SFF Custom Loop cases

[debo]

Hi everyone, after the due presentation and after noticing there was no recent post in this section regarding the subject I decided to drop a message and ask the forum.

I have been out of the PC gaming scene for long time and I recently decided to go back and go back small; I did initially considered a the dan case but it then grew in me the desire of a system that it's yes small but also a bit of a showcase piece to fit nicely in my apartment so what I am looking for is a list of recent see through SFF cases that can accomodate a ful custom loop and some nice rgb galore.

So far Liam Li PC05, PC-Q10 and PC-Q17 seemed the more appealing along with the InWin 901, the Phantek Evolv mITX or the Parvum Veer. GPU wise since it's going to be a ground up build I was thinking at a 1080 like card, SLI I don't think will be needed since I mostly play Blizzard titles.

What do you think about those cases? Did I miss any worth mentioning? What would be your personal pick for a custom loop build?

Thanks in advance for your replies and help.

 

[Radox-0]

Hi everyone, after the due presentation and after noticing there was no recent post in this section regarding the subject I decided to drop a message and ask the forum.

I have been out of the PC gaming scene for long time and I recently decided to go back and go back small; I did initially considered a the dan case but it then grew in me the desire of a system that it's yes small but also a bit of a showcase piece to fit nicely in my apartment so what I am looking for is a list of recent see through SFF cases that can accomodate a ful custom loop and some nice rgb galore.

So far Liam Li PC05, PC-Q10 and PC-Q17 seemed the more appealing along with the InWin 901, the Phantek Evolv mITX or the Parvum Veer. GPU wise since it's going to be a ground up build I was thinking at a 1080 like card, SLI I don't think will be needed since I mostly play Blizzard titles.

What do you think about those cases? Did I miss any worth mentioning? What would be your personal pick for a custom loop build?

Thanks in advance for your replies and help.

I have stuffed a Custom loop in my Lian Li PC-05s with it being a HTPC build. Works great, but would really plan your tubing routes and pump stuff carefully if your going full blow custom with the case. It does however look amazing once your set up with it and as long as your not going overkill on the overclocking, temps are acceptable. for a 240 thin rad you would need to use. Note it does really need to be a very thin 240 mm rad once you get standard fans added on for that case.

 

[wywywywy]

Some of the cases you listed have no obvious way of mounting a radiator?

E.g. The PC-Q10 & 901 require putting one OUTSIDE, which is a bit silly.

But can I put a few more cases on your list to consider -
Lian Li PC-Q37
ThermalTake Core G3
ThermalTake Core V1
Ncase M1
Jonsbo UMX3 (UMX1 probably doesn't have enough space)
Cougar QBX
Fractal Define Nano S
Fractal Node 304
InWin 301 (Q2 2017)
Corsair 250D

 

[wywywywy]

I've list list that I personally use. I hope this helps you.

                w   h   d   v       gfx
lianli  q08     227 272 345 21.3    300 
lianli  q10     207 277 335 19.2    270
lianli  o5s     384 465 148 26.4    300
lianli  q36wa   246 324 320 25.5    300
lianli  q37     237 345 346 28.3    320
lianli  v351    279 262 373 27.3    285
thermal v1      260 276 316 22.7    260
thermal g3      140 454 371 23.6    310
silvers sg13    222 181 285 11.5    266
silvers sg09    220 295 354 23.0    337
coolerm 110     260 208 280 15.1    210
coolerm 120     240 207 401 19.9    343
coolerm 130     240 207 398 19.8    343
xigmate Nebula  260 305 260 20.6    230
ncase   M1      160 240 328 12.6    317
kimera  cerberu 170 303 354 18.2    329
dancase A4      112 200 317 7.1     295
cougar  QBX     178 291 384 19.9    350
jonsbo  C2      200 262 224 11.7    220
jonsbo  W1      242 356 362 31.2    320
jonsbo  UMX1    160 345 300 16.6    270
jonsbo  UMX3    188 365 358 24.6    320
fracta  nano s  203 330 400 26.8    315
fracta  nod304  250 210 374 19.6    310
evga    hadron  169 305 308 15.9    267
phantek enthoo  230 375 395 34.0    330
inwin   901     173 350 400 24.2    300
inwin   301     188 365 370 25.4    330
parvum  x2.0    250 250 310 19.4    290
parvum  veer1.0 267 307 357 29.3    335
sharkoo qb one  225 180 368 14.9    315
corsair 250d    290 277 351 28.2    290

 

[debo]

I have stuffed a Custom loop in my Lian Li PC-05s with it being a HTPC build. Works great, but would really plan your tubing routes and pump stuff carefully if your going full blow custom with the case. It does however look amazing once your set up with it and as long as your not going overkill on the overclocking, temps are acceptable. for a 240 thin rad you would need to use. Note it does really need to be a very thin 240 mm rad once you get standard fans added on for that case.

Mmmmm ok, so that makes me think that adding a full custom loop in the smaller PC-05 might be a no go then if you already had some trouble with the bigger version of it. Thoughts?

Some of the cases you listed have no obvious way of mounting a radiator?

E.g. The PC-Q10 & 901 require putting one OUTSIDE, which is a bit silly.

But can I put a few more cases on your list to consider -
Lian Li PC-Q37
ThermalTake Core G3
ThermalTake Core V1
Ncase M1
Jonsbo UMX3 (UMX1 probably doesn't have enough space)
Cougar QBX
Fractal Define Nano S
Fractal Node 304
InWin 301 (Q2 2017)
Corsair 250D

I didn't realise that, thanks for pointing that out. I did consider Ncase but I put it aside for the time being because the windowed version is not available yet for what I saw, I will definitely have a look at the others, thanks. Also thank you for the comprehensive dimension list, very handy, appreciated.

 

[wywywywy]

There's also the Caselabs BH2 that isn't in my list.

 

[debo]

Pass, I am not too keen on the cubes although the PC-Q37 is very nice. Also good shout on the G3, the UMX3 and the InWin 301, they are nice as well, I'll see if I can find some review and some build around. Thanks a lot.

 

[wywywywy]

I don't like cubes either, too much desk footprint.

G3 has user reports of dodgy PCIe riser.

UMX3 will need modding to use 240mm radiator as far as I know.

301 is not released yet (Q2 2017).

I've been trying to find the "perfect" windowed SFF case that supports a custom loop, like you are, for a year now... And still haven't found/bought anything. It's not easy you know

 

[debo]

I don't like cubes either, too much desk footprint.

^ that

G3 has user reports of dodgy PCIe riser.

UMX3 will need modding to use 240mm radiator as far as I know.

301 is not released yet (Q2 2017).

I've been trying to find the "perfect" windowed SFF case that supports a custom loop, like you are, for a year now... And still haven't found/bought anything. It's not easy you know

Well if I get trapped in my thought while waiting for the perfect one I will never buy anything I guess, at some point I will have to kind of force myself in buying something. Problem is that it would be nice to see some of those live. Does OCUK shop have a good selection on show?

 

[Radox-0]

Mmmmm ok, so that makes me think that adding a full custom loop in the smaller PC-05 might be a no go then if you already had some trouble with the bigger version of it. Thoughts?

Just to clarify there are two versions of the case. The 05X and 05S. The smaller 05X does not have any fan mounts aside from a rear 140mm spot so there is no spot to place a loop or AIO in general so a no go. I have a loop built into the 05S which is the same size but slightly taller to allow for a 240mm radiator up top with fans. Simply put if your looking at a custom loop that will be the only version you can get realistically.

 

[debo]

Just to clarify there are two versions of the case. The 05X and 05S. The smaller 05X does not have any fan mounts aside from a rear 140mm spot so there is no spot to place a loop or AIO in general so a no go. I have a loop built into the 05S which is the same size but slightly taller to allow for a 240mm radiator up top with fans. Simply put if your looking at a custom loop that will be the only version you can get realistically.

Thanks for the highlight appreciated and cristal clear. I simply used different code based on what Liam Li advertise on their site

http://www.lian-li.com/en/dt_portfolio/pc-o5/
http://www.lian-li.com/en/dt_portfolio/pc-o5s/

Either ways I get your point. Thanks

 

[Dirk Diggler]

This is something I've wanted to do for ages. I've got a Parvum Veer and I'm determined to get a full custom loop consisting of 360mm rad space, cooling CPU & GPU, with Hardline pipe. I like the Veer because it gives some options to route into the PSU compartment and I also like that the PSU compartment is hidden.

Every time I try to plan the loop, it makes my head hurt... But I love the challenge and I absolutely will get it done.

 

[debo]

Yeah my issue there is that I will probably need a specialist to do it. It's been so long since I even built a normal PC I can't even think of myself building a custom loop.

 

[D1craig]

I had never built a pc before. I'd changed ram and changed my cpu cooler. Got and new case and no moved it all into that. Then got a aftermarket gpu cooler the prolimatech thing.

Next step for me was moving into a evolv itx and going full custom loop. Was really difficult and cut my fingers to shreds but it was well worth it. I think I done great after not really even building a pc before.

I like the looks of the parvum ones. In a few months I'm going to go for a r1 for more radiator space. They look really easy to build inside of aswell.

 

[hrockh]

I had never built a pc before. I'd changed ram and changed my cpu cooler. Got and new case and no moved it all into that. Then got a aftermarket gpu cooler the prolimatech thing.

Next step for me was moving into a evolv itx and going full custom loop. Was really difficult and cut my fingers to shreds but it was well worth it. I think I done great after not really even building a pc before.

I like the looks of the parvum ones. In a few months I'm going to go for a r1 for more radiator space. They look really easy to build inside of aswell.

but they are not cheap! so wanted to have one, but their pricing is just insane.

 

[D1craig]

but they are not cheap! so wanted to have one, but their pricing is just insane.

prices double atleast if you want any of these awesome ones you see with built in reservoirs and custom pathing in the bottom plate etc etc.

 

[hrockh]

prices double atleast if you want any of these awesome ones you see with built in reservoirs and custom pathing in the bottom plate etc etc.

gotta say, they found a very lucrative niche market.

 

[D1craig]

well considering the complaints they get about the time it takes them to make the cases they must get a huge amount of business.

 

[HoneyBadger]

This is something I've wanted to do for ages. I've got a Parvum Veer and I'm determined to get a full custom loop consisting of 360mm rad space, cooling CPU & GPU, with Hardline pipe. I like the Veer because it gives some options to route into the PSU compartment and I also like that the PSU compartment is hidden.

Every time I try to plan the loop, it makes my head hurt... But I love the challenge and I absolutely will get it done.

Should be more than do-able, as I did it in my Veer! I'm (hopefully) about to take a receipt of the newer, smaller Parvum X2.0 (Long story) and plan to put the system in my sig in it, totalling 200mm rad space (1x120 and 1x 80) - with quick disconnects!

 

[Dirk Diggler]

Should be more than do-able, as I did it in my Veer! I'm (hopefully) about to take a receipt of the newer, smaller Parvum X2.0 (Long story) and plan to put the system in my sig in it, totalling 200mm rad space (1x120 and 1x 80) - with quick disconnects!

I've switched from the Veer to the S2.0. I'll be sticking a hard line loop in there this weekend. The reason I moved to the S2.0 was the lack of options on the ITX Motherboard... I've moved to Micro ATX and grabbed a Gene VIII to team up with my 6700k.