Thank you Linus, Steve, Ali, Jay, Et Al YouTube computer geeks.

[robmara999]

Never built a computer, Never wanted to. Boredom (Covid-19 and YouTube) and the need to work with my hands was my inspiration. Last computer: 10 yr.old HP laptop. Last PC gaming experience: 2011 Just Cause 2 . But now I am editing, compiling, fixing and archiving family photos, videos, and restoring from negatives at home. Things that before I could only do at work on ridiculously expensive equipment. Also occasionally enjoying AAA gaming. Many hours of YouTube research brought me here but not without noob mistakes in planning and execution.

 

I started with a MB(A320) that didn't fit the case (Cougar QBX), and the second MB (ROG 470-I gaming) didn't run the CPU (Ryzen 3400G) without a bios update from Micro Center).
What a start!

 

Time to put it together.

Yes, I rotated the AMD logo fan cover. Does that count as my first Mod?

 

Vega graphics good but not enough, I needed a 2080 Ti, but I could afford a used MSI GeForce GTX 1070 Gaming X.

Bent the hell out of the case to fit it in. And because of the height? or width? of the GPU the power cables stuck out too far so I couldn't put the side cover back on. 

 

Got a great ebay deal on a used Ryzen 3800x ($215). But will it work?  YES!

Add used 16gb G.SKILL TRIDENT Z 3600 C16 and right angle power cable adapters so I can now close the side cover snugly against the cables.

 

Only this Noob would buy one of the only GPUs that doesn't fit this case.

Time for the dremel and black tape to cover MCI logo.

 

3800x thermals too high, Let's pack it with fans.

 

This case will fit 2-120mm exhaust fans in the top but the PSU power plug goes the wrong way.

 

Buy a plug adapter that goes the other way, shave it down till it fits. I'm getting the hang of this dremel thing.

 

Success!

 

Finished....for now.....thermals under load 79 degrees. Cinebench 20 score 5170. I love this machine.

 

For those of you who are still reading this, thank you for your comments or thoughts good and bad.

 

Technical recap:

 

MB:  ASRock A320M-HDV  <  Asus ROG STRIX X470-I GAMING

CPU:  RYZEN 5 3400G  <  RYZEN 7 3800X

GPU:  AMD RX Vega 11 (iGPU)   <  MSI GeForce GTX 1070 Gaming X

SSD:  Crucial MX300 275GB  <  SAMSUNG 970 EVO PLUS 500GB  3.0 (NVME) M.2 SSD WITH V-NAND

MEM:  G.SKILL AEGIS DDR4 3000 C16S 16GB (2x8GB)  <  G.SKILL TRIDENT Z 3600 C16 16 GB (2x8GB)

PSU:  FSP Dagger 600W 80 Plus Gold Certified Full Modular Power Supply

5 NOCTUA FANS: 

(2x120mm) NF-A12x15 PWM, Premium Quiet Slim Fan, 4-Pin 

(1x80mm) NF-R8 redux-1800 PWM, 4-Pin, High Performance Cooling Fan, 1800 RPM

(2x120mm) NF-P12 redux-1700 PWM, High Performance Cooling Fan, 4-Pin, 1700 RPM 

(1x90mm) Pre Installed rear fan

 

 

 

[Praesi]

Im not sure your case is small enough. 

[Belac F]

love the build! what an upgrade! 

Definitely a good idea to leverage the used market for a GPU.

 

Just one thing I would fix is the GPU sag, perhaps with a cheap 3d printed bracket.

 

I LOVE mini itx builds

 

 

[robmara999]

Waiting on delivery for my next upgrade: Lose the noisy 90mm fan that came with the case and shoehorn a Noctua NH-C14S cooler in the QBX. 

[robmara999]

Just added slim Noctua NF-A9x14 pwm and NH-C14s. What do you think? 

 

[robmara999]

(almost) final update: I added a slim 140mm fan cuz that's all I could squeeze in. A 6 pin and 8 pin 180 degree adapters so I can now close the side panel without rubbing cables.

[TehDwonz]

4 minutes ago, robmara999 said:

(almost) final update: I added a slim 140mm fan cuz that's all I could squeeze in. A 6 pin and 8 pin 180 degree adapters so I can now close the side panel without rubbing cables.

Nice work! For a first build, this is fantastic.  

[robmara999]

Thank you TehDwonz,

Lots of 1st timer errors but very happy with it now. 

[robmara999]

Just didn't look right without all noctua fans.

 

    - A Noctua Fan