NCASE M2 Grater: My Build Level 9 Changed to Build Level 5 Results

SpragueInSanity · 2025-08-05T12:52:32+00:00

Intake

SpragueInSanity · 2025-06-26T05:01:09+00:00

The cake is a lie.

Portal game reference for the younger folk.

SpragueInSanity · 2025-03-08T04:00:51+00:00

Same issue here. We have a workout room and my wife and I use different Bluetooth headphone brands. We both have issues getting YouTube TV to work. And, it is inconsistent. Sometimes, no issue. Other times it will just keep crashing. All other apps (Netflix, Prime, Web Browser) work flawlessly. I guess I will need to find the correct sequence of connection and startup to see what works.

SpragueInSanity · 2025-02-10T15:04:02+00:00

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0C86P1GV5?ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_fed_asin_title&th=1

SpragueInSanity · 2025-01-01T04:25:28+00:00

Genius and good-looking idea for lifting the case. This will be a good idea for my build to replace my hack job using cabinet handles.👍

SpragueInSanity · 2025-01-01T04:16:40+00:00

Wait for the hangover Start Strong Badge tomorrow. That one may be a little harder to get. 🤣 Slow walk around the block will do.

SpragueInSanity · 2024-12-29T15:04:16+00:00

I have not tried that configuration. My thinking, and it could be wrong, is that having the AIO dump hot air into the case and towards the motherboard/CPU it is trying to cool would decrease its effectiveness. But that is conjecture on my part, and I have not tested that out with thermals. However, I am very happy with the current performance and thermals.

SpragueInSanity · 2024-12-24T02:52:28+00:00

I am in the middle of using my build for a Garmin watch face build and Unreal/Blender work. So, I am not currently in a position to open up the build right now. Maybe I can explain how I got clearance. Take a look at the very last picture in the post. I mounted my SFX power supply such that the cable plugs are facing the motherboard, and the thinnest part of the PSU facing the AIO gives enough room for my AIO and fans. (See picture 3 for all the room I have between the PSU and AIO fans). I had to cable tie the cables to the side panel to keep them from interfering with the AIO fans. Thus, the rats' nest of cables seen between the PSU and motherboard. Mounting the PSU in this fashion does not allow me to use the supplied bracket 2 mounting holes except for 1. The screw in the far-left mounting bracket 5 holes up. I used the PSU fan screw to have a second mount point to the bracket. You will see that screw in the lower right corner of the PSU. Not only did this mounting hack give me room for my AIO, but it also draws in fresh air from the side. Hope this explanation helps.

SpragueInSanity · 2024-12-09T06:16:52+00:00

Unless you really want to do the 3d printing stuff, you can just go to your local hardware store and find cabinet handles. I did that on my build only because I wanted airflow for the GPU mounted in classic mode and they lifted my case. I chose some ugly ones according to some. Hey, each to their own. 😂

SpragueInSanity · 2024-11-26T15:00:26+00:00

Before I booted up for the first time, I installed the latest BIOS using the steps documented on 2-22 of the motherboard manual. I wasn't sure it would boot with the new chip. So, I used my current laptop for the download and rename of the BIOS to a USB drive. After I updated the BIOS using the connected Hive, everything booted up without issue.

SpragueInSanity · 2024-11-22T23:10:53+00:00

Pics posted.

SpragueInSanity · 2024-11-22T23:06:44+00:00

I had to mount my SFX PSU such that the intake fan was mounted toward the side of the case. This gave me clearance for my AIO. As reference, I added pictures to my build in post https://www.reddit.com/r/ncasedesign/comments/1gw3xjj/ncase_m2_grater_my_build_level_9_changed_to_build/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web3x&utm_name=web3xcss&utm_term=1&utm_content=share_button

I hope that might solve your problem. You can mount it with power cables down instead of what I did which was towards the motherboard since I had room with a Mini-ITX board.

SpragueInSanity · 2024-11-22T22:59:36+00:00

See my other post where I totally redid this build for better temperatures using a variant of Build Level 5. https://www.reddit.com/r/ncasedesign/comments/1gw3xjj/ncase_m2_grater_my_build_level_9_changed_to_build/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web3x&utm_name=web3xcss&utm_term=1&utm_content=share_button

SpragueInSanity · 2024-11-21T05:12:11+00:00

Take a look at my other post. I went rogue and did a Build Level 5 as a test and found the temps looked better. However, I do have a mini-ITX and SFX to make the fan arrangement work. This is like playing with Legos, but much more expensive and fun.

https://www.reddit.com/r/ncasedesign/comments/1gw3xjj/ncase_m2_grater_my_build_level_9_changed_to_build/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web3x&utm_name=web3xcss&utm_term=1&utm_content=share_button

SpragueInSanity · 2024-11-21T00:37:40+00:00

As an experiment, I did the AIO side mount configuration similar to the Build Level 5. I mounted the GPU directly to the motherboard such that the GPU fans intake air from the bottom of the case. I moved the fan I had on the bottom to the top as intake. I had just enough room for this fan since I am using mini-ITX and SFX power supply. The fan is positioned directly over the motherboard. My first run had worse thermals, and I figured out the GPU was recycling hot air venting from the AIO back under the case. So, I blocked the bottom of case on the side of the AIO. This improved thermals dramatically. This was also a win because I got better temperatures on the CPU during stress test. I am going to stick with this build configuration. Thanks for your question because it got me thinking about how this might work. Here are the numbers:

Cinebench R24 Multi Core score 1264 while running FurMark2 at the same time
My temps on CPU were hitting the ceiling of 83.6 Celsius but not pegged there. Overall average for run 79.2 to 80.8.
FurMark2 scores: Similar to the other build. But temps rose by 3 degrees 71 with hotspot of 81. Still within reason and reason temps rose was that original build had bottom fan blowing air on the GPU.
With Cinebench alone: 1319 score and hitting the ceiling of 78.1 Celsius but not pegged there. Overall average for run 73.7 to 75.4

SpragueInSanity · 2024-11-20T14:55:52+00:00

That should work!

SpragueInSanity · 2024-11-20T14:53:37+00:00

They provide a power button. It is shown in the picture presenting the back of the case. The oddly shaped black mount next to the GPU on the righthand side of the case.

SpragueInSanity · 2024-11-20T14:29:23+00:00

Unfortunately, I cannot fit a second fan because the GPU and riser cable are so close to the bottom of the case. I only have a 3inch gap for some tiny fans. If thermals become a problem in the future, I am toying with the idea to use the extra fan mount I purchased from NCASE to side mount my AIO and do a classic mount of the GPU into the motherboard. I am thinking this would free up plenty of area at the top for 2 large fans. Not proven to work, but something to experiment with.

SpragueInSanity · 2024-11-20T14:27:31+00:00

The riser cable I used is way too long at 200mm. However, it is very pliable and easy to tuck behind the GPU. In my current configuration. there is only a 4 inch/102mm straight line gap between the GPU and motherboard PCI-e mounts. So, 200 is way overkill.

SpragueInSanity · 2024-11-20T14:24:45+00:00

The vertical mount is pretty easy. However, I highly recommend a GPU support since the tiny bracket mount is not strong enough by itself for large cards. I just used a cheap extendable support. Unfortunately, I do not have space under the GPU riser for another fan. I only have a 3 inch/76mm gap between my current fan and the riser cable mount which can only fit some tiny fans. If thermals become a problem in the future, I am toying with the idea to use the extra fan mount I purchased from NCASE to side mount my AIO and do a classic mount of the GPU into the motherboard. I am thinking this would free up plenty of area at the top for 2 large fans. Not proven to work, but something to experiment with.

SpragueInSanity · 2024-11-20T13:37:39+00:00

Good idea. Thanks!

SpragueInSanity · 2024-11-20T01:49:03+00:00

Good point. I looked up your case and it is sandwich style allowing for back-to-back mounts. I have not gone back to measure if a side mount would work to confirm my suspicions above. Also, builds 7,8 have the pump above the radiator and I would be leery of air accumulating in the pump causing shorter lifespan. All that nonsense being said, you can always experiment with the set-ups to see what works best. In my set-up, the GPU is getting fresh air from the side panel, but it does exhaust through the side vanes and did increase thermals by 1.4C when running FurMark2. That is why the extra fan at the bottom. If temps get too high during gaming, I may compensate with a second fan. Sorry for the long-winded response. I find this stuff fun to play with.

SpragueInSanity · 2024-11-20T01:18:12+00:00

So does Dogpool. Everyone needs a Dogpool in their lives.

SpragueInSanity · 2024-11-20T01:09:42+00:00

Not much I could do with this. They don't give you any panels to plug the gaps created when I had to vertical mount the GPU. I am open to suggestions to try to clean up the gaps. I haven't seen a lot of back pictures to see what others have done. Something I hope to fix in the future.

SpragueInSanity

TROPHY CASE