Custom PC

Archived
My custom PC build

My watercooled small form factor gaming PC

I've had a Windows PC for some years now. Originally it began as a desire for a prosumer machine faster than Apple could provide, with a beefy overclocked CPU and cutting edge graphics card. I wrote about this at length in my article Building a Lightroom PC (PetaPixel, DPreview).

When I moved to New York in 2019, I wanted a much smaller computer and decided to build a mini-ITX small form factor (SFF) PC. I fell in love with the Louqe Ghost S1 case and set out to build it with some of the best components I could find at the time, including an 8-core Intel i9 9900K processor that I delidded as well as a hefty Nvidia RTX 2080 Ti graphics card.

Eventually I got interested in iOS development and also got an Apple Pro Display XDR, both things that required a Mac. So I now basically use this PC exclusively for gaming.

It has a watercooled 8-core delidded Intel i9 9900K processor as well as a hefty Nvidia RTX 2080 Ti graphics card but for me the real masterpiece is the lovely and expandable Louqe Ghost S1 case.

Custom PC Image 1
Custom PC Image 2
Custom PC Image 3

Depending on your needs, you can add so-called "tophats" to provide more room for things from storage to watercooling radiators. Building in the confined space was definitely a challenge but it was made manageable with some custom-length sleeved power cables.

But the biggest surprise is just how quiet this thing is. During regular use the PSU and graphics card fans are completely off and it's just the large radiator fans spinning slowly. I have been extremely impressed with this setup and haven't had any issues in two years now.

Parts

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