Project: Lian LI PC-101B revamp WIP

V F · 3 Jul 2011 at 00:04

I've always loved this case when I bought it from OCUK back in Christmas 2006 that I have now felt it needed some 2011 updates. Lot's of inspirational ideas from million-dollar-pc.com that spurred me on to do this.

Some of todays cases never seemed to appeal to me. They all seem to have the inside silver, too big, too much plastic going on and such. Plus for some reason I've always loved the BTX layout. I still can't take to all the cases with the CPU at the top.
I can't seem to let go of Lian Li either, less is more?

The case originally looked like:
http://www.silentpcreview.com/article632-page2.html

Mods:
Roof cut and mesh for two 140 PWM fans.
Front cut and redone with mesh.
CPU back cut out.
4 extra holes made for better cable management.
Interior painted matte black.
Hard drive cage and side exhaust 120MM fan cradle will also be matte black... (not pictured yet) though I'm thinking of applying carbon fiber decal to the fan cradle.

I think I may take the power buttons back out to decal up the silver holder black...

My only dilemma is the door... it just doesn't seem sleek enough with the silver border edge... wondering if I should go all black... it just seems to be too much silver.

There will also be a mesh cradle that's going to be mounted in the drive bays for two 120MM Sharkoon 2000rpm fans that will be hooked up to the fan controller. Yet another smaller mesh cradle to sit in front of one of them for the Corsair H70 radiator.
Below that some sound dampening material to take away any vibrations.
Plus other mesh bits to be added internally for added styling.

Airflow should now be like:

joxang · 3 Jul 2011 at 09:45

Wahey and now I miss Lian Li again

! That's a really nice mod you've done on the front and top. Can we have a shot of the case from the front, but standing back a bit so we can see the whole thing?

V F · 3 Jul 2011 at 22:25

Thanks. That was the plan to have the roof matching the side exhaust panel.

The front:

Reckon it would look better with the silver edge all black? for some reason I'm just not liking the silver edge anymore.

USB/Firewire sleeved and tucked around the fans/case edge. Sadly it's too dark up there to see it. Long way to go yet until it's to my liking.

Thermal probe also behind the top fans for them to kick in and out.

Another thermal probe just below the Asus heatsink and whatever ambient for that fan in that section on the rear.

The mess will change once I get the mesh cradles made for the front fans and H70 tomorrow.

KiiYzOo · 3 Jul 2011 at 22:35

Wow I love that case

joxang · 3 Jul 2011 at 22:51

Personally I really like the silver. Adds an element of uniqueness.

Duesix · 3 Jul 2011 at 23:13

I really like the silver section too it adds some nice class to the case.

V F · 3 Jul 2011 at 23:49

Hmm... true, or... how about instead of painting it black, polish the brushed aluminium to a mirrored finish?

Gepetto · 3 Jul 2011 at 23:52

I must confess that I don't like the silver. I think it severely dates the case, and that an all black front/front edge would look better.

Purely personal preference though, and it makes absolutely no difference to the functionality of the case.

V F · 4 Jul 2011 at 00:46

Yes, thats what's bugging me with so much silver. It looks dated... however... a quick mockup... I think I'm going to go for this. Paint it up black and polish the silver strip to a mirrored finish.

wilko49 · 4 Jul 2011 at 10:08

Very tidy build. I agree, that single silver strip looks much more classy.

However... I feel obliged to point out the rules.

rjkoneill said:
10. No H50/H70 under any circumstances.

V F · 5 Jul 2011 at 23:12

Slowly getting there. Need to work on the lower cable management once I have the hard drive cage in.

Marvin · 6 Jul 2011 at 10:09

I prefer it with the original silver thing personally. Sets it aside from a Fractal.

V F · 9 Jul 2011 at 23:51

Sadly I've ran out of mesh. Need to get more for some of the insides and still to style up the door but photos of the internal management.

Foam cushion between all the contacts from metal to metal, fan to metal, radiator to metal and rubber thingymajigs for the fans.

Phenomenologica · 10 Jul 2011 at 07:56

Throwing in a vote for your new idea with the silver strip, looks much better than the original silver panel. Nice job on the build, looks very good.

KiiYzOo · 10 Jul 2011 at 12:08

Marvin said:
I prefer it with the original silver thing personally. Sets it aside from a Fractal.

+1

Yaka · 10 Jul 2011 at 15:27

beutiful and clean,

and i am gonna keep on saying next seriously think of wcing properly

dirtychinchilla · 10 Jul 2011 at 15:50

Yeah the silver panel is not very nice, very dated. I strongly agree with the blacking out and the polished silver strip. Looks amazing though, I'm very jealous!

ch3333z · 11 Jul 2011 at 08:23

Looking real nice. Have to agree with the silver panel, needs to go black!

Also are you gonna give those roof fans a lick of paint? I feel the blue doesn't quite go wit hthe rest of the build.

V F · 11 Jul 2011 at 21:08

Yaka said:
and i am gonna keep on saying next seriously think of wcing properly

Probably the next build/case. If I go full water setup on the next build I'll want a case that doesn't look like everything has been thrown in. Most likely another Lian Li. I would like it as nicely laid out like this.

ch3333z said:
Also are you gonna give those roof fans a lick of paint? I feel the blue doesn't quite go wit hthe rest of the build.

Most likely.

I changed my mind on making it mirrored finish due to the fact the Lian Li name plate is plastic with silver text to keep it consistent.

I think I'll make a Lian Li decal for the mesh at the bottom in the same font as the door and one for the "it that shall not be named." ¬_¬

The motherboard heat sensor seems to be quite a bit out compared to the fan controller sensor... sensor 4 is right up at the top of the case. Sensor 1 is near the first graphics card.

KiiYzOo · 11 Jul 2011 at 21:23

Wow that looks much nicer than I thought