Lian Li PC-A05B, Grinchville style

[Xilikon]

After lots of delays and real life stuff taking my time off the project, here is the whole project worklog with pictures.

I have a HTPC box housed in a Lian Li PC-A05B and with a Q6600 and 8800GTS 640MB, the limited airflow is a hindrance for me so I decided to watercool it. Another reason is that I need a new challenge now that my Xtreme WaveMaster project is basically done for now. I know lots of people is looking at how to fit a watercooling loop in such a small case and some of them did it successfully. Here is my own take at this challenge and my goal is to do it so it would be aimed at performance first and no bling (no window so there is no point blinging it out). It will also be a hands-me-down box with some parts coming from my main PC after my recent upgrades.

Here is the HTPC specifications :

Lian Li PC-A05B
Q6600 @ 3.2 GHz (8x400)
Asus P5E-VM HDMI
2x2GB Mushkin HP2-6400 5-4-4-12
BFG GeForce 8800GTS OC 640MB
Hauppauge HVR-1600 HDTV capture card
WD3200AAKS
Pioneer DVR-212D

Watercooling :

D-Tek Fuzion v1 with quad nozzle (old, from Xtreme WaveMaster)
EK FC8800 GTS (old, from Xtreme WaveMaster along with the video card)
Swiftech MCP355 with XSPC Reservoir Top
HWLabs Black Ice GTX 240
2x Scythe Ultra Kaze 3000rpm (133 CFM at top speed)
Scythe Kaze Master
D-Tek 3/8" High Flow barbs
BitsPower 3/8" barbs on XSPC ResTop
Primochill Pro LRT 3/8" ID 5/8" OD UV Blue

First of all, here is some pics with a Xigmatek HDT-S1283 :




My ordered parts :




You will notice that some of the parts is being used in my Xtreme WaveMaster update (Fuzion v2, BitsPower barbs) or ditched like the 8800GT FC and T-line. I also ordered the Reservoir Top after I got a flash in my brain about the layout.

I disassembled the computer since I need to do some modding to house the radiator :


Measured the top area to have the cutout for the radiator. It's tricky since I wanted to make sure the radiator will push on the back so I have clearance above for the DVD-RW drive or any future need. Here is the end result after cutting it with my trusty jigsaw :


I mounted the radiator in the case (after installing the fans with the small M4 screws provided with the packaging) and it's a perfect fit :


Here is the grill installed with some crappy screws (that's all I found in my local hardware store for M4x6mm, better screws will come here shortly). Notice the thermal sensor I placed it to monitor the temp of the air getting out of the radiator tied to the Kaze Master :


I did some test fitting to make sure there is clearance. This is when I realized it's a clost fit with the HDTV card just 5 mm from the fan :


View of the block and GPU installed :


Pump assembled before leak testing :


Since the pump will be installed on the bottom floor of the case, I need to dampen the noise and the neoprene cushion is a good way. However, we all know that covering the whole bottom is not a good idea since it will kill it. Here's my modded one to have the center free :


This is where the pump will go, along with the tubing. This tubing layout is what I think is the most efficient in a small space and I used about 3.5 feets only :


After installing zipties on all barbs and plugging everything together, I filled it then ran it for a small while to make sure there is no leaks :



Now that it's running fine, I put the final touch by making the rat nest a bit more compact so I can close the side panel :


After this, I installed 2 thermal sensors, 1 at the corner of a fan to record the case temp and another just below the grill (as seen above) to record the air output temp. I might order a water temp sensor later but I'm still pondering the usefulness :



It's now running fine connected to my plasma TV with a HDMI-DVI cable :


A picture showing the Kaze Master readings (sorry for the crappy flash pic) :


I hope to please the Grinchville citizens with this project where bling have no place, just tasteful selection of parts based on performance first.

[DoGMaN]

Very nice build. The only thing I would change is the orientation of the fans on the rad. If is generally much more efficient to have the fans pull air through the rad rather than push it. Keep up the good work

[disruptfam]

nice build... is it me or is the gfx card a lil bent?

[Bojamijams]

nice build... is it me or is the gfx card a lil bent?

A bit yeah but it shouldn't matter. Those PCBs are surprisingly flexible.

[Xilikon]

Very nice build. The only thing I would change is the orientation of the fans on the rad. If is generally much more efficient to have the fans pull air through the rad rather than push it. Keep up the good work

I'm well aware of this but I decided on this orientation since what really matter for me is to get the hot air out of the case and above (heat rise toward the ceiling). The HTPC box is not about max overclock and the CPU temp is hovering under 48C top under load while the GPU is also hovering around 47C. Both run F@H clients.

Another issue is that the cards is partially blocking the airflow if I put the fans to blow downward. It's a well thought compromise that I picked for that project.

Great Build......

Thanks, too bad there's no bling for you to get excited

nice build... is it me or is the gfx card a lil bent?

Ya, I noticed that only after I filled the loop but since it works fine, I will leave as is. It's the tubing which is pushing the card a bit and I should have cut the tube section from CPU to GPU 1/4" shorter. As Bojamijams said, the PCD is surprisingly flexible and the full cover block will keep the important parts stiff.

[DoGMaN]

I'm well aware of this but I decided on this orientation since what really matter for me is to get the hot air out of the case and above (heat rise toward the ceiling). The HTPC box is not about max overclock and the CPU temp is hovering under 48C top under load while the GPU is also hovering around 47C. Both run F@H clients.

Sorry, guess I wasn't clear. I didn't mean pull the air though the rad and into the case. I meant swap the positions of the rad and fans so that the fans can pull air through the rad and vent out the top.

For example:

Currently fan > rad > case top
proposed rad > fan > case top

[Mankz_91]

Awesome cases aren't they :p

[eXa]

With 38mm fans i would go with push, justl ike its now. In martins fan testing that was better. 25mm fans is pull tho...

[Xilikon]

I see what you mean now but yeah, with 38mm fans and dense fins like the GTX I have, push is better indeed.

Mankz_91 : Yes, it does and it's even nicer watercooled. I think the key here is to have a pump/res combo like the XSPC restop or EK reservoir top to save space and reduce tubing.

[RockfordFosgate]

Lovely

[Mankz_91]

Mankz_91 : Yes, it does and it's even nicer watercooled. I think the key here is to have a pump/res combo like the XSPC restop or EK reservoir top to save space and reduce tubing.

I disagree :P...

[MomijiTMO]

Looks great!

[twwen2]

Hey nice build Xilion! I really like the Lian-Li cases which invert the mobo tray.
Very nice indeed

[Eddie3dfx]

I love small builds.. excellent!

[IanY]

I like your style, and especially your component choices.

That looks like a really nice mobo.

Would you mind if I do a little replication for myself? Except that I wouldn't know how to fit the case into a mostly rack-based environment.

[Xilikon]

I like your style, and especially your component choices.

That looks like a really nice mobo.

Would you mind if I do a little replication for myself? Except that I wouldn't know how to fit the case into a mostly rack-based environment.

Go ahead, all Grinchville citizens can use it free of charge

[IanY]

Does that mobo have wi-fi G on board?

[Xilikon]

Does that mobo have wi-fi G on board?

No but it does have a HDMI port. It's a mobo aimed for a HTPC box but is a awesome overclocker, especially with the 45nm quads.

[TedShred]

very nice!

that's a cool little airflow mounting trick for the pump.

[errorhead]

nice case & setup!

[NaeKuh]

yes very very nice.

loop is very small, so you dont lose out due to tubing.


Whats funny is how people will make there loops super long and all loopy. I ask you people, the next time you buy tubing, DONT CUT IT, and just take a deep breathe and try Blowing into the tubing.

You'll understand after you do that.

[antho]

Love it

Do you tried the integrated video card ???

[eXa]

yes very very nice.

loop is very small, so you dont lose out due to tubing.


Whats funny is how people will make there loops super long and all loopy. I ask you people, the next time you buy tubing, DONT CUT IT, and just take a deep breathe and try Blowing into the tubing.

You'll understand after you do that.

Ive done this long time ago. Its amazing how hard it really is when the tube gets abit of length.
Short tubing always looks good. So many times im looking at builds and thinking... wow thats alot of tube.

[Xilikon]

Yup, shorter tubing = less friction loss

antho, tried it and it works good. However, since I have the 8800GTS, I disabled the integrated video and used DVI-HDMI cable to connect to the Plasma TV.

[IanY]

Even better.. there's a video card on board!