Recommend case with ample space for SLI watercooling?

Fellas,

It would seem that most cases, even the larger full-towers, always have the mother board as low to the bottom as possible. The problem with this is water-cooling an SLI set. The return coming out of the bottom is *really* close to the bottom. The 1/2" barb I'm using nearly comes into contact with the bottom of the case.

Some of the cases that have the PSU at the bottom may be a better solution. I have quite a few older mid-towers, and even an ancient full tower, but all of them have the same issue.

There are plenty of cases on the market, but few of them, if any, actually do what I want. I initially approached my recent first crack at water cooling with the idea that I was going to build my own case, but I just want to get my computer back together again, for cryin out loud.

Any recommendations for a case that has plenty of space, in particular room at the bottom of the motherboard to run the return bend out of?

There are tonnes. I'll start with the Lian Li PC A70B and it's derivatives. Others could be a Silverstone TJ07 and the range of Mountain Mod cases.

http://img246.imageshack.us/img246/5870/liancasejc2.jpg

This is a good example. For all the space this case provides, it looks like the PSU will be in the way of the return, again.

I'm leaning towards having the MB horizontal.. But even the cases I have seen with this configuration tend to have the bottom PCI-e slot butted close to the side so that getting a nice bend out of the SLI return is impossible.

Yeah pretty much the Ascension is the ultimate wc case.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by RealRedRaider

The anodized finish of MountainMods is second to Lian Li only.

---

Fixed! :D

Sorry R3 i couldn't help myself, i'm just messing with ya.;)
The MM cases are extremely versatile and many here love the look of them too. Like others have already said, Lian Li makes some good stuff, the TJ07 is also worth a look.

Lian Li 343.
Anodized blue :)

Tyr PC-2000X is going a great LC case...when it hits retail.

Check it out

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ipWH9m9CTqM-xI#[/url]

Wow isn't it out over there? I wish we had the 343. Grrrrr

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by MomijiTMO

Wow isn't it out over there? I wish we had the 343. Grrrrr

---

Uh huh! :mad:

I emailed the Lian Li distributor (just down the road from me) just a few days ago, asking whether she knew if any were coming to OZ. She told me to ask Lian Li central :rolleyes:.

I have searched all ove for the Tyr but see nothing retail. Anyone find it?

Hmm well if you do ever see it or know if someone wants to import it drop me a PM please :D

[The TYR has been in Aus since late July I think?]

Ok ok yes MM is the one and only truly modular case in existence.

Now I don't think Eddie said that it was more versatile did he. Don't cause a stink.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by RealRedRaider

Sorry but the LiLi is not even in the same league as MM in terms of versatility. When you purchase a LiLi, there is no option to choose which finish you want, but with MM you can....

Unless you are prepared to spend untold $$$ and time modding, go with MM...

---

I really love MM too.
Both are gorgeous cases :up:

I just saw this and was jealous.. I want something like this in anodized blue.
I've always had a thing for anodized.. I think it's a bicycle thing, as anodized adds only like 2-3grams :P

http://img135.imageshack.us/img135/7787/26248342ir8.jpg

You could always use a 90 degree fitting on the bottom card. Ya, ya...I know..."They hurt flow!". Not that much! :D

Ascension is great.

Steel Coolermaster Stacker STC-101 lol

An old time favorite and a legend :)

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by IanY

Ascension is great.

Steel Coolermaster Stacker STC-101 lol

An old time favorite and a legend :)

---

I second the Stacker

I am partial to the 810 as well :P.

There is a long thread on Stackers of all models with tons of ideas/mods/set ups in the Stacker Slacker thread if you have not seen it yet.

The Lian Li PC-G70B has a upper PSU and a lower PSU compartment. The space of the lower PSU Compartment is an excellent area for ensuring the tubing coming out of the third SLI video card is not kinked. Plus, a radiator can be mounted down there also.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by IanY

The Lian Li PC-G70B has a upper PSU and a lower PSU compartment. The space of the lower PSU Compartment is an excellent area for ensuring the tubing coming out of the third SLI video card is not kinked. Plus, a radiator can be mounted down there also.

---

Heh, I've got that case and I'm in the process of cramming a Feser 360, 240, and 120 radiator into it. 360 on the top, 240 on the bottom, and 120 on th back.

Really, if you have the budget for Tri SLI, you shouldn't be wasting your time.

Order a MM Ascension with a Trinity Front and a Horizon motherboard. The mobo tray will be centered and there will be plenty of space for the tubing for the third Tri SLI card.

The versatility and function will blow away all other cases.

Now.. for the anodizing part... I'll leave it up to you to decide whether MM or LL is better.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by bluphysted

http://img246.imageshack.us/img246/5870/liancasejc2.jpg

This is a good example. For all the space this case provides, it looks like the PSU will be in the way of the return, again.

I'm leaning towards having the MB horizontal.. But even the cases I have seen with this configuration tend to have the bottom PCI-e slot butted close to the side so that getting a nice bend out of the SLI return is impossible.

---

I have a A-71 with a PA120.3 in the roof and soon a PA120.2 in the front. I just got my mountain mods and yes it is superior for watercooling, but the size of the Lian Li is far more versatile and the style is un-matched.

My A-71:

http://xs230.xs.to/xs230/08351/a71235.jpg

And a arty shot of the insides:p:

http://xs130.xs.to/xs130/08351/a71artyfarty234.jpg

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by IanY

Really, if you have the budget for Tri SLI, you shouldn't be wasting your time.

Order a MM Ascension with a Trinity Front and a Horizon motherboard. The mobo tray will be centered and there will be plenty of space for the tubing for the third Tri SLI card.

The versatility and function will blow away all other cases.

Now.. for the anodizing part... I'll leave it up to you to decide whether MM or LL is better.

---

Aww, come on IanY... Call it the Big Daddy Special.. Ben loves it.. :)

Actually, it's only a dual SLI. With the EVGA 790i Ultra, the 2nd card goes in the bottom 16x slot.

I like those MM cases, but I fear the cost of shipping/duty would be quite nasty.

I should probably reapproach my homemade idea. I just need to find a really big Mechano set.


Thanks for the input guys.

CM has the new HAF 932 being released around the world as we speak. It's coming to US in next couple days. It's able to fit up to a 320 in top right out of the box. Price is right too at $160US. What is your WC setup?

Axis

+1 for Lian Li PG-G70B.

I am not that temperature greedy, so I only have the PSU and PA 120.2 in the top and a PA120.1 in the front along with the intake fan. This leaves room for pumps and nice tube routing.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by axis

What is your WC setup?

Axis

---

MCP655
2 x XSPC Razor 9800 GTX+ blocks
D-Tek V2
PA 120.3
Boat load of Scythe KAZE-JYUNI 1200rpm fans
Big bucket of water for the rez (still working on that)
7/16 tygon

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by bluphysted

MCP655
2 x XSPC Razor 9800 GTX+ blocks
D-Tek V2
PA 120.3
Boat load of Scythe KAZE-JYUNI 1200rpm fans
Big bucket of water for the rez (still working on that)
7/16 tygon

---

All of that and then some would fit in a HAF 932, right out of the box, and would only be $160US. The side 230mm fan can be replaced with 4 120s if you wanted. The looks of it are what most seem to have different opinions about but I don't think it's too bad. Kinda mechanical looking but it looks like a lot of thought about air/watercooling and cable management went into the design. The cut out in the MB tray that allows you to swap CPU HS or waterblocks withouth taking the MB out is a VERY NICE touch.

Axis

as far as the HAF is concerned - place for 120.3 i believe uptop, but the side is what interests me. space for 120 x4 - probably space for a rad? but if so, the case will need to be deep enough to accomodate rad + cards, which it probably isnt.

I like it... but, again, the bottom PCI-e slot is up tight to the PSU below it.

Grrr...

It doesn't look like that PSU could moved to the top (where the little panel with 2 WC tube holes resides).

I don't get it.

All this space, and every manufacturer insists on crowding the mobo.

Also, if I did something like the HAF you mentioned, I reckon I would lay it horizontally. Those full cover water GTX waterblocks are heavy!

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by bluphysted

There are plenty of cases on the market, but few of them, if any, actually do what I want. I initially approached my recent first crack at water cooling with the idea that I was going to build my own case, but I just want to get my computer back together again, for cryin out loud.

---

You are feeling the exact same thing as me, which is why I built my own case. It was a lot of work though, but the end result is something that I am very pleased with, and it fits exactly to my specs.

The only cases I've seen that I would even consider are some of the Lian Li cases and the Mountain Mods cases, but in my case, I am limited in size to what will fit inside of my desk. The agreement me and my wife have is that whatever I come up with, it has to look nice and fit inside of the desk.

There's also the Lian Li PC-V2010 which I'm thinking of getting:
http://lian-li.com/v2/tw/product/upl...10/v2010f3.jpg

That one should in theory fit a 480 rad in the bottom, and regarding the GPU look if you drilled a whole in the midplate you could have your tubing coming out of the second GPU just go straight down into the second compartment.