It's not about the size...Piccolo! [Full Custom Loop in Ncase M1 v5 Build]

[For Science!]

2020 ver (look at the bottom post for details).

 

Old News

Spoiler

It's about how much you can cram into it.

 

 

 

Putative Parts List:

• CPU: Intel Core i7-8700K
• Motherboard: ASUS ROG STRIX Z370-I
• RAM: G.SKILL TridentZ DDR4-3400 MHz, 2 x 16 GB
• GPU: MSI GeForce GTX 1080 Ti Aero OC
• CPU Cooler: Corsair H100i v2
• PSU: Corsair SF600

Looks like cramming in as much power in a given space is a new found hobby of mine, and I have decided to do a build in the infamous Ncase M1 to complement my Define C build.

 

Parts list will only be compiled as the build reaches compilation and as they are documented. So sit back, relax, and enjoy the build. Hopefully there will not be too much tears

 

The bare skeleton of the Ncase M1, I really look forward to cramming as much possible in this already pretty small case

 

 

The only part that I currently have, basically the only PSU that is suitable for this form factor is the Corsair SF600

 

and that's basically a 1/6th of the case occupied, just like that

[ZeusXI]

4 hours ago, For Science! said:

It's about how much you can cram into it.

I wish i had this case. ive been wanting to build in this case for awhile, and put liquid cooling possibly on my GPU (1070) or my CPU ( i use both 7700k and ryzen 1700 depending on gaming/editing needs) and i want to have a small case like this. i already have a smallish case, the silverstone Milo Z mini-itx case

[Zhanming12]

Here's something I threw together in the M1 V5, also with the SF600. Definitely not the easiest case to work with, but very demanding if you can get it done right.

 

Spoiler

 

[For Science!]

Some more parts arrived today  and finally made a decision on the parts going into the PC so have updated the op.

 

The main engine of this build. MSI GTX1080Ti Aero so that it can "take one for the team" and won't melt everything in this SFF case.

 

The storage madness. 1 TB 960 EVO M.2 x 2 for dual booting with Linux/Windows. and an extra 1 TB 850 EVO as a communal drive between the two OSes. 2 x 16 GB G.SKILL TridentZ RAM rated for 3400 MHz, we'll see if we actually make it to those numbers.

[For Science!]

Last update for a while until the motherboard and CPU arrive (few weeks? hopefully).

 

To aerate this case for now, I have gotten my hands on some 15 mm Noctua NF-A12 x 15 PWM fans. 

 

These fans, despite being only 15 mm thick (compared to normal 25 mm thick fans) have been reviewed to have on-par performance with their 25 mm brethren. So I thought these may perform better in a situation where a 25 mm fan would be right up against the graphics card. So we should be reaping the benefits of both worlds, the performance of a 25 mm fan, but with some room for the air to go around the graphcis card and aerate the case.

 

http://www.overclockers.com/noctua-nf-a12x15-fan-review/

[For Science!]

Also decided on a name for the build - Piccolo

[Enderman]

Why do you say it's infamous...

It's one of the best MITX cases.

[For Science!]

12 minutes ago, Enderman said:

-snip-

You are absolutely right, the build quality is amazing and I am loving this case. I guess it's mainly down to its really tight spacing and so knowing and planning is more important than other cases imo. There are a number of graphics cards that simply will not fit in the case, and so (I guess to a degree with all mITX builds) require a good amount of planning beforehand.

[dizmo]

Niiiice, should be quite a beast! I guess they don't have Silverstone or Enermax PSUs where you live? Either of those would be pretty good as well. Only 1TB communal? Should have gone with 2TB

16 minutes ago, Enderman said:

Why do you say it's infamous...

It's one of the best MITX cases.

He's from Sweden, likely just doesn't have full understanding of the word. Pretty easy one to mess up.

[For Science!]

7 minutes ago, dizmo said:

Only 1TB communal? Should have gone with 2TB

Yeah I think 1.5~2 TB of SSD should be okay for the use case. I have external 3.5" 8TB drives for bulk storage. I did consider putting a mechanical 2.5" instead of the 850 EVO, but I thought having that HDD accessing noise from the front of the case would annoy me.

[dizmo]

25 minutes ago, For Science! said:

Yeah I think 1.5~2 TB of SSD should be okay for the use case. I have external 3.5" 8TB drives for bulk storage. I did consider putting a mechanical 2.5" instead of the 850 EVO, but I thought having that HDD accessing noise from the front of the case would annoy me.

Plus mechanical drives are gross. 

[For Science!]

Okay the board and CPU finally arrived. so I will be continuing the build

 

 

Plonked the CPU in

 

Test boot outside the case. All good so far.

[For Science!]

tried mock fitting the parts into the case. Looks like I might have to rotate the CPU block because the AIO tubes are quite stressed in this configuration.

 

Good thermal paste spread with good old pea method. Refreshing change working with a normal sized CPU after dealing with a couple of threadrippers.

 

[For Science!]

Good update. I did manage to slam the H100i v2 inside the case. in the end I found mounting the CPU block with the tubes on top made it easiest to bend the tubing so it rested on top of the fans. Zipties onto the fans were used so that the tubes remained inside the case (although I scuffed the sleeve in the process).

 

 

Looks quite non-descript from the front. cable management could be better but will do for now.

 

Loaded up Windows 10 and updated everything left it on "Auto"+ XMP and fired up Realbench. (MCE turned on)

 

 

The CPU was at a "healthy" 75 degrees (all core 4.8 GHz) and the GPU stabiized at 67 degrees. 

[For Science!]

So....you know me. can't resist the temptation to make a system better by voiding warranty.

 

Using the delid-die-mate2.

 

Hello thermal goop.

 

cleaned the silicon glue off by scraping and the thermal paste with isopropanol.

 

Applied a drop of ThermalGrizzly Conductonaut and spread it with included q-tip.

 

Did the same for the IHS, slight more generously since cannot get the exact mount location by eye. Made a right mess of applying a thin line of siliccon glue, but just enough to hold it down is fine.

 

relidding. 20 minutes.

 

Plonked it back in and fired realbench. GPU still at 68 degrees but CPU came down a good 15 degrees, now at 60 degrees ish when running Realbench

 

Overall very satisfied with the delidding

 

[r3loAded]

53 minutes ago, For Science! said:

Overall very satisfied with the delidding

When in doubt ------> DELID. As always, strong "fragrance" from a small package ;). Good job.

[For Science!]

48 minutes ago, r3loAded said:

When in doubt ------> DELID. As always, strong "fragrance" from a small package ;). Good job.

Thanks Intel Mayonnaise doesn't help with thermals for sure.

[For Science!]

Yep. it' happening. The AIO was all but an excuse to extend the build. full water, incoming.

 

sliced some holes in the rubber gasket to accommodate some pins

 

block installed

first radiator installed

[TheRealDieselD]

very impressed!

[KrMaH]

subbing this!

[GDRRiley]

man you are crazy, that tiny case with custom water cooling, that gets a sub

[For Science!]

Okay guys the last piece has made it (safely this time) so I will be trying to finish the build over the next couple of days

 

[For Science!]

Ok taken apart the Gpu cooler. normal procedure now. and whacked on the thermal pads

 

 

removed the protective film and applied a thinish layer of kryonaut 

 

Done! (black backplane also installed)

 

 

test fitting GPU and pump.....yikes it'

 tight but fits. I mounted the ek block in the wonky position due to potential clashes with the pump.

 

The fans are in pull exhaust configuration. slightly unusual but I think necessary for a small form factor like this. I think a classical bottom intake would reheat the system too well to make it worth it 

[GDRRiley]

that is tight wow.

[For Science!]

20 minutes ago, GDRRiley said:

that is tight wow.

since this case isn't windowed my intention is put another 120 mm radiator in front as well as a fan so that there is some air going to the board.

 

I obviously don't like making my life easy