Tantalum v.1 Build Log

[DasPanda]

Intro:

After six years with my trusty old rig Otto, it’s finally time for a serious upgrade. Welcome to Project Tantalum a high-performance small form factor (SFF) build focused on gaming, VR, and heavy multitasking, all wrapped in a premium, minimalist aesthetic. This system is built for silence, thermal efficiency, and future-proof power.

Build Goals:

• Top-tier gaming and VR performance (Radeon RX 9070 + Ryzen 9 9950X3D)

• Workstation-level multitasking (128GB DDR5 RAM)

• Clean cable management and airflow in a compact ATX case

• Quiet and cool operation with Noctua fans and NH-L9x65

• Long-term stability and expandability

Current Parts List:

• CPU: AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D

• CPU Cooler: Noctua NH-L9x65

• Motherboard: MSI MAG X870 TOMAHAWK WIFI

• RAM: 128GB G.Skill Trident Z5 Neo RGB DDR5-6000

• GPU: Sapphire PULSE Radeon RX 9070 16GB

• Storage: WD_Black SN850X 1TB NVMe

• Case: Lian Li O11 Dynamic Mini

• PSU: Corsair SF1000 Platinum SFX

• Fans: 9x Noctua S12B Redux-1200 PWM

• OS: Windows 11 Pro

Link to PCPartPicker

What’s Next?

• Parts have started arriving (photos coming soon )

• Will start with prepping the case and power supply cable layout

• Goal is to benchmark and tweak airflow once it’s up and running

• Open to suggestions on RGB vs stealth-mode setups

Why "Tantalum"?:

Tantalum is a rare, highly conductive, corrosion-resistant metal used in aerospace and electronics—perfect for a powerful, efficient, and refined build like this.

Let’s Talk!:

I’ll be updating this log regularly with progress pics, benchmarks, thermal results, and lessons learned. Let me know if you have build tips, naming theme thoughts, or questions about the parts!

[Somerandomtechyboi]

1 hour ago, DasPanda said:

cool operation

 

1 hour ago, DasPanda said:

NH-L9x65

Yeah ditch the cooler get a liquid freezer iii 240 or something if you actually want it to run cool with minimal noise cause that poor noctua will struggle with a 16 core

[DasPanda]

5 hours ago, Somerandomtechyboi said:

 

Yeah ditch the cooler get a liquid freezer iii 240 or something if you actually want it to run cool with minimal noise cause that poor noctua will struggle with a 16 core

v2 will be full liquid cooling.

[Somerandomtechyboi]

26 minutes ago, DasPanda said:

v2 will be full liquid cooling.

welp i guess itll work temporarily but expect pretty bad performance when hammering the cpu at 100% due to throttling issues

[DasPanda]

Build Log: Project Tantalum – Parts Arrival (Mostly)

Update #1 – Delivery Day

Most of the hardware has arrived for Project Tantalum, and it's officially starting to feel real. Still waiting on the nine Noctua S12B Redux fans, but I’ve got enough here to start planning the layout and prepping the core components.


 

What Showed Up Today:

• CPU: AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D – absolute monster for gaming & multitasking

• Motherboard: MSI MAG X870 TOMAHAWK WIFI – solid VRM, future-proofed

• GPU: Sapphire PULSE Radeon RX 9070 – love the clean look, can’t wait to see it perform

• RAM: 128GB (4x32) G.Skill Trident Z5 Neo DDR5-6000 – dual kits for some serious headroom

• PSU: Corsair SF1000 80+ Platinum SFX – small but mighty

• Storage: WD_BLACK SN850X 1TB – blazing fast NVMe

• Cooler: Noctua NH-L9x65 Chromax Black – compact, stealthy, efficient

• Case: Lian Li O11 Dynamic Mini – been wanting to build in one of these for a while

Next Steps:

• Fan delivery should arrive soon so I can start mounting and managing airflow

• Planning to install the CPU/motherboard/RAM this weekend and do a dry fit with the cooler and PSU

• GPU might stay boxed until airflow tests are done

• Custom cable routing ideas incoming…

Initial Thoughts:

I’m really impressed with how compact and clean this build is going to be, even with such high-end parts. Naming it Tantalum feels right—rare, strong, and stable.

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Stay tuned for the next post when I start assembling and testing thermals. Let me know if you have any suggestions for cable routes or RGB/no-RGB debates!

 

[DasPanda]

Build Log: Project Tantalum – Fan Install & Airflow Planning

Update #2 – Fan Army Assembled

The rest of the fans finally arrived, and I spent the afternoon getting them all mounted and routed. Went with 9x Noctua NF-P12 Redux 1700 PWM fans instead of the originally planned S12Bs, and honestly, no regrets—they look clean and push a lot more air.

Fan Configuration (Current Layout):

• Bottom Intake: 3x 120mm

• Side Intake: 2x 120mm

• Top Intake: 3x 120mm

• Rear Exhaust: 1x 120mm

Planning for a setup to help with dust control and airflow balance. I’ll fine-tune the fan curves in BIOS or FanControl once the system is running and stress-tested.

Cable Notes:

• Went ahead and routed all fan cables to one side for clean cable management and easy access to PWM splitter hubs.

• Will likely zip-tie and anchor once the motherboard is in and I see final cable paths.

• Considering naming the final config “Wind Tunnel Mode.”

Next Steps:

• Install PSU, motherboard, CPU, and RAM

• Hook up front I/O and test fan curve response with side panel on vs off

• Maybe start working on a minimal RGB accent setup—undecided on how flashy I want it yet

So far, Tantalum is coming together exactly how I imagined: clean, powerful, and efficient. If anyone has tips on fine-tuning airflow in the Lian Li O11 Mini or thoughts on positive vs negative pressure with this layout, let me know!

 

[DasPanda]

Build Log: Project Tantalum – Core Components Installed

Update #3 – Brain Transplant Successful

Big milestone today: the heart of Tantalum is now fully prepped and ready to drop into the case. Got the CPU, RAM, NVMe, and cooler installed on the MSI MAG X870 Tomahawk WIFI—and damn, this board looks slick in person.

Components Installed:

• CPU: AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D

• Cooler: Noctua NH-L9x65 Chromax.Black

• RAM: 128GB (4x32GB) G.Skill Trident Z5 Neo DDR5-6000

• Storage: WD_Black SN850X 1TB NVMe

Notes:

• Installation was smooth—love the offset fin stack on the Noctua cooler, no clearance issues at all.

• RAM slots are tight but clear, and all modules clicked in perfectly.

• NVMe went in clean with the board’s integrated heatshield ready to keep things cool.

• Static bag + wood table = good staging zone for pre-mount prep.

Next Up:

• Motherboard mount into the case (finally!)

• Front panel connectors + PSU cable routing

• First power-on test incoming

Tantalum is starting to feel alive. That mix of stealth cooling and high-end firepower is exactly the look and performance I was going for.

Let me know if anyone has tips for best power cable routing on the O11 Mini with the SF1000 PSU—I’ll be test-fitting next.