Log N0RDR1 NANO - Cool&Quiet 4.5L Custom Build with Wood Front

[REVOCCASES]

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just a teaser for the next project I'm currently working on... basically a nano version of my last case...





I've attached the design files to this post, feel free to use them to make your own case...

 

[REVOCCASES]

update time: all components for my build have arrived and metal parts should come in within the next week or so... in the meantime I've done some prep work to make this build really Cool&Quiet...



1) the GPU: I love the A2000 but I don't like the stock cooler... the ball bearing blower fan makes some unpleasant noise and NVIDIAS decision to have it run at min. 3000RPM, even on idle, doesn't help either... in order to fix that, I made my own cooler with three SilverStone FTF 5010 fans connected to the motherboard and controlled via Rem0o/FanControl



2) the PSU: I played around with different ideas (Meanwell & DC-ATX, HDPlex, FLEX, etc...) but then decided to allow for different PSU options and check during the build what I'll finally use...



one option would be the STREACOM ZF240 which is passive cooled but has mustard cables...



another option would be the FSP FLEXGURU which looks nice and is small but has a noisy fan that needs to be replaced/modded...



3) CPU / Cooler / Fans: since this build shall be as quiet as possibel I decided to pair an i7 11700T with the NOCTUA L12s... depending if I need a little bit more performance or lower noise I can run the 11700T either at stock 35W or remove the power limits and let it pull ~80W... as for the three 80mm case fans there are unfortunately not too many "slim" options. I decided to try the AKASA SLIMFAN 80 which seems to run pretty quiet at lower RPMs.

next update when the metal parts come in...

 

[princess_daphie]

Really loving the design overall! Coming together really nicely!

Though if I had to make one criticism, and it's one that ends up being true for so many SFF designs, is that I don't find the compromise of needing to use slim fans worth it. Like you said, the choice of slim fans is very limited, and for the hassle it causes, I'd rather my case be 1cm deeper in one direction than not having the clearance for regular Noctuas or something like that. It's a small nitpick, but one that's made me pass up on many neat looking SFF cases.

 

[REVOCCASES]

Really loving the design overall! Coming together really nicely!

Though if I had to make one criticism, and it's one that ends up being true for so many SFF designs, is that I don't find the compromise of needing to use slim fans worth it. Like you said, the choice of slim fans is very limited, and for the hassle it causes, I'd rather my case be 1cm deeper in one direction than not having the clearance for regular Noctuas or something like that. It's a small nitpick, but one that's made me pass up on many neat looking SFF cases.

thanks, that's a good point - wouldn't even look too bad with the added depth



tbh I already had the design ready and just started to look for suitable fans afterwards... well, let's see how the Akasa fans perform...

 

[Analogue Blacksheep]

Beautiful, your designs never cease to amaze me.

 

[REVOCCASES]

the metal parts came in a little earlier - not yet painted/coated, but I could already test fitment of the parts...



before I wasn't quite sure if I'm using the STREACOM or FSP PSU...



and despite both would theoretically work, the FSP certainly make the build process much easier...



one issue I ran into: if you mount the fan below the fins, the Noctua L12S is not really compatible with the GIGABYTE board... previously I had bent the cooler a little upwards to make it fit but in this case I really only have 70mm cooler clearance...



anyway, "Where There's a Will, There's a Way" (or in German: was nicht passt, wird passend gemacht)...









now it fits and I'm pleasantly surprised how well it performs...

 

[BaK]

Great fan mod!
How did you attach the remaining of the fan to the heatsink?

 

[REVOCCASES]

Thanks! First I wanted to use epoxy but then decided to try hot glue so that the mod is still reversible. Given that the fins barely get warm I'm confident it'll hold...

 

[REVOCCASES]

I couldn't wait to get the build up and running so I still painted the parts last night... here's the last part of the build log...



first step was wiring the 8010 fans and pressing in some M3 nuts to mount them at the front of the case...



next, attaching the wood panel...



and the fans...



sliding in the motherboard from the left side...



connecting all the cables, fans and mounting the modded FLEXGURU...



last but not least, some beauty shots...









if someone is interested in my design, I'm happy to share the drawings here...

 

[princess_daphie]

It IS a beauty!

 

[BaK]

And one more great build from @REVOCCASES !
Looks indeed beautiful!

I couldn't wait to get the build up and running so I still painted the parts last night...

Lol I know that kind of hitch!

first step was wiring the 8010 fans and pressing in some M3 nuts to mount them at the front of the case...

Did you have to warm the m3 nuts before inserting them? Brilliant idea btw!

No problem running the three fans on the same header?
Parallel circuit with only one PWM wire kept?

Looking at the case in that orientation makes me think the GPU fans could have been set to exhaust air on top.

 

[REVOCCASES]

And one more great build from @REVOCCASES !
Looks indeed beautiful!

Thanks

Did you have to warm the m3 nuts before inserting them? Brilliant idea btw!

No problem running the three fans on the same header?
Parallel circuit with only one PWM wire kept?

no need, the fans had this kind of recessed holes, perfect fit with a small M3 nut



no problem as long as you stay below the fan headers Amp rating... just leave away the Tacho Signal (RPM) for two of them, PWM you need to keep for all three

Looking at the case in that orientation makes me think the GPU fans could have been set to exhaust air on top.

hmmm... from my experience fans work much better in push than pull, but I could try!

 

[BaK]

just leave away the Tacho Signal (RPM) for two of them, PWM you need to keep for all three

RPM yes, my mistake...

hmmm... from my experience fans work much better in push than pull, but I could try!

If it's an easy shift I'm always curious about such comparison!
But you are probably right, and looking at it again, fans in pull would likely draw hot air from below into the GPU heatsink.

 

[CLDA_comp]

Beautiful design and execution. Unless I missed it, I didn’t see an overall size listed. 3.5L?

 

[CLDA_comp]

Beautiful design and execution. Unless I missed it, I didn’t see an overall size listed. 3.5L?

Sorry, missed it in the title

 

[CreInfr]

What a beauty and peaceful(?) design.

 

[REVOCCASES]

If someone is interested and doesn't want to go the DIY route, I have finished one more of the cases and put it on the trade section...

Selling - [EU-DE] N0RDR1 NANO - 4.5L Custom Case with Real Wood Front | SFF.Network (smallformfactor.net)

 

[deeree]

Nice design! What fan did you use to mod the FSP flexguru power supply?

 

[REVOCCASES]

What fan did you use to mod the FSP flexguru power supply?

https://www.mindfactory.de/product_info.php/Cooltek-Silent-Fan-4010-40x40x10mm-4000-U-min-12-8-dB-A--schwarz-weiss_954682.html

to my pleasant surprise this fan is not only cheap and matches the color scheme but actually is very silent with the Flexguru...

edit: note that I'm only pulling about 120 to 130W during gaming...

 

[Neathdrawls]

Once again, thanks for this beauty of a case, @REVOCCASES !