Project Prime - Lian Li PC-O11 Dynamic

[Gurt11]

Dear OC3D'ers, it has been a while!

I started planning my previous build in 2015 and now, almost 5 years later, I'm retiring Specced ITX 1.0. A 2.0 never came, but I enjoyed the hell out of that system and received lots of appreciation for it, also from the members at OC3D. Thank you and farewell Specced ITX.

Enter "Prime" !

Hardware:
* Case: Lian Li PC-O11 Dynamic white
* Motherboard: ASUS Prime X570-Pro
* CPU: AMD Ryzen 5 3600
* RAM: Corsair Doinator Platinum 16gb DDR4-3000
* GPU: ASUS AMD RX 5700XT
* SSD: ADATA XPG SX8200 pro M.2 1TB
* HDD: WD Ultrastar DC HC510 10TB
* PSU: Corsair AX860 (re-used)

Watercooling:
* CPU block: EK Supremacy Classic
* GPU block: EK Quantum Vector Radeon RX5700 +XT - Special Edition
* Radiator: EK CoolStream PE 360
* Pump-reservoir: EK Classic DP Side PC-O11D G1 + DDC 3.2 PWM
* Fans: EK Vardar EVO 120ER black
* Fittings: EK HTC Classic 14mm black
* Fluid: Mayhems Advanced Nano Liquid Coolant Pastel White


This build will be used for day to day tasks, gaming, a workstation for my girlfriend, a media center for PLEX and general backup/file server.

 

[Gurt11]

More parts!

Thanks to EK watercooling and Highflow for taking good care of the precious packages.
Part specifics are listed in the first post.

 

[Gurt11]

Some assembly. Processor, beautiful Dominator Platinum memory sticks and CPU block.
The reservoir and pump combo I chose is made by EK and Lian Li specially for this case. The pump has been updated to a DDC 3.2 pwm. Beautiful piece of kit!

On the more 'custom' side of things, I ordered a M.2 SSD cover and a fitted bottom plate for the Lian Li PC-O11 in mat white plexi. Both parts come from coldzero.eu. I've received some very nice custom work from him in the past, so he definitly deserves to be featured in this build.

Also, testfitting the GPU on a Cooler Master vertical gpu mount. I've never used a vertical setup, but it makes sense to show off the waterblock I have ordered for this RX5700XT ...
There's some sagging because of the weight and because of how the vertical mount fits in the pci-slot-opening the Lian Li case has. There's a little too much free play where the unit is supposed to slot in, so I need to try to find something to fix this.

 

[Gurt11]

In this post:

- The EK Special Edition full cover block for the RX5700XT graphics card.
- Torque explained.

So, I couldn't resist getting this special edition waterblock. I didn't like it when I first saw it, but it definitly grew on me and will fit in this build nicely.

I had some trouble getting the tiny screws loose from the back of the GPU. I had this tiny finger-screwdriver that fit perfectly, but I couldn't get any firm grip on it. Using the force of torque to get it to work!

Next up is when I start to bend and install some tubes. Prepare for trouble ...... *dum dum dum duuuum*

 

[Gurt11]

For the tubing.

- Used a dremel to cut to size. No problem.
- Bending using silicon tube and a heat gun. No problem.
- Standard deburring tool to smooth the edges. No problem.
- Fit the tubing in the base of the EK HTC Classic 14mm fittings. Looked like a fit.

But then there I stood, the fool I am for trusting anything different manufacturers say about compatibility with eachothers products.

Barrow PETG 14mm (OD) tubing IS NOT COMPATIBLE with EK HTC Classic 14mm fittings. A search on the interwebs shows that I was not the first to encounter this problem. By the way, EK does not make their own 14mm tubing.

So the tubing seems to fit fine in the base of the fittings. Yet when trying to put the compression piece over the tube, it is súper tight. So much so that you need to squeeze the tubing through, which scratches the tube. Then trying to screw the compression piece onto the fitting causes the tube to be scarred even more. Pictures below.

After this mishap, I ordered every 14mm tubing I could easily get my hands on.
- Bitspower acrylic 14mm pre-bend 90° tubings (4 pieces) -> FIT (see pic)
- XSPC PETG hard tubing (14/10) -> NO FIT (see pic)
- Corsair Hydro X Series XT Hardline 14mm tubing -> VERY TIGHT FIT, some scratches (see two last pics)

 

[Gurt11]

DREMELTIME.

There's lots of ways to go about cutting PETG or acrylic tubing.

I found my trusty Dremel to do a very fine job. Because of incompatibility between a lot of 14mm OD tubes and the EK HTC Classic fittings , I ended up using pre-bent Bitspower acrylic tubing. VERY nice 90° pre-bent and super clear tubes. I should have just gone with these in the first place and save me from a lot of headache, but we learn as we go ...

After cutting, finally the final fitting!

And ofcourse, filling the system with Mayhems Pastel White coolant :3

 

[Warchild]

Very nice and clean. I do hope you put a chamfer on the tubing ends though

 

[Gurt11]

Very nice and clean. I do hope you put a chamfer on the tubing ends though

Thank you!
And ofcourse, haha. I forgot to take pictures at some point there

 

[Warchild]

Thank you!
And ofcourse, haha. I forgot to take pictures at some point there

phew! otherwise I was thinking, those poor defenseless O-rings in the fittings.