Build Log - Okashī

Eschew · April 13

Introduction

Hey there! Welcome to a second PC build log?!

'Tis not (primarily) for gaming, though. It’s main purpose is hosting smol home server / homelab experiments.

And by “experiments,” I actually mean, “I don’t know what I’m doing, but hopefully I have enough brain cells to set something up.”

Planned Projects
If I call it a project, it sounds fancier.

Proxmox VE
- Pi-Hole
- NextCloud
- Ubuntu VM
  - WoW Private Server
Windows 11 (Fallback OS)
- WoW Private Server (Fallback Plan)

Docker was on the list, but Proxmox seems to have a built-in PXC Container Toolkit.

Name
奇怪しい ⇒ おかしい ⇒ Okashī
(奇怪しい = Odd / Strange / Unusual)

Methinks it’s a fitting name...
Seeing as nothing makes any sort of sense to me while I attempt to set up these projects.

(Context: I'm a Windows baby. Never touched Linux in my life. )

Parts List

Component	Selection	Price
CPU	AMD Ryzen 5 5600G	$119.99
CPU Cooler	Noctua NH-L9a-AM4 chromax.black	$54.95
Motherboard	ASRock B550 Phantom Gaming-ITX/ax	$159.99
Graphics Card	-	-
Memory	G.Skill Trident Z Neo 64 GB (2 x 32 GB) DDR4-3200	$162.99
Storage	Inland Premium 512 GB M.2 NVMe SSD Western Digital PC SN520 NVMe SSD	$0.00 (Holdover)
Power Supply	EVGA SuperNOVA 650 GM (B-Stock)	$80.99
Case	Fractal Design Ridge (Black)	$129.99
Case Fans	2 × Fractal Design Aspect 14 PWM	$0.00 (Included)
Operating System	Proxmox VE VM: Ubuntu Dual Boot: Windows 11 (Unlicensed)	$0.00

	Grand Total (Shipping and Taxes Excluded)	$708.90 + +

Revision History

Spoiler

[03/28/2023]: Build Planning
[03/29/2023]: Preliminary Build
[04/12/2023]: Ridge Case Build

Assembly

Fractal Design Ridge

Recommendation Points

Dissatisfaction Points

Design: Minimalist box with a very narrow profile, which can be set up vertically or horizontally.
Removable Panels (5/6 Sides): Front panel is conveniently held in by four small magnets. Larger side panels are secured by thumbscrews, nubs, and rails. Smaller side panels are held in by screws and nubs, and may only be accessed after the larger panels have been removed.
Cable Routing Layout: The case has multiple tie down points for velcro strips or cable ties. Several velcro strips and zip ties are included in the package.
Pictorially-Detailed Manual: The manual details every step of case disassembly and hardware mounting very simply and very explicitly.

Build Quality: Paint chips and scuffs easily from rough handling and from screws.
Riveted Frame: While 5/6 of the side panels may be removed for physical access, the frame is riveted together and can obstruct cable management. (Compare against the Define 7 series and its removable top frame for mounting fans.)
Cable Lengths: Cable lengths for the front I/O wires and the internal PSU extension cable are slightly too long (by ≈5 cm, IMO). Too long is better than too short, but it’s aggravating to keep tidy.
Ambiguity in the Manual: For hardware mounting steps, screws are only shown pictorially and do not have their model numbers listed.

ASRock B550 Phantom Gaming-ITX/ax Motherboard

So smol.

Okashī - Interior
Have I mentioned.
I really really really like matte black.

Also, this took an ungodly amount of time (90% cable management) and finger pain.

Please ignore the cable mess, it’s as good as I can get it with EVGA’s stock cables.

Okashī - Interior
I like this side. This side is so clean?

Fractal Design Ridge - Front Panel

Magnets on the front panel!

Left a lasting first impression on me, I think this is one of my favorite features of this case, lol.

Okashī - All Assembled!

This is the point where I realized I forgot to flick the switch on the PSU.

'Chew’s Desk

Off-Screen: 4 hours of rearranging desk cables. (ノ°Д°）ノ︵ ┻━┻ Still, WORTH IT.

Maaan...
To think that my desk started out looking like this.
...I need more surface area for my plushies, GDI.

Current Desk Setup

I love this space.

Closing Comments

The physical build’s not quiiite yet done -- still got those Noctua chromax.black case fans on my wishlist, and I haven’t put in the RX 5600 XT card in there. But the system’s been operational for a while now! Stable Proxmox OS, and stable Windows 11 OS.

PC building is still really fun for me!

That is, when I don’t have to think about how much it costs, and when I don’t have to fight cable snakes, and when I don’t have to carefully partition my time outside of work because of course we have a sale and of course I have to work on all the weekends.

Figuring out Linux is more headbashing and quiet documentation reading than fun, but I’m finding it pretty interesting and it’s a new learning experience.

I have a newfound appreciation for all these incredibly straightforward Windows installs.

Also, suuuuuuuuuuper special thanks to Den!

For the parts advice, the Proxmox suggestion, the NVMe SSD, THE DANBO!!!, and for being very, very sexy, all the time.