Lian Li PC-011 Dynamic thermal testing.

[Boinker]

If you guys and gals had seen that I recently got an upgrade In my PC life. You would know that I am toying with my 011 Dynamic.

 

After using this case for a while the question came to me. Is there a better way to configure the cooling for my setup? Searching the web I had mixed data from various youtubers and review write ups. This painfully concluded that I was not sure how I wanted to Configure the system. And I wasn't going to take on every suggestions as gold. So that meant one thing, time to test this myself. 

 

For all intense purposes the case layout looks a bit like this. 3 groups of 3 located at the bottom, top and front side facing away from the glass. Here are two reference photos. please ignore the pair of 960's in the setup photo. Those have been out for a while.

 

  

 

Testing setup: 

 

Case: 

         Lian Li pc-011 Dynamic

Case cooling:

         X9 Scyth slipstream PWM fans 0-1600 RPM w/pwm (rated @ 74cfm)

Motherboard and its minons :

         Intel 3930K processor on a Intel DX79si Motherboard supporting 16 gig Mushkin DDR3 2133

Note: The Ram is running at its rated speed in XMP and the Processor is OC'd to 4.20 Ghz from 3.20-3.50 turbo in single core turbo.

Graphics:

         EVGA RTX 2080 Black edition (Stock cooling and stock clocks)

PSU:

         EVGA 1KW PSU

Processor cooling:

         I am using a liquid cooling loop that remained static in the Front side fan locations. Watercool Heatkiller VI basic waterblock, XSPC EX360 rad, XSPC Photon tube res, Swiftech MCP655 and 1/2-3/4 tubing. 

 

Testing solution:

 

The test suit I used was 3dmarks Time Spy. For its function of testing both the CPU and GPU under the most extremes. and its free for the moment to me.

Monitoring software used was EVGA Precision X1 for the GPU, Intel XTU for the board and its overclock, Core temp used for CPU temps and tracking. 

 

To keep things even more even Steven the GPU and the CPU were optimized into a Max performance profile so the Clock speeds are constant and Not skewing the results.

 

After 2 consecutive runs with time Spy, one for warm up and second for data gather, The Max load temps will be recorded and then the system was allowed to sit in windows with only the monitoring software up for 10 minutes to establish a fair Idle reading.

 

System setup: 

 

GPU was set to its automatic fan profile by Nvidia. This puts the fan efforts around 50% at 70c and 0 while the card is idling.

 

To skew the results slightly, cause it cant be an amateur write up if I didn't, the fan profiles were set to a constant 50% with the intel built in ramp up starting from 50c and all on being at 60c. During testing it was ranged from 800RPM to 1200 RPM when the cpu ramped above 50c. In my defense, I did this because that is how I use it day to day. 

 

Lastly I did not take ambient in a manner that proper delta could be established. For this I do apologize. But according to a thermometer it was roughly 70F' next to the case when before I tested and after all testing took place.

 

On to the Data: 

 

In the manner described above I went to it. Phillips in hand we shall see what happens. I was legit curious to see and apparently ready to delete 4 hours of life for the data gathering.

See Crappy picture of fan locations for reference above. 

 

The first configuration I chose, because that is how it was to begin with, to have the top and side front fans populated as exhaust fans. 9 fans in total with the radiator sandwiched.

 

CPU temp: Max 55c    idle 35c

Max Motherboard VRM temp: 54c

GPU Temp: Idle: 47c Load: 73c

GPU fan speed: Max 54 % Min 0%

 

Second went Bottom intake with side and top exhaust. 9 fans in total with radiator only having 3 fans as outlet.

 

CPU temp: Max 57c    idle 40c

Max Motherboard VRM temp: 54c

GPU Temp: Idle 55c Load 73c

GPU fan speed: load 50% idle 0%

 

Next was The Bottom and side intake with top exhaust. This is where things get interesting.

 

CPU temp: Max 55c Idle 39c

Max Motherboard VRM: 56c

GPU Temp: idle 45c load 75c

GPU fan speed: load 57% idle 0%

 

next was No bottom fans with side intake radiator sandwich and top exhaust. 

 

CPU temp: Max 53c idle 37c

Max Motherboard VRM: 58c

GPU temp: idle 48c load 77c

GPU fan speed: load 60% idle 0%

 

Lastly I did a brute force test with fans at 100% minus the gpu. Fan location was top exhaust with side intake and no bottom.... This was excessively loud but nowhere near as bad as bottom intake setups. 

 

CPU temps: Max 50c Idle 33c

Max Motherboard VRM: 48c

GPU Temp: Idle 35c load 65c

GPU fan speed: load 48% idle 0%

 

 

With that performed lets talk about this for a bit.

 

Concluding: 

 

What is a constant here is the fact that you just cannot beat brute force when it comes to cooling performance. While impressive this case has not much a way of dampening noise or vibrations. Its so loud that it will rattle your teeth. For this reason I did not test the system much further with bottom intakes. Between the noise levels and results being either within margin of error or worse I abandoned using them in that location all together. A pc on your desk that is running north of 50 DBA is a distraction not worth getting used to. 

 

Now with the watercooling setup being where it is I cant help but wonder. Would the system perform better with the radiator placed elsewhere. With these results in hand once I have more time I have considered moving the radiator to the top and redoing testing just to get the most from my system. Movement of the heat coming from the GPU is going to make a clear difference, and in addition to that having fresh air only being ingested front the side fans is going to change that game. But how will that effect the CPU and VRM? Will a vertical gpu bracket improve this as well? Now that I have said that I will need to add the results as soon as I can allocate time to perform them. Likely next week. (January 26th tentative) 

 

With the testing performed it does prove one thing. Its an issue of give and take. With the fans as exhaust only and no bottom fans fitted we did see the best all around results. While with noise blown , haha, out of portion you can make the system cool better. What bothers me the most is that data clearly shows that bottom fans really do not serve a purpose other then blasting thy ears. You do see improvement with all fans pegged. But will suffer from hearing loss at the gain of only 5c on the CPU and 8c on the GPU. 

 

Other then that. Anyone that has taken the time to read this I greatly appreciate.

 

Finally to answer my initial question.

Is there a better way to configure the cooling for my setup? As usual the answer is, That depends.

[sticknstone]

First arrangement would benefit from a top rear exhaust fan to lower the GPU, VRM and case temperature.

 

The second arrangement would benefit from raising the case off the desk to decrease the bottleneck from the gap between the desk and case.  Decrease the CPU temperature, looks like by two degrees, by adding three radiator booster fans.

 

The third and fourth arrangement would benefit from having a side top exhaust, so that the air entering does not simply get exhausted out the top.  Best cooling happens when the air flows over the components being cooled as in Bottom Intake And Top Exhaust, or Front Exhaust And Rear Intake.

 

The bottom gap in the third and fourth arrangement I would raise the computer higher whenever I place fans there to get my money's worth, and get whatever it gives without fans.

[Boinker]

 

First arrangement would benefit from a top rear exhaust fan to lower the GPU, VRM and case temperature.

 

The second arrangement would benefit from raising the case off the desk to decrease the bottleneck from the gap between the desk and case.  Decrease the CPU temperature, looks like by two degrees, by adding three radiator booster fans.

 

The third and fourth arrangement would benefit from having a side top exhaust, so that the air entering does not simply get exhausted out the top.  Best cooling happens when the air flows over the components being cooled as in Bottom Intake And Top Exhaust, or Front Exhaust And Rear Intake.

 

The bottom gap in the third and fourth arrangement I would raise the computer higher whenever I place fans there to get my money's worth, and get whatever it gives without fans.

 

 

Thanks for your input stlicknstone Much appreciated.

[Boinker]

Well it was long awaited but I was able to do some of the testing that I sent myself to do. So here is the Vertical GPU mount portion. 

 

Far as install it was a no brainer. The instructions could be a bit better, the design functionality could be improved but it is still a case specific vertical GPU mount kit that you can rest assure it will fit. Install time is around 30 minutes if you muddle through it slowly.

 

No sli testing tonight. That is for another day. I have a pair of GTX 960's that I am curious to see if they would both fit in there. Only worry is the plugs for the motherboard and cable routing to the outside card. 

 

Anyhow, Feast your eyes. I am neutral on the look of it, But water cooling would fix that entirely. 

 

  

 

 

What is ever more curious is that I did not see a temp variation with this setup in gaming. Gonna test with the metods posted above and will give results. With the side intake and top exhaust anyhow. Not to be a bore but I would rather not swap around everything. 

[Boinker]

Gonna give a slight download of recent happenings. After saying screw it and going with a single rx360 I decided to paint it to match the case a bit better. Seeing as this rx360 is older then the system itself it needed cosmetic help anyhow. 

After that fiasco, had to make 5 attempts to get it right, it was installed. Not too shabby I don't think. 



Then an install

 

Shortly after was the nerve racking part. Hydro copper install. I have to say, evga did a pretty dang good job. However, it is the most expensive one on the market..... But it has unicorn vomit, cough cough rgb. 

Bleeding it with external psu for a day. 



And here is the system during testing.... But first a small blooper reel. When I installed the GPU block I installed the insulating pad under the black rather then under the backing plate.... Oh well. Draining the loop was rather entertaining. 

 

But finally with the finished product..... Finished for now anyhow. It will receive new fan inserts. Blue didn't match up correctly. GPU max temp after some Tim burn in is 60c rather then 90c under heaven benchmark. And the processor hasn't suffered due to the addition of the GPU in the loop. Xspc made a dang good radiator. Now it just looks better. 

Final thoughts. 

 

Maybe hard tube one day... Lol, but not today. 

[Boinker]

One last think to do with it. Couldn't stand the kind teal turquoise fan beauty rings..... Buyers remorse.... Fork it, I have a paint can. 

 

 

 

I am pretty sure its better. What do y'all think. 

[bishop245]

I was wondering how long those would stay blue.

[Boinker]

On 5/3/2019 at 8:58 AM, bishop245 said:

I was wondering how long those would stay blue.

Long enough for me to hate it and then fix it. ;-D

[Cmarr1073]

Hey Boinker, I just got a Lian Li Dynamic case and I am struggling trying to get thermals how I like them.  Before I started moving my fans around the case I was wondering if you tried 3x top intake,  3x bottom intake and 3x side exhaust?  If so, what type of results did you get?

Thanks,

 

[Boinker]

I have not tried that configuration. 

 

As far as testing with side exhaust its only value I found was then doing a negative pressure setup. Say you want to use 2 thin radiators in series. Other then that side should be intake. The best cooling all around came from radiator in top and side intake. Which I was not able to properly test against the same setup as I changed radiators. 

Not sure what it would do with all intakes. Not sure if the system would have enough places for the air to exit to make that worth while.

5 hours ago, Cmarr1073 said:

Hey Boinker, I just got a Lian Li Dynamic case and I am struggling trying to get thermals how I like them.  Before I started moving my fans around the case I was wondering if you tried 3x top intake,  3x bottom intake and 3x side exhaust?  If so, what type of results did you get?

Thanks,

 

What kind of performance issue and temps are we talking about..