I was planning to complete this build in FormD T1, however during the time I was waiting for the preorder, I found ZS-A4-V3 on TaoBao. It offer a similar mechanism allow user to select a CPU cooler high/GPU thickness ratio, GPU size up to 315mm145mm59mm and CPU cooler up to 65mm can fit in this case.
I mostly satisfied with this outcome, the system is quiet for web browsing and simple task, with really nice performance in gaming.
But I didn't expect the turbulence noise from CPU cooler can be this loud due to the fan very close to the side panel during heavy load and gaming.
I may just switch to the original 47mm Axp-90 or give is-47k a try.
<aside> 💡 I have now switch to IS-47K as my air cooling solution. see updated section here with some new photos at the end.
</aside>
https://s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com/secure.notion-static.com/7742537d-73c5-4c09-bce3-2cf95f664ce5/SIDE.mp4
https://s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com/secure.notion-static.com/1a1bdbb1-69da-4c53-ac8f-a93bb3c3e85c/LIDE2.mp4
The case ship from China mainland arrive pre-installed. Designer said consider doing a flat package in the future.
I picked the gray one.
Most of the screws and holes on the case are M3. The case came with a toolbox including 2 hex key.
Size check, cat as scale.
Size/color compare with space gray macbook pro 13‘’
Can easily fit in my backpack, CamelBak H.A.W.G. 23Liter
5600x because lower heat compare with other Zen 3 CPU and similar gaming performance.
Due to the case limitation I picked ASUS 3080 TUF it fit. the thickness of this GPU just fit in the back panel B (CPU 53mm/GPU 54mm)
I picked the latest 53mm high Thermalright AXP-90 53x
However the the fan clips will scratch the side panel when slide in if the back panel B is being used.
So I carved 4 little channels allow the fan clips to sleep in.
I am using the Klevv BOLT X 16G*2 3600 C18 . Crucial Ballistix BKV/BJZ were out of stock.
SF750 & AORUS Gen4 2T
There are 5 back panels came with the case. To change the back panel, the back frame need to came off.
Then, for each back panel there is a corresponded pair of holes at the front panel to screw in the mid frame.
In my case, the GPU is too large to install with front panel installed. The PCIE riser should be installed before install the GPU and male end of the riser should goes in the hole in the mid frame, not over it like in the pic.
The space under the MOBO was designed to fit a 12015 but if install directly, the blades may hit the case or MOBO. Therefore I placed a 0.5mm washer between the bottom panel and the MOBO support to just rise a bit the space.
The MOBO I picked is the MSI B550I EDGE, the cooler back panel on this MOBO is a bit different than a typical AM4 cooler back panel. So I have to use the original one came with the MOBO.
The screws on AXP-90 x53 are too long for A4 structure, I have to file off 3mm of the screws to prevent the screws penetrate the riser and GPU behind the MOBO.
Put in the MOBO before install the PSU on the frame. And this concluded the installation of the MOBO.
To cable manage the system, I recommend remove the bottom panel to access the PSU module sockets.
However this build ain't finished yet.
During the testing, I discovered the 2 120mm fans are better on the top and exhaust the hot air form the system. So I decided to flip the mid frame upside down to achieve this structure.
So I did a test to see how is the temp change by simply flip the entire case.
Before flip the case the idle temp was around 65C and COD17 gaming around 85~90C
By simply flip the case, the idle temp is now below 40C and COD17 at 69~75C with same fans speed and room temp.
Luckily the ZS case support mid frame flipping inside the case, you can use the fans rank came with the case to install your fans on the side panel after mid frame is flipped.
However you can no longer use the same 12015 fan over the MOBO(under the MOBO before flip) if you choose to install on the fan rank, only 12012 fan can install on the rank over the MOBO.
Therefore I decided to install the fans directly on the top panel.
Because the magnetic lever can't work if you flipped the mid frame. Surprisingly I found the press-in nut in the lever mechanism can fit in the clearances for the screw heads on the top panel.
I contacted the case designer for more same size press-in nuts (CLS-M3-2 CLS mean stainless steel, M3 mean the thread size, 2 mean the shank code, the total thickness is 1.37~1.38mm).
Totally 8 nuts will fit in the top panel.
I use epoxy glue to fit the nuts on the top panel.
And screw in the fans.
You may need to use the plastic washer in the toolbox to control the length of the M3 screws.
After some use of this PC, I finally had enough with the noise generated by the CPU cooler fan being too close to side panel, even after some fan curve adjustment I couldn't get this cooler in a reasonable noise level without lost my control of the CPU thermal during gaming.
So I got myself a IS-47K to improve the noise level. I keep the Noctua 9015 inward to blow air on to the MOBO(Tried inward & outward, inward has a better temp.)
The block of metal on the Gen4 M2 SSD slot must be remove to fit in the IS-47K, so I take out the fan and direct band it on M2 SSD. You could remove it to reduce the total system noise level, since the B550I edge is the only B550 ITX MOBO has a M2 slot fan.
In result, the noise level significantly decreased, no more turbulence noise come from the CPU cooler, Now I have extremely quite PC during light use. in some gaming scenario the temp had to increase slightly(single digit) simply due to the AXP-90 53x just has a better thermal performance than IS-47K. Still I was looking at peak CPU temp around 75C under load, and a 39C idle temp as I am writing this update after some curve adjustment.
I use 3M double tape to put Velcro on the front panel.
Completed!
Thank you!