[worklog] Lian Li A70 - 480 rad & my 1st LC build

[tjelaw]

This is going to be my first LC build, I would appriciate any input and advice my goal is to have good cooling, but I dont like too much bling outside of the case, no windows & too much lights etc. So its not exactly going to be "Extreme" sorry Most importantly for me it has to be practical, I dont want to have any trouble moving the case around, so anything mounted externally is a no-no.

I think this thread can still be usefull as I havent seen many builds on XS yet with an A70 and/or a 480rad. Maybe once my build is complete others can pickup some idea's or w/e.

ok, less talk more pics:

the postman delivers


opening up the box of goodies


they send me free candy!! lol wtf(seriously)


overview


where the rad will be mounted, in the ceiling of the case


Everyone is just using a radgrill or making custom radgrills. Why not just... make a grill in the top panel? I've send my top panel off to be CNC'd with proper holes and actually making a grill out of it. I've never seen anyone else do it, dont know what the result is going to be like... or if its even possible, I guess we'll find out.

Its a close fit


the battleplan, yes thats a delta 190CFM beast, rheostat incoming from Sidewinder


omg why only a single cpu loop?
multiple reasons; my funds are not unlimited. my current hardware (see sig) is a bit outdated. Dont want to spend too much money on waterblocks for my MB and 8800GT when im likely to upgrade in a couple of months. I'd rather invest in a good rad and pump that will serve me still when nehalem/bloomfield gets around (I hope )

and this is still my first build, dont want to get too complicated straight away.

anyways, again: I appreciate any input and plz tell me if im doing something wrong or overlooking anything


The parts im using;
TFC Xchanger 480 quad
MCP-355 + XSPC reservoir top
EK Supreme plexi
1/2" Feser compression fittings

still waiting to be delivered
1/2" OD Tygon R3400
1/2" OD Tygon B-44-4X

dont know yet which tubing ill use


next step:
- waiting to receive tubing


update posts:
august 5 - some parts
august 9 - top panel milling
august 9 - finished panel
august 12 - installing the rad
august 13 - filling & leak testing
august 14 - finished!

[rafwlkp]

Ohh, another great project incoming Sub'd

[MadHacker]

nice start...
bonus on the rolo

[Pellepel]

Good start, but they send you empty tape rolls...

[tjelaw]

Good start, but they send you empty tape rolls...

they used it as packaging material, there were a lot stranger things in there as well.

[BNDMOD]

I want yto see this.. i like too clean project ... go on

[robbicfc]

I will be doing the same kind of build. TFC480 in the top and a TFC240 somewhere else (thinking in front of the drive bays). Are you going to lose the Top Panel ports?
I was thinking with maybe a slanted install you might be able to keep these.
Where did you send the top off to get modified?

[Pellepel]

they used it as packaging material, there were a lot stranger things in there as well.

just beeing sarcastic, I thought it was kinda funny

[tjelaw]

I will be doing the same kind of build. TFC480 in the top and a TFC240 somewhere else (thinking in front of the drive bays). Are you going to lose the Top Panel ports?
I was thinking with maybe a slanted install you might be able to keep these.
Where did you send the top off to get modified?

Yes I will lose the top panel ports. You could ofcourse mount your radiator diagonally but that will be a lot more complicated to do it properly, and less efficient I think. How will you direct airflow through the rad and in or out of the case?

A dual rad in the front should be very much doable, since you just unscrew the hard drive brackets, but remember that when u mount a triple or quad radiator on top you will also lose the hard drive cage that is in the upper back of the case.

I send my top to a friend, his family has a metalworking business so they have machines to do it. As far as I know its still going to be a little challenge to mount the top into the machines properly so it doesnt vibrate etc. You wouldnt have that problem if you'd lasercut it, but you cant have it all I guess. We'll see the result of that by the end of this week.

[lyl]

Good to know people in the metalworking business! Cant wait to see the top.

[tjelaw]

some more pics:

Supreme top looking at me funny


Supreme nozzle plate looks very ghetto, is it supposed to be like this? This is 100% how I got it, didnt do anything with it.


My first issue, the compression fitting is overlapping the filling port. How will I fill and close the system?


Feser compression fittings; altough I dont make a real big deal out of it, there are a lot of imperfections/marks/dents on these fittings. Is this the same with bitspower ones, or is bitspower definately higher quality?




Sorry for the focus on the last 2 pics, only have a simple camera here which cant manual focus :P

[Pellepel]

WTH…compression fitting and plate looks like they’ve been used!

[Kibbler]

Yeah dude...it could be the batch you got. My BP compression fittings are flawless.

[twwen2]

Nice start, pics are great! I'll be following this one for sure

[eXa]

The supreme nozzle does look like that. It is laser cut.

[Big_Daddy]

You shouldn't have any problems getting the fillport open and off with that comp fitting. It only unscrews like 1 turn, then easily comes off. Also, those comp fittings do look used. Send them back.

I've heard of some of the EU companies adding candy to their orders, Last time it was a Snickers bar (heh, it had Mr. T on it)

[mpower1001]

I didn't even know feser made compression fittings...

[alejo]

Tjelaw, your idea of using building the grill into the top will work great. See the results here:

http://www.lianlimodding.com/forum/s...2&postcount=11

Usually they attach the radiator to the inside frame, I take it to relieve any strain on the top panel.

I can't wait to see your results!

[HaCKs]

I can tell you are a serious gamer...

Large mousepad
Nice keyboard
nice headphones on a hook
BIG flat desk
big LCD


Yup!

[tjelaw]

Tjelaw, your idea of using building the grill into the top will work great. See the results here:

http://www.lianlimodding.com/forum/s...2&postcount=11

Usually they attach the radiator to the inside frame, I take it to relieve any strain on the top panel.

I can't wait to see your results!

Thnx for the link, mmm I considered it, but it would be really hard for me to attach the rad to the frame. I will attach the rad to the top panel oldschool, I just came from working on the panel and its all finished, I think it will work out fine.

I can tell you are a serious gamer...

Large mousepad
Nice keyboard
nice headphones on a hook
BIG flat desk
big LCD


Yup!

Yup! ur right

News pics btw, taken with my phone, forgot to bring my camera. Today I did the top panel thnx to a very helpful friend


mounting the panel properly was the biggest challenge, because its made of reletively thin aluminium. Vibration is the enemy of a clean result.



We did the first few cutouts very very carefully We drilled lots of holes to secure and press the panel down on to the wood.


Here u can see how it was done

More and better pics of the panel tomorrow, when there's better lighting and a better camera I tried fitting the TFC 480 radiator, and its a 100% fit.

[tjelaw]

I couldnt help myself to make some better pics Didnt clean the panel 100% yet from little dust and stuff. But these pics give a nice impression

[Jiangxue]

Omg thumbs up..... very very neatly done top panel indeed!

Keep going mate! I love this worklog already!

[Arni]

omg

[lyl]

looks good!

[Razor_Blade]

That is an awesome idea. I should have thought of that ages ago....