GUIDE: Mounting the PA160 in a PC61 - 56k beware

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[O-CuK]Marci

Vendor - Thermochill

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Mar 15, 2004

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West Yorkshire, UK

• Jun 2, 2005

• #1

As we're all aware, the new ThermoChill PA160 rad doesn't conform to previous "standard" dimensions of Built-for-PC Watercooling Radiators. In fact, it's a tad large... HOWEVER... it's size was partially chosen as more or less every case on the market is 160mm wide or more, so either way it should go in one way or another. We decided to demonstrate this by squidging it into a LianLi PC61!!




The PC6x range is one of the nicer compact MidiTower cases... lightweight... not overly expensive, with staggering build quality...



First job, remove the drive cages. The front cage can be removed by undoing the 3x thumbscrews and sliding it out. The bottom drive cage - just drill out the 4x rivets for the tray and out it pops...



Now, on the front panel we have 3x simple cuts. Dremel time. The hole left behind by the removeable HDD Cage is rectangular. Simply follow it's two sides down into the 80mm fan blowholes... and then a single cut across the bottom of the two blowholes to make them into one single hole... cut along the pink lines!

 

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O

[O-CuK]Marci

Vendor - Thermochill

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Joined

Mar 15, 2004

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West Yorkshire, UK

• Jun 2, 2005

• Thread Starter
• #2

A few minutes of dental-drill noise later...



Now, on the rear of the inner face of the chassis, we unfortunately have some sticky-out items... namely the on/off switch and reset switch, and activity LEDs... this prevents us mounting the PA160 directly onto the case...



But all is not lost... the ThermoChill PA160 mounting kit adds additional mounting points. Combined with an antivibration pump mounting kit, this gives us the standoff we require...



Attach the wings to the sides of the rad, and the antivibe kit to the wings, and then go round the outer edge with the sealing foam provided with the mounting kit. (Note, I did this fairly quickly... it'll look as neat as you choose to make it look...)

 

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O

[O-CuK]Marci

Vendor - Thermochill

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West Yorkshire, UK

• Jun 2, 2005

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Now, to aid mounting, we need some holes. 4mm Drill bit...
From the bottom left mounting hole of the front left 80mm blowhole, measure straight up from the center of the screw hole 149mm, and make a mark, then measure horizontally from this mark 144mm, and make another mark. Drill both these out with a 4mm drill...



Slide the rad into place...



Note the bottom left antivibe mount in the lower left blowhole screwhole, and the lower right mounting point bend to sit on the lip of the righthand blowhole (there isn't enough metal to drill a proper mount here)



Secure with supplied nut and washer... on the bottom right mount, the washer and nut should clamp onto the lip of the blowhole. The radiator is now held in place solidly by 3 corners, and is clamped / resting on the 4th. This is nothing to worry about, and is still a very sturdy mount.

Seal round the edges and any gaps with any leftover sealing foam. Voila! Rad mounted!

 

OP

O

[O-CuK]Marci

Vendor - Thermochill

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West Yorkshire, UK

• Jun 2, 2005

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• #4

Now, you could stop there and call the job done... but the LianLi's front 3.5" blanking panels are attached to the removeable caddy, leaving an unsightly hole...


(Apols for poor pic quality)

There are several options... if you window-modded your case you may have some matching ali left to make a square panel and suspend behind the hole with double-sided tape... or you could cut a square of perforated ali sheet instead...



Personally, I prefer the proper approach. Take the removeable caddy, masking tape around the inner front lip, measure in 12mm (0.5") and draw a line all the way round...



Take your dremel, and cut!



And voila!!

 

OP

O

[O-CuK]Marci

Vendor - Thermochill

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Mar 15, 2004

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West Yorkshire, UK

• Jun 2, 2005

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• #5

Rad mounted, front blanking plates still attached!





This now leaves you with all 4x 5.25" bays free, for any combination of HDDs (in 5.25" adapters) and CD devices (eg: 2x CD / DVD Drives, 2x HDDs in 3.5 > 5.25 adapters, a Matrix Orbital in front of one HDD, a FanBus in front of the other HDD...

Or, alternately, recycle the bits you have left... the part that you sliced off the removeable HDD cage can be remounted into the bsae of the case with 4x screws, to give you back 3x 3.5" HDD Bays conveniently positioned in an airflow path...



Done n' dusted!

 

pwnt by pat

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Jun 16, 2003

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Cranberry Twp. PA

• Jun 2, 2005

• #6

very nice.

 

Crana

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Dec 31, 2004

• Jun 2, 2005

• #7

Nice!

 

yang88she

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Sep 29, 2004

• Jun 2, 2005

• #8

nice detailed write up, now let us know how it performs

 

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O

[O-CuK]Marci

Vendor - Thermochill

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West Yorkshire, UK

• Jun 2, 2005

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• #9

Performance has already been covered by Cathar in his thread at overclockers.com.au, with the results also posted to the PA160's product page at ThermoChill.com

 

sunrunner20

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Dallas, Texas

• Jun 2, 2005

• #10

So, does Thermochill modify heatercores or are these rads custom built?

 

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[O-CuK]Marci

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• Jun 2, 2005

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• #11

Purpose built. See http://www.thermochill.com/plant1.php

 

Jas

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Kenosha, WI.

• Jun 2, 2005

• #12

Anyone in the states have thes ein stock yet? I'm totally itching to snag one.

Great "how to" btw!

 

sunrunner20

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Dallas, Texas

• Jun 2, 2005

• #13

Will you consider making a 1" thick 120.2 radiator? (if my understanding is correct your current one is 1.9" thick)

 

voigts

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Feb 11, 2005

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Tennessee

• Jun 2, 2005

• #14

Very nice detailed guide. Should be a help to people looking to mount one of these.

 

Jas

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Kenosha, WI.

• Jun 2, 2005

• #15

Assuming us folks in the USA can find one (I can't find a retailer that has one)

 

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[O-CuK]Marci

Vendor - Thermochill

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West Yorkshire, UK

• Jun 3, 2005

• Thread Starter
• #16

Speak to DangerDen. They have stocks en-route.... they just haven't pu tthem on the site yet.

A pump mounting example....

Dual CSP-MAG...







Still plenty of clearance for SLI setup, doesn't foul mobo, retains 3x 3.5" bays. Alternatively, remove 3x 3.5" bays and use D4 / 1250 / 1048 etc.

 

Jas

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Feb 7, 2005

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Kenosha, WI.

• Jun 3, 2005

• #17

I'll give the guys at DD a ring. I've been itching to put this in my case since I first started watching the development of it.

Any idea what the price is going to be in the states?

 

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O

[O-CuK]Marci

Vendor - Thermochill

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West Yorkshire, UK

• Jun 3, 2005

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• #18

Not a clue in USD... sorry!

 

Jas

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Kenosha, WI.

• Jun 3, 2005

• #19

Well I'll give it a try as long as its under $200. (Even then, thats crazy pricey!)

 

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O

[O-CuK]Marci

Vendor - Thermochill

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Joined

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West Yorkshire, UK

• Jun 3, 2005

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• #20

It should work out at the current US price of the HE120.2 or thereabouts... slightly more I think... price reductions on HE series, so PA160.1 sits where 120.2 USED to sit on the price ladder...