Bitfenix Phenom Mini-ITX



INTRODUCTION :
First, I would like to thank Inter-Asia Technology Sdn Bhd for the casing and ASUS for the motherboard. This is my first review on casing. After the hot feedback of Bitfenix Prodigy, now Bitfenix comes out with a different exterior design casing, Bitfenix Phenom. The interior is exactly the same as the Prodigy. So I will do the unboxing and simple review on this casing.

Specifications :




Outlook :


The front Bitfenix logo


Top of casing


Removable top fan grill




This post has been edited by unequalteck: Jan 5 2014, 08:44 PM

Top fan grill removed


Side panel with On/Off, reset button, audio jack and 2x USB 3.0 ports


Rear view of the casing


Case feet at bottom of casing. Personally very like this kind of feet, looks classy.


Can easily remove it by screw


PSU filter. Can be remove easily to clean it.


INTERIOR


Pretty much the same as the Prodigy

Removable HDD tray


HDD tray. Can put either 2.5" or 3.5"


The bottom HDD tray also can be remove by unscrew the 6 screws under the casing. In order to do that you'll have to take off the case feet first. This could be very useful for enthusiast who want to watercool their build. Space for placing the pump and reservoir.



In case you want to install 2x 120mm fan or 240 radiator in front, you need to remove the 5.25" drive bay too. This casing cannot fit in an optical drive due to the solid front panel.



This will give you more space on top to fit a radiator as well.


The casing comes with an adapter to allow users to put a 3.5" or 2.5" HDD/SSD on the 5.25" drive bay.

Various fan size option in front. 120mm, 140mm, 180mm, 200mm, 230mm.


120mm or 140mm options at the rear exhaust fan mounting holes


Holes for cable routing. 2x SSD mounting hole on PSU shroud and 1 more at the bottom






Another 2x SSD mounting holes at the side panel


2x PCI slot for GPU. GPU that required 3 PCI slots CANNOT fit into this casing. Such as ASUS HD7970 DirectCU II, ASUS GTX 680 DCU II, ASUS HD7970 Matrix Platinum, ASUS R9-280X Matrix Platinum.


PSU bracket


Removed all the cage, plenty of space for water cooling components

APPLICATION :

Screw the bracket with the PSU, push in the PSU and screw the bracket




Still a big space here for hiding all your cable inside


Motherboard to be install, ASUS Z87I-PRO




Rear I/O panel


Motherboard installed


Connected all PSU cable


Not to forget about this, the cable routing hole has a good edge protector to prevent your cable sleeve from tearing off

You can slot in a long GPU IF only you removed the top HDD cage


Unfortunately I don't have any CPU cooler in my hand now, so i can't get the exact CPU cooler clearance effectively.
Maximum CPU cooler height : 170mm

High wattage PSU might be longer in size. It might be difficult to install into this ITX system.
Maximum PSU length : 150mm for Fully Modular PSU, 160mm for Semi Modular PSU

Overall look


This motherboard comes with WiFi. WiFi is what you really require when you get a small form factor PC especially there are some LAN party around!


Accessories :
Kinda simple package, a pack of screws and a USB 3.0 to USB 2.0 converter


Conclusion :
Casing can be very subjective. But recently SFF(Small Form Factor) PCs are getting more and more popular at Malaysia. SFF PC can be used as HTPC(Home Theater Personal Computer) in living room for movie and web surfing. There is no high end component required for HTPC. However, there's still some enthusiast will use it for high end gaming PC. This will be very challenging for them to install all the liquid cooling components with such small space.

Pros :
- Plain and classy look
- Lots of SSD mounting hole
- Water cooling compatibility
- Easy cable management

Cons :
- Cannot put in DVD drives
- Troublesome cable at side panel
- Lack of air ventilation in front and side for GPU

This post has been edited by unequalteck: Jan 5 2014, 08:49 PM

First.. Congrats Teteck

Like! It's much more details compare to other reviews..great job teckliang!

very nice.

Nice n simple review

Good review! really worth having you as a winner

thanks everybardyyy~~

This or Node 304?

i mau win oso.

nice review..thumb up for u..

Personally i prefer Phenom over Prodigy for it classy and elegante outlooks and finishing.

no comment on this
other sifus may recommend

thanks bro

both also besssst!