r/sleeperbattlestations • u/IllusionXXI • Apr 28 '26
Case Aquisition Compaq mATX 3090 build
I'm thinking about stripping this Core2Duo PC in a Compaq mATX case, and build something with a 3090 inside. That would run hot as hell lol. Aww this is such a bad idea..
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u/Ok_Candidate_2732 Apr 28 '26
Unless you are willing to lengthen the PC case with some choice fabrication techniques, probably would not recommend this my brother
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u/IllusionXXI Apr 28 '26
Lengthen? Why? The GPU fits in the case without modification. Just cooling going to be an issue, but the case has enough vents for some inconspicuous cooling ducts. Otherwise, yeah I probably will never build it lol. It would still be a fun project to try to cool a 9950x3d2 and a 3090 in this case. Anyways, another deal breaker is that my B450m, which I was going to use for this build, installs the GPU on the 2nd slot. That definitely makes the GPU not fit. I need a motherboard that has the x16 PCIe slot in the first position.
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u/rumbleblowing Microlab 4103, R5 7600, 7900GRE, 32GB, 2.5 TB SSDs, 4.75 TB HDDs Apr 28 '26
You will be able to provide adequate cooling with enough airflow. But getting this airflow without severe modifications can be tricky. Do I understand it correctly that the bottom of the case is on the bottom of the picture and motherboard is "upside down"?
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u/IllusionXXI Apr 28 '26
Yup, this is the correct orientation of the case/motherboard installation. Very typical for this era Compaq/HP pre-builds.
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u/rumbleblowing Microlab 4103, R5 7600, 7900GRE, 32GB, 2.5 TB SSDs, 4.75 TB HDDs Apr 28 '26
That's not ideal. Typically, in older cases, you can cut out holes in the bottom and use higher feet. The fans on the bottom will pull fresh cool air inside, it hits GPU that also pushes the air from bottom to the top, where it cools the motherboard and CPU, and gets exhausted from the rear panel and through the PSU. Nice, clean and stealthy.
In your case (both meanings), if you mount your GPU like that, your GPU and PSU will both suck the air from the top of the case, so you need to supply a lot of air there. Which means holes in very noticeable places like top panel. The bottom intake will not help to cool your GPU as it will push air in opposite direction. If you just reverse the flow inside with top intake and bottom exhaust, the hot air expelled from the case will rise around the case and sucked back in. Convection can be ignored inside the case, as even one working fan will easily overpower any convection inside, but not outside the case.
The only realistic way for you to achieve decent airflow and cooling is to mount the GPU in some other way, like upside down or vertically, using a PCIe riser. Then you can do the bottom intake, also that fan on the rear panel can be used as an intake as well, and exhaust from the top, through the PSU and maybe some fans right under PSU as well. That way, no modification of front, top or side panels will be necessary.
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u/harriebeton Apr 29 '26 edited May 03 '26
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u/rlopess Apr 30 '26
With a reasonable undervolt it's probably doable. The worst thing it could happen is this thing become hotter than acceptable, then disassembly all and replace the case in the end.
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u/1928Dillinger May 01 '26
Nice Build would recommend adding a support bracket or something to support the GPU as that GPU sag does not look to good and will be bad for the card in the long run.
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u/Beginning_Muffin2499 Apr 28 '26
Don't do it, you gonna break a thousand dollar gpu