Anyone use Lian-Li cases nowadays? Recommendations?

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Oct 19, 2007
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I'm enjoying reading the replies. @pandemonium, it sounds like what you look for in a case is similar to what I look for. Another Lian-Li I looked at is the PC-7HWX. The PC-9F looks nice, but lacks the support for top-mounted radiator if I decide to go liquid.
 

pandemonium

Golden Member
Mar 17, 2011
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I'd certainly recommend going with a case that can accommodate a radiator or 2. I went with the simplified AIO for my CPU and can't look back now, so, there's a warning.

The PC-7HWX does look like a viable option; if you're not as bothered about noise dampening and don't require the svelte, completely stealthy look as much as I prefer.

I apologize as I wasn't able to look more; work was pretty hectic.

After thought: it is amazing to me that no other case manufacturer really has the same level of sleek, high quality focus as Lian Li though. If there is, I haven't seen it yet. Others have definitely raised the bar, but not quite to what I've come to expect from Lian Li.
 

traderjay

Senior member
Sep 24, 2015
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I'd certainly recommend going with a case that can accommodate a radiator or 2. I went with the simplified AIO for my CPU and can't look back now, so, there's a warning.

The PC-7HWX does look like a viable option; if you're not as bothered about noise dampening and don't require the svelte, completely stealthy look as much as I prefer.

I apologize as I wasn't able to look more; work was pretty hectic.

After thought: it is amazing to me that no other case manufacturer really has the same level of sleek, high quality focus as Lian Li though. If there is, I haven't seen it yet. Others have definitely raised the bar, but not quite to what I've come to expect from Lian Li.

I've noticed this as well and I built well over 50+ PCs for friends, family and work using a wide variety of cases and none of them have the same level of quality and precision as lian-li cases. I think Lian-Li has their own factory and years of experience have taught to refine quality control to the tee.

I think other case manufacturers uses outsourced/third party factory to make their cases.
 

XavierMace

Diamond Member
Apr 20, 2013
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I think that's more a matter of Lian Li's been making the same case for 20 years. I haven't found their QC to be any superior to similarly priced Silverstone or NZXT cases and Lian-Li lacks features common on most newer cases of competing price. Simpler product means less to go wrong.
 
Oct 19, 2007
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Lian-Li lacks features common on most newer cases of competing price. Simpler product means less to go wrong.

What common features are they missing these days? I'm out of the loop, as I mentioned earlier in the thread - this is my first time shopping in a long time.

EDIT: to add, right now I'm leaning towards an NZXT H440. My local Microcenter has it in stock in several colors including all black.
 
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XavierMace

Diamond Member
Apr 20, 2013
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I'll readily admit it's been quite some time since I've looked at Lian Li cases, although over the years I've owned 4 of them. A quick look at their website right now it looks like they've kinda trying to adapt but aren't sure how.

PC-O10: Pretty sizable case at (W)242mm x(H)493mm x(D)376mm. Only radiator option is a 240mm or smaller at the top. Fan selection in general is limited/odd with 120mm fan x2 (Top)/ 80mm fan x2 (Rear)/ 120mm fan x2 (Bottom). I mean really? 80mm? Who does 80mm fans any more. SFX power supply which again, seems odd given the overall size of the case. Only two front USB ports. No fan hub/controller or cable management. It does have drive trays but they are dual drive trays so you can't just pull one drive.

PC-8F: I'd call this a more classic Lian Li case. Still pretty sizable at (W)210mm x(H)476mm x(D)500mm. Radiator/fan support isn't bad on this one. USB-C on the front so props for that. But, again with the dual drive mounts. Cable management is even worse on this case. No fan hub/controller, No PSU shroud, and having it mounted at the top is a bit old fashioned at this point. No fan filters on anything that I see.

PC-O11G: Again, pretty sizable at (W)280mm x(H)510mm x(D)470mm. No front/rear fans at all, just 3 top, 3 bottom. That would be a deal killer right there for me. USB-C on the front again, so props again. Yet again, dual drive mounts. Since this is a dual chamber case, they can arguably get away with no cable management. Still no fan hub/controller. It's not 100% clear from the pictures what the filter situation is, but it doesn't look like it's easily accessible.

PC-K6: Same general size range at (W)220mm x(H)495mm x(D)515mm. This is the first case I see on their site that looks to be a direct competitor with Fractal's and NZXT's similar sized/designed cases. But, again only radiator option is a 280mm at the top and by the looks of if you aren't going to get a push/pull even with a thin radiator. No USB-C which makes the inclusion of only a single 2.0 in addition to the standard 2x 3.0's seem a bit odd. Good disk drive setup, although I'd want to see the trays in person as I historically haven't been happy with plastic trays except on servers. This is the first case of theirs I saw with spots for cable management ties, although there's no cable management built in. No fan hub/controller. It does have a power supply shroud, but not a rear removable power supply mount. I don't like that.

But then there's the one bit I've left out. Price. This has never been Lian Li's strong point and still isn't. The PC-O10 is $210. The PC-8F doesn't appear to be available in the US. The PC-011G is a $310. The PC-K6 is the most reasonable one at $110. I've spent $300 on a case in the past. I've always regretted it because it wasn't that good of a case. I've spent $200 on a case more than once in the past because at that time, that's what a quality case cost. However, that's no longer the case. Of the above the PC-K6 is the only one that appeals to me at all. But it's more expensive than it's competition from NXZT and Fractal and doesn't offer any benefits over them. I've had two NZXT cases, the H440 Razer (because I didn't want a two tone model) and the S340 Elite. I love both of them. I went from the H440 to the S340 Elite because I didn't need the extra size of the H440 and because the S340 Elite has a top panel HDMI for VR. Personally those would get my vote, although Fractal's cases are great as well.
 

traderjay

Senior member
Sep 24, 2015
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The PCV-2120 is still a very respectful case despite its age and the build quality is just superb. All the screw holes have reinforcement to prevent thread wearing.

This case has tons of 2.5 and 3.5 inch HDD mounts and the drive cage doesn't use cheap plastic trays, instead it uses mounting screws with rubber grommet to reduce vibration (Not so much of an issue with SSD nowdays). It even comes with built in expansion slot support bracket which is important for today's heavy GPUs. This case could easily last for all of my future builds unless the ATX format changes.
 

pandemonium

Golden Member
Mar 17, 2011
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Oddly enough, Lian Li's going to break into the RGB market now, too, with the "Alpha 550". The layout certainly has me intrigued, but I think they're just copying for the sake of copying instead of doing what they do best.
 

aigomorla

CPU, Cases&Cooling Mod PC Gaming Mod Elite Member
Super Moderator
Sep 28, 2005
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i still have a V2000 series with the inverted motherboard layout.

I absolutely love that case, they just dont make it like they used to.
 

XavierMace

Diamond Member
Apr 20, 2013
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Yeah and there's several shortcomings with that article. I tried to find the more complete set of data they mention but didn't see it.

1) It's a single fan radiator and they left the other front fan mount empty.
2) They have no other intake fans.
3) You'll note they stated the got different results with different cases.
4) There's no mention of ambient temps.
5) There's no mention of different fans on the radiators.

In other words it's an insufficient data set to go around saying front is better.
 
Oct 19, 2007
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I ended up getting my new case today. Went with a Corsair Obsidian 450D. My local Microcenter had it in stock for less than both Amazon and Newegg. ($111) I watched and read several reviews that convinced me I was making the right decision.

What I liked:
- looks clean and simple
- appears to have good airflow.
- can do 280mm top mounted radiator (which I will be doing)
- easy clean dust filters for the top/bottom fans. Front isn't quite as easy to clean, but it's removable.
- looks like it will support a clean cable layout.
- price is pretty reasonable

Thanks for the input everyone! My first non-LL build in a long time, but I'm pretty confident I'll be happy with this case for a few years.

-Sangamon

PS. I also walked out of Microcenter with a new power supply I was trying to avoid buying, but that's how I work in that store...
 
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