Louqe Ghost S1 Build - Project Tiny

[AMD Lover]

Hey guys!

 

It's been awhile, you can check out my last build log in my signature however it got converted into a work desktop and I needed something for gaming and home use again. I bought this Louqe S1 on Kickstarter ALMOST 12 MONTHS AGO!!!! Well... it's finally here, more pictures of the case will roll in as it is taken apart to install the hardware. I'll throw some specs and first pictures in down below, I do need a name for this build... Tiny? Compact? Help me think of something. Let me know if I've left any import info out you would like to know, constructive criticism and questions are definitely welcome.

 

RED: NOT ORDERED

GREEN: RECEIVED

ORANGE: ORDERED

 

Specs:

• ASRock Z390 PHANTOM GAMING-ITX
• Intel Core i9-9700K
• Corsair Vengeance LPX 32GB (2x16GB) 3000Mhz C15 (Highest speed with lowest cass latency I found)
  • Ballistix Elite 32GB Kit (16GB x 2) DDR4 3000
• ASUS ROG GeForce RTX 2080 (Didn't Fit.....)
  • GIGABYTE GeForce RTX 2080 DirectX 12 GV-N2080WF3-8GC 8GB
• 2x Samsung 970 PRO 1TB NVMe
• Silverstone SX700-LPT 700w 80 PLUS Platinum
• CPU Cooler Options (Order both and test)
  • Noctua NH-L12 (Might Mod to test bottom 120mm)
  • Cooler Master GeminII M4 (Poor Cooling Performance)
• Louqe Ghost S1 MkII
• PSlate Sleeved Cables

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[AMD Lover]

Motherboard and power supply are on order!!! Other parts will slowly start to roll in over the next month, this should be a quick build!

[Fasauceome]

Tiny Boye

[ijoj]

I'm planning to build in this case too! Do you by any chance know if purchasing from Louqe's website is for the second batch of the case or future batches instead?  

 

Also the Noctua NH-L12 seems like the go to choice if youre planning on air cooling your CPU

[Ross Siggers]

Go all out like Jay did, and build into this case fully watercooled  

[AMD Lover]

11 hours ago, ijoj said:

I'm planning to build in this case too! Do you by any chance know if purchasing from Louqe's website is for the second batch of the case or future batches instead?  

 

Also the Noctua NH-L12 seems like the go to choice if youre planning on air cooling your CPU

I've been wondering what the availability of the stuff on their website is too because if I go watercooling I'll have to order a tophat, I believe its second batch.

 

Yeah I believe the NH-L12 is going to be what I go with, I might end up buying 2 or 3 different air coolers and testing performance.

[AMD Lover]

5 hours ago, Ross Siggers said:

Go all out like Jay did, and build into this case fully watercooled  

I would love to however I don't really want two gigantic tophats... kinda ruins the small aspect of the case. Not saying its still not insanely small even with two large tophats, its just not as small...

[AMD Lover]

10 hours ago, Ross Siggers said:

Go all out like Jay did, and build into this case fully watercooled  

 

[ijoj]

15 hours ago, AMD Lover said:

I've been wondering what the availability of the stuff on their website is too because if I go watercooling I'll have to order a tophat, I believe its second batch.

 

Yeah I believe the NH-L12 is going to be what I go with, I might end up buying 2 or 3 different air coolers and testing performance.

Please keep us posted in the future of the air cooler's performance! Also just a quick follow up question, how did you receive your case? (as in; was it through DHL/Fedex or just the local postal service?) I'm just asking because I noticed the rather expensive 40 euros for shipping

[AMD Lover]

1 hour ago, ijoj said:

Please keep us posted in the future of the air cooler's performance! Also just a quick follow up question, how did you receive your case? (as in; was it through DHL/Fedex or just the local postal service?) I'm just asking because I noticed the rather expensive 40 euros for shipping

I ordered mine through Kickstarter almost a year ago, it was fulfilled by Amazon and shipped through USPS.

[AMD Lover]

Part of this build log is to help other people building in the same case or similar ones so I thought I would though this website in. Good testing and lineup of low profile CPU coolers from Louqe they did in house.

 

http://louqe.com/img/img/ext/ext/GhostS1CPUheatSinkTest.pdf

 

EDIT: More cooler testing I've found using newer 8700K

http://louqe.com/img/img/ext/ext/GhostCPUheatSinkTest.pdf

Edited December 4, 2018 by AMD Lover

[AMD Lover]

Opinions on accent color for cabling and possibly custom loop if air cooler can't keep the 9700K cool?

 

I'm leaning towards a lighter blue or a kinda dark gray?

[AMD Lover]

Multiple parts on order!!! Build update with pictures will be coming this weekend with initial CPU temp tests. Rest of the hardware will be ordered soon!!

 

Follow thread for updates this weekend with Cooler Master GeminII M4, temporary OS will be installed on SATA SSD. Graphics card, and NVMe SSD's along with testing with Noctua L12 will follow after Christmas.

 

 

Stay tuned!!

[AMD Lover]

Small update, processor is installed along with RAM. I installed the Cooler Master GeminII M4 and installed the motherboard and power supply in the case. Overall not satisfied with the case. For the about of money I spent on it $300 and after waiting a year with promises to be one of the best built cases out there it doesn't quite live up. 

 

The power button is so mushy it LITERALLY feels like a marshmallow. I'm not exaggerating either, there is no discernible click whatsoever. The front panel IO is soldered onto a PCB that looks like with enough tension could pull loose and I guess they forgot that they designed the case with an inverted motherboard??? Because, the lead from the front panel button is super short. Mine runs diagonally across the back of the PSU and barely makes it to the top corner of the motherboard.... Finally, the front panel switch wires aren't even black or sleeved so you get to stare at 4 ugly colors.

 

Also something I noticed. I believed the "Spline" and PSU Bracket which is black instead of anodized to be powercoated.... If it is it's some of the worst powdercoat I've seen. After tightening the screws once and then removing to readjust the paint under and around the screws had chipped.

 

Overall this case "looks" super nice. By any means it is not "bad" its just not living up to the Swedish build quality that had been bragged about so much through this campaign. I could nit pick a little more. The bungs they installed in the side panels are horrible. Screws go in extremely tight and feel cross threaded as hell. Also, the biggest issue so far is how the motherboard standoffs are too small of a diameter (or motherboard has too big diameter) where when you tighten the screws finger tight to the point where they barely start to get tension it will push the motherboard down over the standoffs. Making it a pain in the ass to literally pry the motherboard back off. This may be my motherboard because I have not heard of any complaints about it yet but definitely annoying.

 

I took a few pictures but more will come Friday or Saturday. I've got SSD's on order and the only things I'll be missing is the GPU and Sleeved PSU Cables.

 

[AMD Lover]

Small update, NVMe drives came in today so PICTURES!!!! Still haven't ordered the GPU or sleeved cables but these will be coming, trust me. Got the NVMe drives installed with the intent to put them in a RAID. I haven't had luck with that yet but at the worst I'll have a dedicated drive for game storage. 

 

I'm trying the Cooler Master GeminII M4 first and will swap out to the Noctua to compare. So far the Cooler Master actually holds its weight fairly good. Under a stress test using AIDA64 max temps were 85C which isn't horrible for how small a cooler it is. The fan isn't the greatest, it makes some vibration noises and you can tell its struggling for air and could benefit from a high static air pressure fan.

 

Here's some pics, share this build and lets get some action going on in this build!

 

 

 

 

 

Cooler Master GeminII M4 Stress Test

 

[AMD Lover]

Noctua NH-L12 Stress Test

[AMD Lover]

Decent results for a ITX build. I'll get new pictures on here one of these days. Still waiting on cables....

[AMD Lover]

So I think this is gonna be the next thing coming up. Also need to buy a desk and get my setup done. Updates and pictures still to come, I need good outside lighting and I haven't had any in weeks. It's been snowy and rainy here.

 

Anyways, this computer has no issues staying cool and it performs great. As you can see the 3D mark score above is pretty good. My issue is that the GPU is loud. Even if I cap the fans at like 65% and DON'T overclock it I run into noise issues and the GPU runs around 80C. Hopefully this with a tophat with solve the issue.

 

http://www.performance-pcs.com/alphacool-eiswolf-240-gpx-pro-nvidia-geforce-rtx-2080-black-m01.html#!prettyPhoto

 

 

[AMD Lover]

Paracord sleeves cables are on the way from PSlate, I will take pictures and get them uploaded after the cables show up and are installed. 2-5 weeks estimated time on manufacturing the cables. Stay tuned!!!

[PumpkinCurry]

On 12/3/2018 at 2:27 AM, ijoj said:

I'm planning to build in this case too! Do you by any chance know if purchasing from Louqe's website is for the second batch of the case or future batches instead?  

 

Also the Noctua NH-L12 seems like the go to choice if youre planning on air cooling your CPU

You can also use zalman cnps8900 quiet CPU cooler.  It's an awesome cooler and highly recommend it.

[Astro75013]

On 2/17/2019 at 8:04 PM, AMD Lover said:

Paracord sleeves cables are on the way from PSlate, I will take pictures and get them uploaded after the cables show up and are installed. 2-5 weeks estimated time on manufacturing the cables. Stay tuned!!!

Hi,

 

any alternative to these mod cables? Pslate is out of stock.

 

Kind Regards,

 

Tibo

IT Team

[Astro75013]

To anyone building a ghost S1, just in case you don't know this guy "Optimum Tech" his channel is great, check this video with self made mod cable if you have the patience to make them: 

 

[AMD Lover]

1 hour ago, Astro75013 said:

Hi,

 

any alternative to these mod cables? Pslate is out of stock.

 

Kind Regards,

 

Tibo

IT Team

Not much that I have found. I ordered mine the day he started taking orders and just got them the other day. If you contact Ensourced I'm sure he could make you some but he doesn't have any on his site.

[thedemoncowboy]

Damn, next Tiki

[AMD Lover]

I'll get some more pictures up sometime this week. I apologize for the delay.

 

Thanks guys