Intel Core i5 14400F · Intel Z790 · Passive cooling · Fanless PSU · 64GB DDR4 · 8TB NVMe + 16TB HDD build
Smart build — best all-round · tower build on LGA 1700 + Intel Z790
cpuIntel Core i5 14400F10C/16T · 4.7 GHz · LGA 1700 · 65 W€187
motherboardGigabyte Z790 AORUS ELITE AX DDR4 ATXIntel Z790 · ATX · 3× M.2≈ €139
ramCorsair Vengeance LPX Black DDR4-4000 CL18 64GB (2x32GB)64 GB DDR4 · 4000 MT/s≈ €137
caseFractal Design Meshify C ATX Mid Tower BlackATX/MATX/ITX · 2× 3.5″€95
coolingThermalright Le Grand Macho Air 159mm Fanlesspassive · 150 W TDP · 159 mm≈ €35
psuSilverstone Nightjar Fanless ATX 520W Fully Modular 80+ Platinum Certified520 W · platinum · modular≈ €82
storageRocket Q NVMe SSDNVME · 8 TB€123
storageSeagate Exos X18 16TB HDD 3.5" SAS 12.0 Gb/s3.5 HDD · 16 TB≈ €352
Future-proof score
Strong future-proofing79/100
Strong future-proofing (79/100) — this build should stay relevant for years without major surgery.
DIY build — the CPU, motherboard and PSU can each be upgraded independently without replacing the whole system.
Expansion headroom: 2 PCIe slot(s), 2 M.2, 3 SATA, 1 drive bay(s), 2 RAM slot(s) free.
Storage is 38% utilized with 1 free drive bay(s) and 3 free SATA port(s).
2 RAM slot(s) free; memory is 45% utilized.
Networking is 2500 Mbps, and a free PCIe slot can add a faster NIC later.
ATX form factor with standard, socketed components — most parts are easy to replace.
No GPU, but there is room (2 PCIe slot(s), PSU headroom 4.8x) to add one for AI/transcoding.
Homelab Risk Score
Moderate risk41/100
Moderate risk (41/100) — a few items are worth fixing before you commit (see checklist).
Final build audit
Audit found 1 critical and 0 warning item(s) worth fixing before you buy.
What becomes the limit
Nothing obvious becomes a limiting factor in the near term — this build should age well.
Community
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