The Ultimate Noctua PC (15 fans + Custom loop + case mods)

[Noctua Fan Fan]

Happy weekend all!

 

I posted a while ago a year ago a previous version of this same concept, but there were a few things I absolutely didn't like. Enter my newest attempt at the "Ultimate Noctua Build". Featuring 5 different kinds of Noctua fan, 15 fans in total, a full custom loop and some very, very nice idle temps for this usually hot CPU. Here is the eye candy! 

 

SCROLL DOWN FOR THE BUILD LOG, NOTES, FIRST RUN OF THE PUMP VIDEO AND BENCHMARKS ETC.

 

 

 

 

 

And here is a link to an imgur gallery which shows off the RGB potential and the flow meter: https://imgur.com/gallery/RZF8GzD

 

Design Brief:

To build a PC with as many Noctua fans in a mid-tower case as possible to provide ultimate cooling with a full water loop with 2* 360mm radiators. Diminishing returns are not a consideration.

 

Parts:

CPU: Ryzen 9 3900XT

GPU: Nvidia RTX 2080ti

RAM: T-Force 8Pack Special Edition 2*8GB @ 3600CL14

MOBO: Aorus Elite B550

Case: Phanteks Metallicgear Neo Qube

Fans: 6* NF-S12-A, 3* NF-A12x15, 3* NF-A12x25, 2*NF-A8, 1*NF-P12

Other:

• Corsair D5 pump and CPU block, Corsair rads, EK Vector GPU block, Barrow flow meter and a bunch of barrow, bitspower and EK fittings.
• Phanteks GPU bracket
• Custom cables from PSlate Customs.

Front Panel Mod:

• Made by Coldzero EU custom for me to mount fans externally so as not to affect the internal loop. I'm really happy with how it came out and it adds an extra 3 fans to the design, not making it look like any other O-11 style case. I get the dual chamber design and no airflow sacrifice. I'm happy with that.

 

Benchmarks:

Please see the most recent/highest scores in my signature!

 

Overclocking:

I actually set a 1.3v limit with a 4300 all core boost max for the CPU and get both better results and temperatures than stock and PBO.

 

 

Temperatures:

At idle, we sit around 32-35 on the CPU and 29-31 on the GPU

 

   

 

Notes:

• The 60mm thick radiator at the top is more of a pain than its worth. I lacked 1mm of clearance for the fans to the heatsink on the motherboard, so had to go for the slim x15s, which do look badass, but added cost to this already expensive concept.
• I focussed heavily on a lack of visible cables, so you only see what's necessary. The back is a rats nest similar to the Homer Simpson meme.
• The 15th fan for those vigilant enough to count is not visible. It is attached to the back of the case to cool the CPU/motherboard from the other side.
• Each air intake is filtered. Each exhaust is not filtered.
• The vertical GPU bracket allows for better airflow in the case and I maintain positive pressure by having the front fans be the main "bringers in" of air. The other fans all have dynamic curves set based on CPU temps instead of fluid temps. The fluid temperature only affects the RPM of the pump.

 

Final Thoughts:

I know people dont like the colours. Linus himself has said he doesn't, and that's okay. I'm okay with him being wrong about this one. Noctua fans are absolutely beautiful from a performance and aesthetic perspective. You just need to work with those colours and you end up with this PC. I am crazy proud of it, its performance, its silence and its looks. I love the runs I made from the CPU to GPU and CPU to radiator. I love the little run from the bottom rad back to pump... I love all of it. 

 

I'd love your feedback, even if its about the colours!

 

Build Log Pictures

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

First run of the pump: https://imgur.com/QAeViDZ

 

[flibberdipper]

I get the feeling... That you're a Thermaltake fanboy.

 

Jokes aside, finally a build that embraces poo brown. Sure is a nice change from the standard 3600x/2070 super/O11 Dynamic rainbow vomit shit you see all the time everywhere.

[Noctua Fan Fan]

17 minutes ago, flibberdipper said:

I get the feeling... That you're a Thermaltake fanboy.

 

Jokes aside, finally a build that embraces poo brown. Sure is a nice change from the standard 3600x/2070 super/O11 Dynamic rainbow vomit shit you see all the time everywhere.

I get downvoted to hell when I comment on those generic builds on Reddit lol

[flibberdipper]

6 minutes ago, Noctua Fan Fan said:

I get downvoted to hell when I comment on those generic builds on Reddit lol

I get it man. Every time I see an NR200 on the sffpc subreddit I feel myself wanting to projectile vomit. The O11 is just worn out to me at this point, but the NR200 I actually have formed a bit of hatred for.

 

Ironically I just noticed you've got the Metallicgear knockoff of the O11, and I actually like them because they're not used by everyone and their mother. Though it's also pretty baller that Phanteks is shoving dual-system capability into every case possible, it seems.

[Noctua Fan Fan]

1 minute ago, flibberdipper said:

I get it man. Every time I see an NR200 on the sffpc subreddit I feel myself wanting to projectile vomit. The O11 is just worn out to me at this point, but the NR200 I actually have formed a bit of hatred for.

 

Ironically I just noticed you've got the Metallicgear knockoff of the O11, and I actually like them because they're not used by everyone and their mother. Though it's also pretty baller that Phanteks is shoving dual-system capability into every case possible, it seems.

This case, I kid you not, is better than the O11. WAY more space at the back, a really nice finish and enough mounting in the aifrlow cutouts to add extra fans. I fit way more in this than the original O-11. Which I have developed a real hatred for. Thus my front panel mod

[flibberdipper]

43 minutes ago, Noctua Fan Fan said:

This case, I kid you not, is better than the O11. WAY more space at the back, a really nice finish and enough mounting in the aifrlow cutouts to add extra fans. I fit way more in this than the original O-11. Which I have developed a real hatred for. Thus my front panel mod

Guess there's a good reason I'm a bit of a Phanteks fanboy for full size cases. At some point I guarantee I'm buying at least one more OG windowed Enthoo Pro, they are by far my favorite ATX case.

[Guest]

4 hours ago, Noctua Fan Fan said:

I get downvoted to hell when I comment on those generic builds on Reddit lol

Same... I don't know why, but seeing the O11 so much just gives me a pure hatred for it. I use a Cooler Master NR400 with three NF-P12 Redux fans, and a Noctua NH-U9S with two NF-A9's strapped to it. Some lovely butt-ugly red XPG RAM, a white LED lit GTX 980 Ti, and you have a face only a mother could love. Which I do. Your computer is WAY more fun to look at compared to rainbow vomit O11 builds despite being maybe a little bit subjectively ugly with the brown and beige. 

 

My U9S keeps my 5.1GHz 9600K at a mere 64 degrees. Incredible little thing.