Hello everyone,
Before going forward (this thread/build will be a while), just a bit of background.
I’ve always have been and will remain dedicated to air cooling, accepting the pros and cons of course. This time for this PC I wanted to finally build one in a mini case with max performance and reasonably quiet . I’ve always used to build my PC with max or close to max performance within my budget and I almost never upgraded a build (at least the core components) whithin it’s “lifetime” (lifetime = for as long as it was my primary PC). They were all donated to family and friends when I was moving on to a new build.
Now I accidentally came across the Ncase M1 and immediately I fell for it. It’ll be a huge change to what I was used to previously, imagine that my last build which was a “downscale” by my standards was using a Corsair Carbide Air 540 (with a total of 6 case fans...) that replaced my Obsidian 800D (which in turn had replaced my full coolermaster tower) !
Since I decided on first sight what the case would be, then I spent a few weeks on reading and catching up with current components, almost a whole week to read through the whole thread over at hardforums about the ncase and some more reading in general.
Remember this will be a literally “build from scratch”, everything (except for the NAS and the headphones) will be new, even the mousepad
Then it was time to start sourcing and finding parts...
The list of components that’ll be in the build will be as follows:
Case: Ncase M1 v5
MOBO: Asus Strix z370-I
CPU: Intel 8700K
CPU Cooler: Noctua NH-D9L
RAM: Corsair LPX 2x16GB @ 2400
GPU: Asus Strix GTX1080Ti OC
SSD: Samsung 960Pro M.2 1TB
PSU: Corsair SF600
Keyboard: Wooting One
Mouse: Logitech G703
Monitor: Asus ROG Swift PG279Q
And now the rest bits/mods/accessories/needed parts to complete the build:
2 x Noctua NF-B9 Redux PWM (to go on the cpu cooler)
2 x Noctua NF-S12A PWM (for exhaust at the bottom of the case, acting as GPU coolers after I remove the stock shroud from the GPU. That’s the best suggested configuration for this GPU in this case, as per the forums cumulative wisdom)
1 x Noctua NF-A9x14 PWM (the 2500rpm version to replace the stock fan on the Corsair PSU, was really hard to find this since Noctua doesn’t sell it on its own, the retail version is lower rpm but more significantly higher starting voltage; while this one being lower means it doesn’t suffer from “clicking” and starting/ maintaining lower rpms, therefore more silent and cooler operation)
Noctua fan splitter cables & antivibration mounts and that (again hard to find) 2pin fan adapter that comes only as an accessory with the NF-A4x10 fan. Yes, I did buy one just for that.
DEMCifilters for the case: will see in the end which one I’ll use.
Aftermarket feet (from mnpctech) to raise the case a bit and help with airflow.
4 to 2 pin adaptor with the CB-32D plug in order to plug the Noctua fan on the stock PSU header.
I also bought an XSPC temp sensor 2 pin cable in case in the end I decide to hook the PSU fan on the motherboard’s chassis header and make it’s operation temp dependant.
Gelid PWM fan adaptor to plug both NF-S12A’s on the GPU’s oem header so they’ll be controlled by the GPU.
A couple rubber plugs to plug the two holes on the rear of the case that are meant to accommodate water tubing.
Delid tool from Rockit Cool to delid the cpu, so that I can have as low temps as possible to deal with (along with some TIM and other bits and bobs for the job).
Got a set of sleeved cables for the SF from Corsair to start with. If they work ok they’ll remain, otherwise at some point I might take the plunge and use the discount coupon for CableMod (came with the motherboard from Asus).
A set of Bose Companion 2 series III speakers (very limited space on the desk and no room for subwoofer, so a 2.0 setup was the only way, and these are reasonably good with a good price too).
And lastly a wrist rest to go with the keyboard. Got a glorious pc gaming TKL one, hope it’ll be as comfy as the guy that suggested it to me.
Now from all these (that I started sourcing and ordering about two weeks ago), i have received some but still expecting delivery for the case, delid tools, monitor and ram.
I’d think that in the coming days the rest of the parts will arrive and soon I’ll be able to actually start the build. For the time being I’m just stocking and gathering parts.
There’s a slight (or not so slight problem though).... with all the crazy crypto mining of late, the GPU I’m after is out of stock everywhere and only a couple available at exorbitant prices that I definitely won’t pay. Any idea of where I might be able to find one more reasonably priced without having to wait long ?
Being a “build log post” excuse the lack of pics for the time being, I’ll be updating the thread with pics hopefully soon enough, as soon as I have everything delivered and can get on with building. Will need to start with the deliding and reliding and take it from there.
To be continued...
P.S: the loooong hours spent reading and researching other sff builds, comments and advise on the forums, has been invaluable. Thanks again to everyone that adds a bit of knowledge for us all to share.
Before going forward (this thread/build will be a while), just a bit of background.
I’ve always have been and will remain dedicated to air cooling, accepting the pros and cons of course. This time for this PC I wanted to finally build one in a mini case with max performance and reasonably quiet . I’ve always used to build my PC with max or close to max performance within my budget and I almost never upgraded a build (at least the core components) whithin it’s “lifetime” (lifetime = for as long as it was my primary PC). They were all donated to family and friends when I was moving on to a new build.
Now I accidentally came across the Ncase M1 and immediately I fell for it. It’ll be a huge change to what I was used to previously, imagine that my last build which was a “downscale” by my standards was using a Corsair Carbide Air 540 (with a total of 6 case fans...) that replaced my Obsidian 800D (which in turn had replaced my full coolermaster tower) !
Since I decided on first sight what the case would be, then I spent a few weeks on reading and catching up with current components, almost a whole week to read through the whole thread over at hardforums about the ncase and some more reading in general.
Remember this will be a literally “build from scratch”, everything (except for the NAS and the headphones) will be new, even the mousepad
Then it was time to start sourcing and finding parts...
The list of components that’ll be in the build will be as follows:
Case: Ncase M1 v5
MOBO: Asus Strix z370-I
CPU: Intel 8700K
CPU Cooler: Noctua NH-D9L
RAM: Corsair LPX 2x16GB @ 2400
GPU: Asus Strix GTX1080Ti OC
SSD: Samsung 960Pro M.2 1TB
PSU: Corsair SF600
Keyboard: Wooting One
Mouse: Logitech G703
Monitor: Asus ROG Swift PG279Q
And now the rest bits/mods/accessories/needed parts to complete the build:
2 x Noctua NF-B9 Redux PWM (to go on the cpu cooler)
2 x Noctua NF-S12A PWM (for exhaust at the bottom of the case, acting as GPU coolers after I remove the stock shroud from the GPU. That’s the best suggested configuration for this GPU in this case, as per the forums cumulative wisdom)
1 x Noctua NF-A9x14 PWM (the 2500rpm version to replace the stock fan on the Corsair PSU, was really hard to find this since Noctua doesn’t sell it on its own, the retail version is lower rpm but more significantly higher starting voltage; while this one being lower means it doesn’t suffer from “clicking” and starting/ maintaining lower rpms, therefore more silent and cooler operation)
Noctua fan splitter cables & antivibration mounts and that (again hard to find) 2pin fan adapter that comes only as an accessory with the NF-A4x10 fan. Yes, I did buy one just for that.
DEMCifilters for the case: will see in the end which one I’ll use.
Aftermarket feet (from mnpctech) to raise the case a bit and help with airflow.
4 to 2 pin adaptor with the CB-32D plug in order to plug the Noctua fan on the stock PSU header.
I also bought an XSPC temp sensor 2 pin cable in case in the end I decide to hook the PSU fan on the motherboard’s chassis header and make it’s operation temp dependant.
Gelid PWM fan adaptor to plug both NF-S12A’s on the GPU’s oem header so they’ll be controlled by the GPU.
A couple rubber plugs to plug the two holes on the rear of the case that are meant to accommodate water tubing.
Delid tool from Rockit Cool to delid the cpu, so that I can have as low temps as possible to deal with (along with some TIM and other bits and bobs for the job).
Got a set of sleeved cables for the SF from Corsair to start with. If they work ok they’ll remain, otherwise at some point I might take the plunge and use the discount coupon for CableMod (came with the motherboard from Asus).
A set of Bose Companion 2 series III speakers (very limited space on the desk and no room for subwoofer, so a 2.0 setup was the only way, and these are reasonably good with a good price too).
And lastly a wrist rest to go with the keyboard. Got a glorious pc gaming TKL one, hope it’ll be as comfy as the guy that suggested it to me.
Now from all these (that I started sourcing and ordering about two weeks ago), i have received some but still expecting delivery for the case, delid tools, monitor and ram.
I’d think that in the coming days the rest of the parts will arrive and soon I’ll be able to actually start the build. For the time being I’m just stocking and gathering parts.
There’s a slight (or not so slight problem though).... with all the crazy crypto mining of late, the GPU I’m after is out of stock everywhere and only a couple available at exorbitant prices that I definitely won’t pay. Any idea of where I might be able to find one more reasonably priced without having to wait long ?
Being a “build log post” excuse the lack of pics for the time being, I’ll be updating the thread with pics hopefully soon enough, as soon as I have everything delivered and can get on with building. Will need to start with the deliding and reliding and take it from there.
To be continued...
P.S: the loooong hours spent reading and researching other sff builds, comments and advise on the forums, has been invaluable. Thanks again to everyone that adds a bit of knowledge for us all to share.
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