QBX: Touch The Limits

[_Hustler_One_]

Hi all..

 

This is my very first SFF build. Still alot of rooms to improve, but so far I'm quite pleased and enjoy the building process. I just finished this afternoon.

 

Before this build I used Phanteks Evolv ITX as my platform. Only for 1.5 years my interest to a real small form factor become stronger and stronger until I cant resist it.

 

Finally I dare myself to build one.

 

The initial idea was to have a tiny form factor system but running as beefiest components (CPU cooler and GPU) as it allows and it has to be air cooled. I'm a kind of average budget person, so I cannot afford the NCASE M1 as it's so expensive to finally reach my hand ($190 base price and mark it up to $314 to arrived in front of my door), and I'm not into the purchasing system it runs. So I ended up with the "Poor man's M1" version, the Cougar QBX.

 

Basically I just migrated some of my previous PC components inside the Evolv ITX to the QBX, and will upgrading the GPU later on, wait for what AMD will offer with their NAVI.

 

And this is the part list:

   CPU: Intel Core i7-8700K, 5 GHz, delidded with LM

   CPU cooler: Noctua NH-C14S

   Motherboard: MSI Z370i Gaming Pro Carbon AC

   RAM: Corsair Vengeance LPX 2x8 Gb, 2666 MHz

   GPU: EVGA GTX 1060 6 Gb FTW2 DT

   PSU: Corsair SF600 Platinum

   Case cooling: 1x Noctua NF-R8 80mm fan front intake, 1x Cougar stock 92mm fan rear exhaust, 2x Noctua NF-F12 iPPC 3000 fans top exhaust.

 

I did an extensive research before I decided to execute my trigger for this kind of build.

 

After I decided to use the Cougar QBX, from there I start to try to find any informations as many as possible from its specs, what's the biggest components it can take based on its official specs, until to finally I found the untold specs that this case hides inside itself, and then I saw a wider choices of components to keep me consistent with my initial idea.

 

I was about to upgrade my GPU also along the building proccess, but life is quite rough lately, so I need to save some cash for it and the GPU upgrade is in hold for it, but I don't mind as there will be AMD to show up some new line-ups soon enough, so I stay calm and patience..

 

For the PSU, I was thinking about it for a month to find which SFX PSUs are available in my country. Initial plan was Enermax Revolution SFX or Seasonic Focus Gold SGX, but both models are out of stock, even Silverstone SX-G also. The SFX PSU which available in where I live is the Corsair SF, so I get this little big boy instead even the price is over my target, but I think I cant go wrong with this unit.

 

The CPU cooler???

Cougar stated that QBX maximum height of CPU cooler it can accomodate is only 105mm, but after extensive research it can take 145mm CPU cooler with side plate/bracket uninstalled. The trade off is I lose 2x any 2.5" storage drives mounts and 1x 3.5" HDD mounts, and 1x 120mm side fan mount. I take the trades to put NH-C14S to cool my 5GHz 8700K inside a tiny case, also since I don't need many storage drives so I can live with it.

 

TL:DR, here some of the pics when I built it, it's not the pretiest build, but like I said, there are still alot of rooms to improve, and also I'm sorry for the poor quality pics.

 

 

I installed the SF600 with this orientation to allow me to install 2x 120mm NF-F12 fans just to exhaust heat as fast as possible when it needed. I set the NF-F12 at constant 1000-1500 RPM up until 80C, and higher RPM for over 80C.

the front top exhaust NF-F12 is to pull out the PSU heat without leaving heat is being trapped at the gap between PSU bracket and the top/roof of the case, while the rear top exhaust NF-F12 is to pull out the CPU heat.

 

 

About the motherboard.. Initially I plan to upgrade to Asrock Phantom Gaming Z390 ITX/ac also to future proofing, but found that there is someone have problem with the NH-C14S on old motherboard inside QBX, and it makes the guy cut the heatsink to fit in there. Then it made me wonder if each motherboard has their own certain exact spot or let say coordinate of the CPU socket relative to the motherboard area and dimension. I was quite sure it has and it will affect to the NH-C14S compatibility.

 

I was discouraged by some opinions that saying I will be unlikely to be able to fit the NH-C14S without involving some mods. But challenge accepted, and I see a quite big risk ahead but I decide to gamble myself for it, I took the risk and move on..

 

I checked the Asrock vs my preowned MSI board. Crop their pics at same orientation and size, I found that Asrock CPU socket is located slightly to upper right direction, while MSI has it tend to be located the opposite direction, lower to the left. From here I cancle my decision to get Asrock and stay with my current motherboard instead.

 

 

Aaaaand this is when the NH-C14S heatsink is succesfully installed on the system.. No mod/s required.

 

 

 

 

Look how close my risk by gambling on it..

Just tiny touch perfect fit!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This is the spot where a real conflict happens..

No big deal rubber vs metal. Only the outer fin which get bent by the power cable, no worries..

 

 

 

 

a milimeter gap on the rear sector vs 25mm thick rear exhaust fan

 

 

 

 

 

 

with the NF-A14 Chromax installed..!

(I have it already from the previous build)

I was about to use NF-A15 instead because it's aestethically better than NF-A14, but the mounting clips are not compatible, tried to use the NH-D15 fan clips also not compatible, so NF-A14 is OK then, it's the same fan after all, only different style.

 

 

 

 

and with the side panel on.. Just to test the side fit.

It actually touches the side panel but only a light touch on the fan rubber pads, it doesnt even push the panel, so I still can slide the panel on and off quite easy..

 

 

 

 

No gap between the side panel and the case body by the fan vs side panel touch.. I'm safe.. It's a nice relieve..

 

 

 

I was planing to install the NF-A14 under the heatsink so I can install the side bracket on to be no compromise on the QBX features but the 24 pin ATX power cable doesn't allow me to do that, so here we are now..

 

Touch the limit not so perfect fit!

 

I will upload the full build when the time is right..

I'm still planing to change the sleeved cables with the custom ones and upgrading the GPU..

 

 

Any inputs and rating, comments and opinions, or any constructive ideas are greatly welcome, I highly appreciate it..

 

Thanks for your time and attention..

Regards..

[jiyeon]

Wow, that is extremely tight dimensions! All your research paid off so well, you got every component size perfectly to align with the other components, excellent job.

[_Hustler_One_]

4 hours ago, seoz said:

Wow, that is extremely tight dimensions! All your research paid off so well, you got every component size perfectly to align with the other components, excellent job.

Thanks very much! 

 

This one is real challanging first SFF build, especially in the planing process, and very tedious building process, especially in the cable managements on the back panel, because I have 2x fan hubs on there.

 

I want to use a big CPU air cooler and it has been installed, and big thicc GPU latter on.

 

About the GPU.. Earlier I installed 2x 120mm fans with 25mm thickness under the GPU but it snugged the GPU shroud, and its fans grinds the back frame of those 120mm fans and it was bad.

 

Then I took off the GPU shroud only to have the GPU heatsink left with 2x 120mm fans below it, but the GPU temps gone mad, it reached its maximum thermal limit at 92C and crashed the system. After that I reassemble the GPU as normal and took off those 2 120mm fans, then everything runs normally, the GPU runs as cool as when it was inside the Evolv ITX, maxed out at low 60C with +230 MHz Core +550 MHz Memory.

 

While the CPU still runs at 5GHz 1.34v stable, averaging 77C and peaking at 85C in Realbench 4 hours stress test. The average temps is the same when it was in the Evolv ITX and NH-D15 but it was peaking at 82C back then. This time with NH-C14S I set more aggressive fan curve than with the D15. Honestly, I think this C14S gives me more stable OC than the D15, maybe because its downdraft design cools the motherboard VRM better than D15 does.

 

I will change the rubber pad on the cooler fan with other colored ones to spice things up little bit.

 

Despite there are some tiny touches here and there, there's no vibration sounds from it. It's quiet as I expected..

 

I still not satisfied by my cable management. Will improve on that sector..

[_Hustler_One_]

I wonder if I can get the older NH-C14 fan clips separately from noctua or any retailers here to mount NF-A15 Chromax onto the cooler, because it looks better with A15 than A14, I tried to mount the NF-A15 Chromax with the stock NH-C14S fan clips, and it's just too loose, can't hold the A15 firmly on the heatsink.

 

Ordered the custom sleeved 24pin ATX cable from local modder here. A black colored sleeved cable with minimalistic asimetrical Noctua themed color stripes in between.

It will be like this,

IIIIIIIIIIII

IIIIIIIIIIII

IIIIIIIIIIII

IIIIIIIIIIII

IIIIIIIIIIII

IIIIIIIIIIII

IIIIIIIIIIII

 

[jiyeon]

5 hours ago, _Hustler_One_ said:

Then I took off the GPU shroud only to have the GPU heatsink left with 2x 120mm fans below it, but the GPU temps gone mad, it reached its maximum thermal limit at 92C and crashed the system. After that I reassemble the GPU as normal and took off those 2 120mm fans, then everything runs normally, the GPU runs as cool as when it was inside the Evolv ITX, maxed out at low 60C with +230 MHz Core +550 MHz Memory.

  

While the CPU still runs at 5GHz 1.34v stable, averaging 77C and peaking at 85C in Realbench 4 hours stress test. The average temps is the same when it was in the Evolv ITX and NH-D15 but it was peaking at 82C back then. This time with NH-C14S I set more aggressive fan curve than with the D15. Honestly, I think this C14S gives me more stable OC than the D15, maybe because its downdraft design cools the motherboard VRM better than D15 does.

Awesome testing, it's great to experiment to see what works and what doesn't.

 

5 hours ago, _Hustler_One_ said:

I still not satisfied by my cable management. Will improve on that sector..

I think all of us wish we had better cable management in our PCs, it's something we can neve really be 100% satisfied with, keep at it though!

 

2 hours ago, _Hustler_One_ said:

Ordered the custom sleeved 24pin ATX cable from local modder here. A black colored sleeved cable with minimalistic asimetrical Noctua themed color stripes in between.

It will be like this,

Looks like it'll be nice! A bit of color into an otherwise neutral aesthetic.

[_Hustler_One_]

17 hours ago, seoz said:

Awesome testing, it's great to experiment to see what works and what doesn't.

Yes, I don't understand why the GPU heating up worse when it uses 2x 120mm fans than the stock ones, the difference is when I use 120mm fan there is about 1cm gap between the fans and the GPU heatsink, the fans were attached to the case bottom fan mounts, not on the GPU because it can't be installed on the GPU.

 

17 hours ago, seoz said:

I think all of us wish we had better cable management in our PCs, it's something we can neve really be 100% satisfied with, keep at it though!

This is the best I can do with the cables, with PWM and DC fan hubs,

 

 

 

 

This is how the CPU cooler fan overlapped the case side frame. I was worried that i can't put the side panel on, but surprisingly it's no problem for the side panel to be installed.

 

[jiyeon]

9 hours ago, _Hustler_One_ said:

This is the best I can do with the cables, with PWM and DC fan hubs,

 

<snip>

That's honestly not too bad a job, and all things considered actually very neatly done.  I love the use of the PSU shroud for ziptie hold-down points, that's genius.

[_Hustler_One_]

22 hours ago, seoz said:

That's honestly not too bad a job, and all things considered actually very neatly done.  I love the use of the PSU shroud for ziptie hold-down points, that's genius.

Thanks..

 

I can use that PSU shroud vents as I want because I oriented the PSU where its fan faces in rather than out. By doing this, it makes the PSU compatibility contradicted to the official spec of the QBX that it doesn't support a PSU which has a certain AC power socket and plug's orientation. Also the PSU shroud vents become redundant for the main purpose which is said to be one of the feature for "independent PSU cooling", then I re-utilized it as cable-tie points for managing cables.

 

On 5/25/2019 at 11:16 PM, _Hustler_One_ said:

 

I installed the SF600 with this orientation to allow me to install 2x 120mm NF-F12 fans

I oriented this PSU just like that red picture on the QBX manual.

 

I watched the OptimumTech YT chanel where he also install his PSU inside QBX with the orientation like this, but he said that by doing this he can't install the slim 9mm ODD because the AC power cable curve get in the way of the ODD bay, and I confirmed that the official PSU support specs is totally wrong, and the statement from OptimumTech is not completely true. I can install that slim ODD with PSU is oriented this way no problem at all. Everything runs normally..

[richie30]

Loving the build.

 

I hope mine comes out just as tidy and clean as this.

 

 

[_Hustler_One_]

Update!

 

Some tinker on the cable management as I added the second 2.5" HDD, and moved the front intake fan connection from the PWM hub to the DC fan hub together with the rear exhaust fan.

 

 

 

 

Also I finally managed to use the NF-A15 Chromax fan by using the second set of NH-C14S fan clips and made a measured bends manually on it, and turned out to fit nicely and holds it firm enough. Indeed, overall it looks better with the A15 than the A14.

 

 

 

 .......gradual fan size.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Still waiting for the custom sleeved cable to be made.

 

Bear with me.. I know the pics quality is low, I'm sorry. Took from a crappy Samsung tablet. I don't have reliable camera right now, but I will get one someday..

[_Hustler_One_]

In a glorious memory of the rigged down previous build before the migration...

 

"See you in another build, buddy.... You've served me very very well.... You have my gratitude! Thankyou..."

 

[jiyeon]

7 hours ago, _Hustler_One_ said:

In a glorious memory of the rigged down previous build before the migration...

 

"See you in another build, buddy.... You've served me very very well.... You have my gratitude! Thankyou..."

Wow, I love the black aesthetic of that rig. It's great that you've kept the same black on black aesthetic for this QBX build.

[_Hustler_One_]

5 hours ago, seoz said:

Wow, I love the black aesthetic of that rig. It's great that you've kept the same black on black aesthetic for this QBX build.

Yep, me too.. My favorite colors are black, brown, and midnight green. I will make this QBX to have some different tone to spice things up..

[star_pilot475]

This looks pretty cool! 

 

Once I save up some money, I hope to build in the QBX. This gives me some good tips! Thanks for posting! 

[_Hustler_One_]

55 minutes ago, star_pilot475 said:

This looks pretty cool! 

 

Once I save up some money, I hope to build in the QBX. This gives me some good tips! Thanks for posting! 

Thankyou so much..

 

 

The main attention about building in this case, if you want to use the biggest CPU air cooler, you want to stay away from that excessive PSU mounting frame structure.

 

In my scenario I want to be able to install the NH-C14S where its heatsink is placed slightly to the left or to the under of that frame to be safe. I was so grateful I stayed with my current MSI motherboard, otherwise if I choose to use the Asrock board instead I will most probably fk'dup.

 

while we want to stay away from that PSU mounting frames, the next problem is "do we have enough clearance to the rear case fan?", and I was so happy when I'm still safe by 1mm gap from the cooler heatpipes to the rear case fan, so I dont have to use a slim 92mm fan, there's no compromise is taken in this sector.

 

Next problem is the obvious cooler height, while the official specs of the case says 105mm, and I found a single review where they said it has 145mm with side bracket/plate is taken off, but in reality my NH-C14S touches the mesh of the side panel, note that the NH-C14S max height with fan is 142mm.

 

This build is the most challanging build for me personally by far.. I really pleased with the result despite it took me almost 3 months only for the planing..

 

 

 

The nearest update will be attaching a custom sleeved cable, and the next is maybe to put a 1080p 144 FPS capable GPU without being overkill with as beefiest form as the case can accomodate.

 

Stay in touch..

[richie30]

Whats the drive size 2.5 or 3.5. I thought putting one sideways near my rad but will block the fan.

 

Drill 2 holes in your adapter and mount it like mine.. will have bring psu forward abit.

 

[_Hustler_One_]

On 5/29/2019 at 12:27 AM, richie30 said:

Whats the drive size 2.5 or 3.5. I thought putting one sideways near my rad but will block the fan.

 

Drill 2 holes in your adapter and mount it like mine.. will have bring psu forward abit.

 

I ended up add a single 2.5" HDD and put it on the case floor between the front fan and GPU with some double-tapped cushionings for safety.

 

I'm clueless about how to work with radiators in QBX as I'm kind of an air cooler guy, never experienced holding a liquid cooler with my hand.. So I have nothing to say about this.

 

I dare to delid a CPU and put liquid metal in it, but I never get the convenience to use any liquid coolers inside a PC.

[richie30]

35 minutes ago, _Hustler_One_ said:

I ended up add a single 2.5" HDD and put it on the case floor between the front fan and GPU with some double-tapped cushionings for safety.

 

I'm clueless about how to work with radiators in QBX as I'm kind of an air cooler guy, never experienced holding a liquid cooler with my hand.. So I have nothing to say about this.

 

I'm dare to delid a CPU and put liquid metal in it, but I never get the convenience to use any liquid coolers inside a PC.

Ive never delved into custom watercooling.

 

I was contemplating delidding my 2400g to help cooling. I think the new 3000 series are soldered

[Guest]

I like this.

I always admired the QBX, but when with the M1 because, reasons.

[_Hustler_One_]

28 minutes ago, Den-Fi said:

I like this.

I always admired the QBX, but when with the M1 because, reasons.

Thanks..!

 

Hey, I also love your Ncase M1 build, it's a great build.

Do you have a plan to rebuild it with Ryzen 3950X on a Crosshair VIII Impact X570 board?

Wonder if that board fits in it.

[Guest]

27 minutes ago, _Hustler_One_ said:

Thanks..!

 

Hey, I also love your Ncase M1 build, it's a great build.

Do you have a plan to rebuild it with Ryzen 3950X on a Crosshair VIII Impact X570 board?

Wonder if that board fits in it.

How did you know?! lol

[_Hustler_One_]

21 minutes ago, Den-Fi said:

How did you know?! lol

I think this idea comes to most of SFF owners mind lately, and find a solutions to overcome the cooling for it. Including myself, but I will unlikely to make it happen on my QBX because, reasons.. Lol

[Guest]

8 minutes ago, _Hustler_One_ said:

I think this idea comes to most of SFF owners mind lately, and find a solutions to overcome the cooling solution for it. Including myself, but I will unlikely to make it happen on my QBX because, reasons.. Lol

Because, reasons.™ 

The official rationale of the SFF community. lol

[_Hustler_One_]

Today I wondered if maybe someone has the curiousity about how the slim ODD is ejected out of the QBX looks like. I guess most of people only know how the slim ODD is installed but never see how it's ejected out. This thing comes handy when I need to use any disc for some uses.

 

It's basically a laptop ODD.

 

The spring can't push the tray out high enough because it against gravity. Only small part of the tray which popped out then I have to pull it higher.

 

This is after I pulled it out higher, but still can be extended further.

 

 

Anyway, Im still waiting for the custom cable to arrived in next few days, and I'm really curious how the RX5700 and RTX Super will be. Waiting for independent reviews to show us some good things.

[_Hustler_One_]

UPDATE:

 

I kind of managed to move the NH-C14S fan, from the front to the back of its heatsink.

Thankfully the SF600 24pin ATX cable not too stiff to bend, to give a bit more space for the NF-A14 to fit behind the heatsink.

 

 

 

 

We got the HDD mountings overlapped the heatsink for about 1cm and spare a gap around 5mm

 

 

 

 

 

and also between the CPU cooler fan and the PSU, leave around 1cm gap

 

 

 

 

Now we don't have any contacts here on the side panel since the fan was moved to the oposite side of the heatsink.

 

 

 

 

We now have the NH-C14S in pull configuration, and add a single 2.5" SSD and a single 3.5" HDD. So basically now I utilize almost all features of the QBX. It got no excuses for me to leave its functionalities to be left out unused. The only compromise is I can't install a pair of 25mm thick 120mm fans on the bottom under the GPU as the GPU fans will grind the 120mm fan's frame and makes scary grinding sounds. I dont take an option to use slim 120mm fans on the bottom, so I'll leave it like this for sometimes.