Breadcrumbs
InWin D-Frame Mini - Z270I
by TypeXD Posted on: 7/31/2023Build Description
My primary gaming workstation! Really like the InWin D-Frame Mini design. Found a good deal on the 7700k and Z270I combo and wanted to use hard tubing. Rounded up all the fittings I needed and went at it with my first hard tubing build!
Originally was about to get the Phanteks Shift X, but found this D-Frame case and I quickly jumped on purchasing them without even hesitating. Glad I picked up the InWin D-Frame Mini as the Phanteks Shift X has the reputation of bad airflow and temps, which I've experienced in my Phanteks Evolv ATX TG case before.
The 7700k was delidded with ROCKIT 88 - LGA 1151/1150 Delid & Relid kit and applied the Bitspower IHS with Thermal Grizzly Conductonaut Liquid Metal as well on this build. Paired up with a NVIDIA 1080 TI FE w/ EKWB Nickel Plexi and Nickel Backplate!
All fittings are Bitspower shining silver and gathered a ton of parts to re-create the EKWB D240 for the InWin D-Frame Mini Kit (EKWB D5 Vario Pump/Res Combo w/ 100 RES top) with the upgrade to the EKWB XE Radiator instead of the PE to maximize cooling.
In case if anyone is wondering how the motherboard heatsinks are silver, my brother had the Z370-i to use it in his build, and didn't like the silver accent heat sinks on the motherboard and traded with my darker scheme on the Z270I motherboard. Great for me as I really like the silver finish instead of the darker grey (purple-ish) finish on the the Z270I board.
This system is paired up with the Alienware AW3418DW and plays great with 3440x1440 with G-Sync enabled.
Recently found a good deal on a HX1000i PSU and upgraded from a HX850i.
Not 100% happy with the temps in this build, but still probably a lot better than if it the 7700k wasn't delidded. During game play (depending on the game) the CPU can get up to 65-70C @ 4.5GHz & XMP Profile w/ 1.135v and GPU getting almost to 60C with OC profile with +189MHz on Core Clock and +500 MHz on Memory Clock. These are technically great temps, but just wanted them to be much lower as my ATX Build with delidded 8700k running at 50-55C 5.0GHz & XMP w/ 1.265v and 2x Asus Strix 1080TI OC in SLI at 43C under load! Even tried undervolting the 7700k and found it running best at 1.135v but temps still getting up to 65C and idles 35-42C. Considered trading the 7700k for the 6700k, but decided just to stick with the 7700k and dealing with Intel's hot CPU.
All/Most parts show retail pricing and doesn't reflect the actual cost of or spent on the build.
DUST has not been an issue for me. Simply wiping down the hard tubing, fittings, backplate, tempered glass windows and using a DataVac Duster to the radiator/fans once in a while. And with the GPU being vertical doesn't allow too dust to settle on it. Air is being pulled from the bottom of the case through the radiator into the case and with assumption the air will ventilate through the open top.
Really enjoyed this build and is my favorite build to date.
Originally was about to get the Phanteks Shift X, but found this D-Frame case and I quickly jumped on purchasing them without even hesitating. Glad I picked up the InWin D-Frame Mini as the Phanteks Shift X has the reputation of bad airflow and temps, which I've experienced in my Phanteks Evolv ATX TG case before.
The 7700k was delidded with ROCKIT 88 - LGA 1151/1150 Delid & Relid kit and applied the Bitspower IHS with Thermal Grizzly Conductonaut Liquid Metal as well on this build. Paired up with a NVIDIA 1080 TI FE w/ EKWB Nickel Plexi and Nickel Backplate!
All fittings are Bitspower shining silver and gathered a ton of parts to re-create the EKWB D240 for the InWin D-Frame Mini Kit (EKWB D5 Vario Pump/Res Combo w/ 100 RES top) with the upgrade to the EKWB XE Radiator instead of the PE to maximize cooling.
In case if anyone is wondering how the motherboard heatsinks are silver, my brother had the Z370-i to use it in his build, and didn't like the silver accent heat sinks on the motherboard and traded with my darker scheme on the Z270I motherboard. Great for me as I really like the silver finish instead of the darker grey (purple-ish) finish on the the Z270I board.
This system is paired up with the Alienware AW3418DW and plays great with 3440x1440 with G-Sync enabled.
Recently found a good deal on a HX1000i PSU and upgraded from a HX850i.
Not 100% happy with the temps in this build, but still probably a lot better than if it the 7700k wasn't delidded. During game play (depending on the game) the CPU can get up to 65-70C @ 4.5GHz & XMP Profile w/ 1.135v and GPU getting almost to 60C with OC profile with +189MHz on Core Clock and +500 MHz on Memory Clock. These are technically great temps, but just wanted them to be much lower as my ATX Build with delidded 8700k running at 50-55C 5.0GHz & XMP w/ 1.265v and 2x Asus Strix 1080TI OC in SLI at 43C under load! Even tried undervolting the 7700k and found it running best at 1.135v but temps still getting up to 65C and idles 35-42C. Considered trading the 7700k for the 6700k, but decided just to stick with the 7700k and dealing with Intel's hot CPU.
All/Most parts show retail pricing and doesn't reflect the actual cost of or spent on the build.
DUST has not been an issue for me. Simply wiping down the hard tubing, fittings, backplate, tempered glass windows and using a DataVac Duster to the radiator/fans once in a while. And with the GPU being vertical doesn't allow too dust to settle on it. Air is being pulled from the bottom of the case through the radiator into the case and with assumption the air will ventilate through the open top.
Really enjoyed this build and is my favorite build to date.
Favorite Feature
The InWin D-Frame Mini Case is my favorite part of the build. While it is an older case, it just displays the components as an 'Art' piece for me!
Intel® Core™ i7-7700K Processor
Qty: 1
$299.00
https://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/products/sku/97129/intel-core-i77700k-processor-8m-cache-up-to-4-50-ghz/specifications.html
ASUS ROG STRIX Z270I Gaming Mini-ITX
Qty: 1
$179.99
https://rog.asus.com/us/motherboards/rog-strix/rog-strix-z270-i-gaming-model/
EVGA GeForce GTX 1080 Ti FOUNDERS EDITION, 11G-P4-6390, 11GB GDDR5X
Qty: 1
$699.00
https://www.evga.com/products/specs/gpu.aspx?pn=db4dc143-6a38-40eb-b79b-617a43ba51ee

G.Skill Trident Z RGB 32GB (2 x 16GB) DDR4-3600 PC4-28800 CL18 Dual Channel Desktop Memory Kit F4-3600 18D-32GTZR - Black
Qty: 1
$79.99
InWin D-Frame Mini
Qty: 1
$199.00
https://estore.in-win.com/products/d-frame-mini

Corsair RMx Series RM1000x 1000 Watt 80 Plus Gold ATX Fully Modular Power Supply
Qty: 1
$189.99
EK-Supremacy EVO - Nickel
Qty: 1
$79.00
https://www.ekwb.com/shop/ek-supremacy-evo-nickel

Samsung 870 EVO 500GB SSD 3-bit MLC V-NAND SATA III 6Gb/s 2.5" Internal Solid State Drive
Qty: 1
$39.99