LENGTH OF TIME: 2-3 hours
DIFFICULTY: Hard
This is probably one of the hardest builds we’ve had to create here at Maximum PC, and that’s a heavy statement for us to make. After all, we’re veteran builders here, with hundreds of published build logs to our name, and multiple liquid-cooled rigs under our belt, including a few in some seriously space-restricted cases.
Yet, throughout this process, working in the Model 4 had to be approached with an open mind. We’ve always been advocates of the notion that your build process should be fluid. Take a look at your chassis before you start installing anything. Try to identify where you might hit a snag or bottleneck. Think about your clearances, and where your hardware will sit. Would it be easier to install the fans first? Where will your cables go? Should you wire everything earlier or later, or chop off those front panel headers entirely?
System building at the upper-most level is an intricate puzzle. That’s not to say that the Model 4 is a bad case, but If you’re installing some seriously insane componentry, you’re going to have to think like this. Mid-range and entry-level systems with smaller power supplies, less chunky GPUs, and smaller coolers will be easier to work around, but if you intend to push this chassis to its absolute limit, then buckle up, because it’s going to take some thought.
Fortunately, whenever we thought a problem was about to occur, the Model 4 quickly pointed out a way it could adapt to that problem. More often than not, it was us overlooking
