Computer Setup

Can't bookmark this enough. My favourite case of all time, 3D surround, A BLOODY GTX TITAN, that lighting, them cables, GF in the same room, cute dog. You're living the dream man. Great Battle Station!

Bitfenix prodigy cases make every gaming setup better.

Made me happy seeing it, my immediate thought was, what chappy graphics card fits in there?!

I love it when enthusiasts push an ITX build to the absolute limit. Its more bragging rights in my opinion than someone with an EATX uber super tower because you pack a huge punch in such a small for :)

Mostly because the Prodigy is the largest fucking itx encloser you can get. It might as well be matx.

I disagree, open cases just seem like a terrible idea to me.

'positive case pressure' - genius idea.

I know I'm going to be hated on, but how much would something like this setup cost?

Well for starters, the Titan is ~$1k...

And totally not worth it for the power it provides.

But did you factor in the credit?

To be fair, it's great for builds like these where space is not plentiful. Still very much so overpriced, but at least it's used in the best way possible.

The 690's generally aren't worth it for the price, but that Titan is a thing of beauty!

Based on my experience, it cost roughly $2500 for the machine alone

What do you use the homelab setup for and what are they running?

I'm a network engineer so I use it to play around with stuff I'll see or do at work. They all run ESXI 5.1, The middle box is a freenas ZFS box hosting shared storage for the two hosts on either side of it. The bottom box is a management server with Vcenter, domain controller, and a PFsense VM.

What is that hardware with all the network cards on it?

I think you're talking about the switch. Looks like just a standard 24 port layer 2 switch. Maybe a Dell but it's too blurry to read.

No, I know what a switch looks like. I was asking what NAS he was using in his linked explanation of his esxi setup. I'm a network admin and I wanted to see what he was running.

Each server has 4 NIC's. I use LACP for the primary virtual lan on the 3 esxi hosts. Then i use the other two for Multipath I/O Iscsi to the freenas box.

I have little experience with virualization but I want to move towards it for the future, would you suggest a similar home setup for getting myself familiar?

I went completely overboard building mine. All you really need is 1 box for learning purposes. I would start with esxi. It is free from vmware but limits you to 32gb of ram for your host. It's easy to get into and very common in the field. Google ESXI whitebox for ideas.

Oh god, a few weeks ago I upgraded our farm from 5.0 to 5.1, it was a fucking nightmare.

Not a huge fan of 5.1. I'm upset they've stopped development on the C# client and are going fully web based.

As a 17 year old without a job at all... yeah

My "job" is fixing computer problems for my family...and i only get payed when it happens often..so i dont really have a job but a BTdub try publix :) easy to get a job there and they pay for your college if you stay for X years :D

I'm actually pretty jealous, that sounds really cool. I live in a pretty rural area so i'm not sure how that'd work for me but thank you!

I bet you live in Michigan.

Wow is that only a Michigan thing? I need to get out more...

I know they're probably in surrounding states too. Awesome to see another Michigander.

They're in NW IN and other Chicago suburbs too. I forget they're not nationwide sometimes.

Also two down here, one in Urbana, one in Champaign,

Living in California, but being from Michigan, I'm still so used to seeing those Meijer bags in my own house (moved them here) that I still don't associate Meijer only with Michigan except that I miss it dearly! The things you take for granted...

At first I was a little confused at how you got that, then I noticed the Meijer bag.

As a Michigander, I don't get it...

Hey OP could you inform me to what the monitors in the album are?

What monitor mount is that? I have triple U2412M's and I'd like to get something like that :)

What are those things on picture 7 and 8. Please don't tell me they are speakers.

I gotchya. Damn, nice set up.

You seem to have pretty good cable management, except for underneath the monitors where you spend most of your time looking..

When I sit at it I can't see anything :) I think I'll get some tubing to cover the trunk of cables in the back, i wasn't able to hide them behind the monitor stand.

I see that we're both fans of Fractal Design!

Hey OP, could you or would you tell me all the components in each computer and how you are using them? I want to start saving and follow in what you have done for yourself. This setup is gorgeous.

Thanks, I am looking into doing the same thing you have done, what do you use your servers for?

Mostly learning. I also store all my media that serves the home devices. I run an exchange server, a few domain controllers, a vmware horizon view 5.2 environment, and a bunch of misc VM's doing a bunch of nothing.

Where did you get the black mesh front panel?

Hooray for the Fractal Design Define Mini! I just bought one myself for my first PC build. I love it so far.

What case is that (the one with the gtx titan)? It looks awesome

It's in the image text as well.

I love that Bitfenix Prodigy. It almost makes me want to switch out from my Cooler Master HAF-X case (which I also love).

How's the Titan running Skyrim in Nvidia Surround? Which mods? :)

Honestly I just purchased the Titan before we moved, didn't even install it until we were finally all moved in. Then I spent the next week setting up our office that you see here. Only game I've played on it so far is Bioshock Infinite.

Can't fault you for that. haha, That rig deserves to start out right!

Is that one of the Ikea desks that you buy in pieces?

They're both Ikea Galants. They're pricey but very study. It's like legos for grown ups, it's amazing. Incredibly easy to put together as well.

Thanks that is what I was hoping to hear, I have been waiting to see someone use that desk with 2+ monitors before taking the plunge. My current desk is bowing at the base of the mount and its only holding a 23" and 19" dell (planning to add atleast one 27")

Dude. Before you run to ikea check CL. There are usually plenty of galants at 60% discount from new. Even better if an old business is getting rid of stock. I wish i checked before i bought my desk.

Not sure if I would find the setup i want tho. My current desk setup is 2 55" desks on 1 wall with a 24x48 desk on the end making an L shape the length of the room.

Getting mine in a few days, thank god i had feared it would be horribly hard with all those ekea jokes around(first time buying from them)

Do you mind telling me which monitor mount you're using?

That display on the front of your case im assuming thats from the the optical drive, which one do you have? it looks amazing on that case.

I like the simple style of the lab cases. What brand might those be?

Yo, hook us up with the specs on your girlfriends prodigy too. I like her case a lot with the white front panel. It definitely looks like a smaller version of a mac pro :P. Also, what monitor is she using? Your prodigy is really cool looking. All of these smaller builds that I've seen popping up lately are so aesthetically pleasing. Good work!

Guessing that she's running hackintosh?

Looks great man! Do you have the specs of the mini itx build anywhere? I was thinking about doing one, yours looks ideal.

So what do you usually use it for? Work? Play? Both?

This guy is all play.

Great setup, neat, professional and to the point. Good examples like this should be the basis of all good gaming setups. I like your surgical approach to keeping everything uniform and tidy.

The Titan just made that setup. That was beautiful. Thanks for reinforcing my belief that my next setup will most definitely be mini itx.

Small form factor builds are a lot of fun. It provides more of a challenge when building a new machine. I used to just go for the biggest and coolest looking case I could find, eventually I realized it was just a bunch of empty space inside the case.

Sadly i already built my tower for at least the next 3 years (storm stryker, looks cool but is a hassle). In three years though, Watch out mini-itx (or whatever the standard is then) market =P

I saw a video earlier that said the Prodigy case wobbles a bit. I'm actually considering my next build to be Mini-ITX, so could you just clarify that?

The "feet" are a flexible material. If you knock the desk it shakes a bit, but never to the point of causing any harm.

Go with a Sugo series case or a Node 304. They're actual itx cases (not that prodigy isn't itx, but it's huge for an itx).

Your dog is adorable because he looks like my dog!

This is the first time anyone has made me love the bitfenix prodigy case. I hated it because of how many people rave about it for this and that and noone ever considered some of the lian-li cases. In fact, on its own I still hate it. You simply chose great parts to go with it, such as the blue led front fan and the color matched fan controller. If I were you I might leave the side panel off most of the time.

Is that a speaker on top of a tablet?

I can't bookmark this enough.

Speakers should be placed around you, but im sure you don't care about that. nice rig man

What are you using for your remote operated outlet?

Just some random 10 dollar adapter I found at walmart. It operates on RF and comes with a little keychain remote. It turns my blue LEDS on and off. I wanted a switch, but for 10 bucks I couldn't pass it up.

Hows that keyboard? and if its not too much hassle, could you check if the orange bit is removable? if i buy that board i would like to know if i could paint it or not

It does not appear to be removable.

Even if you take the keyboard apart?

Maybe. I'm not about to try that out. It looks to me like it's part of the front panel.

Thanks anyway, how do you like the board?

I was expecting a case that good looking to be WAY more expensive. Definitely going into my next build.

How much trouble did you have getting that AX750 jammed in there? Mine will need to stick out 1/4" or so for me to feel comfortable.

I had to use all of my body weight to screw the thing in. But it's been fine ever since :)

I'm probably a retard but how do you get one giant wallpaper to span across 3 monitors?

YOU GOT A TITAN! Damnnn, nice, OP.

How do you like the fan controller? I've been looking at a few but I don't know if they're actually useful or if they're just eye candy.

I like it a lot. I don't really adjust it any more but it makes running 4 fans on a mini itx board a sinch. I mostly bought it because it matches the case so well.

Yeah, it definitely does look slick. Does it just control case fans or gpu/cpu fans as well?

Amazing that you can fit a GTX Titan and Hydro H100 radiator in that mini-ITX case. Just amazing.

That computer case is sexy as fuck

It's cute. i like the matching bitfenix cases. im a fan of bitfenix cases myself. also, amazing cable management!

Is that cupcake related to LuLu from league of legends at all?

I love those speakers, they sound awesome for the price.

What case is that? I'm looking to re-build my PC & that is a damn beautiful case.

Very nice. I wanted to start something similar but don't have enough circuit in the room. I'll have to wait I til I buy a house.

I'm gonna have to be that guy asking what kind of table yours is. Been looking into a nice corner table like that and finally have the money. This is one of the best minimalistic corner tables I've seen so far.

Obviously you bought two of them so it would be stupid to ask how you like the case, but from what I've read in past reviews, apparently there is some concern with the wobbling of the feet? Because the handles/feet are made of that bendable plastic, the case apparently tends to shake? Curious if you've ever encountered something anywhere near this? I've been thinking about switching from my NZXT Vulcan to this for awhile but haven't been able to pull the trigger.

Where can I find Doggies from PcPartPicker?

There's some plastic waiting to be ripped on the GTX Titan's window judging from the pictures! Great Build!

Is that screen on the Bitfenix a part of every case, or is that an addon? Because I did some googling and I don't seem to find it on the other ones.

I have essentially the same machine, but just a bit different. I have a 2700K, a 690, the 2133 Dominator Platinums and an OLD Xclio Stablpower 1000w psu.

What is the exact name of that case my friend??

She's gping to love smashing that thing up when you break up.

That is a gorgeous case and rig.... damn. I'm jelly.

Your girlfriend needs a better sound setup.

Could I see your screen resolution settings, like the actual windows program

Love the case. You are so close to awesome wiring, keep going!

You are rockin it 100% classy. Best I've seen; BRAVO!

Wow that is awesome, you must have a solid job to get all that stuff together!

Bitchin setup. Those icons on the other hand....

I know my icons look terrible but I honestly never look at them. What would you suggest for the speakers?

I love my logitech z323's, but they might look cheap next to the rest of the room lol, i need to learn more about these networking setups, one of the fer computer aspects i am quite clueless about lol

It depends on how much you want to spend. If you're getting active speakers (plug into the wall, don't require an amp), you can get M-Audio's for $140 ($110 on eBay) or Audioengine A2's (or white) for $200. Those are pretty great for their price. You could even keep your Corsair sub.

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