Vintage Lian Li budget upgrade

The objective of this revamp is to improve the responsiveness of this Web surfing rig at minimum cost. Hence, most of the parts will be recycled from the current build except for the CPU, mobo and RAM. To handle the new thermal load, I will be upgrading the current 2 x 120mm rad to 3 x 120mm + 1 x 120mm.

Here's a quick rundown of the key hardware;

- Athlon II X3 440
- Asus M4A88TD-M
- OCZ AMD Black Edition 4GB DDR3-1600
- Asus 8800GTS 320MB
- Corsair HX620
- Lian Li PC70USB

Watercooling parts;

- Swiftech Apogee GT
- Swiftech MCW30
- Swiftech MCW60 R2
- Swiftech MCR120
- Swiftech MCR320
- Swiftech MCP350
- Yate Loon D12SL-12
- XSPC bay reservoir
- Tygon R3603 3/8" ID
- Fluid XP+ Eco-Earth
- Misc metal fittings

Phil

A walk down the memory lane.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v97/tmwong/oldpc7.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v97/tmwong/ahlian.jpg
200X (I can't even remember!): The original case

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v9...pc_closeup.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v97/tmwong/rig2.jpg
2005: My first WC setup based on the widely condemned (LOL) Thermaltake Big Water MK1

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v97/tmwong/pc7d.jpg
2007: Major revamp to fit all watercooling parts inside the case.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v97/tmwong/ll1r1.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v97/tmwong/ll1r2.jpg
2009 to current: Upgraded to Swiftech gears.

Phil

Parts collected.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v9.../ll2revamp.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v97/tmwong/xspc.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v9...ng/mcw60r2.jpg

Phil

Modding done so far

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v9.../redmcr320.jpg
Painted the rad red.

Phil

Sweet paintjob Phil! :D

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Alexandr0s

Sweet paintjob Phil! :D

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Thanks man.

Phil

Phil's in the house!

Old school,love it :D.

Very sweet mod, but who water cools a web surfing machine other than a member of XS? hehe

Shoot, playa, I'd water cool my celly if I could.

Nice, always liked those cases. Small but simple. only problem is the 80mm fans.

Thanks folks.

For me, watercooling is for striking a balance between overclocking and noise so I'll get the extra performance with minimal associated drawbacks.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v97/tmwong/100mm.jpg
All 80mm fans have been replaced with larger fans after some moddings such as this thermal controlled 100mm Scythe KAZE JYU SLIM.

The OCZ DDR3 is en route from States as we speak. Managed to bag it for US$89.99, thanks to my family there. :up:

Phil

Need some ideas, folks.

http://eil.com/Gallery/29933b.jpg

I'm toying the idea of airbrushing GNR's Uzi Suicide label on the window of the side panel, but my wife would probably skin me alive since she's using this rig.

http://i513.photobucket.com/albums/t...miley-face.jpg
So I though a more subtle smiley face might work instead.. but but but..... :rofl:

Any suggestions? :p:

Phil

a naked lady would do fine

Uzi Suicide's a killer album. Definitely go for that.:up: How big is it gonna be?

Just paint that uzi pink! :)

http://i593.photobucket.com/albums/t...skull-vect.png

How about this one?

Phil

Your wife is mecha parody anime fan? :) (if this logo is from Gurren Lagann)
But really, imho for her box some fantasy or romantical theme might fit better. Some elf / unicorn or some flower ornament painted on sidewall corner, no?
I doubt in some macho themes fitting better.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by churchy

Your wife is mecha parody anime fan? :) (if this logo is from Gurren Lagann)

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Nah... neither am I, but it looks pretty cool. Much better than Mr. Smiley. :p:

I had problem looking for a high-res Uzi Suicide label to make my stencil, too.

Err??? Final Fantasy??

Phil

The Mortal Kombat dragon.
http://www.frozencpu.com/images/prod...ain/flc-18.jpg

I have the exact same case in black. It's been collecting dust in my closet for probably 2 years. I'm contemplating taking the dremel to it but it's in such perfect condition and still has all the pieces I don't know if I should :shrug:

Well, do you plan on using it, or do you just have the itch to cut it up?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by lennox

I have the exact same case in black. It's been collecting dust in my closet for probably 2 years. I'm contemplating taking the dremel to it but it's in such perfect condition and still has all the pieces I don't know if I should :shrug:

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Do it man, this beauty have lots of potential.

Just imagine I'm going to jam 4 x 120mm rad into it! :up:

Phil

Quote:

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Originally Posted by UrbanSmooth

The Mortal Kombat dragon.
http://www.frozencpu.com/images/prod...ain/flc-18.jpg

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Txs. This one will be easy to airbrush.

Phil

how about this?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by UrbanSmooth

Well, do you plan on using it, or do you just have the itch to cut it up?

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honestly I only saved it with the intentions of cutting it up. I'm just not a small case kind of guy... I currently use a G70B

hmmm I am itching to test that Dremel Trio now :cool:

Quote:

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Originally Posted by nyeah

how about this?

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Fierce man!!!

Phil

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v9...g/window-2.jpg
Cutting the stencil next.

Phil

Nice logo, looks mean!

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v9...ng/stencil.jpg
Fabricating.

Phil

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v9...airbrush-1.jpg
Airbrushing...

Phil

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v9...ndows_done.jpg
Done.

Phil

Airbrush looks awesome :clap:

Quote:

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Originally Posted by -=YoGi=-

Airbrush looks awesome :clap:

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Thank you. :p:

Phil

Wow, nice work. Wish I had that artist touch.

Phil, you da man! Let's see the rest of the build.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v97/tmwong/ledmod.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v9...ng/ledmod2.jpg
Thanks..

More budget mod! LOL

Swapped the stock green LED for a red one.

Still waiting for my RAM. I wonder what's going on with USPS... :shakes:

Phil

Nice logo on your side panel man, dont forget about moar moar moar updated :D

I really like the brushed aluminum look on the disc drive

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v97/tmwong/lis2.jpg
Mod my antique LIS2 VFD to make space for the loop fill top. Almost ruined it after wiring it up wrongly. Gotta hit the PSU power switch when I smelled something burning! :rofl: Then, it was the solder traces I ripped off during rewiring. Thank god, it survived after spending hours salvaging it.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v9...g/mousepad.jpg
Oh, recycled the side panel cutout and turned it into a mouse pad.

Phil

Awwww nice mousepad!!

Wow, way to be thrifty! How does it float your mouse?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by UrbanSmooth

Wow, way to be thrifty! How does it float your mouse?

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Environment friendly, too.

Float the mouse?

Phil

How well does the mouse slide on your new mouse pad?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by OC Maximus

How well does the mouse slide on your new mouse pad?

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Its pretty smooth after I switched to the X8's white mouse feet.

Phil

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v97/tmwong/lcd1.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v97/tmwong/lcd2.jpg
Bought this pink backlit LCD for monitoring water temp.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v97/tmwong/lcd3.jpg
Sleeved, trimmed and mod backlighting to red. Aquacomputer sensor is connected via a 2-pin connector.

Phil

Ehhh... I don't like the orange backlight on that thing. I think it would put off just about any color scheme.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v9...ng/biostar.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v9...ackedition.jpg
Bought Biostar instead of Asus for the matching mobo color scheme.

Phil

Nice, I love seeing new hardware packages.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by ScottALot

Ehhh... I don't like the orange backlight on that thing. I think it would put off just about any color scheme.

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Are you referring to the LIS 2? I might be able to tweak the color. Can't go without it since it is going to be my rad fan controller.

Phil

Phil

DAMN IT!! Busted my RTX rotary tool... :mad:

Phil

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v9...ng/dremel1.jpg
Bought a Dremel as replacement.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v9...ng/dremel3.jpg
Sigh... the current sorry state of my casing.

Phil

Wow, Digital Series? I've never even heard about that one! I'm on my second Dremel 300 within about a month time frame. :(

Out of curiosity, what happened with first one? Do they break often?
I thought at one point of buying digital dremel too, but really couldn't justify to myself difference of price.

Dust gets into the motors and they break down.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Philwong

Are you referring to the LIS 2? I might be able to tweak the color. Can't go without it since it is going to be my rad fan controller.

Phil

Phil

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It's just that it looks too much like an alarm clock's backlight to me... IDK just my opinion.

Scott

Scott :ROTF:

Quote:

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Originally Posted by UrbanSmooth

Wow, Digital Series? I've never even heard about that one! I'm on my second Dremel 300 within about a month time frame. :(

---

The 400-series has been around for ages, dude.

Phil

Quote:

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Originally Posted by ScottALot

It's just that it looks too much like an alarm clock's backlight to me... IDK just my opinion.

Scott

Scott :ROTF:

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Oh well, I'm on a budget.

LOL....

Phil x 2 :rofl:

That's a sexy new Dremel you got there Phil.

Now I'll join!

Alex^20 :D

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v9...ng/v1kmod1.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v9...ng/v1kmod2.jpg

Cut lots of holes for rad and cable management, "extended" the feet and reinstated front I/O ports.

Phil

Soundproofing, nice.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v9...leaktest-1.jpg
Leak test!

Phil

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v97/tmwong/ex.jpg

Its alive! :p:

Phil

Come on, Phil, we need more pics than that!

Such a tease. :rolleyes:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v97/tmwong/ex2.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v97/tmwong/ex8.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v97/tmwong/ex3.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v97/tmwong/ex5.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v97/tmwong/ex4.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v97/tmwong/ex7.jpg

Now to do something for devices in 5.25 bays to have silvery front plates?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by churchy

Now to do something for devices in 5.25 bays to have silvery front plates?

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I prefer the contrasting black and silver color scheme for the case exterior.

Phil

Niiiice work, Phil. :up:

That waterblock stands out... just a bit.

woot,missed your build been a bit busy! Actually like this build alot, your sturdy case suits it quite well!

Looks Niiiiice :D
but apogee plate... it doesn`t fit there... some paint for it?

Thanks chaps.

Err? What's wrong with the Apogee plate? Too shiny? :confused::D

Phil

Nothing, it's fine. Keep it.

Naw, I wasn't saying it was bad looking... I meant like it shows itself really well!