Small, Water-Cooled Cases

[CedricFP]

Does anybody here own any small (very small) water cooled cases?

I am thinking of picking myself up a Lian Li PCV600 (it's tiny) and finding some way to mod it for my water system. The hardest thing is rad placement (MCR220) and I am looking for some inspiration.

Here are some pics:





Now, if I mount the rad on the top, it could get in the way of the GFX card, and it would make tubing a real pain in the arse, particularly for the GFX>RAD part.

If I mount it on the bottom, I possibly get in the way of my CPU block, as well as the power supply being a major limiter, along with the HD RACK for space.

That pretty much leaves the top. I might mount outside the case, but that looks really ugly. I might try make myself a little ALU enclosure, sort of like what Koolance does in it's pre-built systems.

Another idea is to put the case on high stand-offs, and mount the rad below the case on the outside. That would make it very easy to clean but it would mean the case would look strange with very high legs. Also, I would have to cut some crazy holes in my case (which I am prepared to do anyways).

Anyhow, if anybody has any small, water cooled cases or small cases (in tune with this size) regardless, please post pics. I am dying to see the case insides with hardware installed so I can guage space measurements.

Thanks.

[p0tter]

wow, that is a really nice case. Maybe a stealth GTS vertically replacing the lower fan and blocking 3 bays ?

[CedricFP]

wow, that is a really nice case.

Tell me about it. I was instantly drawn to it when I saw it. Very nice indeed. It'd be great to watercool it as well. It's just the PSU placement poses a very difficult problem with regards to a waterblock, particularly a block like the STORM which is thick and barbs stick straight up. Tubing clearance and kinking is a major concern.

For now, it may simply remain a dream.

I am also thinking about a small icute, or perhaps trying to watercool HTPC.

I am still unsure about all this though. Ideas in the making.

[p0tter]

[Shift]

WHy would you water cool in that case? It doesn't make any SENSE. There isn't even any room for a PSU.

W/e, check out [H], some guy there mounted a tri rad I believe iat the top of the case.

[CedricFP]

I want to water cool that case because I don't want a full tower sitting on my desk. It's very possible, though very hard. I don't think I'd do it, but imagine yourself a top of the line system, water cooled in that case just sitting on your desk. It's like a lego toy. It's tiny. And sleek.

I want to water cool a small mid tower case just because I am sick of this damn stacker i have lying around. It's too damn big for it's own good and I've already cut it up and modded it so I can't exactly return it and selling it is a real pain in the backside.

I've come to the conclusion I hate big cases. I'm pressed enough for space in my cramped place as it is.

[AzraelDarkangel]

It looks like there might be enough space to fit a single 120mm rad on the side of the case above the PSU, of course you would need to mod the case to let airflow in. If you need more than one 120mm rad you could mount another one to the 120mm fan on the underside of the PSU. I've been playing with ideas for watercooling extremely small cases, much smaller than this one. Many people think I'm nuts for thinking about watercooling a mATX case/motherboard. Now I have an idea for watercooling a mini-ITX case/mobo/7950GT, which would probably be the smallest watercooled gaming system in the world. I'm not going to bother posting details here until/unless I build it.

[p0tter]

WHy would you water cool in that case? It doesn't make any SENSE. There isn't even any room for a PSU.

W/e, check out [H], some guy there mounted a tri rad I believe iat the top of the case.

answered your own question.

[Sparky]

I might get flamed for this but....

The apogee 1U waterblock has right angle barbs on it, might help deal with the space constraints.

[n00b 0f l337]

I was actually going to get one to just put the watercooling itself in... Would make a great box for that.

[en4cer]

I might get flamed for this but....

The apogee 1U waterblock has right angle barbs on it, might help deal with the space constraints.

thats actually a good idea man makes sense anyway.


If I had that case I would put a single 120 rad at the top right above the first 5.25" drive bay.... I'm still looking for a place to put a 2nd one.

[hewi]

There are plenty of liquidcooled V600's out there, mostly german tho, lol. Most are done with a Black Ice GT 240/360 on the top of the case, which leaves clearance for ur PCI cards etc. but u'll obviosly have to lay ur dremel upon it. As for the blocks a Storm or an Apogee wont fit easily since theres only 6,4cm between the mobo surface and PSU, so ur tubing is gonna get kinked. Performance wise i'd go for the Xeon version of the Apogee which has vertical barbs making tubing alot easier.

Personally I like this dudes setup the most, even tho he's on quite small tubing etc. but nice and clean. *courtesy of Lian Li modding*

http://www.lianlimodding.com/forum/s...ead.php?t=1336


I'm in loove with my V600B simply the best looking and most solid litte case i've owned, and i've owned 5 Lian Li's so far

[JPeitzman]

http://www.hardforum.com/showthread....highlight=V600

[Timmay]

God damn a 360!!

[xVeinx]

That's pretty amazing. With little space, you have to design this thing to perfection almost...

[bullit]

check this out...


http://www.coldzero-forum.com/showthread.php?t=198

[CedricFP]

I currently own an Apogee anyways. I'm not going to shell out for a storm no matter what case I get, but an Apogee 1-U does sound interesting, particularly with regards to the much easier tubing management.

That was actually a really good idea Sparky. Thanks, you've given me something to mull over.

[Got Chow]

I think a GT Stealth single 120mm can be made to fit where the GPU fan blows out the side. I've considered putting a watercooled PC into that case as well, and I would still do it.

Yeah, it's tiny, and it's a challenge, but so what. It's a nice case and I wouldn't mind a change and have a small case to jam pack everything into.

[Anavel0]

check this out...


http://www.coldzero-forum.com/showthread.php?t=198

This is close to what I was going to suggest, but I think I'd try to get the 360 in there. That was awesome!

[CedricFP]

Bah, the V6 presents far too much of a challenge for me. I am quite handy with a dremel (i've mutilated my stacker to mount my rad up top) but I've decided that with such limited space, particularly with the positioning of the PSU, I am going for a different case.

The Lian-Li PC-007 - it's exactly like the PC60 except with no removeable tray (bummer) but 2x120mm fans (awesome), and I have enough room for a triple down bottom.

It's also not BTX (thank god) meaning the PSU goes at the top, the rad goes on the floor and I don't have trouble with bleeding.

[Anavel0]

Bah, the V6 presents far too much of a challenge for me. I am quite handy with a dremel (i've mutilated my stacker to mount my rad up top) but I've decided that with such limited space, particularly with the positioning of the PSU, I am going for a different case.

The Lian-Li PC-007 - it's exactly like the PC60 except with no removeable tray (bummer) but 2x120mm fans (awesome), and I have enough room for a triple down bottom.

It's also not BTX (thank god) meaning the PSU goes at the top, the rad goes on the floor and I don't have trouble with bleeding.

Where do you find the PC-007. I've never seen it anywhere and the Lian-Li site says it's OEM only. Also Lian-Li doesn't have BTX cases, they are inverted ATX. BTX was a bad idea from Intel, that has, for the most part, gone the way of the doodoo bird.

[badhabit]

Performance PCs has it in silver and black, and so does Newegg, in silver and black.

[Asky]

How Tiny is the Lian Li PCV600? compared to my Wavemaster?

[alucasa]

How Tiny is the Lian Li PCV600? compared to my Wavemaster?

About 2/3 of wavemaster. Full ATX cases can't go very small.

[thespeakerbox]

with a rad mod on top , that lian li would be sick. Just be sure not to ruin the sleek look