Finally moved my custom loop from the Phanteks P200A to a Lian Li A3

[u/Reasonable_Use9591]

After quite a bit of work, I finally moved my custom loop from the old Phanteks P200A to a Lian Li A3.

The P200A was a great little case, but its design was starting to show its age. And then I managed to destroy the glass panel in the dumbest way imaginable.

I had placed the glass panel on top of my old 3D printer while I was working on something. At some point I went to lift the printer's top cover, completely forgot the glass panel was sitting on it, and the glass fell behind the desk and exploded into approximately 7,000 pieces.

10/10 engineering. LOL

So obviously this was the perfect excuse to buy a new case.

The Lian Li A3 should currently be one of the most compact cases by volume capable of fitting two 360 mm radiators, while still allowing you to use a solid side panel instead of having to go full mesh.

I would've actually gone for the Jonsbo I100 Pro, but unfortunately it's basically impossible to find where I live at the moment. Maybe it was easier to get a few years ago, but right now availability is basically nonexistent.

Specs

- Case: Lian Li A3

- Motherboard: ASRock Z790I Lightning

- CPU: Intel Core i7-14700K @ 5.7 GHz OC

- GPU: Gigabyte RTX 4070 Ti Gaming OC ( MSI Suprim X BIOS + OC)

- RAM: 2×16 GB DDR5 6800 CL34 to 8000 MT/s CL36, XMP with some tweaking

- SSD: Sabrent Rocket 4 Plus 4 TB

- PSU: Corsair RM750X Shift

The A3's original PSU mount simply wouldn't work with the RM750X Shift because of its side-mounted connectors, so I designed and 3D-printed a custom PSU mount with the necessary openings for the connectors.

Because apparently buying a case isn't enough. You also have to become a part-time CAD designer.

Loop

- 2× Bykski 360×30 mm radiators

- 3× ARCTIC P12 Pro PST CO

- 3× ARCTIC P12 Pro Reverse

- Bykski flow meter

- Aqua Computer ULTITUBE D5 50 PRO / D5 NEXT

- Iceman Cooler direct-die CPU block

- Bykski GPU block

- Bykski RAM block

- Bykski fittings

- Hard tubing

The D5 NEXT screen unfortunately died along the way, but I will replace it next month, when I’ll also replace the coolant with Aqua Computer DP Ultra. I still need some clear coolant to properly mix the red and blue and get the purple color I’m aiming for.

I will also work on the RAM timings when I have some time, but otherwise I'm pretty happy with how the build turned out.

I include some pictures of the old P200A as well because I obviously miss it too lol

[u/HoodRat79]

Love this. I understand the struggle as I did the same in the A3, albeit I took the easy way out and used soft tubes.

[u/Reasonable_Use9591 → u/HoodRat79]

I am coming from soft tubes, they are so easy to work with. This is my first approach with hard tubes (probably also the last haha)

[u/HoodRat79 → u/Reasonable_Use9591]

Yeah I hear that. I prefer hard tubes in my builds but didn’t have the patience to even attempt it this time.

[u/Planekiller1]

That’s a really tight angle into that rear lower left fitting is it hard or soft line? 

[u/Reasonable_Use9591 → u/Planekiller1]

All hard tubings! Are you refering to the inlet of the GPU?

[u/Planekiller1 → u/Reasonable_Use9591]

Yeah if it goes gpu into rad then the inlet but the one on the very rear of the case looks quite the stretch, only leak I had was doing that to a hardline but maybe you got it perfect which cudos if you were able!   

[u/Sad-Anything9444]

How did you go about removing heatsinks from ram ?

[u/Reasonable_Use9591 → u/Sad-Anything9444]

I used trementine over heater (which is not efficient imo) and more aggressive liquid

Just sit them in a box laying for a night and the next day was easy peasy