battle was just finding the right tools for the job.

 

@MrBucket101 Yes it is a clip on front panel and it is relatively easy to take off. Its just that the white front screws into the black trim that's around it (Hence the 2 layers of plastic mentioned before). I very well could do some drilling, it's just that because I would have to hand drill them, I'm not sure how effective and aesthetically pleasing this will be. Especially it being plastic, I'm afraid I would ruin it somehow by cracking it from putting to much pressure from the drill. I might just be over thinking it but it's something i'm going to have to look into.

 

Thaniks for the feedback guys, keep it comin!

What tools did you use? Sorry if you said them already. (P.S. My first case mod was cutting out the mesh stuff on the back of my old case with wire cutters. )

[nrc0]

What tools did you use? Sorry if you said them already. (P.S. My first case mod was cutting out the mesh stuff on the back of my old case with wire cutters. )

 

Well I used a dremel to get an initial hole so I could get the blade of my jigsaw in. Then I just used the jigsaw and carved up the panel after I had measured everything in and using painters tape on the whole panel. It's not easy to get perfectly straight cuts with a jigsaw      (as you can see in the pictures ) after that I used a metal file and ran it back and forth across the edges until they were smooth and looked decent enough. Then I used painters tape again to prep painting the trim, I used a couple coats of self etching primer and then a glossy black finish. I used a hand saw to cut the acrylic to the desired measurement because cutting it with the jigsaw shattered it into pieces. I then Just used some strong 3m clear double sided tape and stuck the acrylic to the inside of the panel and that's it!

[MrBucket101]

@tmcclelland455 Ya I figured for a first time modder I did a pretty decent job, ya it could be better, but with the tools I had it was really the best I could do.

 

@TymmVonD That's an awesome deal man and ya, half the battle was just finding the right tools for the job.

 

@MrBucket101 Yes it is a clip on front panel and it is relatively easy to take off. Its just that the white front screws into the black trim that's around it (Hence the 2 layers of plastic mentioned before). I very well could do some drilling, it's just that because I would have to hand drill them, I'm not sure how effective and aesthetically pleasing this will be. Especially it being plastic, I'm afraid I would ruin it somehow by cracking it from putting to much pressure from the drill. I might just be over thinking it but it's something i'm going to have to look into.

 

Thaniks for the feedback guys, keep it comin!

If you're worried about the plastic cracking, use a small drill, and space the holes further apart.

 

if you try the mesh and mess up, you could just get a circular cutter and make a nice even circle where the mesh used to be

[TheLordofMoisture]

Christ that is an incredibly long card for a 760! I like your window shape by the way, similar to the cut I made on the side panel of my Antec GX700, although I made it curved on the corners of each cut and I used some U-molding to cover the edges up. 

 

Looking good too, are you going to add another fan in front of your radiator for a push/pull configuration? I would suggest moving that top fan to the front panel or make it a push fan on the radiator since it would be competing for air to cool the radiator.

[KennetRoer2]

Looks cool

I would really like to do this but I don't have the tools, nor the money.

[TymmVonD]

@nrc0

 

Do you have any problems with airflow to the GPU. With the window installed, my card hits 82*C.