Gigabyte Z390 M Gaming build with working NVRAM

[neblackford]

That case will support motherboard sizes ATX, micro-ATX and mini-ITX. The M Gaming is a micro-ATX size. However, what originally led me to a Silverstone PS07 case 6 years ago (and the same one I’ll be using for this next iteration) is that it supported 5.25” devices. I wanted a CD/DVD drive, so I needed that size space.

Funny, I bought a Silverstone PS15 because of its small size for transport, and ended up drilling out the rivets to remove the 5.25" drive bay because I'd never need one (and in order to accommodate an older 170mm SeaSonic PSU I had lying around).

 

[flatlander48]

I have an odd problem with my build. It is physical and not software.

So far, CPU installed, be quiet! Dark Rock Pro 4 cooler (a REAL struggle to mount the 2nd fan!?!?), 2 memory cards and an M.2 storage card. The only 2 parts to be installed before I mount the M Gaming in the case is the Fenvi WiFi/BT card and the graphics card. For the time being I am reusing the previous EVGA GeForce GTX 760.

The problem is that I cannot get the GTX 760 to seat properly. It appears that the bottom of the fan shroud gets high centered on the retaining clip for the battery. I haven’t seen this mentioned here before, so I guess no one has had this problem. There doesn’t appear to be much interference, but just enough to keep the card from seating correctly.

Other then buying a new graphics card, which is looking more likely, the only other thing that came to mind was to remove a bit of the shroud with a Dremel tool.

Any thoughts?

Thanks!

 

[pastrychef]

I have an odd problem with my build. It is physical and not software.

So far, CPU installed, be quiet! Dark Rock Pro 4 cooler (a REAL struggle to mount the 2nd fan!?!?), 2 memory cards and an M.2 storage card. The only 2 parts to be installed before I mount the M Gaming in the case is the Fenvi WiFi/BT card and the graphics card. For the time being I am reusing the previous EVGA GeForce GTX 760.

The problem is that I cannot get the GTX 760 to seat properly. It appears that the bottom of the fan shroud gets high centered on the retaining clip for the battery. I haven’t seen this mentioned here before, so I guess no one has had this problem. There doesn’t appear to be much interference, but just enough to keep the card from seating correctly.

Other then buying a new graphics card, which is looking more likely, the only other thing that came to mind was to remove a bit of the shroud with a Dremel tool.

Any thoughts?

Thanks!

My PC case is pretty tight and it's a bit of a pain to mount the fans on my Noctua NH-D15S too. I use a fork to help latch on the clips facing the wall of the PC case.

I've never encountered this problem with any of my video cards. If I were in your position, I'd go ahead with the Dremel if it's just a part of the shroud. Some people remove the shrouds from video cards completely and use zip ties to mount Noctua fans on their video cards...

 

[flatlander48]

Funny, I bought a Silverstone PS15 because of its small size for transport, and ended up drilling out the rivets to remove the 5.25" drive bay because I'd never need one (and in order to accommodate an older 170mm SeaSonic PSU I had lying around).

Mine has only been transported once: when we moved from New York State to California. The original motherboard was a mini-ITX. Glad I didn’t buy a smaller case. On the PS07 there is nothing to remove for the 5.25” space at the top of the case. The upper side pieces have a jog to get down to the proper width.

One thing that I realized, after I bought the case 6 years ago, is that I like the power supply on the top. As suggested by Silverstone, the power supply is oriented with the fan on the bottom. It pulls air from inside the case, through the power supply and out through the back grill. From the bottom mounted units I’ve seen they draw air from underneath the case and it is exhausted out the back of the case. The top mounted units would seem to help keep the temperatures down inside the case. Also, since heat rises, any radiant heat from the top mounted units would only heat the top and upper sides of the case. On the bottom mounted units that heat goes into the case.

 

[pastrychef]

Mine has only been transported once: when we moved from New York State to California. The original motherboard was a mini-ITX. Glad I didn’t buy a smaller case. On the PS07 there is nothing to remove for the 5.25” space at the top of the case. The upper side pieces have a jog to get down to the proper width.

One thing that I realized, after I bought the case 6 years ago, is that I like the power supply on the top. As suggested by Silverstone, the power supply is oriented with the fan on the bottom. It pulls air from inside the case, through the power supply and out through the back grill. From the bottom mounted units I’ve seen they draw air from underneath the case and it is exhausted out the back of the case. The top mounted units would seem to help keep the temperatures down inside the case. Also, since heat rises, any radiant heat from the top mounted units would only heat the top and upper sides of the case. On the bottom mounted units that heat goes into the case.

I am using a Silverstone TJ08-E. It's basically the same case as yours with a different front. I also have my power supply with the fan facing down to help exhaust hot air out of the case.

I use the two 5.25" bays for a 3x 3.5" hot swap cage. I use the 3.5" drives for Time Machine, music and videos, and random junk. This helps me keep my system drives relatively clean.

FYI, this case can fit in a standard carry-on bag. I've helped a friend pack one and he flew to Florida with it.

 

[flatlander48]

My PC case is pretty tight and it's a bit of a pain to mount the fans on my Noctua NH-D15S too. I use a fork to help latch on the clips facing the wall of the PC case.

With the be quiet! it seems like you need 3 1/2 hands. You have the hold the inner fan still so you can get the clips in the right location. I would call it an inelegant solution!?!?

I've never encountered this problem with any of my video cards. If I were in your position, I'd go ahead with the Dremel if it's just a part of the shroud. Some people remove the shrouds from video cards completely and use zip ties to mount Noctua fans on their video cards...

I’ll recheck my measurements, but it looks like the area to be removed falls between the copper conducting coils, so that should work without damaging anything.

As Roseanne Rosannadanna would say: “It’s always SOMETHING!!”...

 

[tonytonyq]

Just bought Z390M Gaming weeks ago and read your thread, it's great and many thanks!
However, when I refresh your F9K bios file into my mb, when hit "DEL' during post, it always give me a black screen. Flash back to F9G, it works well. Tried to flash between F9K and F9G several times, F9K always give me black screen when hit "DEL", "F12", but fortunately Q-Flash still work, so I can flash to other version.

Now I already installed macOS Catalina with OpenCore patches but randomly hit black screen (using DP) or green screen (using HDMI), any suggestion or debug advice? My video card is Sapphire 5600XT, and my CPU is 9600KF which has no iGPU, maybe the problem?

 

[flatlander48]

I am using a Silverstone TJ08-E. It's basically the same case as yours with a different front. I also have my power supply with the fan facing down to help exhaust hot air out of the case.

I use the two 5.25" bays for a 3x 3.5" hot swap cage. I use the 3.5" drives for Time Machine, music and videos, and random junk. This helps me keep my system drives relatively clean.

FYI, this case can fit in a standard carry-on bag. I've helped a friend pack one and he flew to Florida with it.

I see what you mean, it is VERY similar. This is what the front of mine looks like. 6 years ago I couldn’t find any cream colored accessories, so it was what it was...

And YES, the be quiet! IS a brick, but I have no doubt that it will cover the 250W as stated. Makes that Intel unit in both photos look like a couple of Silver Dollar pancakes...

 

[pastrychef]

Just bought Z390M Gaming weeks ago and read your thread, it's great and many thanks!
However, when I refresh your F9K bios file into my mb, when hit "DEL' during post, it always give me a black screen. Flash back to F9G, it works well. Tried to flash between F9K and F9G several times, F9K always give me black screen when hit "DEL", "F12", but fortunately Q-Flash still work, so I can flash to other version.

Now I already installed macOS Catalina with OpenCore patches but randomly hit black screen (using DP) or green screen (using HDMI), any suggestion or debug advice? My video card is Sapphire 5600XT, and my CPU is 9600KF which has no iGPU, maybe the problem?

The black screen issue with F9k happens to some people. I connected my computer to the monitor to be able to see the BIOS screen after flashing.

Random black screen or green screen can be due to poor quality cables. Try lowering your resolution and/or refresh to see if it fixes it. If it does, you may need better quality cables.

 

[pastrychef]

With the be quiet! it seems like you need 3 1/2 hands. You have the hold the inner fan still so you can get the clips in the right location. I would call it an inelegant solution!?!?

Yeah, I've read that the Dark Rock Pro 4 can be a bit difficult to install.

I see what you mean, it is VERY similar. This is what the front of mine looks like. 6 years ago I couldn’t find any cream colored accessories, so it was what it was...

View attachment 485384

And YES, the be quiet! IS a brick, but I have no doubt that it will cover the 250W as stated. Makes that Intel unit in both photos look like a couple of Silver Dollar pancakes...

View attachment 485385

I like the while color. Mine is just boring black... I chose the TJ08-e for the massive 180mm front fan. It really helps with air flow and keeps things cool.

Here's a very bad picture of my 3x 3.5" hot swap cage on top and a 2x 2.5" hot swap cage on bottom (and Raspberry Pi on top). I never have to open up the case to change these drives.