FormD T1 V2 Sandwich AIO Build Guide

[@Simply_Scott]

I made a mistake at 5:40, use a SHORT countersunk screw there, otherwise you might run out of long countersunk screws a little early. For those struggling with the screws for the GPU's IO bracket at 20:45, you can attach the bar to your GPU before installing your GPU into the case! Alternatively, you can leave the front/rear panel as one of the last steps by mounting everying to the the spine first.

[@David-ym2vk]

Thanks for this video and for specifically addressing the main concerns that people have been having so far.

I wouldn't have been able to build my t1 without this guide!! Thank you so much!!

[@rivall8105]

Thanks so much, finally someone that does a full tutorial

[@yulpark9299]

thank you so much, you helped me complete my titanium t1! I will remember watching this guide while building my first sff pc for years to come.

[@Simply_Scott]

Glad I could help!

[@inverseSquareRoot]

Same man. Used this video for 2 builds this month. Great walkthrough.

[@alexquinn4792]

This video is the only reason I could even make this case

[@icomkw]

Best T1 video I've ever seen very detailed and informative, thanks bro

[@florentinfernandes7721]

Thanks a ton man. I have made my first build out of this case, something i never though i could pull off and it wouldn’t be without your guide !

[@NightZ3r0]

Such an informative video. I and many others would have been helpless if you hadn't taken the time and effort to make it. Building the T1 would've felt impossible. Thank you, sincerely.

[@grothdrakk-slayer725]

I also would have struggled greatly without your guidance, and am infinitely grateful for it.

[@skylineboy092]

First off, thanks for the guide Scotty. It was extremely invaluable. The power supply extention cable should come in through the back of the case first, which will allow the adapter housing to sit outside of the case, rather than inside the case. This is evident by the countersunk screw holes on the back of the adapter.

[@Simply_Scott]

The designers always intended for both configurations (adapter housing outside & inside) to be possible. Neither is wrong, it just comes down to preference. I talk about it at some point in the build stream when the designers themselves told me. The adapter housing mold having countersunk screws just makes it look nicer on the outside, on the inside the screws are not visible.

[@skylineboy092]

That makes sense, from an aesthetic point of view, having the plug on the inside. It just makes getting one of the screws a bit awkward to get in. Appreciate the insight.

[@misaroorasim]

Thanks for the help. Ive just used to guide with the formd (ncase) v2.5 which has a few differences but was a great starting point.

[@TheInfiniteinfinity]

This is so helpful. Thank you for making this video!

[@martin28bln]

Thanks again for using it for my second build up in titanium color :P

[@The_Yin_Tiger]

I got mine today in the mail, gonna use this video to do a test build later, thanks!

[@camimac90]

I will definitely try it as soon as possible! A friend recommended it to for sharing!

[@Dokk96]

Incredibly useful, thanks!

[@BappulJinzo]

Thank you so much. Your video is the most helpful one i can find in youtube. Thanks!!!!!!

[@TonyCassara]

Scott what a great video!

[@Lostniko33]

Great vid

[@johnmachter40]

Magic happened @20:10 😂 i wished the atx cable mounted itself like that

[@kwankweileung]

very very helpful！thank you！

[@xgamer25125]

That was an amazing video, really makes me consider something small like that for an AM5 build. Do you reckon the sf750 is sufficient for x800 tier gpus with that big CPUs too?

[@Simply_Scott]

We don't have any official news yet on power draws for next generation parts, but I know people that run a 129000k + a 3090 on an SF750, it's a very solid PSU. I'm running 5900x + 3080 myself and that's totally fine.

[@nikonmikon8915]

hey at 23:06 you said there are 988 holes, but there are 969 holes lol. i know this is VERY unimportant but i figured I would let you know. (there are 51 holes on the long side, and 19 on the short side)

[@alexgarcia2071]

anyone else love how he says countersunk lol

[@Simply_Scott]

countersunk

[@rajagoel1581]

Thank you for the great video, Scott! Could you please share the lengths for your custom cables?

[@Simply_Scott]

I can't, but not because I'm unwilling. I made them myself and just measured them in place. We have some suggested lengths for both PSU mounts over in the SFF Gurus Discord (link in description). Copy paste from there: **FormD T1 1.1/2.0 Sandwich cable lengths:** **Standard PSU mount** Pslate's lengths: 24 pin - 160mm, EPS - 260mm, 12 pin - 300mm Dreambigbyray suggests: 24 pin - 140mm, EPS - 250mm, GPU - 200mm **Alternative 90° PSU mount**: 24 pin - 160mm EPS - 300mm

[@moevor]

Excellent guide, thanks for getting it out to the community! Why did you decide to go push on fans vs pull or push-pull with 2 slim fans on top? Curious comparing to other builds out there.

[@Simply_Scott]

Mixing fans in a push-pull setup usually causes turbulence, so that's why I didn't do 2 slims + a T30. I could've used 3 slim fans, but I'm fairly confident that a T30 in push beats 2 P12 slims in push-pull. I can't do pull with a T30 and a p12 slim because it doesn't fit that way around. Could've done pull with 2 P12 slims, but the T30 definitely moves a lot more air.

[@moevor]

@@Simply_Scott fair enough! T30s for sure beat anything else. Would be interested in thermal testing if you plan to post anything on it

[@Simply_Scott]

@@moevor I'd like to but I've had lots of issues with the pump in this AIO, I don't trust its performance, so I can't give out temperatures in good faith knowing that it's the AIO that is to blame.

[@rocketman3770]

@@Simply_Scott Hi, is it possible to do 2 T30 instead of the p12 slim?

[@Simply_Scott]

@@rocketman3770 with an AIO: no, not with the stock top panel. You have 46mm of clearance above the motherboard. A standard rad is 27mm thick, that leaves 19mm of space. With the hollow top panel, it should work. If you're not using an AIO and have no rad there, so in an air-cooled build, you can fit two T30s.

[@Nomokuto]

Are the temperatures much worse in vertical position? There is a stand on there website.

[@Simply_Scott]

Not at all actually, I did some testing a while back for my 5900x with a 240 AIO and my 3080 FE and performance was within margin of error.

[@avecsellers]

Doesn't the Fractal Design Lumen have the pump in the radiator? I always thought AIOs like that were not ideal for top mounted configs, since there's the potential for air in the pump.

[@Simply_Scott]

It does have the pump in the radiator but this is a non-issue for this style of pump. I'm still using my lumen without issues.

[@avecsellers]

@@Simply_Scott good to know. Thank you for the reply!

[@PLxFTW]

I tried to use a generic Maingear 240 AIO and the tubing length is too short.

[@tongoso]

Thank you so much for creating this! is the 4.0 riser cable included with the case or you buy that separately?

[@Simply_Scott]

It is included, on the site there is also a $30 cheaper option that comes with a gen3 riser. But honestly, $30 for a gen4 riser is cheap, it's been very solid.

[@JBenge]

Could you just use both slim fans as opposed to one slim and one thicker one?

[@Simply_Scott]

You could, but you're leaving a lot of cooling performance on the table then. I made a Reddit post about my testing of it a while back "AIO Fan Testing For T1 v2 sandwich layout".

[@johnmachter40]

great video thanks. at firsi i thought you ordered the ALON transparent aluminium sidepanel that costs 2500$ haha

[@Simply_Scott]

Haha, definitely not!

[@jimss596840]

Thank you for putting this together. Very informative! Just wondering what's the temperature for FE card in this layout

[@Simply_Scott]

My 3080 FE's temperatures are fine thanks to the offset between the flowthrough fan and the PSU. At 24°C ambient, without an undervolt, and with the stock GPU fan curve it runs at 75°C during long gaming sessions. I could definitely drop that a little more with an undervolt.

[@raphisteaule]

I was wondering if an i5 14-600 with an 4070 super needed an AIO rather than air cooling. Do you have any clue please hihi ?

[@Simply_Scott]

Hi, for a 14600 you should still be fine with an air cooler for gaming loads, especially if you're willing to do some tuning. I would recommend joining the SFF Hub Discord and asking for advice there.

[@Nomokuto]

I'm new to ITX. What is the storage SSD called for those boards? It's placed just on the motherboard right?

[@Simply_Scott]

The form factor for the SSD is called "M.2", it can use the NVMe (faster) or SATA protocol (slower than NVMe, but the same protocol as a regular 2.5" SSD).

[@Nomokuto]

@@Simply_Scott ok thank you a lot. I just read the board got 2 slots. One gen 3 and one 4. does it make a different? Should I put the ssd for windows or the 2nd ssd for games/documents on the gen 4 one?

[@Simply_Scott]

@@Nomokuto Depends on the drive, m.2 NVMe drives are rated at gen3 or gen4 (or very soon gen5) PCIe speeds. If you have 2 gen3 drives or 2 gen4 drives it does not matter as PCIe is backwards compatible. But if you have a gen4 drive and a gen3 drive, you'd want to put the gen4 drive in the gen4 slot and the gen3 drive in the gen3 slot. I would highly recommend joining the Discord I have linked in the video description, lots of helpful people that can assist you with your build and answer a variety of questions :).

[@surfytom8083]

Hi, great video. Was wondering where you got your custom short PSU cables?

[@Simply_Scott]

I made them myself. If you want custom cables I recommend DreamBigByRayMOD on Etsy. If you join the SFF Gurus Discord I have linked in the description, and check the pins in the #formd channel, you can find some suggested cable lengths there.

[@rocketman3770]

@@Simply_Scott any chance you can do a video on how to do the custom cables? You are a great teacher!

[@Simply_Scott]

@@rocketman3770 I don't have the tools handy anymore, besides there's quite a few guides out there of people who are much better at making cables than I am. We've got some very detailed guides pinned in the SFF Gurus Discord.

[@pqpgodw]

Hey man, nice video. Ill build my new pc using this video as base (7800X3D and 4090) and i have a question: Did you remember the temps of this build? ofc its a year old now but will be useful

[@Simply_Scott]

If you're building with a 4090 make sure to check out K0rnd4wg's build guide as well. On the FormD subreddit I have a post called something along the lines of "extensive thermal testing", that'll give you some ideas. In short, temps are fine, temps for your most components will be fine too, just keep in mind a 7800x3d runs hot regardless of what you cool it with. In the SFF Gurus Discord we've got quite a few people with your exact set-up and they do fine, can even air-cool the 7800x3d.

[@pqpgodw]

@@Simply_Scott thanks for the advice!

[@吳炯仁]

You setup for 2 slots gpu. What if setup for 2.5 slots, is there any space for two 2.5" drive? Maybe above CPU block, mounted with some improvision?

[@Simply_Scott]

There is a spot for a 2.5" drive between the PSU and front panel, it's independent of the slot selection, but does not work with the alternative PSU mount (only with the standard one). That said, normally it only supports one 2.5" drive, but I've seen 3D prints to make it support more, pretty sure they're pinned in the workshop channel in SFF Hub (see description).

[@吳炯仁]

@@Simply_Scott forgot to mention, what about 2.5”, 15mm thick drive? Most U.2 drive are 15mm thick.

[@Simply_Scott]

As far as I know they're the same size as 2.5" SATA SSDs, so should be fine. Pretty sure I've seen people squeeze 3 2.5" SSDs between front panel and PSU even, so you should be alright. Will need a 3D print though (or tape I guess).

[@jakeglazzard4173]

Thank you for the video. I wanted to ask however if instead of having two different fans at the bottom, is there any downside to having two 15mm thick fans above the rad in exhaust?

[@Simply_Scott]

Slim fans perform worse than full size fans. I did some testing and found that 1 slim fan and 1 T30 performed quite a bit better. You can find the testing if you search for: "AIO Fan Testing For T1 v2 sandwich layout reddit". But if you're happy with louder fans and your CPU is less toasty than a 5900x, it might work okay for you.

[@readyorknot2344]

you mention there is 46mm of space for AIO, will a Fractal Celsius S24 (31mm) with 15mm noctua fan fit do you think? has anyone done it? trying to plan a 7700X build trying to maximize performance/cooling in Austalia so issues with some availability of AIO options

[@Simply_Scott]

I haven't seen it done as it is a pretty old AIO, but if it is actually 31mm, it should work. However, there are quite a few 240 AIOs you can try, like the Phanteks Glacier One 240MP & Lumen S24 v2 if you don't want software control or a big mess of wires; if you do want that, you can look into the Corsair H100i pro xt or the NZXT x53.

[@WilliamW97]

Thanks for the tutorial, got my pc running again in this beautiful case. Question regarding the GPU mount, I can't secure the 2 screws for the GPU at the back of the case. Any tips on how that might work? My spare thumbscrews are still to big sadly.

[@Simply_Scott]

Try mounting the GPU hanger to the GPU first, then installing the GPU in the case.

[@WilliamW97]

@@Simply_Scott that's quite a good one, trying that asap. Thanks!

[@RafaelSilva-yv3oh]

Does the AIO fit with the other PSU configuration?

[@Simply_Scott]

Yes.

[@arnoldalfox]

on the motherboard it is possible to mount thicker slim fan like 15.6mm rather than standard 15mm noctuas? using corsair aio

[@Simply_Scott]

There is 46mm of clearance there, most AIOs have a radiator 27mm thick, so 15.6mm thick won't be an issue if that's your AIO's radiator thickness too.

[@arnoldalfox]

@@Simply_Scott do you prefer noctua over t30 for the PSU side?

[@Simply_Scott]

@@arnoldalfox I use a T30, the A12x25 is good too, really up to you, difference is marginal.

[@johnmachter40]

did you research which psu's can be / should be installed into the TeamD T1 ?

[@Simply_Scott]

SFX PSUs is what you want, SFX-L can fit, but it is very tight. Specifically I highly recommend the Corsair SF750, numerous people running 13900k + 4090 builds on it without issue.

[@cocainehook]

All I needed in one video, thank you so much for the video man cheers

[@abhidamon]

What screwdriver are you using ?

[@Simply_Scott]

The listing calls it "XIAOMI Mijia 350mAh 200rpm Electric Precision Screwdriver Type-C Rechargeable 2 Gears Repair Tool W/ Magnetic Storage Case & 24pcs S2 Steel Bits", paid just under $30 for it including delivery to the UK. Does the job well enough!

[@rayaneskyoxis9318]

if you build in 2 slot mode you really have this huge hole betwen the side pannel and the motherboard io shield? you can't cover it?

[@Simply_Scott]

Yes, it's a side effect of the many GPU slot sizing options this case has. It aids with thermals and is at the back of the case which is why most people are not bothered by it. We do have 3D print files from community members to cover it up, they are pinned in the #workshop channel in the SFF Gurus Discord which is linked in the video description.

[@GoldFus1on]

Hey Scott, i am planning on building in 3.25 slot mode and someone mentioned to use 5mm standoff on the gpu side for the 4080/4090fe where do I insert those standoffs exactly? Timestamp would be helpful. Also on the motherboard side would i still use 4 x m3-6mm or much shorter standoffs? Thanks in advance I am just trying to wrap the build in my head before I start building

[@Simply_Scott]

What GPU are you using? Normally you'd offset the PSU like I show at 8:45, but in 3.25 slot mode there's not enough space for that. If you're using a 3 slot GPU like a 4080/4090 FE I'd recommend you build in 3 slot mode and offset the PSU as is recommended. There's also a 3 slot build guide on KZbin. You still use the normal motherboard stand-offs.

[@GoldFus1on]

@@Simply_Scott using 4090fe, i believe in 3.25 slots the 5mm standoffs meant for the psu is diverted to the gpu riser bar. Therefore the PSU doesn't use any standoffs and the gpu is pushed right up against the mesh. Optimum tech made a video that briefly talks about 3.25 slot: kzbin.info/www/bejne/kGPJi4KvoNCsoLM (timestamped)

[@Simply_Scott]

@@GoldFus1on Yes OT did that, it's an odd decision. Much better off going for the recommended build method and building in 3 slot mode with the PSU on stand-offs. kzbin.info/www/bejne/fIXCiZZqhLCSgbM&pp=ygUPZm9ybWQgdDEgMyBzbG90 you can see a proper 3 slot build guide video here.

[@mckunstful]

What is your recommend length of custom PSU cable when using the 90 degree mount option?

[@Simply_Scott]

If you join the SFF Gurus Discord I have linked in the description, and check the pins in the #formd channel, you can find some suggested cable lengths there.

[@kidbeebo]

what kind of screws did you use to mount the slim fan to the radiator? And did you have to buy it seperate from the case/AIO?

[@Simply_Scott]

You want some 6-32 7/8" screws for most radiators. You need to source them separately as Noctua doesn't provide any with their slim fan, and it definitely doesn't come with the AIO. I actually used some I had laying around from a P12 slim, however I recommend against the P12 slim. It has blade lift which results in it smacking itself silly.

[@kidbeebo]

@@Simply_Scott awesome thanks so much

[@rhackus]

May I know whats the length for the cables you've used in this build?

[@Simply_Scott]

I don't have any lengths available because I DIY'ed them, just measured them in place. Sorry! We've got some measurements for the standard PSU mount over in the SFF Gurus Discord, but none yet for the alternative 90° mount.

[@illz11226]

For a more quieter build what do you recommend..air cooler or aio?

[@Simply_Scott]

Both can be very quiet. With a lower TDP CPU like a 5600x/5800x3d/13600k under gaming loads I'd go air cooled. Above that I'd go AIO.

[@illz11226]

Where can I get the custom cable mod for the 3090 fe

[@Simply_Scott]

I would recommend DreamBigByRayMOD on Etsy, but they're on holiday for Chinese New Year right now. They are very affordable and good quality though. There are other cable makers too, like Pexon, Pslate, Cablemod, and more. If you want suggested cable lengths, check the pins in the #formd channel in the Discord I linked in the video description.

[@dbsasuke]

What is that screwdriver😮?

[@Simply_Scott]

From the FAQ: Q What screwdriver is that? A The listing I bought it from calls it "XIAOMI Mijia 350mAh 200rpm Electric Precision Screwdriver Type-C Rechargeable 2 Gears Repair Tool W/ Magnetic Storage Case & 24pcs S2 Steel Bits", paid just under $30 for it including delivery to the UK. Does the job well enough! Wishing you a pleasant day :)

[@kelvinloo5839]

Hi do you think this build is possible with a GPU that comes with an AIO? Like Suprim x Liquid RTX 4090?

[@Simply_Scott]

It's been done, there's a post on r/sffpc, you'll find it if you Google "4090 suprim liquid formd t1", but it's not officially supported, and it's so tight I'd recommend against it personally, but it is possible.

[@kelvinloo5839]

@@Simply_Scott thanks for the info. then perhaps inno3d ichill black 4090 will fit better. thanks!

[@neutronstar-ts5bn]

could you let me know length of your 24 pin cable?

[@Simply_Scott]

I made it myself, so I don't have lengths for it. If you join the Discord linked in the video description, we have a set of suggested lengths there in the #formd channel pinned messages. We have them over on the r/formd subreddit as well.

[@johnroamer4048]

Hi. I'm struggling to mount an aio ek 240 drgb and any fans in the t1 v1.1. Radiator+ slim fan won.t fit so I'm really depressed. Please help

[@Simply_Scott]

Make sure you're using the short fan brackets. I'd recommend joining the SFF gurus Discord I've got linked in the description, you can be helped there.

[@johnroamer4048]

@@Simply_Scott thank you! I don't have all your things from v2.0 , so idk what to use for gpu hanger/support and my cables are stiff haha. Ps: where.d you find the fan grill? Had loads back in the day but since I only had the a4 that has 92mm

[@Simply_Scott]

I haven't got a fan grill in the video, so I'm not sure what you mean. There are some guides for v1.1 specifically around, I'd recommend you try and find those. On the SFF Gurus Discord there are some guides linked and a bunch of helpful people. The v1.1 is quite different in terms of assembly.

[@stealth1379]

Is there any cheaper alternative to this pc case with approximately the same dimensions?

[@Simply_Scott]

The closest option is the Dan Cases/Lian Li A4 H2O. But it's not CNC aluminium, about 10% larger, and not as much versatility in terms of GPU slot selection. Still a great case though, would recommend if a T1 is out of your budget.

[@DojiKing]

Lian Li Q58 is good also it is a bit bigger in height about 4 inches but is width is 2 inches smaller and the length is about the same. But the T1 can go up to 325mm long gpu and the Q58 is 320mm. Also the Q58 weight is 2.5 pounds heavier. Price in my area is 100 usd to 140 usd for the Q58.

[@stealth1379]

@@Simply_Scott what about those geek cases such as geek m5?

[@Simply_Scott]

@@stealth1379I haven't used it myself and haven't seen much about it either, so can't really help sorry. Would recommend you join the Discord I linked in the description of the video and ask there, or on r/sffpc, or on their Discord.

[@kazen16]

Is there a space for Ssd drive? If so where is it located? Thanks

[@Simply_Scott]

It's shown at 08:11, it attaches to the front panel. You cannot use it with the alternative PSU mount, only with the standard one.

[@kazen16]

@@Simply_Scott hey thank you! Been debating if i should get this but the wait time is crazy.

[@Simply_Scott]

@@kazen16 It's definitely a sweet case in my opinion. Generally it arrives 1-2 weeks after it's been shipped. Titanium is delayed at the moment though, sorting out some defects, but black is ready and shipping quick. You can join the Discord I have linked in the video description, lots of SFF focused people there that can help you make a decision.

[@MarkVersion1]

base on the website this has 1.5mm powdercoated steel. is that the side panel or other parts?

[@Simply_Scott]

The steel side panel (not the aluminium one), the power supply bracket, and the short/long fan brackets are steel. The rest (so front panel, top/bottom panel, aluminium side panel etc.) is CNC'ed and anodised aluminium.

[@MarkVersion1]

@@Simply_Scott thanks for sharing the info. The website should be more specific

[@noahpilnitz9062]

How is the 5950x thermals? Noise levels? Ty

[@Simply_Scott]

I don't have a 5950x so I can't say, also don't have tools for proper noise level measurements.