RTX 5090 In Mini SFF PC Build

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Post on Jan 24, 2025

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Stuffing a RTX 5090 into a Mini SFF PC: My Hilarious (and Kinda Painful) Journey

Okay, folks, let's talk about squeezing a behemoth like the RTX 5090 into a tiny SFF PC. Sounds crazy, right? It was. Absolutely bonkers. But I did it (mostly). And I'm here to share the blood, sweat, tears, and maybe a few choice words I learned along the way. This isn't your grandma's knitting circle; this is hardcore PC building, miniaturized.

Why the Heck Did I Do This?

Look, I'm a sucker for a challenge. I love the sleekness of a small form factor PC. They look awesome! Plus, I wanted a powerful machine that didn't take up my entire desk. So, naturally, I decided to shove the top-of-the-line RTX 5090 into the smallest case I could find... because why not?

Picking the Right Parts: It's a Balancing Act

This wasn't just about picking the GPU; I needed everything to be compatible. This is where things got real tricky. It was like solving a really complicated puzzle.

The Case: Finding a case that could even fit the 5090 was a nightmare. Most cases advertised as "SFF" are still too big or have restrictive airflow. I ended up going with a Cooler Master NR200P, which is widely considered one of the best options, but even then, it was tight. Tip: Don't skip measuring everything thrice (or more!). Seriously, measure your GPU and then double check!

The Motherboard: ITX motherboards are your only real choice for a small build. Airflow is super important in these cases; the smaller the space, the more airflow is needed. I had to choose one with good VRMs and enough expansion slots for my needs. This is another point where I made my first mistake, more on that later.

The CPU Cooler: Forget about bulky air coolers. A 240mm AIO (all-in-one liquid cooler) was the only reasonable choice, even then it was a bit of a squeeze. Tip: Make sure your cooler fits within the case’s dimensions, and also, that the radiator doesn't block any other components.

The PSU: A high-wattage, fully modular SFX power supply is essential. You'll need one that can handle the power draw of that 5090. I almost blew this one, as many smaller PSUs don't support the power needs of the card.

The Build: A Comedy of Errors

The actual build was... eventful. Let's just say there were moments of pure joy and others where I questioned all my life choices.

My first huge mistake was underestimating cable management. I chose the wrong motherboard (too many ports) making it impossible to close the case without damaging components. It's hard to manage all the wiring, and it's even harder to get the cables in the right spots. I had to completely redo the wiring about three times. The whole thing was a frustrating, sweaty mess.

The second problem is something you'll run into when working with SFF builds: Thermal Throttling. My case ended up being a bit too restrictive for optimal cooling. Despite the AIO, my temps spiked during heavy gaming sessions. This one hurt. Tip: Check your temperatures frequently, especially during demanding tasks. You might need to add more case fans (if there's room!) or look for better airflow options.

I even nearly broke a few components trying to maneuver them into their final places. I can't stress this enough; be gentle! Don't rush. You need to be precise with your actions.

The (Almost) Glorious Result

Despite the setbacks, I finally got it working! The RTX 5090 in my mini-SFF rig is an absolute beast, and the performance is insanely good. I get that beautiful, high refresh rate gaming I craved, and the small form factor is a nice bonus. Seeing those high frame rates makes all the stress and struggles worth it.

Final Thoughts: Go For It (But Be Prepared)

Would I do it again? Maybe. This was a pretty extreme build. But I learned a ton about compatibility and cable management.

The RTX 5090 in a mini-SFF PC build is challenging, but possible. Do your research, choose the right components, and be patient. You'll need a lot of patience, and the right tools.

It’s important to remember to research your specific case and components to ensure compatibility before you buy anything. And yeah, maybe invest in a good cable management system, too. You’ll thank me later. And hey, if you totally mess it up? At least you'll have a great story to tell. 😉