Project Mayhem - First WC Build (Lian Li A05NB)

[aerial]

It is just random picture, I didn't really look at fan orientation. If I would ever put fans on top of that radiator, it should push air down through rad. What is the point of pulling air, if you can place fans below rad, better efficiency. Imo it has really minor impact on power supply, in every normal atx case psu is taking warm aor from cpu cooler, and seems to work fine, especially these new psus with gold certificate.

Anyway, I was thinking really hard, what is best radiator setup in this case and here is result:



Of all setups I saw so far, this one has really many advantages. What is important, I'm thinking here about quality mod with window, not just contest who will pack more radiators in A05. It has extra mod, cut out 3,5'' bay to make more room above radiator for power supply, also psu can be oriented the way that fan is on top. Also power cord connector, has to be moved somewhere else, preferably in bottom corner of the case.
Pump can be installed using custom bracket, almost no impact on airflow.

List of advantages:

- full ATX capacity, all PCI slots free to use
- both 5,25 bays aviable (optical drive, scythe quiet drive for 3,5'' storage hdd)
- most efficient config of 4x120 slim radiator, every rad in push configuration air from outside of the case
- no need to cut of top of the case (often ends up with ugly grill, or requires very clean cut, easy to ruin mod)
- motherboard is barely covered by radiators, because of the angle we usually look at the case (point of view is usually above the case that is standing on our desk for example)
- possible nice reverse "L" shaped window, that shows motherboard and all water cooling parts including pump, but not showing power supply and 5,25'' bays
- space behind rad and below psu, for "T" connector (instead of reservoir), flow meter ect.

disadvantages:

- lack of reservoir (no room, but it isn't really a problem, one extra tube hidden behind 5,25'' bays as fillport)
- rear radiator fan needs to be outside of the case, not enough room inside (there is room, but imo looks worse, covers way too much of motherboard)
- lack of ventilation on top of the case (imo irrelevant, gpus are watercooled)