Down size, up grade.

[ALXAndy]

Afternoon all. So at home (the flat) I have two gaming PCs. This one.

Which is set up at a desk and I mostly play PUBG and anything needing a KBM. I also have my old PC I used for TV gaming. It's a pain being where it is, and very large. I've had it for many years now too. Originally a 3950x and 2080ti I changed the board and CPU to a 12700kf and Z690 Aorus DDR4 a long time ago, and at the end of covid I changed out the GPU for a 6800XT LC Strix I got from OCUK B grade for 700 pounds. Which at the time was a steal tbh.

That said it is annoying having it blocking off my TV cabinet. I've fancied a new GPU for a while but haven't pulled the trigger. Mostly due to knowing that when I change out the GPU if it is not water cooled or AIO cooled with a 240 rad it won't work. The case it is all in (Lian Li 012) is water cooling only.

Well on Friday a mate came over and managed to part me with one of my rare BMX bikes. I have 15 in total, most at mum's. Any way that left me money to buy a GPU. I got this from the MM for 700 quid which was what the bike sold for.

It shipped out today and will arrive tomorrow with RMSD. So now I started planning. "Do I need to upgrade the CPU?" no. A 12700KF is more than good enough. I did, however, want to drastically downsize but not use an ITX case. I've used three now and every single one has been a hot box. Started looking at cases and the new Cooler Master 200P looked about right. And then I came across this.

Which was actually cheaper. So I grabbed one of those and this for 10 quid from OCUK.

Board choices were limited and very difficult. I needed MATX or preferably ITX. Now I may sound stupid, but I put an ITX board in one of the biggest cases ever made.

"I used to be a hot box but I'm alright now"

I like how it leaves lots of space inside to work around. What I didn't particularly like was the board price lmao. 185 quid. That said it saves me buying a new CPU...

The only sod is that it's DDR5. However, at 83 quid I didn't mind as it should provide some gains at least.

Aye same as my desktop. It's gorgeous memory. OK so case board and RAM got. Obviously I could fit the old EK cooler (360) but it's old now and would make it very tight in there. Instead I decided to go air.

39 quid. Now my "fan plan" was to use two of the old black Noiseblocker Eloop in the roof. Mostly as they were "free". I also had a Lian Li fan that I was going to put in the cooler but the end clamp wire thing stopped it being held in. So that went to the rear.

I do want intakes in the bottom. But, I have heard if the GPU is big they may foul. So I got these for 6 quid each.

Grabbed this for a tenner. Its plastic lol but it seems to work OK.

For the PSU I am using my Strix 750 gold. It's basically a Seasonic, so no need to replace.

So I started stripping out the old PC, with the intention of either selling it as parts or as an incomplete lump. Then I realised I had a Z590 Tachyon, 11700K and 32gb of Klevv DDR4 in the closet lmao. So all that rig misses now is a PSU and I have this at mum's.

So I rebuilt that first due to waiting on deliveries.

OK so Saturday DPD showed. So did the RAM from elsewhere and the contact frame and cooler.

That is with the frame installed, cooler mounted etc. I then went to the case and started playing with fan arrangements.

I was perfectly happy with that. I also decided to fit my PA3 and Splitty so all of the case fans behaved. So in it went along with the board.

And.

I routed the cables around the front of the PC, into the top and then tied and ran to length into the PA3.

Obviously no onboard but I did power test it and it started OK. RAM RGB sprang into life which is usually a good sign IIRC.

Slim fans arrived at 9pm last night. I wish that was a joke.

And this is where I am now at.

You can see the PC it is replacing. This is the other side of said PC.

Overall I love this case. It's a dream to work in. Someone on the OCUK reviews said it was bad because the bottom slot was blocked on the MATX GPU, but that's not the cases fault it's just how GPUs are these days.

I will update tomorrow when the GPU arrives. I also ordered this.

It is literally for my PSU and will save a load of peeing around.

 

[ALXAndy]

BTW I think the best thing that occurred is that when not in use the rig can literally go inside the cupboard the old one blocks. Which is mega cool.

 

[ALXAndy]

OK so I did what I planned. I then got sick and have not been able to do anything else.

I've not been able to touch it since. I do intend to do a couple more things to it but yeah, not atm.

 

[ALXAndy]

OK so I decided to buy a couple of bits. After realising the GPU was not stupid big I realised I could fit normal fans in. These were a fiver each and reverse flow.

I got 5. Then realised that reverse flow were no good for the top lol. I will put 3 in the bottom and one in the cooler in the correct direction. I also grabbed that ROG Herculx. That will stand on top of the GPU and cover up the wires whilst adding some RGB. Just basically as a light panel.

 

[ALXAndy]

Thanks boys.

I did get the new bits in. Health problem not gone away though so I'm still in a bit of pain.

GPU stand didn't fit where I wanted it to but does look good. Going to do more but not until I've got this health stuff sorted out.

 

[ALXAndy]

OK so I decided to change a couple of things as well. I'm not happy about putting a 650w PSU into the PC I need to get back up and running. I think it's not enough for an 11700k and 6800xt. So I am going to put the PSU I took from it (the Strix in here) back in there. I got this for the white PC.

It's used, but was only 145 quid. The good bit is it is compatible with the 12vhpwr cable I just got, being Seasonic the same as the Strix. I also bought 3 more of the Aerocool fans for a fiver each to replace all of the non white fans in the rig. Oh and this. I found out the 760i does not support MSATA so I need another drive for it.

 

[ALXAndy]

Well it uses a Phison controller so yeah. I mean, I bought two Pioneer NVME years ago both Phison and they still work.

I bought a new keyboard to use at mum's. No more off brand chinese rubbish for me.

Came with this for free which was nice as my old one was getting grotty.

Then got a new chair for mum's too.

Not been doing anything though as problem down below still persists. So I need to go back to the doc next week.

The fans (the last of them, that I forgot to post about) arrived this morning. They are the same, but regular flow direction. The PSU shipped today and will be here tomorrow RMSD and I head back on Monday. So, providing the situation with my health stays as it is I should be able to do some tinkering.

 

[ALXAndy]

Look great am considering a smaller form factor myself

I did away with ITX cases a long time ago. I could never find one that wasn't a total hot box. Even with fans in the floor and roof, the sandwich design is awful. Every video I watched on people putting high end gear in always had a follow up video where they had to underclock and undervolt the CPU and etc. Which makes it pointless.

This case however? is quite lardy for a small case. However, it sacrifices absolutely nothing. The pun on the box is hilarious, stating in quotes "The compatibility is strong with this one !". It's also amazing how tidy you can make the wiring when it has practically no cable management.

Yeah, very happy boy tbh.

 

[ALXAndy]

Oh, one last minute change.

I don't like how the cooler blocks the RAM, nor how fitting a second fan onto it would make it look daft because of said RAM. A few days ago someone asked me about which AIO I would get these days and as usual it ended in one word. "Thermalright". Whilst digging I found this.

For £62. I mean seriously if that were made by Asus it would be £300. So I got it.

 

[ALXAndy]

The funny bit is it's mostly Thermalright who make their coolers.

Talking of the cooler. It arrived yesterday. So did the Loki. I will be going home tomorrow and if I know me I will get stuck in tomorrow evening lol. The fans from OCUK came also, so I swapped out the ones on the rad already. No point in taking more stuff home I don't need there.

 

[ALXAndy]

The PC is now finished. Sadly Imgur seem to no longer support forum pics, so I can't post any. Will work on that at another time.

 

[ALXAndy]

OK. So I managed to get this far on the first day. Unfortunately I made some mistakes and the rad had to come out several times. I threw in the towel around 11pm. It was hot in here too which was not helping.



I do like how the screen is detachable though. Very cool.



OK so starting the next day I got it all pretty much done.



Before finally.









Good news is with the air cooler gone I could use the ROG thing to cover up the messy junction of the cables. Worked very well ! There is only one more thing I want to do. In the pic below you will see like a key chain thing they gave me with the mobo. Initially I tossed it to one side as junk. However, I then had an idea. See, to get the front off to clean the dust filter you have to remove one side and usually the top. Which is annoying. So I want to cut off the ring and connect it to the top of the front panel on the outside. I can then use it to pull off said panel to clean it. I will just need to machine a cover to hide the ugly self tappers. Easily done

 

[ALXAndy]

I'd also say not to use a 360 AIO because you will have nowhere to hide cables and to try and get a SFX PSU if you can as it makes tidying way easier.

 

[ALXAndy]

Looks good mate! Same colour scheme as my current PC

I need soothing colours atm. Problem still persists though is now almost gone. I swear as soon as you turn 50 you fall to bits lol.

Whilst all of this was happening the Oblivion remaster came out. Not interested as it's not my bag but I then remembered they were doing a Fallout 3 one too. This is HUGE for me as it's my most played game ever. I still do a play through every year and have had to keep my venerable Xbox 1x as it just doesn't work on modern systems for me.

So yeah if that comes out I will be made up and I will have just the rig to play it on the TV.

That's why you can see the Xbox sat on the floor in the pics.

 

[ALXAndy]

Well a lot of it is self inflicted. Due to my autism I thought I was invincible and I could bounce. As such the line from Fake Plastic Trees comes to mind. "mavity always wins".

I tried to outrun a car when I was 7 and broke a good few bones including my femur, which now hurts on a daily basis. I've broken fingers, arms, ankles, and teeth. BMX is a bitaych.

I've also inherited arthritis which is now my main issue. I now walk like I've just got off a horse.

Ah well. I've deffo lived that's for sure.

You can tell my vintage because I've just ordered a very expensive washing machine and cooker and am giddy like a child about it lmao.

 

[ALXAndy]

Also a (former) BMXer - still have my 2001 Macneil Miron! (my Ruben got stolen... sad times)
Was lucky enough to not break anything more than a metatarsal (and some concussions), still pretty knackered though haha.
Still using fridge, cooker and washing machine that came with my flat... I'm too frugal to replace them before they completely die

Oh nice dude.

Current collection.

2004 T1 Barcode Euro.
2001 Morales Better than s*x
2001 4 Bike Co Battletech
2001 Standard STA
2013 Standard Trail Boss
2001 S&M Dirt Bike next generation
2001 Eastern Hercules
2003 Eastern Jane
1999 Super Goose 25th
2019 S&M NBD
2023 Fit Mixtape
2017 GT Speed
2006 Proper Brick **** house
1999 Specialized Fat Boy MX
1996 Schwinn Powerglide

Currently restoring a 2008 Sunday Funday Pro watermelon.

Do note all of these are 100% built and ready to ride. With mostly NOS parts.

 

[ALXAndy]

Few for you. I may have forgotten I have a NOS 1996 2hip Pork as well. Once you get 10 deep you become forgetful lol. Sadly I lost the pics of the whole bike so a close up on the NOS cranks and sprocket will have to do for now.

 

[ALXAndy]

Note. I repainted the Standard Strip bars with 2k and it was taking time to harden properly so I could not fir the levers last time I was with the bike. It would have squished the clear and I hate that.

 

[ALXAndy]

I never got into mountain bikes. Mostly because if you street rode them they just broke very very quickly.

 

[ALXAndy]

Funny thing is I had no idea this case existed and was basically shopping for a NR200 lol