Should i buy a lian li pc-a71f ?

jej_knowles · 4 Apr 2010 at 12:22

I have been looking, dreaming and researching a new build for a long time now and with the release of the rampage 3 extreme on our doorstep it is now time for the frivalous spending of money to start!

My objective for the build is to put together a high end pc that will last me a good 5 years and some! so trying to future proof or at least give myself as many options for the future.
My spec list so far is ;

Rampage 3 extreme motherboard http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=MB-395-AS
Intel i7 930 processor http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=CP-320-IN
G.skill Trident ddr3 2000mhz 3x2gb http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=MY-039-GS

Im going to start off by getting the case first ( Lian Li pc-a71fb) and just wanted to check what people thought about the case and make sure i havent missed another similar case that would be better? but i do like the look of this one!
any help or advice would be much appreciated thanks!

Bicepo · 4 Apr 2010 at 12:36

I have a very similar Lian Li Currently it is the same chassis size just a different front pannel.

Two things to mention the case looks really nice however cable management can be a bit of a nightmare as there is very little room behind the Mobo tray to hide any cables, you will be lucky to get a fan cable behind there. Also the Lian Li's aren't renound for the most amazing build quaility they can sometimes squeek and rattle if they are moved nothing major but worth knowing.

Hope this helps your decision making

jej_knowles · 4 Apr 2010 at 12:41

hi thanks for the response! i have seen someone on here did an awesome job of the cable tidying in his a71f and was hoping i could copy and do the same http://forums.overclockers.co.uk/showthread.php?t=18106356&highlight=a71f

If you were choosing a case now what would you recommend?

Helios1234 · 4 Apr 2010 at 13:47

Go for it I say. As you can see in the other thread, if you're patient with it, you can make it very tidy but I'd recommend a modular PSU. I don't think any case can match it in terms of quality and space for that kind of money.

setter · 4 Apr 2010 at 13:50

I have the A70F, same internally as the A71F. Build quality is very good, no vibrations or rattling, psu, hdds are all mounted on rubber grommits/pads, as you can see on Paradigm's build, cables can be hid on the horizontal rails, however the 24 pin atx cable can be a bit iffy depending on psu, i was able to get the cable from a thermaltake psu behind the tray ok, not so with my corsair hx 850 which has a slightly thicker cable.

jej_knowles · 4 Apr 2010 at 13:58

wow! if Helios1234 says go for it i better order it asap! lol! been reading your review of the rampage 3 extreme and cant wait for all my components to come together! thanks...

rpg · 4 Apr 2010 at 14:07

This seems like a fairly high end build, so I suspect you'll be choosing a high end CPU cooler. Just be aware that if you choose the Noctua NH-D14, that G.Skill RAM is not compatible with the cooler due to the raised heatsinks.

The PC-A71F is a great looking case and since it's made by Lian Li, you're guaranteed good quality. I say go for it too.

jej_knowles · 4 Apr 2010 at 14:13

I was thinking of going with a corsair h50 untill i eventually go full watercooled. I've got a lot to learn all about building and overclocking a pc before i get to that stage though.

setter · 4 Apr 2010 at 14:14

This is the insides of my A70F.

As you can see, im unable to get the 24 pin power cable behind the mobo tray, though ive purchased a black sleeved extension to see if this will make any difference. I do wish that Lian Li offered the A70F/71F with black finished internals, it would really improve the look inside.

Helios1234 · 4 Apr 2010 at 14:32

jej_knowles said:
wow! if Helios1234 says go for it i better order it asap! lol! been reading your review of the rampage 3 extreme and cant wait for all my components to come together! thanks...

Haha *blushes*, glad you liked it.

C64 · 4 Apr 2010 at 15:06

If you can wait until the end of the month I'd take a look at the Corsair 700D same ball park money wise.

jej_knowles · 4 Apr 2010 at 15:27

thanks for the heads up man but ive already seen that and im not a fan of the corsair cases as i dont see how the cooling can work very well!

setter · 4 Apr 2010 at 15:36

The cooling abiliy of the 800d is a bit of a myth, many users here have this case, like a lot of cases, changing the stock fans really helps with airflow. You also mention that eventually your wanting to go to a watercooled setup. The 800d is the only case i can think off that is suitable for watercooling from the off, im going to wc on my a70f, but this means getting the case modified to fit a triple radiator in the top panel, the corsairs come ready cut in the top for a rad.

mike gunnz · 4 Apr 2010 at 15:45

setter said:
The cooling abiliy of the 800d is a bit of a myth, many users here have this case, like a lot of cases, changing the stock fans really helps with airflow. You also mention that eventually your wanting to go to a watercooled setup. The 800d is the only case i can think off that is suitable for watercooling from the off, im going to wc on my a70f, but this means getting the case modified to fit a triple radiator in the top panel, the corsairs come ready cut in the top for a rad.

Sorry to butt in on the thread but how are 800D owners configuring the 3 x roof fans? I've just bought 3 to stick in the roof when my case arrives, is it better to have them as intakes or exhausts?

setter · 4 Apr 2010 at 15:51

Have a read through this thread here.

http://forums.overclockers.co.uk/showthread.php?t=18096658

Should give you an idea of what other 800d users have for fan configs.

shmacks · 4 Apr 2010 at 15:55

Defiant83 said:
Also the Lian Li's aren't renound for the most amazing build quaility they can sometimes squeek and rattle if they are moved nothing major but worth knowing.

Emm what? I thought Lian Li's were pretty much known for being amazing build quality hence the relatively high price compared to other cases.

setter · 4 Apr 2010 at 16:12

I cant faut mine as far as quality go's, the aluminium is nice and thick, no plastic parts (well except the fans and filter frames). All the edges are nice and smooth, no chance of fraying cables.

mike gunnz · 4 Apr 2010 at 17:40

setter said:
Have a read through this thread here.

http://forums.overclockers.co.uk/showthread.php?t=18096658

Should give you an idea of what other 800d users have for fan configs.

EsaT · 4 Apr 2010 at 17:58

jej_knowles said:
My objective for the build is to put together a high end pc that will last me a good 5 years and some!

Even if you keep changing graphics card in five years any PC will be slow in games already because of CPU.
Name of the game just happens to be upgrading most parts unless use is HTPC/web surfing/office applications where requirements don't change. (except through software bloat especially common in commercial programs)

But case can be used for lot longer than that when there's quaranteedly enough space for full length cards and enough storage device space.
And unlike with other makes you can upgrade Lian Li to have newer I/O ports (just no sense to get USB3 yet, it will be rare in motherboards for still this year and there isn't even internal pin header for it) and also other parts like top panel are changeable.
http://www.lian-li.com.tw/v2/en/product/product04.php?cl_index=2&sc_index=10&ss_index=131

setter · 5 Apr 2010 at 01:59

I agree EsaT, Lian Li are very good at manufacturing upgrade parts for their cases, but they need to get their act together with the A70F/A71F series with regards to top panels, theese cases are crying out for a triple rad panel, unfortunately the older panels are no use now, theese newer cases have a bigger io panel on top, the inclusion of Esata makes the difference size wise from the older cases