Project - HAVN *Sponsored by HAVN*

[Jay85]

We're greatful to get the opportunity to build in the HAVN HS420. This project is once again focused around Noctua products, with premium aircooling in mind.

This project is made possible because of our collaborators and sponsors!
Special thanks to Steve @fiveub from Overclockers for supporting us on this project.

Visit us on https://minibotpc.com/















Our Tech Specs for this build:
​

• AMD 9800X3D CPU​
• Gigabyte X670E Aorus Master Motherboard​
• Asus x Noctua RTX 3070 Graphics Card​
• Kingston Fury 2 x 32gb DDR5 6400mhz Memory Kit​
• Apacer 1TB Gen5 nvme storage​
• HAVN HS420 VGPU Edition Case Black​
• Antec HCG1000W PRO PSU​
• Noctua NH-D15 G2 CPU Cooler​
• Noctua NF-A14x25 G2 PWM Fans x 6​
• Noctua NF-A12x25 PWM Chromax x 5​
• Thermal Grizzly PhaseSheet PTM Thermal Pad​
• Thermal Grizzly AM5 Contact Frame​

 

[Jay85]

We've been working on this for the past few weeks and have hit a few snags along the way due to the size of the GPU we have chosen for this build. Noctua Kindly sent us over their sample of the Asus x Noctua RTX 3070 GPU for this build so we could showcase a full on Noctua build in the newly launched HAVN HS420.

The honoury pictures as they arrive in the studio, was a little surprised at how heavy the box was!

 

[Jay85]

And the unboxing experience, very easy to unbox, probably one of the easiest i've done for a midtower despite its sheer weight. Everything is neatly packaged and well presented with a nice greeting card.

The product showcase begins! We captured as much detail of the case as possible.

 

[Jay85]

The most enjoyable bit of any build is fan placement and working out orientations. With Noctua there is the added bonus of working out orientation then changing the silicone gaskets and bumpons to match the aesthetic as well as ensuring a proper seal around the fan.

This is also where i found out i couldn't have the GPU in the Vertical orientation due to the height of the Graphics card impeding on the NH-D15 G2 cooler. We tried the U12 and had the same issue where it would not sit flush even when offsetting the mount. In Horizontal placement, it fits but it's tight so be weary of thick backplates on your graphics card and using the NH-D12 G2.

 

[Jay85]

Not the biggest fan (doh) of the Noctua's looks, but that's come together really nicely.
The black fans almost fade away and accentuate the Noctua's.
Nice.

Good spot as we didn't want it overwhelming with brown so the black really helps break it up abit and focus the attention around the centre of the build. We have more content to post but we're in the middle of editing right now.

 

[Jay85]

Couple of related videos we did:

 

[Jay85]

Very first photo
I thought that vertical gpu mounts badly placed
Wasn't sure if was just the camera angle
But obviously it's not then

It is, its too close to the airflow guide and too close to the board. Ideally it needs to sit lower and the airflow guide maybe should be shorter to not impede on the GPU location in vertical mode. Or use a slimmer height card, as the Noctua edition is abit of a one off with its 120mm fans. I’d imagine it would be much less of an issue with something like an FE.

It’s a shame because it would have looked awesome in the configuration.

I think the intention was to go with AIO’s in VGPU mode. That’s my thought anyway, overall the case is lovely to build in, very solidly built with premium materials. Cable management is great too, with plenty of routing canals and tie downs and locations to feed.

 

[Jay85]

That really is a shame
As yeah actually looks like a decent case
The vertical gpu parts being included obviously
Increases the cost
So not to be able to fully utilise it
Would mean it's a no from me

Ah i need to clarify, there is a regular edition thats cheaper that doesn’t come with the vertical mount. It does save you a big chunk of money.

 

[Jay85]

Looks like a great case! If they did a 480 compatible version I would have been very keen (as I've mentioned to you before I kinda dug a hole for myself by buying a 480 rad and not wanting to replace).

Will be interested to see how the cooling performance will be with the GPU version... would be great if they included the flat fan mount with the GPU version (not sure if they offer it seperately, not sure how keen I am on the angled mount as I can't see it working with thick rads etc.)

Also not a 'fan' of the brown Noctuas - Surely they could have splashed out and given you some Chromax/Redux??

I'm sure you'll make it look fantastic as always though!

I have a few spare gpu's to test, so after this i will give it ago to check thermal performance. I know from GN's review it seemed to work better without the airflow guide in place. With a smaller gpu i can fit the airflow guide back in again so we will see.

I actually requested the brown lol! They also gave me 6 Chromax fans which i used in this build too. I really wanted to try their new 140mm G2 fans so decided to mix and match abit! Plus they're all getting reused in another build very shortly. Nothing goes to waste!

Noctua has been very generous and supportive, they basically gave me everything i asked for so i can use them across multiple builds including the RTX 3070 Noctua GPU shown here.

 

[Jay85]

Yeah also not keen on noctua beige/brown fans
But if they gave Jay all chromax black
It wouldn't instantly be
Recognisable as noctua which the beige/brown are

And of course Jay has great photo skills
He will make anything look good
Hes too talented for one guy its sickening

Res mounts (cheap)

EK Water Blocks EK-RES X3 Holder 60mm (2pcs)

Order EK Water Blocks EK-RES X3 Holder 60mm (2pcs) now online and benefit from fast delivery.

www.overclockers.co.uk

There are people out there wayyyy better than me, im simply filling a niche market and being abit more on the creative side instead of rehashing builds.

I do have a supportive partner too, Bailey helps me out a ton on editing sometimes especially now when i have a newborn baby to look after too.

 

[Jay85]

P.S. after a long search, I stumbled across a case which met my objectives (480 rad and not wider than my Enthoo Primo) - Sahara gaming p480
It arrived yesterday and I'm hoping to build this week as I'm off work (it's actually smaller in every dimension that my enthoo I think!) got it for £41 and reveiws well.
I'm obviously now lookig at spending double the cost of the case to make it look slightly better, as I don't think my cubic XSPC reservoirs will look great (and need cable extensions)... I'm looking at the Barrow tube res but not sure how to make it fit neatly - Any tips on simple and cheap res mounts would be appreiated

Edit: I think the ones I have (have 2 of them) are these: https://www.xs-pc.com/discontinued-eol/acrylic-tank-reservoir-for-laing-ddc-multiport

And the one I'm looking at is this: https://www.overclockers.co.uk/barrow-expansion-214mm-ddc-acrylic-reservoir-white-wc-02m-ba.html
(white cos it's half the price, though might have to wrap/paint it (I'll also be using white EK vardars as I bought them ages ago for a white build and never used them - hopefully will look good with UV lighting too as I'm not into the overboard RGB thing!)

This certainly looks a little different! How are you finding it so far? Easy to build in?

 

[Jay85]

Sounds like you need to take a drill to the case and fix that stupid vertical mount issue. HAVN won't learn from their mistakes otherwise.

I think a different mounting system would fix it but i having looked at it more closely, it really isn't designed for thick gpu's like the Noctua edition cards. Either that or limit yourself to AIO coolers or a custom loop for the CPU side for this to work. I tried my smaller 4070 TI gpu and it worked fine both orientation with the D15.

 

[Jay85]

I hadn't even noticed that they'd given you the Noctua GPU! And on a second look it actually does look very good and cohesive (a part of me does love the brown/beige, maybe just cos I'm nostalgic to an era when motherboards were objectively ugly and everything was function>form - like huge exposed slabs of copper )!
A friend had a GPU many years back with a crappy cooler, removed the shroud strapped a couple of brown noctuas to the heatsink, looked pretty badass!

Numpty is right about your abilities - your builds are always fantastic and I always look forward to seeing them coming to fruition!

I do love copper myself! a lot of builds are going back to that in a way, with exposed copper piping but more for the rustic look which i absolutely love.

I miss those days were custom was truly home grown custom jobbies and it looked janky as hell but it works lol

Thanks dude, i have quite a few builds planned now to tie me over till Q1 next year so expect a ton of content though at a slower pace since im looking after a newborn too with the Wife.

 

[Jay85]

The build was completed today so i'll smash out the final set of photos plus the build up to the finish line including some shots of the board i used and it's new brain, the 9800X3D!

We opted for Gigabyte's X670E Aorus Master Motherboard, we had some compatibility issues but a quick bios update and it was all good!










And the mighty AMD 9800X3D that everyone is trying to buy right now with a lot of FOMO involved. Great chip! Not had chance to fully test this yet but hopefully this coming weekend.

 

[Jay85]

Some final wide shots of the system, will get some close ups later in the week as im smashing out some other material at the moment. What a beauty though, this makes me really want to go back to aircooling again.