Log The "this setup needs a case" mystery build

[hrh_ginsterbusch]

So I recently realized that my OTHER backpack also allows for fitting quite a few below 12L cases as well - tested with the S300, S400, and rotated S400 - I decided to maybe try a completely different approach to my dilemma with my 13700k build: find a fitting case for the setup, and then put it in said other backpack, for more options than just dragging around the "heavy duty" workstation setup.

Now for the setup: I originally started out with the K39 v3, but soon realized I wouldnt be able to get the case modifications done without serious rearrangements (I wanted to turn it into a console-style / classic layout).

Update August 2026:

So here is the setup: ITX board + Flex-ATX PSU / HDPlex GaN 500W + 145 mm Silverstone XED120S + RTX 4060 (for now).
The goal is, as usual, a portable WORKSTATION build, not any run-of-the-mill gaming PC.

Specs in detail as of August 2026:

- CPU: Intel Ultra i7 270k plus
- MB: Asrock Phantom Gaming Z890I Nova Wifi
- RAM: 32 GB Corsair Vengeance 5600 CL36 (might be replaced with 64 GB 6000 CL 34)
- Storage: 2 TB Lexar NM790
- GPU: Inno3D RTX 4070 OC Stealth
- PSU: Corsair SF750 for now, may be later replaced with the Enhance ENP-7660L-OVT
- Case: Silverstone SG13 in white (inner frame only, side + top panels will be replaced)
- Case fans: 92 slim front exhaust, 2x 92 mm front top exhaust (either P9 Max or Noctua NF-A9), 2x 60 mm GPU top exhaust, back intake: Arctic P8 Max
- OS: Linux dual-boot, probably either EndeavourOS + MX Linux or Siduction + MX Linux (whichever of the first in row is gonna work better)

Planned modifications:

- replacement of the top and side panels with mesh panels for improved air flow (esp exhaust)
- modified front panel for better air flow
- same 30 mm feet as with the current Mesh-mATX build
- mount for 92 mm fans in top front (with leftover parts from the A4-H2O 280 failed build)

Potential upgrade paths:

- depending on the GPU, 3 - 4x 60 mm exhaust fans below top panel
- cutout for the NVMe SSDs on the back of the MB
- side panel behind the MB to both add a slim 120 mm fan, potentially add frontend IO and maybe even get a better location for the PSU extension plug
- side panel may either be full-on wood or mixed materials with wood

To-Do:

- finish OS installation
- top front exhaust - see if NF-A9 is enough or if 2x P9 Max is doing any better (also in terms of fan curves / noise levels)
- test if a CPU cooler fan duct helps with the top exhaust
- slim side exhaust for the PSU - see if it improves temps at all

Spoiler: original specs until August 2026

So here is the setup: ITX board + LP cooler with up to 77 mm height + RTX 4060 LP + Flex-ATX PSU or HDPlex GaN 500W.
The goal is, as usual, a portable WORKSTATION build, not any run-of-the-mill gaming PC.

Specs in detail:
Said board is the Asrock Z690 PG-ITX/TB4, the CPU as already mentioned my trusty i7-13700k, LP coolers I got are the AXP120-X67 and the ID-Cooling IS-67-XT and the GPU is the Gigabyte RTX 4060 LP. Flex PSU would be the FSP FlexGuru 500, and I dont think the HDPlex GaN needs more introduction.

The K39 v3 would need at least 1 - 2 cm of width to be able to comfortably mount the PSU; other option would be getting a different back panel, with at least 4 cm more length to it. The K39 is 22 x 19.6 x 12 cm, so that'd mean it'd be 22 x 24ish x 12 cm afterwards. As I dont have access to any 3d printing service, and havent found a good alternative to sth like SendCutSend here in Europe, manufacture of that would be quite the hassle.

So considering all of this, I decided to look into other cases - the Ophion 7L had always been the second candidate for this build, so without further ado, I decided to drop the assembled board + GPU into it and see where to go from there. Which turned out be .. also an issue? The Gigabyte RTX 4060 LP seems to be slightly too "tall", just by a few mm. So either I could try a deshroud and find decent 80 x 10 mm fans .. or just give this thing also the finger, because a 77 mm tall CPU cooler might also need a few more adjustments with the side panel.

Long story short: With the testing of the other backpack in mind, I decided to acquire an entirely different case. A classic, so to speak: The SilverStone SG13.

Which arrived yesterday, and I did a test fitting of the components today.

 

[hrh_ginsterbusch]

Now for some nice results:

Removed the front panel, and that cut down the size a bit further. I dont need nor use all the front IO clutter anyway. Might repurpose one of the removed on/off switches of either the S400 or the Meshroom S, and create a different front panel from one of the bought mesh panels, so it fits much flatter and shorter than the original.

As we go with a "psu mod", ie. not in its original position, which wouldnt make much sense with the Flex PSU or the HDPlex GaN anyway, we gain a lot of height for cooling. So I grabbed the largest air cooler I currently own, the Thermalright Phantom Spirit 120 SE, which I've been keeping around as a fallback option, eg. if an AIO fails and I need quick replacement, and test-fit it.

Here is for some measurement results:
With the case mono C panel closed, the Phantom Spirit 120 SE fits by the mm. For reference, thats 154 mm of height. Pretty solid.

On that note:
Am wondering why SilverStone hasnt decided to do this themselves officially yet? After 10+ years, they should just create a V3 that allows exactly that: Actual front mounting or "side-by-side" mounting of the PSU, and a back panel with fan mounting options, plus opening for a PSU extension cord / plug. Or just create an accessory pack - eg. front mounting + back panel, or even top front mounting (the HDD / SSD mount could easily be replaced with that), etc. The options are plenty.

Anyways, my plans for covering the PSU opening are: 80 mm fan + probably 60 mm fan + PSU extension plug.

Successfully tested the concept with the Thermalright 80x15 and the Noctua 60x15, plus the PSU extension / plug of the HDPlex GaN.

Could also leave out the 60 mm fan and just create the back panel add-on cover out of one of the mesh panels that I bought a while ago for exactly these purposes .. we will see

cu, w0lf.

 

[hrh_ginsterbusch]

Now for something completely different, but also directly related: Apparently Silverstone launched a "mainstream" version of the XED-120WS 145 mm CPU cooler called XED-120S (without the "W") somewhere around mid of March this year. It went by without any big announcements, which went so far that even the meticulous Geizhals.de failed to properly categorize it - they have it f(a)iled as a single tower cooler, while its actually a twin tower.

Yes, it aint mentioned in the specs, but if you just take a look at the first two pictures, its pretty obvious its NOT a single tower cooler. And there is a fan attached IN THE MIDDLE, the mounting mechanism is mentioned as a specific feature, too.

The thing is: Nobody seems to have tested it yet - the WS? Yes, tests are plenty. But for the S-version (without the WS) I could only find 2 - 3 videos on YT, and none of them do an actual test. There is a lengthy recording of a live stream, that is actually quite good, without all the usual hub-bub blah of live streams, where the host is building in a FLP-02, after apparently having tortured themselves with a very crappy 240 AIO in the stream before. So we get mostly a review, not a test.

Which, after all this pre-blah, brings me to this: I just ordered it in Amazon - should arrive on Monday.

Gonna test and compare it with the before-mentioned Phantom Spirit SE 1²0, maybe also the Silversoul 135, and then afterwards, depending on the results, keep or return it. Tests will includethe default and a two fan setup (original fan + Arctic P12 Pro or Max).

cu, w0lf.

 

[hrh_ginsterbusch]

ps: Yes, I got (a few) pictures. Probably need to convert them before upload, because AFAIR the forum now only allows for 2 MB per image file, but .. up soon

cu, w0lf.

 

[GuilleAcoustic]

So here is the setup: ITX board + LP cooler with up to 77 mm height + RTX 4060 LP + Flex-ATX PSU or HDPlex GaN 500W.
The goal is, as usual, a portable WORKSTATION build, not any run-of-the-mill gaming PC.

If it was not unobtainum, the Revoccase N0RDR1 Nano EVO would be almost perfect.

 

[hrh_ginsterbusch]

Currently contemplating whether I should get a 13900k and PL + UV + optimize the heck out of it, and stick with a bit of mediocre ITX Z690 board (Asrock, PG, etc.), or go full out on the 1851 Intel platform while its still around ..

A 13900k vs. a 265K is nearly identical in computing power, but the first one might have the degradation issue. On the other hand, the other one might be very picky, depending on the MB, in terms of RAM. Which is obviously not the best times right now for this kind of fragility.

cu, w0lf.

 

[hrh_ginsterbusch]

Update: Just ordered the Asrock PG Z890i Nova Wifi + an Intel Core Ultra 7 270K Plus.

AFAIK the planned CPU cooler is directly compatible, so we gonna proceed with this build.
Only change: Might try the regular "PSU in front" mod first, before replacing it with a Flex-ATX PSU or maybe another HDPlex GaN 500. Depends on whether this is gonna block air exhaust / intake too much or not.

cu, w0lf.

 

[hrh_ginsterbusch]

It has arrived. First, I was a bit disappointed about the packaging of the Intel CPU, but then realized, after a few hours, that the CPU plastic tray just had come loose by its own rights. So when it arrived, it was like loosely flying around inside the cardboard box that each and any Intel CPU gets shipped in. But still factory sealed.

That tells us two things:

a) with Alder Lake + Raptor Lake, Intel still had enough money to let produce decent cardboard boxes for their CPUs
b) thats it, I guess.

At on the more positive side, the MB already seems to know about the CPU refresh and is read to go, as its spots BIOS version 3.04. Acc. to the Asrock website, the CPUs get recognized since version 2.26, and acc. to their BIOS version history page, proper 200S boost is recognized since version 3.03.

cu, w0lf.

 

[hrh_ginsterbusch]

Other things to arrive tomorrow: The only easily available contact frame for socket 1851 right now, ie. the one by Thermal Grizzly, which is probably the OG solution anyway. Acc. to customer reviews, it may reduce temps by 5 - 6 °C with the i9, so the i7, which some suggest is just a relabeled i9, maybe even KS, should also be happy with it.

cu, w0lf.

 

[hrh_ginsterbusch]

In terms of building, gonna go with the 500W FSP Flex ATX PSU for now, as the HDPlex GaN 500W is already occuppied with my Mesh-mATX build.

Also am now VERY tempted to buy the recently released Asrock SFX 850W PSU, as the Cybenetics test results look .. wow. Noise graph is very very solid, Corsair can go pack its stuff and move elsewhere, NOW! Also, the efficiency is very mouth watering. And then, cables? They reaaallly look nice

Probably still gonna go with a second HDPlex GaN, it has been performing very satisfying so far.

cu, w0lf.

 

[hrh_ginsterbusch]

270k + the Asrock Nova Z890I arrived last week. Yesterday, I replaced the original ILM with the Thermalgrizzly 1851 Contact frame .. and then I submerged the backplate sandwich thingy for the Silverstone XED120S cooler in Iso, to remove the disgusting BS 3M glue. Today, I used microfiber and another batch of Iso in a large plastic cup to remove the leftover glue stains.

IDK why the heck Silverstone thinks its a "great idead" to add those idiotic 3M double-sided tape garbage to Intel mounting no matter which socket, but it really. sucks. ass. A LOT. Either make it optional OR just add like a second backplate thingy WITHOUT that shite! Cost-wise this probably runs in the lower single digits anyway

anyway, its all prepared, and the initial setup should be finished either today - when I'm sober, waiting on parts makes you do the dumbest decisions, like: "oh, this new energy drink needs to be tested with wodka!" - OR tomorrow, when I'm deffo sober

cu, w0lf.

 

[hrh_ginsterbusch]

Cleaned it again, and remembered reading about "remove the rest with microfiber towel" - so I picked a smaller used one, et voilà: works like a charm.

Now I just need to put everything together as planned.

 

[hrh_ginsterbusch]

Update: Initial test - it all works. Of corpse I forgot to install a power button after all was already done, but luckily I still had one external one from the Meshi build of the OBS machine sitting around, so the most complicated part was fumbling in the Power Sw plug on the board.

Also, the loudest fan was the CPU cooler fan, running at 3000 rpm, because I accidently plugged it into the AIO pump fan header. The FSP FlexGuru 500W is near dead silent.

It went on full blast and cooled the 270K down to 30.5 C. Everything else detected properly as well.

cu, w0lf.

 

[hrh_ginsterbusch]

Next steps: Tearing down the MeshATX build. "tearing down" more in quotes, I'm just gonna grab the PSU + the GPU for now.

Am going to try and reuse most of the existing parts of the (SG13) case, too.
Might keep the front, too, depending on how the front exhaust situation is gonna turn out.

cu, w0lf.

 

[hrh_ginsterbusch]

Looks like I cannot use the HDPlex GaN with this setup anymore - no, the PSU is totally fine. Its just that my 4070 is too long, so there is not enough space for the 21ish cm of the PSU to sit in. I've tried going back to the Flex-ATX PSU, too, but that also has its shortcomings, like with permanently attached cables being too bulky.

So for now, I'm going with the SFX frontend approach. Tested with Corsair SF750. Still allows for top exhaust, and up to a 92 mm slim fan for side exhaust.

The new fan setup plans are as follows:

- Top fans: 2x 92 mm in the front, + 2x 60 for the GPU top side
- Side fan: 92x15 mm for additional PSU + a bit of CPU exhaust
- Back fan: 80 mm, gonna test whether the TL-8015 or the P8 Max is better for this; my guess is, both are going to perform very similar

I just ordered another P9 Max, and for comparison, I got 2x Noctua NF-A9.

For the PSU, for now I'm using a white PSU extension cord, which originally is from the Meshroom D, but am going to replace it with one of the several other extension cords I still have sitting around from other projects.

cu, w0lf.

 

[hrh_ginsterbusch]

Arrived on Saturday and done with test fit:

- Arctic P8 Max for back exhaust - fits easily; could even house a 38 mm server fan
- P9 Max for top exhaust in front - no issues whatsoever
- TL-60 for GPU top exhaust on the side - fits perfectly, 2x is the limit, min-maxing with one P8 + one P9 might allow for a 3rd 60 mm, but I think its not worth the effort

The setup looks SO dense rn

cu, w0lf.

 

[hrh_ginsterbusch]

Until I've convinced ClassicPress to work as a headless, OTF media gallery server, there is this bit of sus eye candy on my insta:



This obviously is mostly a mock-up - the MB, CPU cooler + the GPU are all installed, the rest, including the PSU, are only arranged in the best positions for testing purposes.