Finished: Sleeper: Watercooled Lian Li A70b - Page 11 - Overclock.net

Warfarin88 · 02-08-09

Thank you very much gentlemen. Kudos from some of the communities finest craftsmen is high praise indeed.

Here's a preview update for y'all. The cover panels proved to be a bit more of a challenge than I had anticipated.

Parting shots of the A16's side panels:

And here they are chopped up and test fit in the case:

I taped everything down and then through drilled holes in the panels for the M3 hex nuts and pilots for the threaded holes all at once, so I would be sure everything lined up on the first go.

I didn't end up using any of the existing holes, so that means a whole bunch of captive nuts I need to install. Twenty of them. Ugh. Those things are a pain in the arse to get into place without a press: but after that, they are so convenient. It's worth the effort.

I have to pull everything out now and get that done, then fan holes and such in the panels. I'm also going to have to sort some clearance issues with the side panel on the bottom there. Hopefully I'll have more to show you later today.

nafljhy · 02-08-09

hmm... this will look very clean. i can see it now!

Swiftes · 02-08-09

Lovely lovely mod. The skill and work that went into this is making me cry, in more than one place!

Warfarin88 · 02-08-09

Don't cry.

Got the covers done and fitted and all that good stuff. I tried to go outside and get some money shots, but my photography skills really need some polish. I'm just going to give you a picture avalanche, and then babble at the end.

All in all, It's working for me. I wrestled long and hard with factory edges on the side panels, trying to keep everything as clean as possible. The extra thickness of the doubled over aluminum there ended up really throwing me fits though. In the end, it all worked out, and as an accidental bonus, I managed to keep the grain of all the aluminum on the new pieces going in the same direction.

There is some alignment issues down at the bottom, where the two sections meet, they bulge toward the outside of the case. I have a solution, but I need to get the mobo tray in there first so I can see how much room I have to push the offending area back. I've already identified some cable management hole needs, so I'm not quite ready to do that yet. From looking at my photo's, It looks like I also need to fab up a little bracket for the lower left corner of the false floor facing plate too.

On the the other note, I need to start talking pump placement and planning loop plumbing also. Nafljhy (and any other water savvy folks out there); this is what I was talking about when I said I would need your advice later. I really want to place my pump(s) up top. I have my reasons, but I want to how badly anyone wants to talk me out of it before I explain.

nategr8ns · 02-08-09

hot diggity-dawg
That is so sleek, nice work!

kimosabi · 02-08-09

Now you patent that construction, delete all your photos and sell it to a renown case manufacturer and they mass produce it.

j/k

Great outcome man. Assemble the rig now so we can se the whole awesomeness!

Very very very good job!

Whats your plans for the sidepanels?

iandroo888 · 02-08-09

wow VERYYYY GOOD WORK... so nice!

Warfarin88 · 02-08-09

Quote:

Originally Posted by nategr8ns

hot diggity-dawg
That is so sleek, nice work!

Thanks!

Quote:

Originally Posted by kimosabi

Now you patent that construction, delete all your photos and sell it to a renown case manufacturer and they mass produce it.

j/k

Great outcome man. Assemble the rig now so we can se the whole awesomeness!

Very very very good job!

Whats your plans for the sidepanels?

LOL, Thanks.

If only this could somehow be a profitable hobby. It might help my marriage out.

As far as the side panel. Umm, you will probably think I'm as crazy as my wife does*, but other than perforations to allow the side slung rads to vent, I was planning on keeping it stock. No window.

Quote:

Originally Posted by iandroo888

wow VERYYYY GOOD WORK... so nice!

Thank you iandroo, my extraneous eight modding brother!

As far getting my mod on, I just can't seem to stop this weekend. I just wrapped up my solution for fan control. I'm uploading pics now; update post incoming...

edit:

* I forgot the word "does" in the original post. Wife's out of town, reading about my exploits from afar. She was thoughtful enough to point out my oversight.

Love you hon.

Warfarin88 · 02-08-09

Here's the fan control solution:

I took a Lian Li PSU extender, some final perforated bits from the front of the A16, and a thick $5 scrap piece of Lian Li sidepanel from PPC's, and made this contraption:

If you have a keen eye, you notice there are 6 M4 mounting nuts for the trim plate instead of four. I accidentally mirrored my template, and had the non-brushed surface facing in, so I had to improvise.

guts shot:

The perforated bit is just held in there with clear double sided 3M modders tape. I figure it should help dissipate heat out of the case.

It mounts on the case like so:

Here's an interior shot:

By now, you're might be wondering why the PSU extension. Honestly, perforated heat vent was a happy accident. I didn't realize the extender had an empty space on the bottom when I ordered it.

The real reason I decided to go this route, was to allow for this in the future:

It's a tight fit...

... but it should be doable:

So, as it sits I have two doubles worth of internal rad action, with expansion room for a double on the floor and a triple in the middle column if I want it. That's a total of 9X120 rad action, all internal, while still keeping five 5.25 bays and without punching holes in the roof for a rad grill.

This is where I'm starting to get out of my element in a hurry.

Any thoughts?

**pjlietz** · 02-08-09

Wow man, that is so cool. I don't know how I missed this one but I'll be watching for sure!

		Overclock.net - Overclocking.net > Case Mods & Cases > Case Mod Work Logs
Finished: Sleeper: Watercooled Lian Li A70b

02-08-09	#101 (permalink)
Warfarin88 _______________ Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 843 Rep: 166 Unique Rep: 117 Trader Rating: 0	Thank you very much gentlemen. Kudos from some of the communities finest craftsmen is high praise indeed. Here's a preview update for y'all. The cover panels proved to be a bit more of a challenge than I had anticipated. Parting shots of the A16's side panels: And here they are chopped up and test fit in the case: I taped everything down and then through drilled holes in the panels for the M3 hex nuts and pilots for the threaded holes all at once, so I would be sure everything lined up on the first go. I didn't end up using any of the existing holes, so that means a whole bunch of captive nuts I need to install. Twenty of them. Ugh. Those things are a pain in the arse to get into place without a press: but after that, they are so convenient. It's worth the effort. I have to pull everything out now and get that done, then fan holes and such in the panels. I'm also going to have to sort some clearance issues with the side panel on the bottom there. Hopefully I'll have more to show you later today.

02-08-09	#104 (permalink)
Warfarin88 _______________ Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 843 Rep: 166 Unique Rep: 117 Trader Rating: 0	Don't cry. Got the covers done and fitted and all that good stuff. I tried to go outside and get some money shots, but my photography skills really need some polish. I'm just going to give you a picture avalanche, and then babble at the end. All in all, It's working for me. I wrestled long and hard with factory edges on the side panels, trying to keep everything as clean as possible. The extra thickness of the doubled over aluminum there ended up really throwing me fits though. In the end, it all worked out, and as an accidental bonus, I managed to keep the grain of all the aluminum on the new pieces going in the same direction. There is some alignment issues down at the bottom, where the two sections meet, they bulge toward the outside of the case. I have a solution, but I need to get the mobo tray in there first so I can see how much room I have to push the offending area back. I've already identified some cable management hole needs, so I'm not quite ready to do that yet. From looking at my photo's, It looks like I also need to fab up a little bracket for the lower left corner of the false floor facing plate too. On the the other note, I need to start talking pump placement and planning loop plumbing also. Nafljhy (and any other water savvy folks out there); this is what I was talking about when I said I would need your advice later. I really want to place my pump(s) up top. I have my reasons, but I want to how badly anyone wants to talk me out of it before I explain.

02-08-09	#109 (permalink)
Warfarin88 _______________ Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 843 Rep: 166 Unique Rep: 117 Trader Rating: 0	Here's the fan control solution: I took a Lian Li PSU extender, some final perforated bits from the front of the A16, and a thick $5 scrap piece of Lian Li sidepanel from PPC's, and made this contraption: If you have a keen eye, you notice there are 6 M4 mounting nuts for the trim plate instead of four. I accidentally mirrored my template, and had the non-brushed surface facing in, so I had to improvise. guts shot: The perforated bit is just held in there with clear double sided 3M modders tape. I figure it should help dissipate heat out of the case. It mounts on the case like so: Here's an interior shot: By now, you're might be wondering why the PSU extension. Honestly, perforated heat vent was a happy accident. I didn't realize the extender had an empty space on the bottom when I ordered it. The real reason I decided to go this route, was to allow for this in the future: It's a tight fit... ... but it should be doable: So, as it sits I have two doubles worth of internal rad action, with expansion room for a double on the floor and a triple in the middle column if I want it. That's a total of 9X120 rad action, all internal, while still keeping five 5.25 bays and without punching holes in the roof for a rad grill. This is where I'm starting to get out of my element in a hurry. Any thoughts?

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