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$1
Subscribe now
Don't miss these
A PC Gamer Hardware Awards 2025 logo
Hardware PC Gamer Hardware Awards 2025: All the winners from a bumper 12 months of PC gaming tech
The CES 2025 logo, in the lobby of the Venetian Suites conference facility at the 2025 show with the crowds below.
Hardware CES 2026: all the upcoming releases and announcements a PC gamer should know about
Valve's new and improved Steam Controller during a visit to Valve's HQ in Bellevue, Washington.
Hardware Forget what you heard, there's plenty of PC hardware to be excited about in 2026
The best PC fans on a blue background with a PC Gamer recommended badge in the top right.
Cooling Best PC fans in 2025: I've put these case fans through their paces to find the coolest and quietest
An MSI GeForce RTX 5090 32G Lightning Z graphics card on display at CES 2026
Graphics Cards MSI's monstrous 1000 W watercooled RTX 5090 has been designed to 'completely ignore the concepts of balance in favour of extremes', apparently
Highest scoring hardware
Hardware Here are 2025's six highest rated hardware, enjoying tippy-top review scores—plus six dishonorable mentions
A close-up, cropped photo of a TP-Link Deco BE68 mesh router, with its retail box partially visible in the background, and a PC Gamer Personal Pick 2025 logo in the top left corner.
Networking Out of all the new hardware that has passed through my hands in 2025, nothing has made an impact like a certain Wi-Fi 7 router has
A compact gaming PC on a desk with various parts on show.
Hardware This is all the best PC gaming gear we recommend in one techie tier list
Thermaltake TR100 koralie edition pc case
PC Cases Thermaltake's collaboration PC case with a French artist is so lovely it makes me want to finally start that mini PC build
Two of the best PC cases with the PC Gamer Recommended badge in the top right.
PC Cases The best fish tank PC case in 2025: I've tested heaps of stylish chassis but only a few have earned my recommendation
Two PC cases on a yellow background with the PC Gamer recommends badge in the upper right corner.
PC Cases The best PC cases in 2025: These are the chassis I'd use for my next gaming build
The Velocity Micro Raptor ES40 and HP Omen 35L gaming PCs on a blue background with the PC Gamer recommended badge in the top right corner
Gaming PCs Best gaming PCs in 2025: these are the rigs and brands I recommend today
Three gaming PC cases underneath badges showing the Editor's Pick, Best Value, and Ridiculous Power categories
Gaming PCs Best gaming PC builds: budget, mid-range and high-end recommendations
Acer Predator Orion 3000 gaming PC
Gaming PCs Acer Predator Orion 3000 gaming PC review
Alienware Area-51 desktop now with AMD 3D V-Cache options.
Gaming PCs 'Quite frankly it was missing one thing': Alienware has fixed one of the biggest issues with its Area-51 gaming PC
Popular
  • CES 2026
  • GOTY Awards
  • Best PC gear
  • Arc Raiders
  • PC Gamer 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?

Related articles
  • A custom DIY walnut wooden ITX PC case by MXC Builds If anything were to convince me to try out carpentry it would be this gorgeous DIY mini walnut PC case housing an Asus ProArt RTX 5080
  • Arctic's Xtender PC case on a white desk with various parts being installed to build a functional gaming PC. I build loads of gaming PCs and this is the first to make me regret my decisions with my own personal rig—here's what you need to build it yourself
  • CyberPowerPC MA-01 pc case in a beige clean room beside a monitor and chair CyberPower PC unveils 'elegant' new case with three dedicated knobs on the side purely to adjust colours and I think I'm a bit smitten

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
Read more
A custom DIY walnut wooden ITX PC case by MXC Builds
If anything were to convince me to try out carpentry it would be this gorgeous DIY mini walnut PC case housing an Asus ProArt RTX 5080
 
 
Arctic's Xtender PC case on a white desk with various parts being installed to build a functional gaming PC.
I build loads of gaming PCs and this is the first to make me regret my decisions with my own personal rig—here's what you need to build it yourself
 
 
CyberPowerPC MA-01 pc case in a beige clean room beside a monitor and chair
CyberPower PC unveils 'elegant' new case with three dedicated knobs on the side purely to adjust colours and I think I'm a bit smitten
 
 
A terrible gaming PC built into a plastic jug
This €130 gaming PC in a plastic jug churns out a whole 15 fps in Fortnite and might be the best/worst DIY build I've ever seen
 
 
Thermaltake TR100 koralie edition pc case
Thermaltake's collaboration PC case with a French artist is so lovely it makes me want to finally start that mini PC build
 
 
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 PC Cases
CyberPowerPC MA-01 pc case in a beige clean room beside a monitor and chair
CyberPower PC unveils 'elegant' new case with three dedicated knobs on the side purely to adjust colours and I think I'm a bit smitten
 
 
Thermaltake TR100 koralie edition pc case
Thermaltake's collaboration PC case with a French artist is so lovely it makes me want to finally start that mini PC build
 
 
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
 
 
Latest in Features
TF2 christmas
What games did you play over the holidays?
 
 
Ball x Pit: Key art for the game showing a knight jumping and shooting a fire ball towards a skeleton on the right side.
I don't care that there are no big new games in January because all I need now is Ball x Pit, the most underrated roguelike pinball game that I could spend all 744 hours of the month playing
 
 
Code Vein 2 - an anime character fires a charged up shot out of a giant rifle
Playing Code Vein 2 made me wonder why more soulslikes don't have guns, even if I could do with a bit less anime melodrama
 
 
Code Vein 2
The PC game releases we're most excited about in January
 
 
PC Gamer magazine Fallout 4 Anniversary Special
PC Gamer magazine's new issue is on sale now: Fallout Special
 
 
Great God Grove art of a character smiling while holding another smaller character in their fist
30 hidden gems from 2025 to grab before the Steam Winter Sale ends
 
 
  1. MSI and Asus gaming monitors on a green background with the PC Gamer recommended logo in the top right
    1
    Best gaming monitors in 2025: the pixel-perfect panels I'd buy myself
  2. 2
    The best fish tank PC case in 2025: I've tested heaps of stylish chassis but only a few have earned my recommendation
  3. 3
    Best gaming laptop 2025: I've tested the best laptops for gaming of this generation and here are the ones I recommend
  4. 4
    Best Hall effect keyboards in 2025: the fastest, most customizable keyboards for competitive gaming
  5. 5
    Best PCIe 5.0 SSD for gaming in 2025: the only Gen 5 drives I will allow in my PC
  1. MSI MPG 341CQR QD-OLED X36 on a desktop with an Editor's Pick badge
    1
    MSI MPG 341CQR QD-OLED X36 review
  2. 2
    Acer Predator Orion 3000 review
  3. 3
    Acer Predator Orion 7000 review
  4. 4
    Dangbei DBOX02 Pro review
  5. 5
    Death Howl review

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...