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- Thermally Constrained Case
- Beware: Most cases are bad, cook your components to a crisp and will cause crashing.
- Don’t consider cases that don’t have an open mesh front panel. The reason most pre-built gaming systems die young is because of a closed-off or glass front panel.
- If it looks thermally constrained, it is and should be avoided.
- If you’re stuck with a thermally constrained case like almost any NZXT before Flow series, I can modify your front panel and get your thermals in check, just submit a ticket or text.
- TOP PICKS
- Phanteks G300A
- Corsair 4000D Airflow
- Fractal Pop Air
- NZXT H5 Flow
- TOP PICKS
- Inadequate CPU Cooler
- Air coolers are fine for non-X and non-K CPUs
- Don’t consider CPU air coolers for X and K CPU
- Due to increasingly hot neighboring components, even if you get decent temps they still heat soak the rest of your neighboring components which can be avoided entirely with water cooling.
- Due to increasingly hot neighboring components, even if you get decent temps they still heat soak the rest of your neighboring components which can be avoided entirely with water cooling.
- Water cooling has the advantage of significantly higher thermal mass as well as dispersion of heat away the other hot neighboring components.
- Budget $109-$200 for a good 280/360/420 AIO.
- Air coolers are fine for non-X and non-K CPUs
- Inadequate Case Fan Quantity and/or Orientation
- For more info on proper fan configurations: https://robotatx.com/builds/#FANS
- For more info on proper fan configurations: https://robotatx.com/builds/#FANS
- Improperly Wired GPU
- Your power supply includes at least two PCIE power cables.
- Use one entire cable for each power connector on your GPU.
- Do not use the pigtail connector on each PCIE power cable.
- See photo below for example.
- See photo below for example.
- Your power supply includes at least two PCIE power cables.
- Improperly Installed M.2 SSD
- Your motherboard includes the standoffs and screws needed to fasten your M.2 style SSD(s) to the board in the original box. The standoffs and/or screws usually do not come affixed to the board.
- Don’t remove the SSD stand-off and use it as a way to fasten it to the board. This is the #1 mistake I’ve seen this past year and can cause the board, SSD, or both to short out.
- The SSD must also have a heatsink attached. If your board didn’t include one then buy one or your drive with throttle and have a decreased lifespan.
- Your motherboard includes the standoffs and screws needed to fasten your M.2 style SSD(s) to the board in the original box. The standoffs and/or screws usually do not come affixed to the board.

(4) Do NOT use the pigtail connector on PCI-E power connections.
(5) Do NOT install nVMe SSD with the standoff above the SSD as pictured. It’s supposed to be screwed into the standoff, not the standoff used as a screw.