Build Log: Lian Li PC-O6SX

[BornEvil]

Hi People,

Welcome to my build log.

Build status: Version 1.0 Finished

Specs:

• Intel i7 6700K
• 32GB Corsair DDR4 (4x8gb)
• ASUS Maximus VIII Gene
• Seasonic SS-760XP2 760W Platinum
• Nvidia GTX 1070 Founders Edition
• Msi GTX 1070 Armour won't fit
• Samsung 850 EVO 500GB
• NZXT Hue+
• Custom Teleios sleeved Cable Extensions
• Lian Li PC-O6SX

Water Cooling:

• 3x Noctua NF-F12
• EK CoolStream SE 360
• EK XRes Revo D5 PWM
• EK-Supremacy EVO - Full Nickel
• EK-FC1070 Nickel-Plexi with Black back-plate
• EK EK-ACF Nickel 10/13mm Compression
• Assorted Barrow Matt Black fittings
• Mayhems Clear Tubing 10/13mm
• Custom Mayhems Pastel Dark Grey
  [*]Alphacool 13mm Chrome Brass HardTube
  [*]Alphacool Eiszapfen 13mm HardTube Fittings

 

[BornEvil]

Final Pictures

Money shots



Glass and Stand on



White LED (glass on)




White LED (glass off)



RGB



Rear works

Spoiler

 

[BornEvil]

Updates:

21/06/16 Initial Build
25/06/16 CPU Block, Rad/Fan assembly, Custom cables
26/06/16 Most Holes Drilled
27/06/16 Alphacool parcel arrived
30/06/16 All Holes Drilled
01/07/16 Decision to go back to soft tubing for front(?), GPU arrived
02/07/16 GPU Block fitted, proposed look with soft tube
04/07/16 Trying black fittings, GPU pass-through done
21/07/16 Loop compete, leak tested
22/07/16 Up and running on plain DI water, initial temp tests
22/07/16 Playing with Mayhems dye Part 1 (and Drain Procedure)
23/07/16 Playing with Mayhems dye Part 2 (Light grey)
27/07/16 Low light pictures
28/07/16 NZXT Hue+ Installed, Cables managed and Near Final Pictures
05/08/16 Final Pictures, Version 1.0 officially complete

 

[BornEvil]

Initial Build:

Here is some intial build pictures:





1st care package arrived:


Sorry OcUK, i'll be abusing free shipping with in the next few weeks

 

[BornEvil]

Update:

More things arrived:

EK-Supremacy EVO - Full Nickel:


I'm not too happy about the machining on the top surface, it has a curved gaining effect. Will polish it with some metal polish at some point.


Dismantled to replace jet plate for 1151.


I'm going to goofy mount. would have been nice if the 'Supremacy EVO' engraving was flipped

Radiator assembly:




Rad mounted upside down... duh!


finished assembly with fan filter

Cables arrived:

I have spare braided cables in case I don't fancy the red.

 

[BornEvil]

GPU Update

My MSi 1070 Armour arrived,

and it is too long... by about 10mm,

Note: PSU can't be mounted


The case is mod-able to make it fit but it is not worth the effort, and wait for EK to release a water block, (they sell the Seahawk EK so my guess is not any time soon)

Might return it for a reference card.

 

[BornEvil]

Agree, it's a very fun case to work with, but can get tedious with so many screws.

As much as I like modern cases such as Define series and Evolv ATX, they are just variations of basically the same thing. They make it too easy to build in, like cable management all thought out for you. It takes away a lot of the building experience IMHO. I've always liked weird cases, like the Silverstone Fortress series (got a FT03) and Parvam cases.

Not actually seen the Alphacool pipes in person yet, was meant to turn up from Germany on Friday but UPS delayed due to weather, on the same day DPD delivered an OcUK parcel, go figures... Planned to get a lot done over the week end but now is delayed.

I have a little pipe cutter that works wonders on PETG and copper. Hoping for the best. Can always jigsaw. How did you cut it?

 

[BornEvil]

Update: Some holes drilled

just a small update:

Majority of holes are now drilled:

Measured and marked:



done:



pump ready for test fit:



Test fitted:



I missed the mark but should be fine, will need a longer G1/4 extension

 

[BornEvil]

That's not far off. I've been far farther off the mark than that ...not that it's a competition!
Sure you can sort it out with the Dremel you surely have to have used for the slot

Looks good though. I like the idea of taking the pipework straight through the midplate so they're hidden. Nice.

Yeah, it's really not that bad, just not centred like the inlet hole. I've got a 25mm hole saw, will make the hole bigger (from 20mm). Wanna avoid the Dremel for that part as it can be seen.

will hopefully get it done tomorrow when the hard pipes arrive.

 

[BornEvil]

Alphacool stuff arrived



The Alphacool Eiszapfen fittings are pretty nice.


Did a test cut, really not that hard to get a decent cut



I've updated the Plan section with these pictrures:

Spoiler

The brass tubes are very heavy, I will only be using about half the length (and weight) after cutting but I am very worried about sag.... not good for carrying water.

 

[BornEvil]

I am using compression fittings that squeezes the o ring to grip the pipe, very common in water cool builds. I was not aware of over fittings for hard tubing (other than push-fit used in plumbing).

What i have:


Is the above any good?

Maybe I should not use double rotary fittings for the CPU block, they feel very flimsy.

 

[BornEvil]

It's as you say, the Alphacool dual rotary is very easy to rotate. I have some EK-AF and they are pretty solid, would have used those if they were not nickel.

Have absolutely no confidence in the dual rotary to hold up the brass tubes. won't be wasted though as they will be perfect for the GPU block.

I can't find any stock of Alphacool single rotary elbows. i ordered 2x Barrows instead.

From research, they have the same design and chrome finish as the Alphacool and Bitspower equivalent.

 

[BornEvil]

Thanks, it's just a very simple loop

Helped a m8 do a PETG loop recently, as fun as it was doing it turned out a bit cluttered. Wanted to try something cleaner.

 

[BornEvil]

Small update:

Decided to ditch the MSi 1070 for a Founders Edition as the EK block is not full cover, plus too much work to fit in my case.

Don't feel like returning it as I paid £385 for it, and don't think I will get another at that price anytime soon.

Also, a heads up, the EK 1070 block is sold for just £75.95.

https://www.overclockers.co.uk/ek-water-blocks-ek-fc1070-gtx-nickel-plexi-wc-9ao-ek.html

That's not bad considering 1080 version is the same thing (with different engraving) is £89.99. I've got my order in

 

[BornEvil]

Update

Managed to get a few hours in before work

More holes drilled:


Did a bit of messing about:

In all honesty, it does not look bad at all, just not cool as chrome hard tube.


One pipe nearly cut. Might have screwed up one end, at least I have a fall back plan (above).

 

[BornEvil]

More shopping arrived

Decision time: Hard for soft tubing for the front?




Pros/Cons for soft tubing:

+Easier to implement
+Easier to maintain, change CPU etc.
+Much more secure/safer imh (passthrough is directly over open vented PSU )
+Gives more balance of clear plastic around the case (tube res and GPU block)
-I loose a 'focal point' of the build​

Pros/Cons for metal tubing:

+Bling Bling
+Looks clean
+Expensive and too late to return it
-Maintanance
-Chrome tube can be considered out of place, not a perfect match with the nickel CPU block​

Also more shopping arrived:


Just waiting on a batch of black fittings then should be near completion

 

[BornEvil]

Leaning towards soft tubing now... the thing is, I seemed to have f'ed up one of my cuts with the brass, as my £4 B&Q tool keeps spiraling. And I slightly shredded the captive O-ring on one of the AC fittings.

I do already have the parts, and may tackle the brass tube later.

The amount of money i wasted on extra fittings and water cooling parts, I really could have bought a 1080 instead of a 1070. That I am quite gutted about. Oh well, excuse for daddy Pascal I guess...

Already built up with soft tube, (took 5 mins ), to see how it looks. Will post an update post in a sec.

 

[BornEvil]

Update: GPU Block fitted, test fit with soft tube

GPU stripped on day 1:



That too longer to dismantle as I can't find my 4mm Hex driver bit. Used pliers . Typically, I find the hex bit after i am done



All done, and reference cooler package away. It's a shame, dispite it's noise, it is a very pretty cooler, has really grown on me.

And, all test fitted:


1mm gap


SLI maybe:


Back, yeah, screwed up when trying to make a hole bigger, luckily I am a evil genius and did it from the back


Proposed final look:





Sorry those are the best angles I can get, without the tampered glass reflecting my naked body.

 

[BornEvil]

Tried Black fittings, not too sure about it:


Black vs Nickel

And more work done on GPU:



heh, hard tube is overrated

Sorry for mix and match fittings, I'm short of EK-AF Fittings, nowhere has stock, anyone that has MM access is welcome to help me out Link

 

[BornEvil]

This is nice. You've done well to work within the limitations of the case, which they didn't make very custom loop friendly. For the price that it is, this surprised me.

Thanks.

There is 2 ways of looking at it to justify the price of the case IMO.

I can easily have used a Define S i have lying around. And building it with PETG will probably take me 4 days max to finish it.

But this Lian Li, I pay for the building experience. I enjoy sitting and staring at it, to think of ideas to make things work. That I also see as value, I'm possibly a minority but each to there own

But an expensive case does not automatically mean water cooling friendly . But in all honesty, for it's size, an un-modded PC-O6S is not too bad. I just went (drill-)trigger happy on it .

P.s. I paid £215 B-Grade for it