NCASE M2: builds and discussions

toker said:

abandoning my M2 build, no GPU riser or side window in stock for 6 months now, need to get building.
anyone interested in purchasing a Black Crater M2 (an in UK), PM me
all still in original box, extra rad/fan mount, front case fan mount and feet (3D printed)

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Based on your diagram above, it looks like you were planning on using it in the standard layout, so no GPU riser would be needed. That's the way I built. GPU just pops into the motherboard slot like normal. Works great.

Were you hoping to use the riser cable with the window then have rads top and bottom rather than side and bottom? I thought about doing that (sans window and riser cable) but the odds of everything fitting seemed worse.

Epos7 said:

Based on your diagram above, it looks like you were planning on using it in the standard layout, so no GPU riser would be needed. That's the way I built. GPU just pops into the motherboard slot like normal. Works great.

Were you hoping to use the riser cable with the window then have rads top and bottom rather than side and bottom? I thought about doing that (sans window and riser cable) but the odds of everything fitting seemed worse.

Click to expand...

M2
Flipped Config: 359mm long, 148mm tall, 4 slots
Classic Config: 359mm long, 148mm tall, 4 slots
VGPU Config: 359mm long, 175mm tall, 4 slots

limits my options on RTX 5090/5080 waterblocks at 148mm without VGPU
Only Heatkiller currently has a WB under 148mm
I see NCase now have a M2 AC168 (which probably as better option for me, extra 20mm wide will help WB & 280 RADs options)

toker said:

M2
Flipped Config: 359mm long, 148mm tall, 4 slots
Classic Config: 359mm long, 148mm tall, 4 slots
VGPU Config: 359mm long, 175mm tall, 4 slots

limits my options on RTX 5090/5080 waterblocks at 148mm without VGPU
Only Heatkiller currently has a WB under 148mm
I see NCase now have a M2 AC168 (which probably as better option for me, extra 20mm wide will help WB & 280 RADs options)

Click to expand...

Alphacool has a 120mm 5090 block. I wish more companies would make blocks like that with the ports in the back rather than the side. They're typically geared to the server market, but also perfect for SFF builds.

AC168 version would definitely get you more options.

Epos7 said:

Alphacool has a 120mm 5090 block. I wish more companies would make blocks like that with the ports in the back rather than the side. They're typically geared to the server market, but also perfect for SFF builds.

AC168 version would definitely get you more options.

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yeah i did see those blocks from Alphacool but for INNO3D cards only!
Damn, only managed to pre-order Palit 5080 (ETA 4 weeks) and Gainward 5090 (ETA 20 weeks!)
Looks like Heatkiller WB for now or VGPU or NCase 168
I still have 4 weeks before my GPU arrives, lets see what other options are available at the time

Apparently Alphacool Blocks can use Alphacool Eisblock Aurora 180° Terminals, this reduces wide. This may work

Couple hours of gaming today (Halo: Infinite)

Temps are great, even with my fan curve keeping the fans at 70-75% power.

It took more time than I initially planned but build was completed 3 weeks ago
and just today I finished my blog on this build which you can now read HERE.

• AIR COOLING
• CLASSIC LAYOUT
• OPTIMIZED AIRFLOW PATH

I've been having some stability issues, and I think memory temps are the culprit. I'm hitting 67C after 10 minutes of AIDA, which is far too high.

Took the stock heatsinks off my RAM and that helped a tiny amount. I'm going to try installing Byski copper heatsinks, and adding a 60mm fan above my memory blowing down the length of the sticks. It'll pull in cool air from the top panel. I have my 280mm side rad fans as intake blowing over the motherboard, but that doesn't seem to be doing a good enough job of keeping memory cool.

Epos7 said:

I've been having some stability issues, and I think memory temps are the culprit. I'm hitting 67C after 10 minutes of AIDA, which is far too high.

Took the stock heatsinks off my RAM and that helped a tiny amount. I'm going to try installing Byski copper heatsinks, and adding a 60mm fan above my memory blowing down the length of the sticks. It'll pull in cool air from the top panel. I have my 280mm side rad fans as intake blowing over the motherboard, but that doesn't seem to be doing a good enough job of keeping memory cool.

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hello Epos7

did you ever sort out your RAM temps?

I did not end up selling the M2 case (still have it!)
most of my parts have arrived (still need some cooling parts, been busy with other stuff until now)
without the GPU riser I will probably following your layout but would like the RAD to be at top

toker said:

hello Epos7

did you ever sort out your RAM temps?

I did not end up selling the M2 case (still have it!)
most of my parts have arrived (still need some cooling parts, been busy with other stuff until now)
without the GPU riser I will probably following your layout but would like the RAD to be at top

Click to expand...

Yeah, I think I got a bad kit or two, combined with the fact I was using XMP kits on AMD which made things more complicated. I've just switched to a 6000 CL30 EXPO kit and so far things are working great.

I got the Bykski copper RAM heatsinks as part of my troubleshooting, and they lowered temps immensely. I also found in my testing bare sticks performed better than the stock heatspreaders that come on the G.Skill memory.

I don't think the copper heatsinks were truly necessary, but for a dual rank kit in an ITX case, they do help quite a bit with temps.

Build finally completed!

MB: ASUS B760i
CPU: Intel i7 14700K + EKWB Velocity2 WB
GPU: Palit RTX 5080 GamingPro OC + Alphacool WB
RAM: Corsair 32GB DDR5 7200 CL34
STORAGE: 4TB NVMe Crucial T500

COOLING:
EKWB DDC 4.2 PWM + ICEMAN 2U Res
EKWB 10/13 Fittings + 45/90 Fittings + Clear Tubing
Alphacool 280 HPE Rad (20mm) + XSPC 240 (20mm)
4 x 140mm NF-A14 industrialPPC 2000 PWM
2 x 120mm NF-F12 industrialPPC 2000 PWM
1 x 92mm NF-A9x14 Chromax
1 x Koolance Quick Connect 10/13
1 x XSPC 8 Way Fan Controller

TEMPS:

IDE/Light Load (Web/Email etc):
CPU 34-40C / GPU 35-38C

Cinebench 2024
CPU 90C

FurMark
GPU 62C

GAMING TEMPS (CyberPunk / F1 2023)
CPU 55-65C
GPU 62C

Cant believe they release the M3 now!

Does anyone know if the M2 angled front and round front are interchangeable? I really want the angled front but they've discontinued it, so I'm looking for it on the second hand market. And I want to know if I can buy just the front panel (or exchange it for a round front), or if I need to find the whole case.