Crunch time! (i think)

kalvindeane · 12 Oct 2010 at 21:21

I've got the cash now to afford the Lian Li PC-A70FB that I kept saying I would buy.

I've seen it for slightly less than it is on ocuk. Should I send it to get a window cut and to
be powdercoated?

The money required for the window + powdercoating would mean that the case is out
of my budget atm. If however, I was to just buy the case, or buy the case and a CNC
window cut, I could afford it.

Would it look ok with the silver interior and a window? (window design ideas needed!).
Or should I just wait until I can afford to have it powdercoated too (£300 for a case
is a lot of money...).

I'm currently using the rig in my signature, and I'll later be swapping the 5770CF
for a 480 or 69xx card (under water). Also throwing the H50 for custom water.

A red/black theme is what I'm after, but would it look ok without the theme, and just
silver interior?

*edit* I forgot I have no signature anymore!

Asus P6t Deluxe,
OCZ Reaper Memory,
Custom water (black or red tubing/fluid),
Corsair HX650.

Pretty much all that can be seen when you look inside, plus either black or red cable braiding.
Infact, I could just have everything black, and only the interior of the case would be any
different (silver). Containing no red at all.

setter · 12 Oct 2010 at 21:31

Heres mine with the standard silver alu interior.

Not too bad, but id have preferred a black interior, great case though and id certainly reccomend it.

kalvindeane · 12 Oct 2010 at 21:33

Hmm, not for me it would seem

Guess I'll need the funds for powdercoating..

kalvindeane · 12 Oct 2010 at 21:33

Could you fit a triple AND dual rad in there without modding the case?

mjones1 · 12 Oct 2010 at 21:36

I own a a70, i like it a lot better than my p182 i had before and would highly recommend it due to the amount of space.

setter · 12 Oct 2010 at 21:40

Yep, but youll have to get the top panel cut for a triple rad, as the pwr/reset switches are mounted on the top of the case, the panel from the A71F, (door version of this case) doesnt fit as its switches are front mounted. A dual rad can also be fitted if the hdd cages are removed. Good idea of the rad mounting possibilities here from jej-knowles who watercooled with a triple and dual in an A71F.

http://forums.overclockers.co.uk/showthread.php?t=18195387

kalvindeane · 12 Oct 2010 at 21:40

Just a tripple I guess

Ah thanks!

kalvindeane · 12 Oct 2010 at 22:33

What would you recommend? This will be my first custom water settup. Powdercoating + Window + Case costs £275. Say £25 on cable braiding.

Is it worth it over the 800D? This case needs to last a good few upgrades.. (3years+)

setter · 12 Oct 2010 at 22:47

Couldnt say wether it's better than the 800d, one advantage the 800d has though is that it's ready for watercooling out of the box. Only thing puts me off is it's looks. Id go for the powdercoating option first before a window, i think a red interior would be really nice. As for cable braiding, if sticking with black for the cables, you wouldnt have many cables to braid, possibly the fans if you stick with the stock ones, and the pwr/reset/hdd/ led cables as theese are multicoloured jobs. Audio, usb cables are al black. Also your psu cables are black aready. It's definitely a case ill be keeping for a few years, the amount of space is incredible, cant see any component, particularly gpu's struggling to fit in it.

C64 · 12 Oct 2010 at 23:00

Buy the red and black fortress ft02 if you don't fancy all the hassle.

setter · 12 Oct 2010 at 23:02

C64 said:
Buy the red and black fortress ft02 if you don't fancy all the hassle.

Yep, another nice choice. Love the layout of the FT02.

SirCanealot · 12 Oct 2010 at 23:04

C64 said:
Buy the red and black fortress ft02 if you don't fancy all the hassle.

Red and black one is more or less sold out now -- at least on OCUK...

C64 · 12 Oct 2010 at 23:11

If I were going water cooling I'd be looking at a 700/800d or silverstone tj07 or even a mountain mods style case.

kalvindeane · 12 Oct 2010 at 23:43

Ah I completely forgot about the company you mentioned! A U2-UFO with 3 big windows
plus shipping and smoked acrylic comes to around £300, which is the same as the Lian Li.
Except this can fit a triple and a double rad in without any modding required!

Will search their shop a bit more - their products are certainly interesting!

kalvindeane · 12 Oct 2010 at 23:54

£300 could get me the U2-UFO OPTI-1203 plus a bit of cable braiding (5m) and a molex remover.

Certainly seems more spacious than the Lian Li, even with a triple + double rad installed...

*edit* For £300 I could get the U2-UFO (the one with acrylic for side panels/top panel), with a few
bits of cable braid. Or I could save myself a little bit and get the Pinnacle 24 or 18. Which of these
3 sounds best? I know the Pinnacle 24 can hold a LOT of kit as it it huge! All 3 of them cases seem
a bit boring, though I suppose with watercooling and acrylic windows, paired with some braiding and
cold cathodes it would look pretty sleek.

It's basically a choice between them 3 cases now (I do have the funds to buy them, the reason I said
that I couldn't afford the powdercoat the Lian Li earlier is that I'm visiting a friend in Brummy Land next
month. It's her Bday the week after, so need money for a present for her as well as spending money.
She's got a LOT of stuff planned that we need to cram into 2.5 days

kalvindeane · 13 Oct 2010 at 00:42

I've read enough for one day.
Viewers: Your thoughts are needed! Don't be afraid to tell me I'm an idiot

And that I should go a totally different route.