Skip to main content
PC Gamer PC Gamer THE GLOBAL AUTHORITY ON PC GAMES
UK EditionUK US EditionUS CA EditionCanada AU EditionAustralia
Sign in
  • View Profile
  • Sign out
  • Games
  • Hardware
  • News
  • Reviews
  • Guides
  • Video
  • Forum
  • More
    • PC Gaming Show
    • Software
    • Movies & TV
    • Codes
    • Coupons
    • Magazine
    • Newsletter
    • Affiliate links
    • Meet the team
    • Community guidelines
    • About PC Gamer
PC Gamer Magazine Subscription
PC Gamer Magazine Subscription
Why subscribe?
  • Subscribe to the world's #1 PC gaming mag
  • Try a single issue or save on a subscription
  • Issues delivered straight to your door or device
From$32.49
Subscribe now
Don't miss these
Popular
  • GOTY Awards
  • PC Gaming Show
  • Best PC gear
  • Arc Raiders
  • Quizzes
  1. Hardware
  2. PC Cases

Build of the week: Project XnineNINE

Features
By James Davenport published 16 May 2016

Da ba dee, da ba dye, da ba dee, da ba dye.

When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works.

Page 1 of 19
Page 1 of 19

Page 2 of 19
Page 2 of 19

Page 3 of 19
Page 3 of 19

Page 4 of 19
Page 4 of 19

Page 5 of 19
Page 5 of 19

Page 6 of 19
Page 6 of 19

Page 7 of 19
Page 7 of 19

Page 8 of 19
Page 8 of 19

Page 9 of 19
Page 9 of 19

Page 10 of 19
Page 10 of 19

Page 11 of 19
Page 11 of 19

Page 12 of 19
Page 12 of 19

Page 13 of 19
Page 13 of 19

Page 14 of 19
Page 14 of 19

Page 15 of 19
Page 15 of 19

Page 16 of 19
Page 16 of 19

Page 17 of 19
Page 17 of 19

Page 18 of 19
Page 18 of 19

Page 19 of 19
Page 19 of 19
James Davenport
James Davenport
Social Links Navigation

James is stuck in an endless loop, playing the Dark Souls games on repeat until Elden Ring and Silksong set him free. He's a truffle pig for indie horror and weird FPS games too, seeking out games that actively hurt to play. Otherwise he's wandering Austin, identifying mushrooms and doodling grackles. 

Share by:
  • Facebook
  • X
  • Whatsapp
  • Reddit
  • Pinterest
  • Flipboard
Share this article
Join the conversation
Follow us
Add us as a preferred source on Google

Every Monday, Build of the week highlights a unique rig from the web's most dedicated PC building communities.

Blue. It’s a color. Air. It’s that good breathing stuff. Computers. They’re computers. Combine the three and you get Project XnineNINE, a custom build from Malik Customs that maximizes minimalism. It’s an open face build harboring some serious components in a clean utilitarian pose. Were the XnineNINE mounted on a wall, I’d be looking for an artist’s statement.

No open face build gets away without looking a little chunky—bearing it all has that effect, but thanks to the smart use of color, the blues distract from the components’ visual noise and provide a stark contrast to the black framing. It’s a lovely combo that draws the eye towards the build’s best features. That is some beautiful cooling work. Doesn't it just make you want to sing?

For more pictures and information on XnineNINE, head over to Malik Customs website or their Facebook page. 

 Project XnineNINE components: 

  • CPU: Intel 5960X
  • Mobo: Asus X99-A/3.1 USB
  • Sound: Asus Xonar Essence STX II 7.1
  • RAM: HyperX Savage 64GB DDR4 2800Mhz
  • SSD: HyperX Predator 240GB
  • HDD: WD RED WD60EFRX 6 TB
  • GPU: Inno3D GTX 980 Ti
  • Chassis: Thermaltake Core P5
  • Cables: Cablemod Custom Set Silver/Blue

Cooling components:

  • EK-Vardar F2-120
  • EK-CoolStream PE 480
  • EK-FB ASUS X99 Monoblock - Nickel
  • EK-FC Titan X - Nickel
  • EK-FC Titan X Backplate - Nickel
  • EK-XRES 140 Revo D5 PWM (incl. pump)
  • EK-RES X3 - TUBE 250
  • EK-Ekoolant EVO UV BLUE
  • EK-ACF Fitting 12/16mm - Blue
  •  EK-ACF Fitting 12/16mm - Silver
  • TUBE PrimoChill PrimoFlex™ Advanced
Latest in PC Cases
A PC case on a blue Cyber Monday background.
Add a touch of classy walnut to your gaming den with this spacious and flexible Lian Li case, for just $115 this Cyber Monday
 
 
A Hyte Y70 case on a blue Cyber Monday background.
The much coveted pastel colorways for the Hyte Y70 PC case are only $180 this Cyber Monday
 
 
A photo of the Thermal Grizzly Der8enchtable test platform next to its retail packaging
Thermal Grizzly Der8enchtable review
 
 
Thermaltake View 390 Air chassis on a desk. We're building a PC into it for testing and comparison with other PC cases.
Thermaltake View 390 Air review
 
 
A screenshot of Dbrand's companion cube Steam Machine case
Dbrand has teased a render of a Portal companion cube Steam Machine case, so you can... put a case around your case?
 
 
A promotional image of the SilverStone SST-FLP02 retro-styled PC case
The age of beige is back! SilverStone's new case is a glorious nod to PCs of the 1980s and 90s
 
 
Latest in Features
Horses trailer still - bunch of otherwise naked people in horse masks
There's more to Horses than the Steam ban: The controversial horror game is a great example of how games can effectively borrow from film, and how they can also stumble
 
 
PC Gamer Clips logo surrounded by thumbnail images from different PC games
PC Gamer Clips Terms & Conditions
 
 
Dino Dee-lite Motel from Novac with Lucy (Ella Purnell) in the dinosaur statue
Fallout Season 2 review: If the first season was a love letter to all of Fallout, Season 2 is the result of a huge crush on New Vegas in particular
 
 
Divinity cinematic reveal
'It's not a clone of D:OS2': 6 big takeaways from our interview with Larian after the reveal of Divinity
 
 
Kyle MacLachlan (Hank MacLean) in FALLOUT SEASON 2 Photo Credit: Lorenzo Sisti / Prime © Amazon Content Services LLC
Fallout Season 2 Episode 1 recap: 'The world may end, but progress marches on'
 
 
Ella Purnell (Lucy MacLean) in FALLOUT SEASON 2 Photo Credit: Lorenzo Sisti / Prime © Amazon Content Services LLC
Fallout TV series coverage hub
 
 
  1. Two of the best PC cases with the PC Gamer Recommended badge in the top right.
    1
    The best fish tank PC case in 2025: I've tested heaps of stylish chassis but only a few have earned my recommendation
  2. 2
    Best Hall effect keyboards in 2025: the fastest, most customizable keyboards for competitive gaming
  3. 3
    Best PCIe 5.0 SSD for gaming in 2025: the only Gen 5 drives I will allow in my PC
  4. 4
    Best graphics cards in 2025: I've tested pretty much every AMD and Nvidia GPU of the past 20 years and these are today's top cards
  5. 5
    Best gaming chair in 2025: I've tested a ton of gaming chairs and these are the seats I'd suggest for any PC gamer
  1. A photo of the ZSA Voyager ergonomic keyboard, with a ZSA Navigator trackball module attached to the right half
    1
    ZSA Voyager + Navigator review
  2. 2
    MSI MEG X870E Godlike X Edition review
  3. 3
    Cultic review: One of 2025's best singleplayer shooters
  4. 4
    OneXPlayer X1 Air handheld review
  5. 5
    Skate Story review: A stylish lunicidal skater with peerless vibes and devilishly sleek flip tricks

PC Gamer is part of Future US Inc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. Visit our corporate site.

Add as a preferred source on Google
  • About Us
  • Contact Future's experts
  • Terms and conditions
  • Privacy policy
  • Cookies policy
  • Advertise with us
  • Accessibility Statement
  • Careers

© Future US, Inc. Full 7th Floor, 130 West 42nd Street, New York, NY 10036.

Please login or signup to comment

Please wait...