Hide the Wires in the Back! We Tried Building a Pure White Custom PC Centered on ASUS's Next-Gen "BTF" Standard

Happy New Year!
For students, it's New Year's money, and for working adults, it's the winter bonus. The end of the year and New Year's tends to be a time when we tend to be willing to spend money, right?
For gamers, I'm sure some of you want to buy new consoles, devices, or even a whole new PC!
This time, we'll introduce a custom-built PC that might accelerate your spending even further.

Building a Custom PC with "BTF"!

Even in Japan, a country known for its home game consoles, the demand for gaming PCs has been expanding in recent years.
While a bit expensive for a birthday present, the market is gradually developing to make high-spec PCs more accessible to students.

However! Desktop PCs, in particular, have tens of thousands of possible combinations due to the many parts like motherboards and CPUs, making selection and purchasing difficult.
The major options for purchasing a gaming PC are:

Ready-to-ship models where the manufacturer or retailer configures and assembles the PC.
BTO (Build-to-Order) where the manufacturer or retailer modifies the PC with parts selected by the purchaser.
Custom build where the purchaser buys the parts and assembles the PC themselves.

Each has its advantages and disadvantages, but this time we'll introduce a configuration that can only be achieved through custom building (as of writing)!
We'll build a custom PC centered on ASUS's "Back-To-the-Future" (hereafter, BTF) rear-wiring design.

Starting the Custom Build!

Case: TUF Gaming GT302 ARGB WHITE
OS: Windows 11 Pro
Motherboard: ASUS TUF GAMING Z790-BTF WIFI
CPU: Intel Core i7-14700K
CPU Cooler: ASUS ROG RYUJIN III 360 ARGB White Edition
Graphics Card: ASUS TUF-RTX4070TIS-O16G-BTF-WHITE
Memory: CORSAIR CMK64GX5M2B5200C40W 32GB×2 White
Storage: WD_Black SN850X NVMe SSD WDS200T2X0E
Power Supply: ASUS TUF-GAMING-1000G-WHITE

This is the configuration we're using.
Since we're doing this, I want to build a cute, white-themed PC!

Installing Parts on the Motherboard!

The motherboard, which is the foundation of the PC, is the "ASUS TUF GAMING Z790-BTF WIFI."
When installing each part, be sure to lay down the cushioning material that comes in the motherboard box before working.
Placing it directly on a hard desk could damage the terminals.

Install the CPU "Intel Core i7-14700K" into the socket.
Pay attention to the orientation!

The SSD is "WD_Black SN850X NVMe SSD WDS200T2X0E."
The memory is "CORSAIR CMK64GX5M2B5200C40W 32GB×2 White."

Install the SSD into the M.2 slot!
Insert it diagonally and secure it with the motherboard's clip.

The SSD heatsink often has a sticker on the thermal pad.
As it says "REMOVE," don't forget to peel it off, or the SSD won't dissipate heat properly, which could lead to problems!

To install the memory, open the slot clips and push it in vertically.
It might be a little stiff, but it's done when you hear a click and the clips close!

ASUS ROG RYUJIN III 360 ARGB White Edition [White] — Beware of the heatsink sticker!

The CPU cooler is the "ASUS ROG RYUJIN III 360 ARGB White Edition."
This is a liquid cooler.
The tubes and fans are also pure white and cute!

Install the base for securing the CPU cooler.
The main unit will be installed later!

Installing the Motherboard and Fans in the Case!

The PC case is the "TUF Gaming GT302 ARGB WHITE."
It's a large case that supports E-ATX and BTF motherboards, 360mm coolers, and 407mm graphics cards.
It features a tempered glass panel to beautifully showcase the PC's interior!

Lay the PC case on its side and install the motherboard.

Since it's BTF compatible, there's a perfect space for the ports on the back of the motherboard.
If you want to build a custom PC with BTF, you'll need to check the PC case's compatibility in advance.

The power supply is the "ASUS TUF-GAMING-1000G-WHITE."
It's a full-modular type, allowing you to plug in only the necessary cables.

New CPU coolers often come with pre-applied thermal paste.
Since we bought a separate tube of thermal paste this time, we'll wipe it off.

The thermal paste used is "AINEX Nano Diamond Grease DX1."
Since I was curious, I also used the "Platinum Application Master Kit."

The power of the "Platinum Application Master Kit"

Neatly apply it with the masking sticker and card.
The "Platinum Application Master Kit" is amazing!

Install the CPU fan and cooler.
Pull the cables to the back beforehand for smoother wiring later.

BTF is where the challenge lies.
Even with rear-wiring, if you wire it haphazardly, the PC case panel won't close.

Only the USB 5Gbps header (U5G_78) cable was too thick when bundled, causing a problem where the PC case panel wouldn't close.
We solved it by splitting it into two directions, but is that the correct solution...?

Finally, install the graphics card "ASUS TUF-RTX4070TIS-O16G-BTF-WHITE."
BTF-compatible graphics cards come with a proprietary "GC-HPWR Gold Finger" connector, which supplies power via a cable on the back.

Pure White BTF Custom PC Completed!

It's finally complete!
It's beautiful with its white theme, and thanks to the rear wiring, the inside of the case is incredibly clean.

編集部にお迎えした白基調の自作PC‼️
ASUSが展開する新規格「BTF(Back-To-the-Future)」採用でケース内が美しすぎる✨️✨️#ASUS #ROG #自作PC #BTF #お年玉の使い道 pic.twitter.com/c8w25jN7QH

— Saiga NAK (@saiganak) January 9, 2025

Booting up and checking if each part is recognized!

Don't let your guard down even after finishing the custom PC build.
We'll check if it boots up and if each part is recognized.

Once the power is on, boot the BIOS and...

For now, we'll enable at least "X.M.P."
The CPU and memory information are also displayed in the BIOS, so it seems okay.

This time, we'll install Windows 11 Pro.
If you follow each step, you shouldn't get lost.

After booting Windows, we re-checked the CPU and memory values in Task Manager.
They were successfully recognized!

...So, that was a quick run-through of building a BTF custom PC.
With all the wiring completed at the back and no auxiliary power cables for the graphics card, the BTF standard is actually recommended for custom PC beginners.
As of writing, the number of compatible products is small, and prices are relatively higher compared to standard products with similar specs.
However! It's true that we can expect an increase in product numbers and further evolution from 2025 onwards.
While hoping it becomes a new standard in the industry, why not support BTF by purchasing parts yourself!