Description

I'ts been about 7 years since my last build, I've been living with this monster Corsair carbide 400(?) full tower atx case for no real good reason. For at least a year I've been saving and planning for a new build, and I settled on making it as small as I could while still using "full power" hardware. After searching through lots of builds, youtube, getting help from some reddit users, this is what I came up with.

-I replaced the fan in the Sesonic SFX-L PSU with a noctua to get some more flow. The stock fan was very quiet and did the 0 rpm thing, but I wanted the Noctua to run at a constant speed to act as a case exhaust as well as cool the psu. It's a little louder this way for sure, but I think my case temps are doing well because of it .

-The bulkier tubing of the H80i was a concern of mine initially. I'm still happy I went with an SFX-L PSU for clearance with these tubes, but in the end they flexed and stayed in place better than expected. The thick radiator and the extra powerful new Noctua A12 are great for this case.

-My 5 Ghz overclock was nice and easy, 84c max in cinnebench R20. I tried using the asrock software for fan control and overclock but gave up on that, it was doing too many weird things. The BIOS is working fine for this now.

-The 2070 black edition uses every mm of room available.

-The WD spinning disk almost doubles the sound output of the build at idle when it spins up. I want more SSDs.

-I'm in love with cases that take advantage of all available room now, its satisfying.

Comments

  • 6 months ago
  • 3 points

How is the h80 performing? Just bought a h60 because I was worried about space. I suppose you can't push pull with this setup?

  • 6 months ago
  • 1 point

So far so good. I have since refined my overclock a little bit, it runs solid at 5ghz @1.24V now. Cinebench R20 still stresses the cpu the hardest, and it maxes at 82 degrees now. It is in the high 70s after 30 mins of prime 95. I made the decision early on to go with the thicker H80 for the higher thermal capacity, and I went with the new style Noctua fan because it probably outperforms most competing push pull setups both thermally and in noise levels. You could run an additional slim fan on the H80 if you wanted to, but I don't think the gains if any would be worth the hassle of getting it to fit and the additional noise.

  • 6 months ago
  • 3 points

Just have 2 questions:

  • I can sort of tell from the wires but, did you route the fan header out of the PSU and connect it to the board or is it connected to the PSU?

  • Also the exhaust fan you mounted with the zip ties (love the idea) are you worried about it snagging cables or does it work fine?

I'll be building a similar PC for the Ryzen 3rd gen!

  • 6 months ago
  • 1 point

It's connected to the motherboard. I didn't want this fan to operate based on the PSU thermal sensor, which would turn it off and attempt to run it slow. Its a FLX model noctua with the medium speed extension installed for a constant 900ish RPM I think.

The side exhaust fan was rubbing only the tubing for the AIO, just had to shift the tubing a hair and it's been fine. Otherwise the cable management in that area of the case is pretty easy to make clean.

  • 7 months ago
  • 2 points

Is it easy and safe to replace the fan for the PSU? That sounds nightmarish for me to do for a simple mod because of potential dangers involved.

  • 7 months ago
  • 1 point

its not recommended because it voids warranty.

  • 7 months ago
  • 1 point

For someone that's used to working with electronics it's a 20 minute job. For someone unfamiliar with doing anything like this, I wouldst recommend it as your first project, if that makes sense. You can do the build w/o modding the psu, but maybe try to squeeze a 120mm fan on the side for exhaust instead of the 92mm. I think the need to vent hot air is essential.

  • 7 months ago
  • 1 point

My worry is touching a rail or something I'm not supposed to be touching and getting electrocuted. Every PC building/modding site has told me to fear an open PSU. I'm sure its not rocket science and its as simple as unscrewing the fan, disconnecting the header, and vise versa for the new fan. Is there anything to keep in mind when working with an open PSU/PSU modding?

  • 6 months ago
  • 1 point

Again, if you're not familiar with electronics at all, going inside a PSU shouldn't be where you learn. I cycled the power supply on and off while unplugged from the wall using a jumper wire to try to make sure the caps were discharged, and I left it overnight without any power, but because even I don't know if that helps, I still didnt touch anything I didn't need to.

  • 6 months ago
  • 2 points

Funny coincidence, my first and only build was in 2011 with a Carbide 400R too. It's long been sold years ago but I have a tentative build planned with the SG13. Your build looks real nice.

  • 6 months ago
  • 1 point

Thank you

  • 6 months ago
  • 2 points

Awesome build! I may try to replicate it when I upgrade in a couple months. What fans did you use in each location? I see the smallest one tied to the side, but is it the A12x25 attached to the H80i and the A12x15 inside the PSU? Also, I don't think I see the WD drive in any of the pics, where did you squeeze that in?

  • 6 months ago
  • 1 point

Thank you. You got it right with the fans and their location. The mechanical drive is in the standard bracket provided with the case, it sits on top of the radiator, and you can see it well in pic 20 & 21.

  • 5 months ago
  • 2 points

Hey really nice build, I am also doing something similar but I don't game (use pc for web development) https://pcpartpicker.com/list/3XFm6s

A couple of questions That side fan (92mm) is an exhaust or intake?

Will I be able to fit in a 140mm fan in the front as intake?, my gpu is about 9.5 inches and I am not using a liquid cooler.

Why did you go with that dust filter and not the one that silverstone gives (just asking)

Thanks!

  • 5 months ago
  • 1 point

Thank you. The side 92mm fan is setup in exhaust. Based on what SIlverstone shows on their site, your 9.5" card should fit with a 140mm fan because you won't have the added thickness of the radiator to worry about. If there were any clearance issues I'd bet you could slot the fan mount easily enough to slide the fan to the side a hair for clearance. The case only comes with a front intake filter, I added the graphics card side filters. I plan on trying to mod the case and move the 120mm slim Noctua fan out of the power supply and onto the side in place of the 92mm. I'll go back to the stock PSU fan, all in the name of being quieter, as right now the increased flow through the PSU for exhaust is really turbulent and always audible, and the 120mm will be quieter than the 92mm side fan its replacing. I would trim the side panel for ventilation accordingly. I'll go at it one day soon hopefully...

  • 6 months ago
  • 1 point

How did you do the dust filter on the GPU side? I have the same case and was wanting to do something similar. Yours looks sharp.

  • 6 months ago
  • 1 point

Universal 120mm Magnetic dust filters on amazon https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B077CR74LL/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o02_s02?ie=UTF8&psc=1

  • 2 months ago
  • 1 point

Loved it!. Can the noctua A12x15 be installed between the front panel and radiator mount? Just behind the dust filter? Does it fit or is it too thick?