Temperature Testing
| Lian-LI PC-V2110 Build Components | |
| Motherboard | Gigabyte X48 DQ6 |
| CPU | Intel QX9650 Quad Core Processor 12MB cache |
| GPU | ASUS 3870X2 4XDVI version |
| PSU | OCZ Pro X Stream 1000w |
| Cooling | Thermalright Ultra 120MM + Noctua NF-P12 120mm Fan |
| Memory | 4GB OCZ Flex II 9200 |
| Hard Drive | Western Digital Caviar 250GB 16MB Cache |
| DVD | Plextor 755A |
| . | |
We encountered no problems installing all of our components. Mounting the Thermalright Ultra-120 prior to installing the motherboard tray in the case was not an issue, and as you can see from the picture there is just enough clearance to allow mounting the fan on the CPU cooler on either side of the heatsink. Testing revealed that using the fan in push configuration was best as we found that the back top corner of the case becomes a heat trap if the fan on the CPU cooler is mounted in a pull configuration. We managed to tuck a few of the cables around the back of the front drive bays to keep things a little cleaner and to prevent airflow restriction to a small extent.
The next step was to fire up the system and check temperature deltas between idle and load during gaming and heavy processor loading. Initial tests were all run with a stock configuration using the 3-speed fan controller on each setting and monitoring for change after 30 minutes of system loading. The stock cooling configuration is fairly quiet at around a 1m distance; the sound of the fans at high is not overly disturbing. Most of the noise we experienced came from the annoying 80mm fan of the OCZ 1000w PSU. We used Prime95's torture test for 30 minutes along with 30 minutes of Codemasters excellent GRiD Racing to simulate a typical gaming session and monitored load temperatures using a combination of Everest and Riva Tuner.
Using the stock exhaust fan, a setting of low is just about able to hold a QX9650 and 3870X2 card at acceptable temps in a 16C ambient room. Higher ambient temperatures or rooms with less airflow may wish to opt for medium to high settings to keep temperatures at acceptable levels for long load durations. For a QX9650 at 4GHz with a processor core voltage of 1.34V, using a fan setting of high really is the only option. Even with the fans all set to high the back corner of the top panel does get quite hot during extended gaming sessions when using ASUS's 4XDVI 3870X2 card - mainly because the custom cooler on ASUS' card dumps all of its heat into the case.
We also tested with a Panaflo 120x38mm fan on high during gaming and monitored temperatures. We were surprised to find a 6-10C improvement in temperatures at the expense of added noise. Mind you, the fan speed controller really does come in handy as the fan can be set to low during light system load with no perceived increase in volume over the stock Lian Li offering.
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aeternitas - Tuesday, June 10, 2008 - link
If you want to see what im comparing this to; http://www.silverstonetek.com/products/p_contents....">http://www.silverstonetek.com/products/p_contents....HexiumVII - Tuesday, June 10, 2008 - link
Please post shots of the case while filled to the brim, like maxed out hard drives please!!Googer - Thursday, June 12, 2008 - link
Here's a Video (several thousand pictures) of the Case.http://www.vimeo.com/1004500">http://www.vimeo.com/1004500
aguilpa1 - Tuesday, June 10, 2008 - link
I have no doubt the build quality is exceptional as I have the V1000B myself but this has no circulation to it? Plus it looks like they still haven't figured out how to make a removable mobo tray? If Anand plans to make this a test case I would think that would be priority. I have had to change mobos enough to know its important.Rajinder Gill - Tuesday, June 10, 2008 - link
Sorry, page 3 has been updated - the tray is removable.Stock airflow is designed with silence in mind and is adequate in most cases. We'll probably end up water-cooling everything as I have a couple of spare PA 120.2's which should fit in the base nicely with a bit of modding..
regards
Raja
yyrkoon - Tuesday, June 10, 2008 - link
Removable motherboard trays do not make a good case, although I personally would not mind one as well. I have probably the 'cheapest' in the Lian-Li line (the PC-G50), which as far as I know is no longer made, but dahm the case is less than 16" tall ! Cramped, but it looks nice, unlike those embarrassing cases another user mentioned, and its very compact, which is why I bought it aside from the fact that it uses(or can use) 3x 120mm Fans with the Lian-Li 4in3 HDD bay add-on.I also own an Antec P182 case, and while I think it is very well built especially considering layout(and I do like it), it just seems so much like a monster by comparison, and it is only a few inches taller . . . I guess my full tower 'lovin' days are over with.
strafejumper - Tuesday, June 10, 2008 - link
looks decent to me, most cases especially "gaming cases" look incredibly bad to me, like embarassingly ugly to have in your house. This one looks pretty good although i've never owned a lian-li so i don't think i fully understand whats good about them.Currently i still have this chenming/chieftec case: http://www.case-mod.com/images/chen_black_lg.jpg">http://www.case-mod.com/images/chen_black_lg.jpg - add a light in the window, a modular psu, and a couple decals and it looks great, i've had it a long time and no plans on changing it.
This is kind of the best case i've seen though hp blackbird : http://h20435.www2.hp.com/gallery/files/Gallery-De...">http://h20435.www2.hp.com/gallery/files/Gallery-De...
i really like how it is suspended and a nice low angle in the air instead of resting on some plastic feet, and the arm that suspends it is really sturdy (i think i read someone stood on top of the case and it was fine.) I Gotta fit one of those in the budget one day just for the case :)
Noubourne - Tuesday, June 10, 2008 - link
I have not seen anyone mention a Panaflo for a very long time now. I have a couple of those 120x38s sitting around, and they really can push the air.I have since switched to Yate-Loons though, and I am very happy with their performance.
I liked this review. Good to see what some increased airflow will allow in this case. I would like to see even more of that kind of thing in the future with some noise measurements added on.
I'm currently running an Antec 900 and it's a very open design like some others, but the large exhaust fans really reduce the amount of noise generated by the machine. I've had more closed designs in the past that do a good job of keeping the noise contained.
At any rate - the ability of a case to cool and keep quiet are always my two main considerations. I'd love to see case reviews compared on those two points using standard methodology to get an idea of how different cases perform.
Rajinder Gill - Tuesday, June 10, 2008 - link
Hi,All good points that we should consider. It's been a long time since we looked at cases and the excuse of needing a new one for the motherboard stuff kinda rifled into reviewing one.
I still love the Panaflo's, they are unique in some ways. I had a spare lying around so ran with it and now it finds home for the exhaust on the V-2110.
The noise measurements are one area I should have looked into and it was on my mind, so certainly worth adding to anytihng down the pipe in the future..
I approached this a little nervously with it being my first case review and all. Also had some video that I did not quite cut but will endeavor to do so on future reviews. Thanks for the approval anyway :)
regards
Raja
just4U - Tuesday, June 10, 2008 - link
Raja, others have been a little perplexed by the new hard drive setup by Lian-Li (looking at other reviews) In your opinion, Is it any better then their old design?