you can't even buy a bottom filter from them. theirs says for the front or top. the manual recommends side intake with top and bottom exhaust to minimize dust yet I didn't see any builds on YT doing that. Even their own youtube tutorial doesn't do that.
I'm planning my first SFF build and have settled on the NCASE M3 Grater. Before I start ordering the case and accessories, I'd really appreciate a sanity check from people who have actually built in the M3.
I'm less concerned with squeezing out another few percent of benchmark performance and more concerned with M3-specific issues I may not know to look for: clearances, component positioning, airflow, brackets/accessories, cable routing, GPU support, and anything that made you say "I wish I'd known that before I built this."
Current build
CPU: Ryzen 5 9600X
Cooler: Thermalright Peerless Assassin 120 Black
Motherboard: ASRock B850M Steel Legend WiFi (mATX)
RAM: 32GB DDR5, exact kit TBD based on pricing
SSD: 1–2TB NVMe, exact model TBD
GPU: RX 9070 XT, exact model TBD based on price/fit/aesthetics
PSU: SFX 850W, exact model TBD
Case: NCASE M3 Grater, Silver or Arctic White if I can find it
Side panel: Tempered glass on the display side
Current cooling idea
I'm considering using the High Flow Dual 140 Fan Bracket on the non-glass side with 2×140mm intake fans, plus a 120mm rear exhaust. The idea is to keep the glass on one side while using the opposite perforated side as the main intake.
I'm open to changing that completely if M3 owners have found a better air-cooled configuration.
Questions for M3 owners
The goal is basically a high-performance but relatively easy-to-live-with SFF-ish gaming PC, rather than chasing the absolute smallest volume. I originally considered the FormD T1 but moved to the M3 because I liked the additional cooling, mATX support, GPU compatibility and future flexibility.
Thanks! I'm especially interested in advice from people who have actually built in the M3.
Ymca? Library? Mall?!
Looking for an 850W+ PSU with FOUR separate PCIe 6+2 cables under $120
I'm trying to settle on a PSU for my build now so I don't have to worry about PSU compatibility when I eventually buy the GPU.
The GPU will most likely be an RX 9070 XT, but I haven't picked the exact model yet. Some of the cards I'm considering require 3×8-pin PCIe power.
My NZXT H9 Flow RGB+ control hub also requires a PCIe 6+2 connection.
So in the worst case, I'd like:
I was looking at the MSI MAG A850GL PCIE5, but from what I can tell it only comes with two physical PCIe cables with two 6+2 connectors on each.
I know additional modular cables can sometimes be purchased separately, but my understanding is that PSU-side modular pinouts aren't standardized, so I don't want to gamble on aftermarket cables unless they're explicitly approved/verified for the exact PSU. I'd rather buy a PSU that includes everything I need out of the box.
Is there a good-quality PSU under $120 that actually comes with four separate PCIe 6+2 cables?
Basically, I want to buy the PSU once and know that whatever 9070 XT model I eventually find a deal on, whether it uses 2×8-pin, 3×8-pin, or 12V-2x6, I'm covered.
PCPartPicker Part List: https://pcpartpicker.com/list/QPFBrG
CPU: *AMD Ryzen 5 9600X 3.9 GHz 6-Core Processor ($174.00 @ Amazon)
CPU Cooler: Thermalright Phantom Spirit EVO 69 CFM CPU Cooler ($58.90 @ Amazon)
Motherboard: MSI B850 GAMING PLUS WIFI6E ATX AM5 Motherboard ($139.99 @ B&H)
Memory: Patriot Viper Venom 32 GB (2 x 16 GB) DDR5-6000 CL30 Memory ($409.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Silicon Power UD90 1 TB M.2-2280 PCIe 4.0 X4 NVME Solid State Drive ($149.97 @ Silicon Power)
Video Card: Gigabyte GAMING OC Radeon RX 9070 XT 16 GB Video Card ($729.99 @ Amazon)
Case: NZXT H9 Flow RGB+ (2025) ATX Mid Tower Case ($229.99 @ Amazon)
Power Supply: MSI MAG A850GL PCIE5 850 W 80+ Gold Certified Fully Modular ATX Power Supply ($109.99 @ Amazon)
Total: $2002.82
What I'm mainly looking for: bad-value parts where there's a genuinely equivalent alternative, or anything you'd regret buying in this configuration.
I think I've squeezed most of the obvious waste out of this without downgrading the GPU. Tell me where I'm wrong.
No clue how i beat this as a kid. I feel the game is not very generous with xp. I got tired of grinding and decided to stack my team with beasts. That 1% level 50 magikarp really carried this team, especially against lance. Aerodactyl was a massive problem though.
I don't have any payments due yet (I was on SAVE) but student aid is saying to make payments at moheela. I haven't been able to access that website in years since they switched over. I hope I don't have to be on the phone to figure this out. any tips?
The Emonda has a monster 50/34 crank. I am not a strong enough rider, so I basically never used the big chainring. The bike is basically a 1X for me. I am thinking if I switch to the 46/30, it would be more practical: I'd use the full range of gears AND I'd get more climbing gears. is there any reason not to do this if I truly will never be strong enough to use the 50?
Edit: the cassette is 11 a 34 12 speed
my current team felt awful to use because they are all slow leveler that pay off in the endgame: snorlax, lapras, exeggutor, rhydon, dragonair, arcanine. (I have access to both leaf green and fire red.)
I have an aesthetic philosophy about a team I want to follow:
no redundant typings - so no sanslash AND geodude (both ground)
I like to hit things super effective - no more snorlax!
move should be STAB - so no thunderbolt or icebeam on nidoking.
I am sick of slow levelers, so only medium fast levelers allowed
pokemon that feel good to use immediatelly, not 30 to 50 levels later
ideally I'd also like mostly early game pokemon unless there is a smooth mid or late game transition that is a meaningful improvement like going from fearrow to dodrio. in this run I tried to switch from pikachu to jolteon at one point only to spend way too much time and money trying to buy thunderbolt since jolteon starts with no electric attacks
mons should not have trash stats
also no starters or legendaries
edit: ok chat, this is what I came up with, lmk if I have any glaring coverage holes:
I have an emonda and an FX. I always enjoy the faster road bike when it makes sense, but if the roads aren't perfectly smooth or there are a bunch of gravel and dirt trails maybe the hybrid makes more sense.
I put tufo thundero tires on my fx 3 to differentiate it more from my emonda.
Trek says 40 i the max limit but these 44mm fit great. That said, they measure at 42mm with my calipers so YMMV.
Excited to try them out!
My strategy was to deploy like 80 portals, maintain them, and let them naturally get whittled down. Funny enough, it was my simple home portal that ended up being my guardian, so i guess there was no need to overthink it.
I blew through more than 500 level 8 power cubes going for the onyx recharger and charging over 300 portals. Now i’ve cut back to about 80 but i constantly have to grind for cubes. Is there a happy middle ground? There are a few parks around me i’d like to eventually turn into farms if i can ever get other ENL to come out…
I always see a group of riders around the ymca that look pretty serious, but today i saw a group that was most definitely not serious cyclists. Is there a facebook group or discord? I’d like to join a peloton.