Lian Li PC-A05NB question.

marc1024 · 23 Mar 2011 at 09:34

I really like this case but how good is it really for cooling? i want small case ( smaller than my lancool k62 ) that can fit my ATX board and 460gtx SLI (there is 1 PCI slot between them). Its a core i5 750 system.

I have £120 to spend so as cheap as possible would be good but not so cheap it breaks when moving it around.

if you search around there is topics on people modding this case and spraying it black. Looks very well!

all mini cube cases are micro ATX or ITX. Its hard to find a decent one even on competitor websites. Doesnt have to be cube, just as long as its smaller than a lancool k62 and has good build quality and good cable management.

joxang · 23 Mar 2011 at 14:09

Cooling is very average. The air flow is reversed but the front panel really restricts airflow and stops hot air getting out of the case.

If you're interested in modding it, you can mod a grill into the front panel. Looks great and massively improves airflow.

armed_gorilla · 23 Mar 2011 at 17:08

Agreed about the cooling being average, luckily I got mine second hand and somebody had already modded it (not all that well though

) with a dual 120mm fan grill as all the hot air gets stuck up the top with nowhere to escape. With that done its actually not all that bad. Im looking to downsize again to an itx case soon though as ive got to the point where i dont need a massive pc

b.cummins · 23 Mar 2011 at 22:05

armed_gorilla said:
Agreed about the cooling being average, luckily I got mine second hand and somebody had already modded it (not all that well though ) with a dual 120mm fan grill as all the hot air gets stuck up the top with nowhere to escape. With that done its actually not all that bad. Im looking to downsize again to an itx case soon though as ive got to the point where i dont need a massive pc

Would hardly say it's a massive pc

did you think the best place to add a fan grill is the top or the front then?

joxang · 24 Mar 2011 at 00:59

You can find a good laser cutter (person who laser cuts for you) on the bay

.

Apem · 24 Mar 2011 at 10:46

Thats a nice mod

b.cummins · 25 Mar 2011 at 10:31

Sorryto hijack your thread, but I'm gonna get my A05N modded - gonna get that mod done on the front panel, looks brilliant

I'm also going to get the top panel modded, i'm looking at a (meshed) blowhole for either 1x140mm or 2x120mm. What do we think about 2x120mm overkill or a better idea?

Another thing I was looking at was soundproofing (eventually); is this going to be redundant when I opt to install so much meshing?

go.mole · 25 Mar 2011 at 11:32

Mine was getting very hot when I first got it, but I bought the replacement top panel and that has helped greatly. I would love to do something similar to the fantastic modding that I've seen people do, but haven't really got to the guts to risk spoiling the case.

b.cummins · 25 Mar 2011 at 12:12

go.mole said:
Mine was getting very hot when I first got it, but I bought the replacement top panel and that has helped greatly. I would love to do something similar to the fantastic modding that I've seen people do, but haven't really got to the guts to risk spoiling the case.

did you notice a difference in the gfx card fan noise when you fitted the top panel; cos mine is running very loud at the moment and i'm wondering if some top fans taking the strain off will help?

Also i can't seem to find the panel on sale anywhere, how did you manage to get one?

antran · 25 Mar 2011 at 13:26

I also got this case, it does it get really when you're running high end parts.

My gtx 580 reached 90C after only playing BC2 for less then 10 minutes.
Last week, I cutted the top panel with a dremel and added 2 Fractal Design 140mm with a 280mm fan grill. The case is now 5C cooler with the 2 140mm fan blowing in cool air.

This mod only costed me £15, bought 2 Fractal 140mm fans from the MM for £12 and got the fan grill in the OCUK clearance section for less then £3.

b.cummins, is quite hard to get hold of the top panel. There is only places that sell the top but is always out of stock.

The noise level seem to have lower a bit after adding 2 140mm fans to the top, I can hardly hear the 2 140mm fans or gtx 580.

Have a look at this thread, this is where I got all my ideas from.

http://forums.overclockers.co.uk/showthread.php?t=17855786&highlight=Lian+Li+PC-A05NB

b.cummins · 25 Mar 2011 at 13:37

thanks for the advice; do 2 140mm fans fit comfortably?

go.mole · 25 Mar 2011 at 13:44

b.cummins said:
did you notice a difference in the gfx card fan noise when you fitted the top panel; cos mine is running very loud at the moment and i'm wondering if some top fans taking the strain off will help?

Also i can't seem to find the panel on sale anywhere, how did you manage to get one?

I can't comment on a change in volume levels as this wasn't something I was listening out for.

I got my panel from an OCUK competitor so can't link, though I've checked their website and they are currently out of stock. I also had trouble finding stock but luckily found a site with a couple still in stock

antran · 25 Mar 2011 at 13:47

b.cummins said:
thanks for the advice; do 2 140mm fans fit comfortably?

Yea and still with plenty of room left for another 140mm fan.