Lian Li PC-A77F Review

👤by David Mitchelson Comments 📅31-08-10
Installation

Let me say from the start, installation is a complete breeze. Working in such a large open case with so many tool-less methods allows you to move things in and out without any issues. To avoid any knocks or bangs I removed the centre pillar from the case whilst installing all devices and then placed it back once everything was inside.

Firstly, the PSU. As I have said in the previous sections, Lian Li have included a bracket that allows you to securely fasten the PSU down without the need of using screws - which ultimately take time and scratch the case and PSU. On the inside of this bracket is another rubber pad to prevent vibration and damage to the panelling on the PSU. This bracket simply slides into the handle beneath the motherboard tray and near where the side panel clips in. It takes less than 10 seconds to securely fasten the PSU in and is a great method of holding it into position. I very much like what Lian Li have done here.



Moving to the HDD installation, four large headed screws are needed in each drive that is to be installed within the PC-A77F. On the inside of each screw head a rubber washer is required. This again provides anti-vibration qualities to the installation here. The drive then slides into the bay. In order to get the drive into the bay, you have to loosen a thumbscrew and slide the bar to provide an opening for the screws on the HDD to slide into the channels. Moving the bar back into the locked state and securing the thumbscrew then holds the HDD inside the cage. Although the drive does move around, this is only due to the rubber on metal - it is still a secure method and one that is easy to work with.
SCREW HDD PIC





With the centre beam in place and the graphics card also installed the retention tool can be employed. Bundled with the PC-A77F are VGA retention rods, there are two kinds. A larger one and a smaller one. Which one is used depends on how wide the graphics card is. I'm installing the ATI HD5870 inside the PC-A77F which is quite a large card so the smaller of the two rods is more suitable. A long screw is required to use this feature too.





To use the retention mount - the rod is placed into the relevant slot on the beam (the gap that lines up with the graphics card PCB). The end of the rod has two lips, place the PCB onto one of these lips and then pop the screw in to ensure the mounting is secure. This works quite well, and its about time that manufacturers start to figure out ways of taking the strain off the motherboard. Graphics cards and CPU coolers are getting bigger and heavier, so a retention tool is a way of preventing any damage or strain caused to components. Commendations to Lian Li for including this in their design of this case.



With everything installed I can confirm that the installation is easy and cable management is something to look forward to. There isn't a great deal of space between the side panel and the case structure on the opposing side the components and really it would be good to see a bigger gap here to improve cable management even more so. But in general, organising cables within the PC-A77F is effortless and trouble-free.

A substantial area is marked out for the CPU backplate - which is just as well because the motherboard tray on the PC-A77F is not removable.



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