Phanteks Evolv Shift with AMD Build

[Z3R0 CHANC3]

Well I built a rig in September but the itch was still strong, so here I go again!  This will probably sit in my home office and be used for VR almost exclusively.   But who knows, maybe I'll do some transcoding or something.

 

Parts:

Phanteks Evolv Shift in Grey ($110 Amazon)

Ryzen 7 2700X ($250 Microcenter) 

Asus X470i MB ($160 Microcenter)

Samsung 970 Pro 512GB ($178 Amazon)

G.Force TridentZ RGB 16GB F4-3200C14D-16GTZRX ($240 Newegg ugh!)

EVGA 1080 ti Gaming Black Edition ($545 Ebay)

Cooler Master ML120R ($77 Amazon)

Seasonic Focus SGX-650 Gold ($130 Amazon)

 

I accidentally ordered the GTZR memory, which is NOT tested for Ryzen so I returned that today and ordered the right stuff (GTZRX) yesterday.   Thank you Newegg for that 30% restocking fee.  Why, you ask?  Because I screwed up and cut the seal before I did my part verification.  Shame on me.

 

I picked up the 1080 ti a month ago because I figured supply would be dropping and I should get a deal while I could.  I've already tested it in my other rig and it's rock solid.  I'm actually going to throw it in my other rig again because I'm getting tearing when I watch YouTube.  I suspect it's the receiver passthrough to the TV that's at fault but I want to eliminate the GPU as the culprit.  Both GPUs have plenty of warranty left though.  Unfortunately this one just lights up white....no RGB.

 

I saw the 2700X at Best Buy for $280 during Black Friday and told a buddy of mine and he showed me the awesome deal at Microcenter but they were sold out.   But they restocked Saturday night so I drove from San Diego to Tustin.  Partially for the discount (plus the $30 MB combo discount), but mostly because I hadn't been to a Microcenter before.  I didn't run into any of my favorite YouTubers though.  Bummer.

 

The AIO I had from the last build, but I swapped it for an EVGA 240 CLC in that rig and thought it'd be great in the Shift in push/pull.  I'm not a fan of Cooler Master's RGB software or controller, especially with the original build, but it'll do.

 

I think the Gigabyte X470 board is better, honestly, but I've always leaned towards Asus motherboards, win or lose.  I still have my old Asus P5KPL-CM mATX Socket 775 motherboard floating around from my very first complete build!

 

The 970 Pro....  well....  is there a better SSD?  LOL

 

I'm hoping that Phanteks has updated their PCI-E riser.  But I'll have to test once assembled and see if the GPU is working properly.   Actually I'll probably pull the riser and test it on the bench first.  I've read nothing positive about the case riser....almost prevented me from getting it.

 

Well most of the parts are here.  Memory should be here tonight if you trust FedEx (I don't) and the PSU should be here Tuesday.  

 

Build pics to come......

[Overlandr]

That's some dam expensive RAM. Looks like a nice build though, I like that you're making it mainly just because you want to

[Z3R0 CHANC3]

4 minutes ago, Overlandr said:

That's some dam expensive RAM. Looks like a nice build though, I like that you're making it mainly just because you want to

Yeah it's ridiculous!   CL16 was cheaper but I wanted good speed and timings.

 

Thanks!  If I could build cool systems for friends and just charge them for the parts I probably would.  At least for a while.

[Z3R0 CHANC3]

Alright, time to get started on the initial bench build.

 

My first AMD CPU since 1997, that was in a pre-built PC I got at a computer show in Columbus, Ohio.

 

CPU and Memory Installed

 

I'm kind of a Samsung "Pro" series SSD fanboy.

 

Installed and sticker removed.  Looks like the sticker on the back is a heat spreader so I'll leave that in place.

 

Checking where to trim the thermal pad.

 

The reason for this is that I just want to cool the controller.  I don't know if it really makes sense but Steve from GN recommends it as the memory actually likes to run hot.  My Z370-i board SSD cooler is actually set up this way, but for some reason this board is set up to cool the entire length.  All trimmed...SSD sticker back in the box.

 

This board uses a riser for the audio controller and m.2 with RGB heatsink.  It's very hard to see to line the 6 pins up, and the don't look any more robust than RGB connectors ever do.

 

Installed.

 

The glorious peel!!!

 

Installing the stock cooler just for testing.  I've already used the AIO so I know it's good.

 

Pulling out the riser for the video card.  I want to know if it's good, if it's not I'll RMA it and hopefully the replacement is good, though I hear it's hit or miss.  Some people have ordered different ones and made them work.  HOPEFULLY Phanteks has gotten their act together with this part.

 

Riser removed.

 

GPU Installed

 

The case comes with one 140mm fan as an exhaust.  I'll be switching it to an intake, not sure if I'll mount it next to the motherboard or next to the pull fan and radiator, if there's enough room.  I want the top of the case to exhaust most of the air.  I've pulled it out for now.

 

Ok, that's it for now.  My PSU comes on Monday.  If this is anything like my last build I'll spend more time on cable management than the actual build!

[Z3R0 CHANC3]

Try to avoid quoting the images....  makes it hard to follow.

 

I'm using a Cooler Master ML120R AIO....there's a picture in the first post.  As far as mini-ITX cases go it's pretty big.  Controlling the airflow a little will help, and turning that exhaust fan to blow onto the motherboard will help more than exhausting out the side.  I'm all about positive pressure setup.

[Overlandr]

Very nice. That is some tasty looking RAM. Hope it works well for you.

[Z3R0 CHANC3]

I thought this old PSU was missing the 8 pin but I was wrong, so I was able to test the system.  Everything works but my memory kit is 3200mhz, 14, 14, 14, 34 and it won't boot to those settings.  15, 15, 15, 36 is what it boots to, but maybe those only work with XMP, which of course AMD boards don't have.   Once I get it all built I'll play with the settings.  That reminds me, I forgot to check what mode the GPU is set to.

 

Also it looks like I can mount the radiator side to side vs front to back.  The side panels clip on just fine.  The bonus to this is an intake on the bottom side is possible along with a second intake on the top side, as well as the AIO tubes are oriented to match how the pump/block will mount to the motherboard.

[Zando_]

You can use XMP profiles with Ryzen, on my X370, B450, and X470 boards I just choose the D.O.C.P. Standard option under overclocking (usually gives me auto, manual, DOCP Standard, etc).

[Z3R0 CHANC3]

8 minutes ago, Zando Bob said:

You can use XMP profiles with Ryzen, on my X370, B450, and X470 boards I just choose the D.O.C.P. Standard option under overclocking (usually gives me auto, manual, DOCP Standard, etc).

Thanks, I just found that!  Lol.  But the other problem with the way I first did it was that XMP profile called for 1.350v and I hadn't upped the voltage.

[Z3R0 CHANC3]

CPU cleaned off...  that was some REALLY thick paste.  Motherboard installed.  The lower 2 standoffs had nipples to help with alignment, nice touch.

Oh yeah I took out both 2.5" trays.

 

I noticed that the GPU bracket had the pcie slot too far to the right and the PCB is pretty thin and flexible so I could lock the clip but then the graphics card was angled 1 or 2 degrees, no bueno.  So I made some spacers and now it's perfect.

 

I ordered a couple of 140mm Chromax fans for the case.  One will blow past the bottom of the GPU towards the PSU, the other will blow directly over the VRM.  The case only came with 1 140mm fan and I'd rather have matching fans if I'm gonna use two, plus I've wanted to get some Noctua fans for a while.

 

So tomorrow is final assembly.  I'll be using Kryonaut paste, if anyone is curious.  I also found my Phanteks RBG strips, they aren't ARGB but they'll be ok.  Interestingly this board has 3+1 pin 5V ARGB and 4 pin 12V RGB headers.  The Z370i only has the 3+1.

[Z3R0 CHANC3]

Thank you, UPS, for changing my PSU delivery until tomorrow.  UPS used to be the reliable ones.  Oh well I needed to order some fan splitters anyway, one for the pair of Noctuas and one for the pair on the radiator,  since the motherboard only has 1 each of AIO, CPU, and Chassis fan headers, and the ML120R doesn't power the fans.

 

Fans installed

 

GPU in place, I tested it with GPU-Z and it is operating at X16 3.0, so that's a relief.

[Z3R0 CHANC3]

It is complete!

 

 

 

CPU Temps after ~30 minutes of small fft's in Prime95:

No panels in place, top open: floated between 77-78C

Completely enclosed: solid at 85C

 

This AIO doesn't perform that well, IMO.  I wasn't happy with it in my other build, but for now it's fine.  Not like I can put in a 240!!  But a 7-8 degree increase from open chassis to fully assembled isn't too bad, not bad at all.

 

 

[Z3R0 CHANC3]

On 12/1/2018 at 6:26 PM, Masters2150 said:

What do you intend to do for CPU cooling? I thought the wraith prism was too big.

 

I'm also interested in temps since that case apparently has bad airflow.

While I was pretty happy with CPU heat, once I was running VR and the GPU started cranking out heat, there just wasn't enough airflow and I had a hard shutdown because of the video card.  I had the GPU OC'd a little bit.  So I put that back to stock settings and removed the top filter screen to improve airflow a bit.  It's solid now, but this is definitely not a case for overclocking, aside from the DOCP profile.  With the radiator as an intake, it makes sense that the CPU would be fine.

[xWolfdale]

What are the GPU Temps like? 

[Z3R0 CHANC3]

1 hour ago, xWolfdale said:

What are the GPU Temps like? 

Stock, running Heaven, it's coming all the way up to 80c after 10 minutes or so.  56c above ambient.  I'm going to raise the temp limit just out of curiosity. 

 

I've got some other problems here also.  DX11 won't run and I have a game, Obduction, that uses DX11 and it keeps crashing.

[Zando_]

2 minutes ago, Z3R0 CHANC3 said:

Stock, running Heaven, it's coming all the way up to 80c after 10 minutes or so.  56c above ambient.  I'm going to raise the temp limit just out of curiosity. 

 

I've got some other problems here also.  DX11 won't run and I have a game, Obduction, that uses DX11 and it keeps crashing.

Don't have anything with a blower cooler to try? That'd probs work a lot better in a small case like that. 

[Z3R0 CHANC3]

My other rig does fine in the NZXT H200, and it only has 3 120mm intake fans, the only real difference in that system is it's an Intel build.

 

This has 2 120mm in push/pull into the case, plus 2 140mm also in intake.

 

I stopped Heaven, restarted it and it was giving me horrible framerates, did a reboot, and now it's back to 195+ fps, max temps are now 76C.

 

I clearly have some issues here, DX11 refusing to work, inconsistent performance.  And no, I don't have a blower card to try.  I may swap 1080 ti's with my other rig and see what happens. 

[Z3R0 CHANC3]

3 hours ago, Masters2150 said:

sorry, fixed.

No worries!  I didn't answer your question fully, the Wraith Prism cooler would definitely not fit.  Not even close!

 

In other news, I fought to delete all the Nvidia drivers, and did a fresh install.  Then I was getting between 220-350 fps in Heaven in DX11.  Still no luck with Obduction so the only thing to do is a fresh Windows install.  If problems persist, at that point I'll swap cards and see if its actually a hardware problem.

[Z3R0 CHANC3]

Yes!!!  Looks like the original DX11 install was corrupted, things are running great now.  I cranked up the GPU a bit (just dragged the power/temp targets to the right), max temp came up to 83C but didn't lose stability.   

 

The other possible explanation is leftover AMD AI files/registry entries weren't cleared and were interfering with things.

 

Ok, well this build is done, and unless anyone pipes in with any questions this will be the last entry.  I'm not trying to bump my thread unnecessarily! 

 

Maybe I'll do a badass TR build next.  Or maybe 10th gen Intel will be more exciting.....but I doubt it.  I think AMD is gonna be kicking Intel's butt next year.   My deepest desire is that they make a high end GPU (because 2080 TI is a total ripoff IMO) but I know that's a long shot.

 

I also want to build a consumer level file server.  But that's not very exciting and kind of pointless until I install cat 6 throughout the house.