Lian Li A10 - fan configuration and temps...

Legend · 19 Jan 2007 at 03:17

Anyone got this case? How have you got your fans set up? And what kind of temps are you getting? Just moved rig from a V1000 to the A10 and temps are noticeably higher by atleast 5 degrees. System is an E6600, Tuniq 120, Bad Axe 2, 8800GTX, 2GB RAM, x2 SATA drives in 3.5" bays, and a Raptor in a Silentmaxx enclosure in the 5.25" bay. I've got x3 Scythe S-Flex 1200 fans and x1 Noctua S12 1200. Any thoughts or advice on the best setup here? At the moment it's front and rear intake, top and side fan exhaust.

:rolleyes:

**This is a simply stunning case by the way! Build quality is second to none and better than the V1000 IMO, although the looks are subjective of course. I love it though. Reminds of the black monolith from Space Odyssey for some reason! The door on it is just pure sex - can't stop opening and closing it!

Now if I can only get those temps down...

Legend · 19 Jan 2007 at 11:29

Thanks for that. Useful advice.

The Tuniq, being the beast that it is, will only fit so that the fan blows up or down - it can't be configured so that it blows to the front or rear - atleast I'm pretty positive it won't. I'll double check that measurement.

But if you're suggesting a fanless Thermalright HR-01, would that be enough cooling? Even with the rear fan in action, surely 2 fans would be more effective than one, or is it more complex than that?

My temps aren't exactly bad (just over 50 under Orthos test), so my system is hardly on the verge of meltdown. Just looking to get best possible performance.

Legend · 23 Jan 2007 at 14:42

To resurrect this one, I'm in the process of tinkering with a few things and have noticed the following;

1.) The Tuniq, as mentioned above, can only be positioned so that it's fan is facing up or down in the case, not to the front or back. Having it facing up puts it right under the top fan. Now, I would think I would therefore want the Tuniq fan blowing up and out of this vent at the top? Correct? Should the top fan therefore be active and as an exhaust, or should it just be off altogether? Having it pulling air in would surely be counterproductive?

2.) The rear case fan is in line with the Tuniq, so is that ok to have as an exhaust still - i.e with the Tuniq blowing air up and out on it's top side, and then having the case fan pulling air out from the rear side? Is that optimum?

:confused:

Legend · 23 Jan 2007 at 23:34

Mmmm... despite being so positive beforehand, I've discovered the Tuniq WILL fit the other way round, so I can have the fan facing to the rear or the front! Looks like it may be at the expense of the top fan, but I won't know that till I slide the motherboard tray back in. Anyway, given this new discovery, I will have the fan blowing to the rear out the back exhaust. We shall see how my temps improve with my newly lapped CPU...

Legend · 24 Jan 2007 at 10:03

You raise a good point. And 'no' is the answer. But I found a way round it, just had to slide the motherboard tray in a bit before fitting the motherboard to it, as the top corner of the Tuniq catches on a small section of the case when it's oriented this way. Bit annoying, but once in there it's fine. Still room for the top fan as well, although I'll just turn that off I think. Can't see a reason for it to be on. Will see what temps I get...

Legend · 25 Jan 2007 at 01:34

Flanno said:
Mount the tuniq blowing upwards and reverse the top fan so instead of being in intake it's an outtake. And also leave the rear fan as an outtake. So that's 2 fans exhausting hot air from the cpu area with the tuniq fan blowing upwards. Seems to be the setup on the TJ09 and P180 and works. What you think ?

I think this would work well. Was what I was going to do before I realised I could mount Tuniq the other way round. I think either way is going to give similar results really, give or take a degree.

Flanno said:
There is really no fresh air getting into the main part of the case. Bearing that in mind, I was thinking of positioning a quiet 120mm fan in 3 of 5.25" bays to blow cold air accross the NB. I have one of these Scythe Kama Bays (like a CM 4in3 module) which would do the job.

True, there is not much air getting into main part of case, but I don't think this is big negative. All my temps are WELL within normal range, so I think another fan may be unnecessary. Don't see a need really, and would just add more noise. But if you have a bay, it's worth trying. See what difference it makes.

Flanno said:
Other alternative is to leave the stock setup the way lian li intended and get a cooler which will fit without fowling the top fan and still blow towards back of case. That rules out the Tuniq, and pretty much the Scythe Ninja as it is so close to the top fan, the fan does almost no good. Maybe a Freezer 7 Pro. Any idea if the Zalman CNPS9700 fits without overhanging the top of the 680i mobo ?

I think the Zalman would fit, although it does depend on the socket position on your mobo. I know it would fit on my Bad Axe 2. I don't think a Freezer Pro would compare with the Tuniq or Ninja when it comes to performance. The Zalman would not be a bad choice, although I hear it's noisy when it runs fast.

What is your spec? Woud like to know what temps you get when you have it all in there...