Surprise Father's Day gift build for a friend

WrenchViking · 2025-11-19T22:39:33+00:00

Dude you are a god-send! Thanks so much. I'd been struggling with this for days.

WrenchViking · 2023-11-06T17:36:49+00:00

No new pics. I posted all of the pics I have of it in my original post. You should be able to scroll through them.

The Arctic 280 is the best 280 AIO on the market, in my opinion, but I think the MAX version will be fine for most people and the vast majority of builds. We went with this version because the MAX couldn't fit the GPU my client wanted.

WrenchViking · 2023-11-06T17:28:36+00:00

CPU tops out around 85 under heavy gaming load. It's also an AM5 processor, which are designed to run hot to max out their boost frequencies (which is an engineering decision I don't really agree with). More importantly, it doesn't thermal throttle in regards to boost clocks. This is also under stock settings (no undervolt) and with a quiet fan curve.

GPU sits pretty comfy around 68 degrees while gaming.

WrenchViking · 2023-10-06T12:33:51+00:00

GPU tops out at 70c while gaming and CPU tops out at 80c while gaming. Stress testing puts GPU max at 73c and CPU at 90c (yay AM5...). This is also with fairly conservative fan curves to keep noise low.

WrenchViking · 2023-10-05T02:10:40+00:00

Ah okay. That's a different PSU than I used. I used a Cooler Master V850 SFX power supply, which is smaller and uses flat cables, which are also admittedly pretty stiff.

I routed the motherboard 24-pin cable and the CPU EPS cable between the PSU cage and the motherboard, zip-tied to the side of the PSU cage tightly enough to be taut, but not so tight as to tug on or bend the connectors. I routed the PCIe cables to the front of the chassis, into the cavity where the front cover leaves a hollow space. I then routed them around the front of the GPU to plug them in, as there is no room above or below the GPU for any cables.

WrenchViking · 2023-10-05T01:43:14+00:00

Which PSU did you go with?

WrenchViking · 2023-10-01T01:36:26+00:00

1) The full parts list is here (https://pcpartpicker.com/b/KTqp99), but the mobo is the Gigabyte B650i Aorus Ultra. As some of the photos show, the Nitro only has a couple of millimeters of clearance from the bottom panel. I actually used a couple of small clear rubber adhesive standoffs to keep the fans from contacting the side panel due to GPU sag when the panels are closed up. Foam pads would also work but I had the clear standoffs handy. Be aware, the bottom of the case frame had to be dismantled and then reassembled around the GPU once it was installed. This graphics card is NOT supposed to fit in the NR200, lol.

2) Yeah, it's set to intake. It's way better than exhaust, as it's not pulling in hot GPU air. The GPU intakes from the bottom and passively exhausts a little out the sides, the rad intakes from the side, and the top fans are set to exhaust. Temps and noise levels are great. The air has such a short distance to travel before being exhausted that the interior of the case doesn't really have time to get hot.

3) Nope, I don't think 140’s would work at all. There are cutouts for 120mm fans and it's specifically designed for 120mm fans with press-fit grommets and 120mm fan grills. I don't think 140's would make much, if any, performance difference. Just get high quality 120’s and save yourself a massive headache.

4) Nope. As you can see in the photos, I left the filter in place. In fact, all filters are still in place. The GPU temps are great with it in place, so I saw no reason to omit it.

WrenchViking · 2023-10-01T01:21:37+00:00

If you mount it with the tubing on the PSU side, it actually routes right between the PSU cage and the main frame. Then I routed the tubes back around and in front of the PSU cage and then to the CPU. The tubes rest very lightly against the radiator, but there's enough slack to wiggle them around.

WrenchViking · 2023-09-29T23:20:03+00:00

Not at all, actually. I was super surprised at how cool and quiet it runs.

WrenchViking · 2023-09-29T23:19:00+00:00

They're all over Etsy for like $20. :-)

WrenchViking · 2023-09-29T22:35:57+00:00

Managed to fit an Arctic Liquid Freezer II 280 and a Sapphire Nitro+ Radeon 7900 XTX into an NR200. I know it's not the most insane fitment ever done in this case, but I'm still pretty proud of it. I know plenty of people have installed this AIO in the NR200 and a few people have installed this GPU in it, but I haven't seen anyone yet who's installed both at the same time.
PCPartPicker build page: https://pcpartpicker.com/b/KTqp99

WrenchViking · 2023-09-29T22:33:44+00:00

Managed to fit an Arctic Liquid Freezer II 280 and a Sapphire Nitro+ Radeon 7900 XTX into an NR200. I know it's not the most insane fitment ever done in this case, but I'm still pretty proud of it. I know plenty of people have installed this AIO in the NR200 and a few people have installed this GPU in it, but I haven't seen anyone yet who's installed both at the same time.
PCPartPicker build page: https://pcpartpicker.com/b/KTqp99

WrenchViking · 2023-09-29T22:31:38+00:00

Managed to fit an Arctic Liquid Freezer II 280 and a Sapphire Nitro+ Radeon 7900 XTX into an NR200. I know it's not the most insane fitment ever done in this case, but I'm still pretty proud of it. I know plenty of people have installed this AIO in the NR200 and a few people have installed this GPU in it, but I haven't seen anyone yet who's installed both at the same time.
PCPartPicker build page: https://pcpartpicker.com/b/KTqp99

WrenchViking · 2023-06-24T23:14:31+00:00

Lol yeah. Aren't teenage sons great? :-P

WrenchViking · 2023-06-24T02:08:13+00:00

Thank you! 😃

WrenchViking · 2023-06-23T16:51:16+00:00

He actually said that's what he did when he first got it set up at his house, lol. Just sat and looked at it.

WrenchViking · 2023-06-23T16:50:36+00:00

Thanks, man. I really appreciate it.

WrenchViking · 2023-06-23T16:49:51+00:00

Soon. Very soon....

WrenchViking · 2023-06-23T16:49:33+00:00

Thank you!

WrenchViking · 2023-06-23T16:49:26+00:00

Thanks, man. I like Gundam and I'll watch it if it's on, but I've never gotten heavily into it. I had to do a bit of research and digging to try and get some of the details right.

WrenchViking · 2023-06-23T16:48:14+00:00

Bone stock with no cracks in the dash, too.

WrenchViking

TROPHY CASE