Heartwood RTX 5090 Gaming PC Hides Cables and Cooling in a Basement

What Heartwood is​

The builder, Reddit user mithiral67, posted the project as a finished one-off. It's based on an In Win 909 case in a semi-open layout, with the motherboard sitting in an open space. Wccftech reports that the builder modified the tower with walnut and made custom panels for different sections.

The parts list is high-end:

• GPU: Nvidia GeForce RTX 5090.
• CPU: AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D. TechRadar calls it a "Ryzen 9800X3D", but the builder's PCPartPicker listing names the Ryzen 7 9800X3D.
• Case base: In Win 909 full tower, reworked with walnut.

The "no cables" claim needs care. It describes what you can see around the machine, not the whole system. The PCPartPicker description says every cable and line exits through the bottom of the case into the desktop and runs through channels routed into its underside. The builder's own summary is that what's visible is part of the motherboard and GPU, and the rest is wood or in the basement.

The basement trick​

Wccftech says the builder made custom water loops for the CPU and GPU, and the tubes enter a side chamber before heading into the desk and on to the basement. TechRadar adds that the lines run around the underside of the desk and down a leg into the floor.

The builder's listing describes the basement end:

• A MO-RA 400 radiator with four 200mm Noctua fans.
• The radiator runs on its own dedicated PSU and controller.
• Two D5 pumps.
• Most of the runs are about 15 ft from the PC to the basement.

The builder calls the radiator setup "massive overkill" but says that suits something out of sight. A summary of the project on daily.dev, based on noted.lol, puts the total tubing at about 30 feet. That is secondary reporting.

The benefit is a quiet, cool office. It also removes the radiator and fans from the case, which is why the case can stay so clean.

The seven-year timeline​

The builder says the seven years were mostly spent waiting for a GPU at MSRP. TechRadar quotes the builder: they bought the RTX 5090 as part of a full PC to get it at roughly sticker price. The second PC kept them gaming while they finished Heartwood.

So seven years is the span of the whole project, not seven years of nonstop work. The daily.dev summary puts the hands-on effort at roughly 300 to 400 hours. That's a secondary figure.

Cost​

TechRadar reports that the builder put the wood at around $4,000 and wouldn't estimate the cost of the woodworking tools. That is the builder's estimate for one line item. It is not a total build cost, and it excludes the PC hardware.

Trade-offs​

This is effectively a fixed installation. Wccftech notes the arrangement leaves almost no room for additions. It also says a removable back panel gives access to the motherboard I/O, but the cables appear to block the view, so adding a peripheral would be a challenge.

Hardware.com.br adds two details:

• The loop uses long runs of tubing with quick-disconnect fittings, so the case can be separated from the desk when needed.
• The case has no dedicated airflow fans. Asked about memory and power-delivery cooling, the builder said they plan to watch temperatures and avoid overclocking.

The sources show a monitoring plan, not a thermal failure. They also contain no benchmarks, temperature logs or noise measurements beyond the builder's own statements. The builder says temps have been great, and that is a self-report.

Why this matters to PC builders​

Most RTX 5090 systems follow Tom's Guide-style advice: a roomy case, good intake and a radiator mounted in the case. Heartwood goes the other way and moves nearly all the heat handling out of the room. HP's Omen Max 45L takes a milder version of the same idea with a separate radiator compartment. Heartwood shows what the idea looks like taken to the extreme.

Anyone tempted to try something similar should weigh the cost:

• You need a house layout that allows a run to another floor.
• You need a plan for servicing, leak protection and quick-disconnect reliability. The sources don't discuss leak protection or failure handling.
• You give up portability and easy upgrades.
• Components not on the loop, such as the PSU and memory, still need airflow.

Bottom line​

Heartwood is an unusually well-documented example of a fixed, furniture-integrated PC that moves its cooling out of the room. It is a craft showpiece with trade-offs, not a recommended design, and the praise it has drawn online is opinion rather than measurement.