[eskro]

if the price diff is not huge, u can go for the 460W,
but if its too much, stick to the 400W

[Silvers]

if the price diff is not huge, u can go for the 460W,
but if its too much, stick to the 400W

It's strange you say that actually was just looking into that.

400w here (£119.28 Inc VAT) - http://www.scan.co.uk/products/400w-psu-...ink%29-atx

460w here (£116.95 Inc VAT) - http://www.scan.co.uk/products/460w-psu-...ink%29-atx

Can't really get my head round why the 460w would be cheaper that the 400w!?

[eskro]

thats funny

see, thats why i asked...

in this case, of course, get the 460w version!!

[Silvers]

thats funny

see, thats why i asked...

in this case, of course, get the 460w version!!

Quick review of the case (Lian Li PC-C50B) in case anyone was/is considering it for a build.

http://www.lian-li.com/v2/en/product/pro...dex=68&g=f

I was taken by the looks of it, yes it's fairly plain but I like the understated look and it will look good next to my Onkyo AVR. (both black)

Made from alumimum it is very light, yet nice and rigid with no discernable flex. It is finished with a brushed effect and looks very classy. Greasy fingers are not something you want to be handling this with though!!

It has modular drive cages which you can add and subtract at will and are a very good idea and there would still be alot of room inside with all these cages filled. You can fit 3 x 3.5" HDD's + 3 x 2.5" HDD's. So plenty of space if NAS is not an option for you.

Lian Li brain fart!!

There are 3 USB3.0 ports on the front which was a feature I was looking for. However instead of clipping directly to the motherboard headers they terminate on the end of 3 x 3 feet USB cables which route through the case - out of a port on the back - and into the USB ports on the rear I/O panel. This it seems was a way of getting USB3.0 functionality during a period when USB3.0 motherboards only had rear connectors and no USB3.0 headers directly on the board itself. Though why they are 3 feet long is a mystery to me!

Bit peeved that I seemed to get an early revison of this case as later revisions recognise this problem and ship with this solution so I am told: (http://www.amazon.co.uk/Lian-Li-UC-01-US...=8-1-fkmr1).

Mine didn't but I will get onto Lian Li and see if they can send me one gratis, though I doubt it!

Will be a slight nuisance having to route all this extra cabling but there is plenty of space so that shouldn't be an issue but in general the whole concept was a bit of a balls up by Lian Li.

The LG burner I got lines up perfectly with the drive flap on the front and the button works as it was designed, ejecting the drive tray. Beware that not all drives will line up so this should be something to consider before purchase..

Having not built this yet I can't comment on noise or temps but the fans are quite beasty (120mm) & I can replace with aftermarket ones if needed and there is also space for more should they be required.

All in all whilst quite pricey it is a very classy looking piece of kit which is very well built and ticked all boxes I was looking for if you pardon the pun!

Regards

[_sel_]

Thing looks fickin' huge!!!

lol, it is! But it fits nicely in the case

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-vAjcf...G_3970.JPG

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-CWZAV...G_3972.JPG

[_sel_]

Quick review of the case (Lian Li PC-C50B) in case anyone was/is considering it for a build.

http://www.lian-li.com/v2/en/product/pro...dex=68&g=f

Nice looking case. Unfortunately I don't think it would have worked for me. My HTPC is in a cabinet with no space at the sides, so I think the air flow wouldn't have worked very well?? I wanted a case that vented at the rear.

[Silvers]

lol, it is! But it fits nicely in the case

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-vAjcf...G_3970.JPG

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-CWZAV...G_3972.JPG

Guessing I'd have about the same clearance space too. Is that a Silverstone case?

What prompted you to go down the "scaled down F1 windtunnel inside my HTPC" route?

Did you try stock coolers? if so what sort of temps/noise levels where you getting before and after?

Regards

[Silvers]

Nice looking case. Unfortunately I don't think it would have worked for me. My HTPC is in a cabinet with no space at the sides, so I think the air flow wouldn't have worked very well?? I wanted a case that vented at the rear.

Same here - I'm not very confident of keeping it but I would like to as its perfect for my setup at the moment.

http://alatest.co.uk/reviews/other-elect...570707,66/

It's a nice cabinet which houses my AVR, PS3, DVR and also my router which stands upright in the middle compartment. The last space was for this build.

But the intake and exhaust for this case are on the sides opposite to each other and there would only be around 1-2" of space either side if I were to place the HTPC inside.

Shame really as its a nice cabinet.

[_sel_]

Guessing I'd have about the same clearance space too. Is that a Silverstone case?

What prompted you to go down the "scaled down F1 windtunnel inside my HTPC" route?

Did you try stock coolers? if so what sort of temps/noise levels where you getting before and after?

Regards

Yes, it's a Silverstone LC17B Case. I just wanted a minimal fronted full size case and the Silverstone was pretty cheap as well (compared to many).

Windtunnel was not really the objective Noise and flexibility were the main drivers - and an element of guilty pleasure (as I said the cooler is total overkill really). I was going to use just one of the fans, but even with both (running on slow setting) they are virtually silent.

I did build an almost identical HTPC for a friend, but used a stock cooler on that. To be fair that is pretty much silent too.

Didn't do any real testing, but I did overclock mine a bit and ran a few tests and it still ran cooler than the stock fan. But, if you don't plan to overclock then the stock cooler is absolutely fine. Once the lid is on and it is inside a cabinet it is silent as well. Just doesn't look anywhere near as cool

[_sel_]

Same here - I'm not very confident of keeping it but I would like to as its perfect for my setup at the moment.

http://alatest.co.uk/reviews/other-elect...570707,66/

It's a nice cabinet which houses my AVR, PS3, DVR and also my router which stands upright in the middle compartment. The last space was for this build.

But the intake and exhaust for this case are on the sides opposite to each other and there would only be around 1-2" of space either side if I were to place the HTPC inside.

Shame really as its a nice cabinet.

Nice cabinet! I have less than 1cm either side of my HTPC:
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-QsCFm...G_3974.JPG
(yes, the LED is a bit bright though not as bad as that photo makes it look!)

I butchered the back of my cabinet to create nice bid holes where the exhaust fans are at the back of the case. Had no issues to date.

[Silvers]

Yes, it's a Silverstone LC17B Case. I just wanted a minimal fronted full size case and the Silverstone was pretty cheap as well (compared to many).

Yeah should've read your sig before I asked that!

Nice cabinet! I have less than 1cm either side of my HTPC:
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-QsCFm...G_3974.JPG
(yes, the LED is a bit bright though not as bad as that photo makes it look!)

I butchered the back of my cabinet to create nice bid holes where the exhaust fans are at the back of the case. Had no issues to date.

That's a super tight fit right there!! Where are the intake fans though?

[_sel_]

That's a super tight fit right there!! Where are the intake fans though?

I haven't got any installed at the moment. You can optionally fit some at the front of the case infront of the HDD's and there is a position for one on the side. But the temps have been perfectly ok as it is so I haven't bothered. The machine is 99% just running XBMC so there isn't really much load on it.

I just wish the Sky HD box was as quiet - noisy piece of junk!

[Silvers]

I haven't got any installed at the moment. You can optionally fit some at the front of the case infront of the HDD's and there is a position for one on the side. But the temps have been perfectly ok as it is so I haven't bothered. The machine is 99% just running XBMC so there isn't really much load on it.

I just wish the Sky HD box was as quiet - noisy piece of junk!

Glad it's running well for you, hoping for the same. If I can get away with keeping that cabinet I would be happy as it has served me well so far and I like the asthetics of it with all my stuff.

Talking about noisy pieces of junk, I have to have the front panel open and my PS3 (1st gen fat) out basically on the floor because when playing a game the thing sounds like an weapons grade hair dryer - old piece of tatt!!

Can't wait to get a slim but it's kind of a luxury I don't need. This (HTPC) I need, or so I keep telling myself!