Project: 343X

[Extigy]

Been reading these forums for a little over a year now and with a new build beginning, i couldn't think of a better time to sign up. My inspiration for the build that follows comes from the likes of Virtualrain, Mekrel and Cascades, all of whom have used the Lian-Li 343b for their build.

Project aims:
-To make an aesthetically pleasing case
-A 'future proof' case which i can use for current and future generations of technology
-Case must be easy to work with.
-Offer enough cooling to allow for for some serious overclocking.

As you can guess, my chosen case is the Lian Li 343b. A note to anyone considering using this case, its EXPENSIVE (And i underestimated this). On first impressions, i was quite underwhelmed with my purchase. The side panels are made of very thin aluminium (i am used to the beefy sheet aluminium used in the v2000b) and as a result makes quite a tinny noise when tapped. The window in the top of the case does not lay flush with the rest of the case and the side window i purchased is not a good fit compared with the standard panels. Saying that, the case is VERY light and the structure is very strong and is ideal for water cooling as there is lots of space, easily disassembled and there are few plastic parts.

Below are some pictures i took with the case stripped down.

Front of case with hard drive cage and rad


Side of case with window


Rear of case


hard drive cage


The plan is to cut out the rear and mount the motherboard in a horizontal orientation similar to Virtualrain. Below is the back plate i have designed using autodesk inventor. This is currently on its way to the laser cutters!




The case will then be powedercoated.

There will be one one pa120.3 mounted in the front drive bays. The other drive bays will house the hard drive cage, Dvd-Rom and some kind of fan/pump controller. A second pa120.3 will be mounted at the rear below the motherboard tray. When the main fabrication is done, i will start to consider the other components.

I will update the build as i go. Things will be slow until the backplate is made.


Thanks to the following for providing my parts so far without any trouble:
www.overclockers.co.uk
www.aqua-pcs.co.uk
http://www.kustompcs.co.uk
www.Chilledpc.co.uk
http://www.aquacooledpc.co.uk/

UPDATES:
http://www.xtremesystems.org/forums/...26&postcount=7 - Laser cut panel and fitting: 20-JUN-08
http://www.xtremesystems.org/forums/...1&postcount=16 - Powder coating: 01-JUL-08
http://www.xtremesystems.org/forums/...7&postcount=37 - Rads assembled and mounted: 10-NOV-08
http://www.xtremesystems.org/forums/...2&postcount=38 - Pumps plumbed and mounted: 13-NOV-08
http://www.xtremesystems.org/forums/...0&postcount=41 - Blocks and overclocking: 24-Dec-08