Lian Li PC-A71F any thoughts?

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Moogle Stiltzkin

Gawd
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Nov 11, 2004
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This is the newest case by Lian Li. it's a full tower aluminium case. The price seems to put it in direct competition against Corsair's Obsidian 800D. Would be interesting to know which is better.

26a.jpg


26c.jpg


26d.jpg



http://forums.techpowerup.com/showthread.php?t=100951


I couldn't find a review yet, but i saw a PDF that shows most of what it can do.

http://lian-li.com/v2/en/product/pr...338&cl_index=1&sc_index=25&ss_index=61&g=spec



What i liked about it was the following:

1. has a case door

2. the bottom stand were nice

3. full aluminium

4. Tooless design

5. Lots of drive racks ( a better alternative then the Cooler Master stacker imho )

6. a hole in the mobo tray for easy instalation of cpu coolers

7. removable mobo tray that can be swung down

8. has some cable management of sorts

9. thumb screws

10. Looks nice ( yes it looks boxy dull and boring. But i like the innards and simplicity of it. To spice it up i was thinking of the possibility of a side window installation with maybe a customized etched window, or maybe a cheap sticker with my own custom graphics. Or maybe a spray paint job. )

11. Enough room within for the possibility of water cooling down the road :D



Anyway i am seriously considering geting this as a replacement for my first case the Cooler Master Praetorian. Any comments ? I am particularly interested to know whether there is enough gap behind the motherboard tray to put the wiring management, does anyone know?
 
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Moogle Stiltzkin said:
5. Lots of drive racks ( a better alternative then the Cooler Master stacker imho )
Click to expand...
Lot more quieter. In Stacker 1000rpm Nexus fans sounded nearly nasty regardless where they were inside case but currently I'm running ~30% higher airflow per RPM SlipStream at ~1100 in CPU heatsink and what comes out from combination mat lined A71 is low smooth airflow noise when door is closed. Also Stacker's hard HDD mounting and open structure made HDDs easily hearable but it's hard to hear their seeks.
(I would consider A77 as best all 5.25" case)


Main motherboard power cable probably hits side panel but smaller cables should fit there as main design is nearly indentical to A71.
http://www.nordichardware.com/skrivelser_img/532/A71_20.jpg
http://www.nordichardware.com/skrivelser_img/532/A71_19.jpg

a hole in the mobo tray for easy instalation of cpu coolers
Click to expand...
I would expect A-serie full towers made after release of B70/71 to also have that because motherboard tray is common component between them.

considering geting this as a replacement for my first case the Cooler Master Praetorian. Any comments ?
Click to expand...
Be ready for the shock how you've ever been able to work in those cramped cases.
 
This case looks incredible.
It has alot of options and plenty of hdd racks for those of us who still have alot of smaller drives and havent taken the time to get 500gb or larger drives to replace all our 80-160gb drives yet.......... :frown:
 
Honestly looks identical to any recent LianLi Full-tower with a few changes... not really competition to the Corsair...
 
I wouldn't consider this to be a direct competition, for starters, this case has a front door and no hot swaps, also, it has no pre-built functions such as radiator mounting and zone isolation. The case also isn't built from the same structure to give it strength.

I think it's fair to say the same price point, but they are not the same or remotely meant to compete as these cases are going to focus for different markets (not everyone likes a door, etc).

It is a nice case. I would like to see one stacked with drives and see how it holds up. IMO, it looks more like a 71B revisited.
 
it sort of reminds me of the Lian Li PC-B10 which looks like a smaller version of it.

http://www.hardwaresecrets.com/news/3764


The internals look more or less the same except

- Has way fewer hard drive storage space
- Also has a hard drive tray mechanism and gives a slightly different look
- front panel such as the fans look different
- Missing the top compartment space in the A71F


The PC-B10 looks like a cheaper similar alternative if you don't need so many internal hard drives and you don't need so much space for an internal water cooling solution. But i think i will still consider getting the A71F :D





My pc history.

One of my earliest Desktop i had, the Dell Dimension 8400. Steel with plastic :X eww. I hated how i was stuck to buying dell pc components, this is when i vowed never to get a Dell again.

8400_chassis_front.jpg


8400_chassis_back.jpg


24143_g3.jpg





This is what i am using currently, a Cooler Master Praetorian. It was ok for my first aluminium, but after a long time of using it, it's time to move on. This Praetorian just doesn't compare with the more modern cases which are more user friendly.

CoolerMasterPraetorian.jpg


11-119-029-12.jpg


11-119-029-10.jpg




So yes i am expecting to get a Wow from my new case :D
 
Moogle Stiltzkin said:
The PC-B10 looks like a cheaper similar alternative...
Click to expand...
Cheaper? These tool-less features are sure to cost some but I don't think they add enough to make PC-B10 to have similar size vs price ratio...
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811112226
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811112144
Lian Li's PC-B serie and dual chamber designs are in general at higher price level.


One of my earliest Desktop i had, the Dell Dimension 8400. Steel with plastic :X eww
Click to expand...
And that sharp edged plastic "foot" of Dells... such pain in the fingers for moving them!

You've got really short history with only two cases...
My first (brand) PC had that near pizza box flat tiny case which were fashion at the time, after that next computer was assembled from parts selected by me and had about mid-tower sized tower which got cramped after changing primary parts once. Then I got AOpen HQ08 (got modded with two 60mm fans next to back I/O) which was replaced by 67cm high Chieftec DA-01 maxi tower. Longer graphics card made that cramped so next one was Stacker STC-T01 which surely had good space for long cards but turned out as acoustical failure by being leaky sound box. So now there's A71B.
 
This seems to be the first review:
http://www.pc-experience.de/wbb2/thread.php?threadid=29227
(Google translation)

Some clear back steps from A71A/B:
- You can't change opening direction of door, makes free positioning of case harder.
- Instead of door being attached only to front mask and unscrewing four screws holding front mask detaching them both for accessing air filter you have to now first remove door before you can detach front mask doubling number of screws and I can say that attaching door isn't the easiest job unless you've got extra hand growing from your side.
 
Thank you ET for the link. Sadly it's blocked from my workplace, i'll check it once i get home.

Yeah well... i've tended to be cheap on upgrading my computer case as i never get around to it. I actually had another PC case but i can't remember what it was but it was bland and not worth mentioning. So 3 pc cases since i first started using pcs :D
 
Ockie said:
I wouldn't consider this to be a direct competition, for starters, this case has a front door and no hot swaps, also, it has no pre-built functions such as radiator mounting and zone isolation. The case also isn't built from the same structure to give it strength.

I think it's fair to say the same price point, but they are not the same or remotely meant to compete as these cases are going to focus for different markets (not everyone likes a door, etc).

It is a nice case. I would like to see one stacked with drives and see how it holds up. IMO, it looks more like a 71B revisited.
Click to expand...

I'd agree. This LL is more like a pretty server case (for those not needing rackmount, hotswap, redundant PS like my whs box) while the 800D is an enthusiast case.
 
There were a few reasons why i didn't choose to get the Corsair Obsidian.

1. Not alumnium ( not too big a deal but it did add some weight for me )
2. the front door is plastic ( i was a bit dissapointed )
3. The side fan cover seems to be obstructing airflow ( Corsair doesn't seem to think so, but i am worried nevertheless. )
4. The motherboard tray cannot be removed. ( This was the biggest gripe i had. Sure you can put the case on it's side and fit in your motherboard, but i don't like it ;) )
5. I prefered the Lian Li's bottom stilts better.


The Obsidian is a nice case and probably have better cable management i suspect, but i just didn't like the stuff i mentioned above :D

The full obsidian corsair review here if you want to compare

http://www.pcgameshardware.com/aid,693098/Corsair-Obsidian-800D-PC-case-reviewed/Reviews/
 
Moogle Stiltzkin said:
There were a few reasons why i didn't choose to get the Corsair Obsidian.
4. The motherboard tray cannot be removed.
Click to expand...
Not any problem with that internal space...
While desk might not have enough space for turning case to its side floor has.


ibdoomed2 said:
I'd agree. This LL is more like a pretty server case (for those not needing rackmount, hotswap, redundant PS like my whs box) while the 800D is an enthusiast case.
Click to expand...
More properly it's other way.
No serious server has HDDs which must be accessed by opening sides while HDD hotswapping if anything is long time server feature! Didn't Redbeard even say that they took it straight from servers?
And servers never use any soft mountings because acoustics isn't concern in them. For same reason minimizing impedance of airflow paths isn't important in them.
(HDD cooling fan in narrow slot trying to blow air side way through very restricted cage with long and restricted exhaust path)
 
i've ordered the case and it should arrive to me in October at latest :D

I'm already planning on getting some help from someone to dremel and add an acrylic window. Also planned is adding a custom sticker from one of my jpegs.

I am considering water cooling however i may just opt for a custom cooler since water cooling is expensive and a hassle.
 
E.T said:
This seems to be the first review:
http://www.pc-experience.de/wbb2/thread.php?threadid=29227
(Google translation)

Some clear back steps from A71A/B:
- You can't change opening direction of door, makes free positioning of case harder.
- Instead of door being attached only to front mask and unscrewing four screws holding front mask detaching them both for accessing air filter you have to now first remove door before you can detach front mask doubling number of screws and I can say that attaching door isn't the easiest job unless you've got extra hand growing from your side.
Click to expand...

Apparently the motherboard tray is not removable !!! which is alarmingly a big step backwards in design :eek:

Is it possible to mod it to be like the older PC-A71 that can be flipped on it's side like this screenshot.

A71_12.jpg


A71_16.jpg
 
Another cost cutting for covering tool-less.

Side panel on motherboard's side seem to have same notches as original A70/71 on back for thumbscrews:
http://www.pc-experience.de/Bilder-Reviews/Lian44/lian.5.jpg
If you look carefully you'll see that from back tray is held by maybe three rivets which could be easily removed. (but only upper thumbscrew position hits to mobo tray now)

Also rivets on top edge should be easy to remove:
http://www.pc-experience.de/Bilder-Reviews/Lian44/lian.16.jpg
But in case of screws you would always have to unscrew them for removing tray and then screw them back which isn't very practical. (unless you cut similar notches to tray like in A71B for allowing sliding it forward after thumbscrews have been removed)

But probably tray's bottom has been riveted too and those rivets would be harder to access for removing them and you would have put there some guides which would prevent tray's sideways movement because I don't think you could get screws there.
http://www.pc-experience.de/Bilder-Reviews/Lian44/lian.14.jpg

You'll have to look those more carefully when you get the case but probably not worth the work it would take considering need to remove cards always and space available.
 
Ok thanks ET for your advise.

Anyway i've put down 20% deposit on my case and it should arrive maybe next month. I will take some close up pictures for your advise then :]

Yeah notches are nice, but i am willing to compromise with thumb screws which is alright to me ;]



I found some pictures for the old PC-A71 for reference.


Lian-Li-PC-A71-Full-Tower-Case-3.jpg


Source: http://gadgets.softpedia.com/gadgetsImage/...ase-1-1031.html



Pictures from old PC-A70

33.jpg



There's something at the bottom of the tray but can't get a good close up of it
34.jpg



You can see notches here with screws.
35.jpg



36.jpg


40.jpg



The motherboard tray is also removed from the right side. It's held in place by thumbscrews at the back, and simply slides forward and out. This tray is not a full tray in that it only holds the motherboard, and not any expansion cards; nonetheless it's welcomed since memory and CPU heatsink installation is far easier outside of the case, even in a chassis as big as the PC-A70's.
Click to expand...

Source: http://www.virtual-hideout.net/reviews/Lian_Li_PC-A70/index2.shtml
 
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I'll be doing a video review of this case this weekend. My case (A71F) is reaching me tomorrow morning. Watch this space. :D
 
Gasp!! people are interested in talkin about this case :eek: ...finally...

Ok well fyi me and one other person Elphy are modifying the case to install water cooling.


This is my water cooling project forum thread for the Lian Li PC-A71F casing
http://forum.lowyat.net/topic/1231435


Elphy's water cooling forum thread
http://www.xtremesystems.org/forums/showthread.php?t=240966



I also believe performance-pcs is selling a pre-modified water cooling version of the PC-A71F case.

:D


I gave up on the idea of modding it to have a removable tray, but i don't feel too bad about it. Imho the older PC-A71 that looks the same in the exterior, with minor differences in the interior may be a better buy. Because the internal parts like the pci card holders can be bought from Lian Li and most probably installed in the older case.
 
The guts of this are almost identical to my Lian Li B-70, which I found to be incredible in working up my water cooling setup.
I cut my own holes in the motherboard tray to rout my cables behind and out of the way. I cut a hole in the top and used a Kickbox rad grill to hide the ugly dremel edge and mount my 3 x 120mm Feser x-changer. The only problem I ran into was with my reservoir. I didn't have my video card yet when I measured everything out. There wasn't enough room to mount my reservoir on the end of the mobo try like I wanted, so I had to manufacture an extension plate. Other than that it worked out brilliantly.
I did have to remove the extra hard drive rack at the top of the case to fit the radiator, no big loss.
 
Yes i had to remove the hard drive rack at the top back of the case also. Not that i was gonna use it anyway :D

Take a look at my screenshots posted on pages 7 and 8. The top panel i am getting it laser cut so won't have those nasty sharp edges :D

I am using a TFC Xchanger 360. It fits just nice, so i don't recommend getting a 420+ radiator to put inside the case as it definately will not fit :X


*update:

According to another poster (who has a Lian Li PC-A71), a 420 and 480 could fit probably, however you won't be able to use the usb connector at the top of the case. Which to me is bad >-<; So 360 is the max i would use, and i am ok with that :}

http://www.overclock.net/water-cooling/628335-lian-li-case-question.html
 
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