In search of the perfect case

I've been looking at several reviews for the Cooler Master ATCS 840 and I don't see how any of the Lian-Li's mentioned could be better offerings. I've owned a Lian-Li V1000 and V1200 and while Lian-Li has great construction of the case the cooling is not that great in comparison to other cases. The front of the V series cases are also open like the Antec 900/1200 which lets in more dust and leaks more sound. One of the nicest features about the CM 840 is the removable motherboard tray with a center hole behind the CPU socket so that you can replace large air coolers without removing the motherboard.
 
The Cooler Master has a better feature-set, but having owned a V2000B Plus II and the ATCS 840... Lian Li wins in build quality and design hands down.
 
If a removable mobo tray with opening for mounting HSF is what you looking for, then you can look at lian li B70 as the picture below shows.
3455188822_4c8fa90409_o.jpg

The B70 also has tool-less HDD trays and optical trays. Built quality is exceptional as expected.
 
Empty_Quarter said:
Another variant of the cases mentioned above is the PC-A70. It has the exact same layout as the above cases, except the motherboard tray isnt removable, and it doesnt have any SATA back-plates.
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Motherboard tray is removable and actually A70/71 is "mother" of these other non-V Lian Li full towers.
Backplane prevents good soft HDD mounting so acoustically it's in big disadvantage. (like that loudspeaker HDD tray of B70)
Similarly tool-less PCI attachment of B70 prevents use of PCI cooling kits.
So these fashionable "improvements" of later cases are as much backsteps as advances.

burningrave101 said:
I've owned a Lian-Li V1000 and V1200 and while Lian-Li has great construction of the case the cooling is not that great in comparison to other cases.
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What are you expecting from those sense making airflow lacking upside down expansion card baking boxes?
 
E.T said:
Motherboard tray is removable and actually A70/71 is "mother" of these other non-V Lian Li full towers.
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Then it must be the new batches then. The original batches of the A70/71 did not have a removable motherboard tray. And yeah, the A70/71 is the basis chasis for all the non-V towers.
 
Nonpareil said:
If a removable mobo tray with opening for mounting HSF is what you looking for, then you can look at lian li B70 as the picture below shows.
3455188822_4c8fa90409_o.jpg

The B70 also has tool-less HDD trays and optical trays. Built quality is exceptional as expected.
Click to expand...

Yeah I was actually looking at that case on Newegg after my earlier post. It's a little expensive but I like the layout of the B70/B71. My complaint though still is the lack of better cooling. It doesn't come with any bracket to mount 120mm fans on the backside of the HDD cage does it? I noticed some of the other Lian Li cases had that so I don't know why Lian Li doesn't offer that for the B70 as well. I like having fans right up close to the motherboard blowing on the video card and RAM.
 
Only the A71, A7010 & A7110 have the mounting support and extra fans beside the HDD rack. As you have said B70 doesn't, which I'll have to improvise with some cable ties. As I've yet to complete my rig, due to fans being delayed, I can't comment on how efficient the stock cooling is but I think it should be sufficient except like you I like some additional fans on the inside.
 
burningrave101 said:
It's a little expensive but I like the layout of the B70/B71. My complaint though still is the lack of better cooling. It doesn't come with any bracket to mount 120mm fans on the backside of the HDD cage does it? I noticed some of the other Lian Li cases had that so I don't know why Lian Li doesn't offer that for the B70 as well. I like having fans right up close to the motherboard blowing on the video card and RAM.
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I guess they wanted to keep costs down with those new additions. Rather complex parts involving tool-less 5.25" bays and card slots surely didn't come for free.

In theory those 140mm intake fans have higher airflow capability but it's really hard to know does that translate into real world.
First of all slower speed fan produces always lower pressure so same airflow impedance causes bigger drop from free air result. (not necessarily same as advertised values)
Then like you said now there aren't fans on otherside of HDD cage for helping to overcome its airflow impedance.
And now HDD cage probably has actually higher impedance than original because that acoustically bad caddy/tray increases size of airflow obstacle inside cage compared to plain directly soft mounted HDD in A70/71.

Also as excellent example of how design choises/features are often mutually exclusive that tool-less card slot system prevents use of PCI cooling kits which are capable to cooling every expansion card. (vs. standard slots eating coolers capable to cooling only one or two cards)
Similarly A7010/7110 replaces acoustically good soft mounting with fashionable SATA backplane and plastic trays.
You simply can't have everything.

undertheradar said:
Hey E.T, Im pretty sure the PC-A77 is the 'mother' since it was the first.
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A70/71 was introduced nearly two years ago and A77 in last spring along with A7010/7110.
 
Well most people could do without all those extra complex parts for the tool-less 5.25" bays and PCI slots. I personally prefer thumbscrews myself because screws are more solid than tool-less designs. What I can't do without though is cooling. For a system running stock it's plenty but when you're overclocking an i7 to 4Ghz+ and running Crossfire or SLI you need the fans up close to the motherboard.
 
i ended up getting the Antec1200 housing the follwing

PSU: 750W Corsair
CPU: i7 920 added Dark Knight Fan cooler (it's alright, i would reccomend the megahelams)
Mobo: Rampage II Gene
RAM: DDR3 Dominator Corsair
GFX: BFG GTX 280 2GB
HDD: 1.5TB seagate 500GB WD 160GB WD
DVDR: Panasonic Something cant remember exactly

i also was not a fan of how loud the antec1200 was at full speed so i installed noctua's and am extremely happy with them. I have plans to add water cooling but i have to do some research first

hope this helps

GO i7 ITS WORTH IT!

i spent a total of like $1500 btw for those concerned with price
 
The 1200 is a poor choice for a watercooling case. You'd be much better off with a CM HAF932 / ATCS 840 or one of a number of LianLis.
 
While I did not read everything in this thread I can tell you quickly why I choose my case.

I choose the Lian Li PC-X1000 because:

1. It has air filters that is not as hard to service like the Lian Li PC-P50. Lack of air filters took out the Silverstone TJ10 for me.

2. It has a 3x140mm intake/2x140mm exhaust design. All things being equal in fan quality, the 140mm size will outperform the 120mm size, and besides the popular 120mm size, 140mm seems to be where all nicer aftermarket fan products are at.

3. It has a very direct air route and positive pressure design. Cooling is awesome from the reviews, esp the GPU cooling. Cutout for the CPU.

4. It's reported to be on the quieter side of case design.

5. I don't intend to watercool in the next 5 years, if ever. While there is little room for the watercooling bits, the design is clearly better for air cooling like the Silverstone TJ10.

6. It has room for the graphics cards I intend to buy. 325 millimeters = 12.7952756 inches.

7. Lian Li's tool-less designs seem much nicer than most. And you can opt to not use the Disc Drive ones and the stealth bay feature if you like.

8. I had the money at the time - this puppy is not cheap!

9. It has a black finish on most sides, the top/bottom/side pannels are black inside and out, so there is less silver on the inside. Wish is was 100%, but this is nice too.

10. The front and top are one sexy curved unibody piece! The overall look is unique and towering.

11. It can hold up to 8 data drives.

12. Room for extra big PSUs if you remove the bottom HD cage.

13. What an unlucky number. Just view these links for more!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IttZJtzhcqQ&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GqZM4kPnZPY&feature=fvw

http://www.bit-tech.net/hardware/cases/2009/09/02/lian-li-tyr-pc-x1000-case-review/1

http://www.hardforum.com/showthread.php?t=1462093

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5fiqP97wkjI&feature=player_embedded
 
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You just cant go wrong with a lian li case, I've reused my pc-60 in 3 builds now, also for the price an antec 900 is really sweet. Got one of those for my little brothers pc and no complaints.
 
 
silent-circuit said:
AKA Lian Li V2000B Plus II.
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Yes - but I believe the LianLi 2kB don't have the onboard fancontroller ?
I found that controller perfect for my use ( running 6 140 mm fans on it with 2x splitters since the controller only got 4 channels)
 
Nevermind about the X1000, hated it. Silverstone TJ10 felt better, or go with the FT01 or FT02.
 
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