Saifu 2.0

Olly · 30 Jul 2011 at 20:58

So, I got bored with my Danger Den case. Didn't rate the built quality - a lot of screw holes didn't line up.

So I went with a case where the quality is top notch - Lian Li. The PC-A70F to be precise.

So, it was again time to put this lot of hardware from my bench table, into the new case:

Hardware consists of:

I7 2600K
Asus Maximus IV Extreme Rev.3
2x4GB Gskill RipJaws
Corsair AX1200
3 x GTX 580s
Asus Xonar Sense Soundcard
OCZ Vertex 3 120GB
Samsung 500GB 2.5" HDD

Cooling wise, I went for a single loop, cooling the CPU, Motherboard and 3 580s with an EK 420 and 240 rads. Dual DDCs to keep the flow nice and high

So, first things first. Powercoated the internals black. Custom bracket to mount the 240mm rad in the front, and mounted the 420mm rad in the bottom:

Quick trial fit of the new front panel:

As you can see, gone is the standard slats, cut out and replaced with some black mesh.
Also the modded fan controller, but more on that later.

Olly · 30 Jul 2011 at 20:58

so first up, dismantle the bench table and get the motherboard out:

I removed the labels on the network ports, and also on the sata connectors.

Gave it a quick trial fit in the case:

Fits well, and you can't see the motherboard cuts either. Also placed the fans on the triple rad, still lots of clearance from where the soundcard will go in the bottom slot.

Pulled through the USB and power/led buttons and switches. I didn't want eSATA or Firewire so I wont pull these through:

Pulled through the 24pin ATX connector, looks good and tucks behind the motherboard too. I might braid this later on:

Some shots showing the SATA cables, 8pin power connect and USB/IO cables pulled through:

Olly · 30 Jul 2011 at 20:59

Soundcard fitted in the bottom slot, and plenty of room for the fans on the bottom rad:

Moved ontop of my desk, I was getting back ache !!

In go the 580s:

Tubed up:

Olly · 30 Jul 2011 at 20:59

got my koolance single bay dual ddc res today, it sucks big time. I will be speaking to them. I spent a good 4 hours trying to get it to work, bleed and be silent but even now is still putting air into the loop:

Quick power up, showing the fan contoller and fans:

How the bay controller looks standard Vs modded:

Still lots of things to do, I'll keep this thread updated

Olly · 30 Jul 2011 at 20:59

reserved

Olly · 30 Jul 2011 at 21:00

reserved 2

Olly · 30 Jul 2011 at 21:00

reserved 3

joxang · 30 Jul 2011 at 21:47

Nice - epic build

. The new front panel looks very stylish.

Olly · 30 Jul 2011 at 21:49

thanks !!

Here's a pic showing the standard one and mine:

KiiYzOo · 30 Jul 2011 at 22:07

Awesome

joxang · 30 Jul 2011 at 22:24

Olly said:
thanks !!
Here's a pic showing the standard one and mine:

Yeh I did pretty much exactly the same thing to my Lian Li 8FI which had the same grill (sig). Did you manage to do anything about the two mounting holes for the LL logo at the bottom?

Olly · 30 Jul 2011 at 22:26

my LL badge was stuck on, so I dont have any holes, luckily !

w3bbo · 30 Jul 2011 at 22:42

Looking great there m8.

What happened to the DD case?

Olly · 30 Jul 2011 at 22:45

thanks webbo. The DD is being using as one of my Bitcoin mining rigs. Just didn't like it for my own personal PC anymore

RJC · 30 Jul 2011 at 22:53

Looking good

Evoss · 30 Jul 2011 at 23:35

Look stunning good job

Biffa · 31 Jul 2011 at 01:52

Nice, brings back memories of my Lian-Li, quad Fermi, wc beastie

Have some stars :cool:

Tealc · 31 Jul 2011 at 09:24

Nice work.

What fans are those?

Olly · 31 Jul 2011 at 09:27

thanks for all the comments guys. Biffa, I seem to recall a quad 480 setup with aquacomputer blocks ?????

the fans are Phobya G-Silent 14 1100rpm Red LED - 140mm.

They give a nice red glow..nothing too OTT

SeraphX · 31 Jul 2011 at 09:33

awesome build so far, looks pricey too