This is my worklog for my project: Watercooling the Lian-Li PC-V2000B PLUS II W. The case I purchased can be seen here. This worklog will be update weekly... or in some cases bi-weekly with the progress I've made. This is a full out mod and I intend for it to look clean and professional. The 360mm radiator will be mounted on the top of the case along with the fillport, while the pump will be hidden behind the 5.25" drive bays. Speaking of drive bays, my new NEC ND-3550A I have recieved will be covered in a carbon fiber vinyl. The cost for the vinyl is free to me, but around $60 if bought at a graphics shop.



I have also ordered an SLI-DR Expert


The Components

From DangerDen.com -

TDX block
DD D5 pump
Chrome MAZE4 GPU - Both sets of hardware (for 7900GT and 6600GT)
DFI Expert MAZE4
X-Flow Stealth GTS 360 Black Ice - Black
DD Fillport - Black
15 feet of Tygon 1/2" ID tubing
Polypropylene "T"
Ceramique
Fill syringe
12 clamps

From FrozenCPU.com -

3 120mm Papst fans
3 120mm black fan grills
3 rubber fan silencer
Fluid XP+ (32oz UV Blue)
Black Vantec cable sleeving kit
1 3-pin fan extension
2 3-pin fan splitter
10 feet of c-strip
10in single device ATA133 cable (black)
24in SATA cable (black)
50 tie wraps (black)
Dual 12in UV cold cathode
2 cold cathode extension cables

Execution

This is my first mod. I know that. Due to this, my dad and an employee at his shop are assisting me through the process. I don't mind doing things myself, but on a $250 case, I'll pass, thanks! We have a garage and auto body shop full of all the tools I need. I will take however long it takes to get it done right (and hopefully the first time). How much this will end up costing remains to be seen. I can only spend as much as I make which is ~$600 every two weeks.

Let the modding begin!

Good luck to you, just don't put any crystal cats in the pics, please. LOL

Looking forward to seeing your progress. I love the way my v2000 turned out. It was a lot of work, and like yourself, I used another's design as a source of inspiration and ideas. The bottom line - you'll be doing the work, so it's your mod, nobody elses.

Keep us in the loop.

Instead of the 240mm radiator I've decided on the 360mm version =)

Very nice upgrade!

The case will be here Friday along with a new DVD burner (NEC ND-3550A... did a bad job painting my current one one). All DangerDen components will be ordered tomorrow night while the stuff from FrozenCPU will have to wait another week for another paycheck. Does anybody have a coupon code for anything better than 20%? I'm guessing no but hey, if it saves some money I might as well ask.

Good luck man, I'm sure it'll turn out great.

Just be sure to measure twice and cut once, not the other way around.

I suggest making a paper template for the radiator, Matching up the holes for fans and or fan grills depending on how you mount it are probably the toughest part. I used tracing paper to mark mine and then transfered the template to the case...

Dont worry if it doesnt line up the first time you start drilling, as long as your in the ball park a file will get you where you want things to be...

Good luck.

awesome, looking forward!

$600 every two weeks. You working the bodyshop?

Naw... I'm in IS at a large medical center as an intern

Thermochill PA 120.3!!! I want to see how well those perform as they are supposedly the ultimate radiator.

Also, love the case, I'm considering buying it. Can't decide between that one and the PC-201A.

Edited, looks awsome man. Good luck.

I just ordered my Danger Den stuff. The final choices include:

Chrome Version MAZE4GPU - Both sets of hardware (for 7900GT and 6600GT)
X-Flow Stealth GTS 360 Black Ice - Black
Ceramique
Fill Syringe
Danger Den Fillport - Black
TDX and D5 Combo
Plastic Snap Tubing Clamps x 12

What sucks is I forgot to add in the 12' of Tygon 1/2" ID tubing so I had to leave a message with DD to see if that can be added -- shipping costs for the tubing by itself is $15... for all of the stuff together it's only $25. All other things needed will be ordered late next week. The case will be here tomorrow.

Just curious, are you still planning on getting an Intel system in a few months? Might want to see if you can get the universal mount for the TDX...beats having to buy another $20 worth of hardware in the future.

I only bring this up because I just got my LGA775 attachemnt in today for my silver TDX. Installation went pretty smooth, leak testing it now. Looks nice and all but it woulda been handy to have the necessary attachments beforehand...

Nice that Danger Den sells all the necessary hardware though, I went ahead and picked up the Intel attachments for my chipset block as well, seeing as how everybody is saying she runs warmer than the AMD counterparts...

Ahh... time for some pictures. The case made it in while the DVD burner is MIA (I suspect it is at my dad's shop somewhere)

Anyway... the first step was taking everything out that is not immediately needed

Next, to ensure that the doors wouldn't get majorly scrached during the process, I taped them off with some masking tape

Another shot

And another

A picture from the backside of the case

My friends new Lian-Li G50 along side my V2000... quite a difference. He'll be putting in an Expert, X2 3800+, 7900GT, etc.

My old Antec Super LANBOY next to the new monster

The plan, in the end, is for ALL cables in the case to be sleeved black (or natively black, if possible). I will recieve my watercooling stuff from DD early next week, so no real "modding" can occur until then. The fans, cable sleeving, grills, coolant, and other modding accessories will be purchased when I get my paycheck, next Friday. I also bought a new NEC ND-3550A which will be covered in a carbon fiber vinyl. I think I may end up using the carbon fiber in a few other places... but I don't want too go to far with it. Also, I am considering purchasing an SLI-DR Expert as it is on sale and I have enough other components to build a respectable 939 machine from them (6600GT SLI, 3200+, etc.). Also, I am going to replace all case fans with either Panaflos or Papst, depending on which I decide on.

looks good so far nice case, and ill keep hangin around to see results.
Glad to see you snowbaord = )
is that the nitro punisher..? ive got the nitro T1

Haha, well I'm at my friends house so that would be his Nitro Team. I'm actually going to start snowboarding again this year (took a 3 year break).

Thanks for the feedback!

Oh well i guess noone on here does snowboard besides me lol

Yeah you're probably right. But my friend with the G50 (and the snowboard) will be a member soon.

Too many injuries. Sk8 and Sn0 are no longer a reality for the older folk here. I still wear skate shoes though...

I got sick of breaking legs and arms every summer... I "quit" this winter... though you can still find me out there skating every once in a while.

I took a break from snowboarding myself. My board's a Sims 1711 Blade. It has been a rather long break.

pshhhhhhh ski > snowboard

OK guys let's try to keep this on topic, not that I really care but nonetheless

show us some more pics ...i love that case

Will do... more tonight...

Very cool good to see the Lian-Li 2000 series getting some attention here at DFI. There awesome cases and I feel they are the best case on the market. Waiting on my Lian Li PC-V2000 server case (Silver)

So UD218 tell me why you chose that rad? Can you post some pics of it tonight?

My retailer is now beginning to stock a full line of DD. I'm thinking it'll soon be cuttin time...

I don't get the Danger Den stuff until Tuesday, or Wednesday at the latest. Expect a large amount of pictures then

Well, since this is my first EVER mod, I decided that, before cutting in the Lian-Li, I ought to practice on something.

So, my Antec Super LANBOY was the most logical choice







So that's that, it was easy enough. However, I did not have the right tools (I had to use my step-dads tools and not my dads, which are much better). That being said, it looks good and I'm happy. As you may or may not be able to see, there are some jagged edges which will be taken care of after my trip to the Home Depot where I will get some C-Strip rubber molding. A final picture will be taken later. 2 days until my Danger Den stuff arrives.

Nice work, the C-stripping will really give it a polished look.

Looks good and im sure the practice helped. What case are you using now?

My desk



Everything's temporary (i.e. stock cooling) so I can test fit components.

Home Depot and Menards apparently have no clue what "c-strip" means, so I'll have to wait and order some from FrozenCPU later this week.

I may be ordering an Expert and the MAZE4 chipset waterblock as well, but we'll see.

Sorry this is going so slow, not much else I can do until my stuff arrives Anywho, I was bored tonight so I decided to trace out where my radiator will be located. These lines look crooked in the pictures but that's because of the masking tape. They're not final but close to.





I initially wanted the radiator to go in the lower compartment but it seems as though it would be hard to access with a hole saw:



If I can somehow figure out how to do that, then I will, but I need to talk to the guys at the metal working shop for their opinion.

nice, nice. Getting better every day.

Nice desk too by the way, although I think it's actually just the DFI LP and GameXstream that I am admiring.

I don't feel having it like that would work well...external air is gonna be cooler than any air in the lower compartment.

You could lay it across the bottom though. The only reason I didn't do that was because I like the hard drive cages where they are.

Thanks!

I've heard this go back and fourth, but what's better: sucking the air over the radiator or pushing it?

I think I may leave it be at the top. Ergonomically, it makes the most sense.

And by laying it across the bottom, what do you mean? Drilling fan holes and doing it that way?

You gonna have it inside the case or outside (like mine)? I really wanted it inside but at the time the Stealth wasn't available, and the BIX3 just wouldn't fit. Plus that fans woulda been external and i didn't really care for that idea. I kinda wish the case was about an inch and half taller....woulda been perfect.

As for sucking or blowing, I believe 2 out of 3 people at XS voted for sucking being better (huh...that sounds kinda odd). Anyways, thats the way I did it since it was the only way I could have the fans on the inside of the case (without blowing hot air over the radiator...).

OK, here's a tip:

Get your edge trim from McMaster.com, NOT FrozenCPU! You'll see a search box on the left side of the page. Enter "rubber edge trim", it'll take you to Page 3586. Halfway down the page, there's a bunch of different shapes available. Most people use "shape 12".

Look in the chart for P/N 8510K11 - it's $.23/foot in partial rolls (vs $1.50/ft at Frozen!) or $.19 for 100 foot rolls. The only real difference is that this doesn't have adhesive on the inside, but you really don't need it anyways!

BTW - Here's the lengths you'll need for various sized holes:

120MM - 14.5"
92MM - 11.25"
80MM - 9.5"

This place is a "modder's paradise" if you look around - they are huge, and VERY efficient - the "NewEgg" of industrial supply houses!

Can the fan holes be cut or drilled from the outside of the case so that the rad can be mounted on the inside floor of the case?

These speak for themselves...







Now I need to order some random parts from Frozen CPU (namely the fans and fluid) and I can start modding the case!

And this --



Well, more on that later tonight!

That's the best shot I can get of it now... it's too dark in my house/room to get a decent picture.

How come you didn't do the bezel? You can cover the whole face and just trace out the lines that need to be cut with an exacto knife or razorblade, if you're interested.

This has the beginnings of a very secksi rig. That case with water cooling will be so beautiful, it won't matter what kinda internals you've got! (well it will, but you know) .

I'm getting antsy!
MORE MORE MORE!!!

I would have only the V2000 comes with one of these:

[img]http://us.st11.yimg.com/us.st.yimg.com/I/yhst-24067115789173_1908_769091[/img]

Thank you! You may have to be patient though... because I'm still ordering a couple hundred dollars of things from Frozen CPU... heh

Ooooh, snazzy. I like it.
Looking good so far, bro. Did you decide what you are doing with the radiator, is it staying where it is, or are you still tinking of moving it into the lower chamber?

Even though everybody has their radiator on the top, I'm almost forced to put mine there. Really when you think about it, getting a drill with a 4.5" holesaw blade/bit attached isn't going to be very easy without scratching some things up. Plus my plan is pump -> CPU -> GPU -> radiator -> pump, so the placement of the holes on the rad will work out perfectly (I hope).

Thanks for the feedback guys, I appreciate it!

It's inspiring to see a water-cooling system....I plan on going the WC route too......paychecks permitting! I make $1200 (after taxes) a month, minus all my expenses.
How are you spending this much money? No overhead? Credit?