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New Case from Lian Li - the PC-9F
- Thread starter night_2004
- Start date
Btw my case from provantage finally arrived; head of the SB B3 boards so just in time 
Btw did anyone install the optional 4th fan on top blowing out or in (there is a filter up there so i suppose it should be pulling air in ??
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Did you remove the 5v connectors on the fan and plug into the mb ?
Btw did anyone install the optional 4th fan on top blowing out or in (there is a filter up there so i suppose it should be pulling air in ??
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Did you remove the 5v connectors on the fan and plug into the mb ?
thanks, this is what i've done for now, btw ASUS slow like a mf on replacing the B3 MB's here in Taiwan...starting to doubt if ASUS were a taiwan brand.
if i were you, i'd wait for PC-Z60, better hdd cage design, looks sexier(at least for me), thats what i would of done if i haven't bought the PC-9F yet.
http://www.lian-li.com/v2/en/product/product06.php?pr_index=574&cl_index=1&sc_index=25&ss_index=62&g=f
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Does the foam in the fractal design and PC-z60 decompose over time? I would think so but maybe they have some new magical material. Tyipcally that stuff decomposes over a 10 year period.
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I guess no one mounts a fan on top ?
(repeat above)
Btw did anyone install the optional 4th fan on top blowing out or in (there is a filter up there so i suppose it should be pulling air in ??
-
Did you remove the 5v connectors on the fan and plug into the mb ?
-
I guess no one mounts a fan on top ?
(repeat above)
Btw did anyone install the optional 4th fan on top blowing out or in (there is a filter up there so i suppose it should be pulling air in ??
-
Did you remove the 5v connectors on the fan and plug into the mb ?
Korben Dallas
Gawd
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- Oct 25, 2010
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I have a thermalright silent-x 140mm on top as exhaust. Also, I wouldn't consider the top mesh grill to be a filter.
so you blow air out the top rather than bring it in ? I really have no clue what the design is; I would sort of think it might make sense to bring air down (over the mother board) and have it vent out the back; but maybe it just doesn't work that way (hence the question).
Korben Dallas
Gawd
- Joined
- Oct 25, 2010
- Messages
- 561
Top fan holes are called blowholes by many cause they're meant to exhaust the rising hot air. I guess you can set it up for intake but I don't know if you'll benefit from that.
Anyone annoyed with the included "filters"? Not only are they plastic mesh type filters that don't really capture the finer dust particles, the filters on the front don't even fit properly. The screws that hold the fans in place are preventing the filters sitting flush so there's a considerable gap where dust can get through quite easily.
I might just get rid of the supplied filters and use the stocking method.
Anyone annoyed with the included "filters"? Not only are they plastic mesh type filters that don't really capture the finer dust particles, the filters on the front don't even fit properly. The screws that hold the fans in place are preventing the filters sitting flush so there's a considerable gap where dust can get through quite easily.
I might just get rid of the supplied filters and use the stocking method.
I don't know about you, but mine capture plenty of dust....seem to be doing the job for me. Then again, I'm in a household with 4 cats and all hardwood floors.
Ultra Wide
[H]ard|Gawd
- Joined
- Jul 23, 2000
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- 1,396
I noticed this too, but they seem to filter out the dust very well. I didn't notice any dust inside my machine when I opened it up after 3 weeks. Took an air can and blew the filters right quick and snapped the cover back on. I am using 2 x GT-AP14 for intake.
Arggg; ran into my first problem with this case. I was going to use an old amd 939 MB I have until the SB-3 board I wanted became available. Unfortunately, the old MB I have would not fit into the case because of the rear fan. The board is a DFI ultr-d board which had this weird sound card gizmo that plugs in at the rear of the board. It extends up and the fan on the lian case blocks it so the board won't fit in the case. I suppose I could remove it; but I was going to use onboard sound for now. Oh well guess I'll wait another week or two for SB.
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Yea rear; actually it is not just the fan; as the case has a rather thick metal border around the boards rear connectors so if something on the board were to extend over those connectors the two would collide. This board fit in the pc-60 plus case without issues. Oh well. I'll hang on to it as a spare for my linux box.
Do you know how long it usually takes for the product to come out for retail after it is announced? Z60 looks good
Morning folks,
A few questions to the owners of this case. I'm very strongly considering this case at the moment. I've been agonizing over a case now for weeks and it was down to the 8FI or this one. The 8FI seems much harder to find (I kind of like the front a bit better), but this one appeals to me too. Would love to wait for the PC-Z60 but if reports are true, that's still quite a few months off, sadly.
My question is, for anyone running Sandy Bridge in here, what are you running for average temperatures, especially OC'd? I've read a lot of varying reports on the cooling of this. I'm planning to run a 2600K, OC'd to about 4.4-4.5 and a 6870 Black Ed. I'm very worried about the cooling with such limited fans, at least while keeping it quiet. I'd also like to avoid using the top 140 since from all I've read, it's an insanely tight fit with any high end HSF.
Also, my other concern that bugs me is the HD cage. Does anyone know of a modded cage or an option where you can install a half height HD cage to facilitate better airflow? I'm only going to be installing 1 SSD and 2 spindle drives. I'll be using half that cage at best. The other half is just going to be obstructing airflow. Using the 5 1/4's is not an option as I'll have all 3 of those full as well.
Any input is appreciated.
Thanks
A few questions to the owners of this case. I'm very strongly considering this case at the moment. I've been agonizing over a case now for weeks and it was down to the 8FI or this one. The 8FI seems much harder to find (I kind of like the front a bit better), but this one appeals to me too. Would love to wait for the PC-Z60 but if reports are true, that's still quite a few months off, sadly.
My question is, for anyone running Sandy Bridge in here, what are you running for average temperatures, especially OC'd? I've read a lot of varying reports on the cooling of this. I'm planning to run a 2600K, OC'd to about 4.4-4.5 and a 6870 Black Ed. I'm very worried about the cooling with such limited fans, at least while keeping it quiet. I'd also like to avoid using the top 140 since from all I've read, it's an insanely tight fit with any high end HSF.
Also, my other concern that bugs me is the HD cage. Does anyone know of a modded cage or an option where you can install a half height HD cage to facilitate better airflow? I'm only going to be installing 1 SSD and 2 spindle drives. I'll be using half that cage at best. The other half is just going to be obstructing airflow. Using the 5 1/4's is not an option as I'll have all 3 of those full as well.
Any input is appreciated.
Thanks
Korben Dallas
Gawd
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- Oct 25, 2010
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Hellhawk,
I'm running a 955 BE @ 3.8 w/ 1.4v cooled by a zalman performa. Highest I see with stress testing is around 54c which is pretty much normal for the cpu. I would say the airflow in the case is very good. The way I have it setup right now is 2x Scythe Sflex @ 800rpm and 1x Scythe Sflex @ 1100rpm. I also have a 140mm thermalright silent X as exhaust.
As for the GPU my 6850 @ 890/1140 runs pretty much the same temp as when I had the parts sitting in open air.
Now the 140mm top fan is entirely unnecessary imo. As you mentioned, it is a tight fit not only with a big heatsink but with the mobo itself. With my M4A88TD-V EVO I can't open up my RAM slots because of the top fan. I also have not seen any change in temps whether or not I have the top fan running. I'll be removing the top fan entirely since it is a gigantic hole and it lets out a LOT of noise from the cpu heatsink fan.
I wouldn't worry about temps in this case cause the airflow is unrestricted even with the hdd cage in place.
Can't really answer your questions regarding the cage modification. Hope this helped.
I'm running a 955 BE @ 3.8 w/ 1.4v cooled by a zalman performa. Highest I see with stress testing is around 54c which is pretty much normal for the cpu. I would say the airflow in the case is very good. The way I have it setup right now is 2x Scythe Sflex @ 800rpm and 1x Scythe Sflex @ 1100rpm. I also have a 140mm thermalright silent X as exhaust.
As for the GPU my 6850 @ 890/1140 runs pretty much the same temp as when I had the parts sitting in open air.
Now the 140mm top fan is entirely unnecessary imo. As you mentioned, it is a tight fit not only with a big heatsink but with the mobo itself. With my M4A88TD-V EVO I can't open up my RAM slots because of the top fan. I also have not seen any change in temps whether or not I have the top fan running. I'll be removing the top fan entirely since it is a gigantic hole and it lets out a LOT of noise from the cpu heatsink fan.
I wouldn't worry about temps in this case cause the airflow is unrestricted even with the hdd cage in place.
Can't really answer your questions regarding the cage modification. Hope this helped.
My 2600K @ 4.5GHz, 1.3V maxes around 64C on the hottest core (IBT standard) when ambient is around 80F. No top fan here, just 2 Yates in the front and 1 in the back on lowest speed. Cooler is a Venomous X.
Two (i guess newbie questions) specific to using this case with the msi p67a-g65 MB:
How did you connect the power led ? (the board has a 2 pin led; but the case is 3 pin);
bleh this was stupid - they have a sep connector for the 3 pin led in jp2. So i guess the only issue left is the USB3->MB
How did you connect the USB3 ? I.e, is there a way to plug the case usb3 directly into the MB or did you use that bracket? (I currently have that bracket but it is inside the case since I did not see a way to convert the case usb to the MB plug).
How did you connect the power led ? (the board has a 2 pin led; but the case is 3 pin);
bleh this was stupid - they have a sep connector for the 3 pin led in jp2. So i guess the only issue left is the USB3->MB
How did you connect the USB3 ? I.e, is there a way to plug the case usb3 directly into the MB or did you use that bracket? (I currently have that bracket but it is inside the case since I did not see a way to convert the case usb to the MB plug).
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2600k @ 4.5GHz 1.32V
idle 30
max 72 (prime95)
cooler is silver arrow
ambient same as you
so either my cpu sucks, or my cooler, or the way i applied it ^^
Remember, I'm using IBT standard for those temps, I could get higher with prime95 small FFT, but I'm not worried about it.
You need to connect the USB3 cables to the external ports on the outside of your case (motherboard's I/O plate). It's a pain, and an inconvenience IMHO.
Interestingly enough, Lian Li just released an adapter that will take the PC-9F's USB3 cables and convert them to the new 20-pin USB3 internal header like what I have on my ASRock Extreme 4.
I haven't had much luck finding out availability or price yet, but its up on their website here:
Link
Ugh, I wish they would release a replacement I/O panel so that we don't have to deal with the unwieldy, stiff cables. That's the only part I really dislike about this case....those damn USB 3.0 cables.
Aha - the case comes with one of those for usb 2.0; strange they did not include it for usb 3.0. What i did is i tied the rear connector MSI includes to the drive cage (it sounds worse than it looks; though it is not that pretty) than ran the usb cables on the case into the drive cage (which might work better than trying to run them all the way to the USB ports on the motherboard (though 1/2 the route is via the underside of the case). Oh well when the converter comes out I'll check for it but in practical sense what I have might be sufficient.
FrEaKy
[H] Movie and TV Show Review Guy
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I think im switching to this 9F...... Its got a very nice design
Just ordered a PC-9F from Newegg, and had a couple questions for current owners if it's not too much trouble.
1) Has anyone tested temps on south-to-north mounting for a large heatpipe tower?
I'm worried about too much positive static pressure with 2 120mm intake fans and 1 120mm exhaust fan (discounting PSU due to mounting), but I'm not sure that the top 140mm location would even be usable with a Thermalright Archon (due to its width) with east-west mounting. Also, not sure that pumping so much air out the top of the case would be smart from a HSF airflow perspective with east-west mounting.
Then again, I am worried that intake air for the HSF will be too warm with south-to-north mounting, since I'll be running CrossFire 5870s.
2) Stock fans are only 900RPM correct? I have 2 S-Flex ref. F fans that I'm going to be recycling to the new PC, figured I'd replace the exhaust fan and one of the intakes to improve airflow. I'll probably pick up a 3rd as well. Plus potentially a Thermalright TY-140 for top mounting if it makes sense from airflow (somewhat dependent on #1).
3) How finicky are the 5.25" tool-less mounts? I'll be reusing a Lite On combo drive, which I expect will mount fine, but I'm a little curious how a Lamptron FC6 (don't plan on running enough fans to need a FC5v2) would mount.
1) Has anyone tested temps on south-to-north mounting for a large heatpipe tower?
I'm worried about too much positive static pressure with 2 120mm intake fans and 1 120mm exhaust fan (discounting PSU due to mounting), but I'm not sure that the top 140mm location would even be usable with a Thermalright Archon (due to its width) with east-west mounting. Also, not sure that pumping so much air out the top of the case would be smart from a HSF airflow perspective with east-west mounting.
Then again, I am worried that intake air for the HSF will be too warm with south-to-north mounting, since I'll be running CrossFire 5870s.
2) Stock fans are only 900RPM correct? I have 2 S-Flex ref. F fans that I'm going to be recycling to the new PC, figured I'd replace the exhaust fan and one of the intakes to improve airflow. I'll probably pick up a 3rd as well. Plus potentially a Thermalright TY-140 for top mounting if it makes sense from airflow (somewhat dependent on #1).
3) How finicky are the 5.25" tool-less mounts? I'll be reusing a Lite On combo drive, which I expect will mount fine, but I'm a little curious how a Lamptron FC6 (don't plan on running enough fans to need a FC5v2) would mount.
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I'm actually planning quite the similar build myself, and I'd also like to know would the top fan fit with Archon mounted.
I have one other question. I see a lot of people mounting their HDDs with connectors pointing out of the case, but I've also seen some people with backwards mounted HDDs. Judging by some of the reviews, HDDs can't be mounted backwards because the connectors hit the HDD cage and the locking mechanism can't be used. How did these people mount the HDDs backwards?
First, look at this picture of the PC-9F internals and notice the aluminum backplates on the back of the HDD cage:
http://lian-li.com/v2/tw/product/upload/image/pc-9f/9f-04.jpg
Then look at this picture of the PC-8FI internals (which should be the same as PC-9F, except the front bezel), and notice that there aren't any HDD cage backplates? Does that allow for HDDs to be mounted backwards, has Lian-Li actually updated their original HDD cage design?
http://lian-li.com/v2/tw/product/upload/image/pc-8fu/8fu-20.jpg
I have one other question. I see a lot of people mounting their HDDs with connectors pointing out of the case, but I've also seen some people with backwards mounted HDDs. Judging by some of the reviews, HDDs can't be mounted backwards because the connectors hit the HDD cage and the locking mechanism can't be used. How did these people mount the HDDs backwards?
First, look at this picture of the PC-9F internals and notice the aluminum backplates on the back of the HDD cage:
http://lian-li.com/v2/tw/product/upload/image/pc-9f/9f-04.jpg
Then look at this picture of the PC-8FI internals (which should be the same as PC-9F, except the front bezel), and notice that there aren't any HDD cage backplates? Does that allow for HDDs to be mounted backwards, has Lian-Li actually updated their original HDD cage design?
http://lian-li.com/v2/tw/product/upload/image/pc-8fu/8fu-20.jpg
The only problem I had with mounting the drives so the connectors are in the back; is that if you do not use right angle sata cables; then they will hit the back of the case. You can address this by putting the screws in the middle of the drive; they don't lock quite as secure but are plenty secure for the room. Anyways when I was buildling I didn't realize the issue with the back till I was ready to put in the back cover and one of the 3 drives had a straight connector; the other three had right angle connectors and they fit just fine.
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I would prefer the interior to be all black. Not sure why they insist on the bare aluminum. Also, is there a window side panel coming out for this thing. My emails to lian li have gone unanswered. May just wait out for the arc midi.
Ps. Also cable management seems a bit difficult. Much harder than my 690ii advanced.
Ps. Also cable management seems a bit difficult. Much harder than my 690ii advanced.
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So the Archon barely fits in the case. The PC-9F is tall enough, but with only a few mm to spare. You end up having to scoot the fan down just a touch from dead center to make it clear the case side and that winds up moving it low enough that it will impede on the first 2 DIMM slots.
If you had RAM with no heat spreaders, south-to-north mounting might work. The spreaders on the GSkill RAM I got are not terribly tall, but they are tall enough to get in the way.
Also, when I mocked up how it would fit in the case, the TY-140 would be pulling air from less than 2 inches away from the top GPU. My older Sapphire 5870 has slightly flaky VRMs so I've gone and made the new Gigabyte card the primary, but the Gigabyte card has no heat spreader on the rear of the PCB. The GPU itself is directly below the TY-140 in south-to-north HSF mounting, and I'd be sucking some considerably warmer air in than mounting east-west.
As far as the HDD mounting goes, there's only one slot that is a real pain in the ass when it comes to reverse mounting. That's due to a brace that runs across the case at the 2nd slot from the bottom. It would probably be usable but just annoying enough to not be worth the hassle.
I had enough bent-connector SATA cables for my HDDs, so it was easy-peasy, and keeps that cable snarl (even neatened up) behind the motherboard tray and away from anything resembling airflow through the main chamber of the case. Re-mounting the rear side panel is a little fun purely because of the stiffness of the SATA power cables run from my PSU, but not the end of the world.
Edit: Posted a pic in the Lian Li gallery thread, don't need to post the same pic multiple times in multiple places. Can take a look there if you want to see Archon fitment.
Second edit: I don't know what motherboard you plan on using, but if the VRM heatsinks are too close to the socket, the bracket to mount the Archon can be a VERY tight fit. I'm actually slightly worried that the pressure of the bracket could loosen the contact between the aluminum heatsinks and the thermal tape underneath on my P8P67 Pro. It took a nontrivial amount of wiggling and finessing to get the bracket fully seated, and it's firmly in contact with heatsinks above and to the left of the CPU socket. Not cool.
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The hard drive cage can be removed to allow longer video cards. You would just have to mount your hard drives in a different location.
In fact, if you really wanted, you could modify the HD cage to only have the top part removed and use the bottom part (would still be secured) to hold your drives.
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AthlonAlien
Limp Gawd
- Joined
- Nov 25, 2005
- Messages
- 321
I am also looking to get the PC-9F, but I have two questions.
1. Can one or both of the front 120mm fans be swapped out for 140mm ones (I read where the Thermalright 140mm x 160mm wouldn't fit, but I wondered if ANY 140mm fan would fit)?
2. Also, if someone would be using two optical drives in the top two bays and a card reader in the one below that... could they still mought a single HDD without using the entire cage? One post mentioned a HDD cage from another model Lian-Li case. Does anyone know what model is was from?
-Thanks
1. Can one or both of the front 120mm fans be swapped out for 140mm ones (I read where the Thermalright 140mm x 160mm wouldn't fit, but I wondered if ANY 140mm fan would fit)?
2. Also, if someone would be using two optical drives in the top two bays and a card reader in the one below that... could they still mought a single HDD without using the entire cage? One post mentioned a HDD cage from another model Lian-Li case. Does anyone know what model is was from?
-Thanks