A PC enthusiast showcases his new PC build in the Asus subreddit. Invisible and inconspicuous, the mini PC is hidden in the living room cabinet. Alongside praise, the community also expresses concerns. This is primarily due to the motherboard used, which its manufacturer is currently known for issues.
What kind of PC is this? The user LuckyLuck0011 chose an ITX Asus motherboard in combination with an AMD RX 9070 XT for his PC build. Additionally, a 240-millimeter water cooler is included for the unspecified processor. Reddit users speculate that it must be a processor from AMD’s 9000 series. This means the user has built a mid to high-end system, depending on which processor is installed.
The small console PC is mainly suitable for WQHD and partially for 4K gaming, as the RX 9070 XT achieves about 60 – 85 frames per second at 4K resolution in games like God of War: Ragnarök with FSR 4 (via YouTube). In comparison: A PS5 Pro cannot consistently deliver 60 FPS in 4K in God of War: Ragnarök (via YouTube).
TV cabinet repurposed as a PC case
How did the Reddit user install the PC? The PC enthusiast used a wooden frame to secure the PC parts inside the cabinet. He also cut several holes in the cabinet to allow for better ventilation.
Additionally, the user positioned all fans inside the cabinet exactly over the ventilation holes to improve airflow.
According to the user, filters are also attached to the fan openings to prevent excessive dust buildup. Why more fans are not always better can be read on MeinMMO: Player stuffs his gaming PC full of fans, but many say: More is not always better
Community becomes alert over a component
Why is the community concerned? In the comments of the Reddit post, several individuals voice their concerns about the fire hazard of the PC. They claim that a PC in a wooden cabinet is dangerous. Furthermore, users in the comments mention that the combination of ASRock motherboard and AMD CPU in the past has led to heat issues and damage.
It has already happened that processors from AMD like the popular Ryzen 7 9800x3D were destroyed due to excessive heat development. The issues seem to mainly be with motherboards from Asus, ASRock, and AMD processors of the 9000 series.
However, the comments are not unanimous. Users explain:
- GinsuChikara writes: “You need to remove the brand that’s known for catching fire from the wooden box.”
- Apollo346 says: “Not bad. My only concern would be heat development and airflow.”
- OCAMAB explains: “You take ‘burning processors’ way too literally. There have been no reports of fires so far.”
A 3DMark screenshot from the user shows that at least the GPU temperatures of his cabinet PC at around 55 degrees are not unusual. However, the user is still testing how the temperatures will affect in the long run. Whether an overloaded power supply can be dangerous is shown here: A player’s gaming PC unexpectedly catches fire because he ignored one of the most important rules of PC building
