Project X-343B-WC (Lian Li Cube) Completed [WARNING: Lots of Pics! 56K Beware]

[mjassbong]

Finally, after about 5 months long, I introduce to you my new build X-343B-WC. "343B" is for the Lian Li cube case. What started out as a simple 2 loops upgrade from my previous Opteron 170 system led to an all-out extreme watercooling system. Some of you have already seen a few sneak peek pics but here's more for your viewing pleasure. Critiques and feedbacks are welcome, infact encouraged. Thx!

SYSTEM SPECS
Main Components
Mobo: Asus Striker Extreme
CPU: Q6600
GPU: eVGA 8800GTX SLI
RAM: 4GB OCZ FlexXLC PC2-9200

Audio
SoundBlaster X-Fi Fatal1ty

Storage
LSI Logic Dual Channel Ultra-320 PCI-Express SCSI Controller
580GB 147GB x 4 RAID 0 Fujitsu Ultra-320 15K RPM
750GB Seagate SATA-II NL35
500GB WDC USB
Plextor PX-755SA w/Lian Li SATA USB External Enclosure

PSU
Ultra X3 1000W

Display
Dell 307WFP-HC
Spyder 2 Pro

Peripherals
Logitech G15 Keyboard
Logitech G7 Wireless Mouse

Watercooling
CPU: Swiftech GTX
GPU: EK 8800GTX FC x 2
Mobo: EK Asus NB/SB/Mosfetts Set
Pump: MCP655 x 1, MCP355 x 2
Rad: PA120.3 x 2, PA120.2 x 1
Res: Swiftech MC-Res x 3
Fitting: Koolance Compression
Tubing: Tygon 1/2", 3/8", 1/4"
Fan: Yates (Lots of It)

OS
Vista Ultimate x64

Main Use of System
Photos and Videos editing and Gaming




LOOPS
Red: Res > MCP655 > PA120.3 > CPU > Res
Alien Green: Res > MCP355 > PA120.3 > GPU2 > GPU1 > Res
Blue: Res > MCP355 > 1/2" Y ..... F > PA120.2 > Res

• Y1: > 1/2" to 1/4" > RAM1 > RAM2 > RAM3 > RAM4 > 1/4"-1/2" F
• Y2: > SB > NB > MOS1 > MOS2 > 1/4"-1/2" F

[mjassbong]

IN THE BEGINNING



Skeletal view of 343B. I installed Akasa noise dampening material throughout the case then sleeved the cables.


Here's how 2 D5s can be mounted to the mobo side panel. These pumps were installed here for the originally intended dual loops. One D5 was removed as you will later see.


Bay module and top plate prepped for PA120.3,


PA120.3 ready to be mounted


Where a PA120.3 will live. Those fans are low speed yates with blue led. As you can imagine, am setting up a push-pull.


The Striker with EK's blocks installed. I can't praise enough about the look and quality of EK's work.


Another one of EK's beautiful work of art. The only thing that bothered me is the difference in colors of the G80s PCB. But I didn't lose any sleep over it.

That's all the pics I have for the prep work.

[mjassbong]

I PRESENT YOU X-343B-WC

EXTERNAL VIEWS


Bay cover is Lian Li PC-343B 3 X 5.25" Fan Module with Mesh Front and Filter.


Side view. One day I will cut this side panel to put window just like the other side.


Back side. Medium speed Yates + PSU fan for exhaust.


A window with quite a breathtaking view


Another side shot. I love this case!

[mjassbong]

OTHER EXTERNAL VIEWS

Top view. The original top panel was cut to perfectly match a PA120.2. I also bought the 343B top rad mount and clear top and ended up not using them. I plan to cut the clear top to match PA120.2 for better inside case view from the top.


Installed quick connect/disconnect of power button whenever the front panel is removed. I had to make the hole bigger to fit the molex, and I drank too much coffee that day. LOL!


Here you can see how 2 PA120.3s can be installed in LL 343B. If you choose to keep the top bay panel, it must be cut just like I've done. Otherwise, just remove and toss or set it aside. From this shot you can also see how one of the reservoirs is mounted with bracket that came with MC-Res.


Another shot showing how the reservoir is mounted.


How the other 2 reservoirs are mounted. The red is screwed on to the green. The green is screwed on to the back side of the case. A perfect fit and location for this set up.

[lowfat]

Very Very Nice Job! No shortcuts taken, the way i like it

[mjassbong]

X-343B-WC IN DETAIL

For 3 loops, the tubings don't look too busy because not all tubes are 1/2", and the 1/2" used is 5/8" OD, not 3/4". Only 5/8" OD will work with the 1/2" ID compression fitting. Coolsleeves had to be used in some area. I chose to install coolsleeve in almost all tubes just for the uniform look.


Those 3 white fans on the PA120.3 are Nexus, for pulling air. 12" UV is installed on each side.


Close up bottom view. SB with 1/2" inlet and 3/8" outlet. PCI-E w/battery pack (white) and Fatal1ty between the GPUs.


Mid shot of CPU, RAM and MOS. Some of you probably have already screamed, "OMG there are 90 angles and too many of them!" Well all of the angles except one are on the insignificant loop.


A close up of the CPU. Note the MOS and RAM merging into the F-Fitting.


Close up of FlexXLC. The Asus Striker was quite a pain when it comes to 4 sticks of RAM. I had to go through 4 sets to finally find 4 sticks that work together in the Striker. Even so, the highest speed is 1066Mhz at 5-5-5-18, XLC 9200 rated timings.


Top view of PA120.2 and reservoirs.


MCP355 for GPUs.


MCP355 for NB/SB/RAM/MOS. These pumps are exceptionally quite once all the air in the loop is bleeded. These DDCs came with RPM cable that can be connected to the mobo fan header and then can be monitored in Windows using monitoring tools. I am using Everest.

[mjassbong]

THE DARK SIDE

A little crowded but there's still plenty of access space.


4 x 15K RPM SCSIs + 1 SATA = HOT HOT HOT! Fortunately the rad fans are blowing at them. The drives are mounted by UFO HD mounting brackets. Yes, UFO
They are mounted to the rad fans and worked out quite well for this set up. Note the MCP655 is vertically mounted to back side of the mobo panel.


Just another close up shot.


The Ultra X3. Originally I had the PCP&C 1kW but that was so damn huge and long (insert dirty joke here). The X3 is a much smaller and shorter profile and incredibly beautiful, with black automotive finish, thin and very flexible modular cables and 1000 watts to boot. Oh, and it is also very quiet.

[lowfat]

Also how hard was that to bleed since you have the resovoirs on the outlet side of the pumps?

[mjassbong]

THE LIGHT SHOWS
Ok. Time for some cool light shows. But first I want to show you my 30 inches. No, not that. My Dell monitor. LOL!!!

Monitor may appear smaller in pic than in real life, but the 30" is huge.


At 2560x1600, there's plenty of real estate. After calibration, the color is even more vibrant. Note the idle temps at the top right corner. The first 4 is the CPU core. The last bottom two is the GPU. How about that? It rhymes.


Close up of the idle temps. CPU and GPUs are not yet overclocked. So far am quite satisfy with the GPU temps. The CPU could be better eventho Q6600 runs really hot. What I should have done is bowed the GTX.


All together now. The system is still on the workbench in the garage. She will be moved to a nice cool room.

[mjassbong]

THE REAL LIGHT SHOW

Did I mentioned that I love this case?



The green light effect on the EK acrylic top is alot greener in real life than in this photo and it looks stunning. This is accomplished by attaching green laser LED (3 LEDs) on top of EK's FC aluminum part with LEDs shining against the acrylic.



The blue is a combination of Pentosin G11 and blue UV dye. It glows quite nicely. The CPU loop was intended to be UV orange but I found it almost impossible to obtain fluid that is even orange, let alone glows. Most of the orange UV dyes I've tried are either just light shade of red or green when exposed under UV light. Fire red was my next option but still doesn't glow as bright. Alien green is the brightest. You can't go wrong with either UV blue or alien green if you're looking for nice glows in your loop.


With 2 x 6" UV light sticks attached to the back of MC-Res. Niice!!!


No UV attached directly. MC-Res still glows very bright.


Asus Striker EL back lighting, Off/On.

[mjassbong]

LETS DO IT WITH LIGHTS OFF





The green is so bright, it is yellow



Bulgin Vandal Power Switch - White

Striker Power/Reset/Clr CMOS lighting and a nice bokeh (background/foreground blur) from a Canon 2.8 lens.

[mjassbong]

FINALLY, THE KEY TO RULE THEM ALL

All lighting effects, except the power switch, are wired so it can be turned ON or OFF remotely with this key FOB.

[mjassbong]

Well there you have it. I hope you enjoyed viewing my rig as much as I enjoyed setting it up. Overclocking here I come.

[Jedda]

Loverly build!
I'd do the same if the case was available in Aust.
Had to bolt two together to bodge up a ghetto Lian-Li quad.
Your's came out really sweet.
Which keyboard is that?

[Mekrel]

Lovely build, puts the mountain mods cases' to shame.

Love how the panels actually slot into each other, and form a cube. None of this thumb screwing the panels to the side, making them stick out from the frame work.

[Glitch4583]

Wow I'm in the process of building something very similar, expect a couple PMs with questions

[no_n|ck]

Amazing build, realy nice job! I just recived my 343 cube and must say that the quality of the case is the best ive seen. Mine will not bo so flashy, as im not that kind of guy, but will defo took some ides from you! once again, great work!

btw, is that optional part for the PSU, to suck the air only from outside?

[mjassbong]

Loverly build!
I'd do the same if the case was available in Aust.
Had to bolt two together to bodge up a ghetto Lian-Li quad.
Your's came out really sweet.
Which keyboard is that?

That keyboard is the Saitek Eclipse, which has been replaced with a G15.

[sick_g4m3r]

WOWOWOWOWOWOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

you totally PWNZORZED any MM to the max!!!!


THATS AWESOME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Turtle 1]

Nice job. I was wondering what the ambient temps were when you gave those Temps. For all the rads and loops they seem rather high for idle . I would expect all temps @ idle to be in the 26c-29c range.

[onekewlchip]

Lovely build, puts the mountain mods cases' to shame.

Love how the panels actually slot into each other, and form a cube. None of this thumb screwing the panels to the side, making them stick out from the frame work.

Interestingly enough he uses the Mountain Mods Hard drive brackets! Without them he'd be HD less with the Rads. Unfortunately he still has to use external optical devices - what a bummer! As for the non thumbscrew look, Looks way to flat to me. I like the 3D to the MM cubes the thumbscrews and removable bays. This LILI looks like a black flat square box, but the OP did an awesome job with this build. Very nice job with the tubing and coloring, and the modifications needed to fit the thermochill inside. Me though I'd of opt for this for a lot less money-

http://www.ocia.net/reviews/mmduality/page1.shtml

Can hold everything you got there plus some.

[[cTx] Nooc]

wow, thats beautiful

XS keeps breaking its own record in WC xtremeties

[spider_d]

Wow, stunning build. Well done!

[mjassbong]

Lovely build, puts the mountain mods cases' to shame.

Love how the panels actually slot into each other, and form a cube. None of this thumb screwing the panels to the side, making them stick out from the frame work.

Altho build quality is almost equal or the same for both MM and LL but LL is alot cleaner and more refined looking while LL looks too industrial. I recall some one here on XS once described MM UFO as a Snap-On toolbox found in your garage. Am not puttting down on MM or anything because I recommended the case to a friend.

[sick_g4m3r]

whered you get that remote?

ill say it again, WOOWOWOOWOO@O!@O!OOO!