Lian Li PC-Q08 [SFF]

[guilleguillaume]

This is my first watercooling project and I decided to go Small Form Factor since one of my preferences it's to have a small and silent computer.

As the Title says I decided to go with a Lian Li PC-Q08 just because I wanted to have a tiny case that was able to handle my purposes:




This is what I already have at the moment:

Hardware
- Gigabyte H55N-USB3
- Intel Core i3 530
- Mushkin Callisto Deluxe 60Gb
- Seagate Momentus XT 500gb
- MSI Cyclone GTX 460 1gb OC
- SilverStone SFX 450W
- G.Skill 2x2GB DDR3-1333 CL7 ECO

Watercooling parts
- EK Supreme HF + EK Supreme HF Top Blue
- EK Full Cover GTX 460 Nickel/acetal
- EK Reservoir Combo DCP 2.2
- EK-DCP PUMP mounting plate KIT
- EK DCP PUMP 2.2
- Black Ice SR-1 140mm
- Bitspower Rotatory 90º Matt Black
- EK Compression Fitting 16-11mm
- Tygon 15.9-11.1mm

The distribution will start with something like that:



I received some packages months ago but I'm a bit lazy and spent most of the time imaging how it would look all mounted instead of mounting all together

My plans are to make a short loop containing CPU and GPU with the single radiator not with the aim of searching very low temperatures but going with a silent computer.


EK Supreme HF




EK Supreme HF TOP Blue










EK DCP Mounting Plate KIT








EK Reservoir Combo DCP 2.2












EK FC-GTX460 Nickel/Acetal




Bitspower Rotatory 90º






EK Supreme HF Top Blue





DCP 2.2 Combo pump/reservoir








First time I was changing the Top on a CPU Block and all went fantastic, I changed the plate too.












I will be updating when possible. but now I have to choose the fans and think about some bitspower connectors and adapters to make things easier.

Sorry for the bad quality pics, my sister have now a Reflex that I will be using for new pics

[miahallen]

Cool build....I'm watching

[CedricFP]

Great start so far. I'm very interested to see where you'll be putting your hard drives.

[fatherTime27]

looking good

[Johnny87au]

wow subb'd, that blue acrylic looks awesome!

[guilleguillaume]

Thanks all for the responses. Really appreciate them ^^

This weekend I'm attending a Lan event here in my city so I felt obliged to test all the hardware and to mount every single piece in the case. Pics from this night:







I have to say that I'm a bit disappointed with the noise coming from the Silverstone PSU

More news will come after the Lan so I will have time to spend mounting the watercooling parts.

I'm actually very happy with the Lamptron Touch. Very useful and looks so cool in the front of the case!

[guilleguillaume]

I just put a temporary Prolimatech Samuel 17 with a Gentle Typhoon while I'm not putting watercooling parts.

Next week I will be ordering some MDPC-X stuff with some sleeving and mounting stuff. Will put some carbon fiber from 3M into the motherboard tray and I'm thinking about some Bitspower adapters I will have to order on Caseking.de









I actually think that when connected the PSU don't leave out there too many cables, will look better with sleeving ofc.

[justin150]

What I want to try with this case is the Aquatuning 200x200 rad. Would need a bit of modding on the front but performance would be very good and very quiet

[zoob]

Project is looking very slick! Please let us know if you find another quiet/silent PSU.

I too have a liquid cooled Q08 and found that a regular ATX PSU encroaches on the space above the video card. This makes accessing the barbs very difficult... both barbs would need to be 90 degree, facing down, and positioned at different times.

[xtclocker]

Wow same with my plan. I'm planning on water-cooling this case too and also buying the Lamptron touch. I planned it out since the beginning of 2010, and this year I'll be working on this project. Really looking forward to seeing your case light up!

[ScottALot]

Does anyone else think that the Gentle Typhoon looks odd horizontal? It's always on rads or enthusiast heatsinks, it's so funny seeing it in an SFF build.

[guilleguillaume]

Thanks all for the responses, I appreciate them.

@ ScottALot, Yes it looks a bit odd I thought about using a TFC triebwerk Mid speed that I have lying around somewhere just for the lulz. I'm sure I will try it in the future.

I'm actually waiting for the Easy-Mounting in Black to be in stock: http://www.ekwaterblocks.com/shop/ek...-hf-black.html

I bought an external DVD reader from ASUS last week and I'm happy with it.

Tomorrow I'm ordering some 3M Carbon Vinyl for the motherboard tray.

I'm preparing the list of accesories and adapters I will need from Caseking.de that will include some Sata cables sleeved from bitfenix, 2x NoiseBlockers 140mm PK-2, some Bitspower stuff.

http://www.caseking.de/shop/catalog/...ue::16320.html

http://www.caseking.de/shop/catalog/...er::10568.html

http://www.caseking.de/shop/catalog/...ar::13816.html

http://www.caseking.de/shop/catalog/...ck::13817.html

http://www.caseking.de/shop/catalog/...ck::13802.html

http://www.caseking.de/shop/catalog/...ck::13800.html

http://www.caseking.de/shop/catalog/...ck::13791.html

http://www.caseking.de/shop/catalog/...ck::13800.html

http://www.caseking.de/shop/catalog/...ck::13821.html

When I will have mounted the GPU Block and the CPU Block I will look for the Pump-Res combo place and then see which adapters I need for sure from those that are straight. These will be for connecting the Rad with the Res.

I'm still thinking about how I will sleeve the PSU. I've already thought about MDPC-X B-Magic and Titanium Grey with some white to match Gigabyte colour scheme, my headphones and trackball too.

I'm pretty sure I will end up buying for the 120mm fan at the top a Gentle Typhoon painted and sleeved that a Shop here in my town is already going to sell. Blue and red looks fantastic, here on the video we can see at 5:44 the blue fan : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wzCiW9tg1pU here there's a pic from a mate in another forum: http://i55.tinypic.com/2gub0ut.jpg The NoiseBlocker one I already have makes some rare noise when working in horizontal position.

[UrbanSmooth]

Sub'd.

[RacingTurtle]

Whats the problem with the Silverstone PSU?

I sent 3 back because of a knocking sound from the fan - eventually got one that didnt have the issue and it's now whisper quiet.

[OpTiX]

Nice job man, this makes me wanna do a quick side project before i build an dual xeon rig, will be watching this til the end.

[ltcharles]

yeah cant wait to see the water man. hurry it up

[guilleguillaume]

I've been a bit busy at work and my lazyness didn't help me to update the worklog

Last week I ordered some stuff from EK and the service was the best I've received. Ultra Fast shipping from Eslovenia to Spain in less than 24 hours( GTX 460 Backplate, Easy Mount HF, Oval Top Adapter and Single Slot Bracket for the GTX 460)

I orderd too from highflow and there is the stuff from Bitspower, BitFenix, Noise-Blocker and Lian Li that I received yesterday.









I got some Blue O-Rings to change the Green ones and I love them.

The Black Ice SR-1 140 with the Noise-Blocker PK-2 fits perfectly on the case and there is enough room to fit the Fittings and the power connectors from the graphics card.

I ended up buying the PSU Extender because it was getting too hot inside of the case and I needed more room to fit in there the EK Pum-Reservoir Combo.

I replaced the top fan with a Noise-Blocker PL-2 and I'm very satisfied, very easy mount and doesn't vibrate. I still don't know if it will be better to have it as intake or exhaust, I supose that Exhaust makes more sense but I think I will give it a try when all is mounted.

The sata cables from BitFenix are just fantastic.

Still thinking about when I will be buying the MDPC-X sleeving.

[UrbanSmooth]

Cable management.

[xtclocker]

Great update! Could you take a close photo of the distance between 460 card and the black ice radiator?

[guilleguillaume]

Cable management.

It is even worse right now

Great update! Could you take a close photo of the distance between 460 card and the black ice radiator?

I will try to make it tomorrow




A little teaser







I finished today to mount al the watercooling parts and all is running well since 5 hours ago. It was so difficult and I had to change some initial ideas to make the routing possible.

It is not perfect but for being the first time I think it's okay Not an eye catching build but since there will no be any window I can live with it!

Temps are simply great for having only one single rad. Max temp on CPU is 60ºC after some tests I've done and playing some games like Bad Company 2 put the GTX 460 on 45ºC.

Pics tomorrow.

[guilleguillaume]

Here we go:



































Playing Bad Company 2















I know I could make better cable management but just because it is now hidden by the close case I don't mind at all for now.

Great update! Could you take a close photo of the distance between 460 card and the black ice radiator?