Opinions on Lian Li Cases?

[spec8472]

Hey, does anyone here have/know of anyone who has a Lian Li case? Specificly the Black or Polished Midi Tower Aluminium Case (such as thisThis(review) or This(Manufacturers site))

I'm intending on purchasing one, I dont have a great range of options (i'm in australia -- read: i live in a country with a cr*p currency and limited product range) and this case looked like the best option.

There arnt that many reviews for this case.

Also, if you do have one, how noisy is it? Was it worth the cost? Did you need to mod it to make it fit your hardware or cool properly? Details details details!

Edit: Case Model number is "P60"

 

[fast_eddie]

Upon careful examination of pictures of a Lian Li case review a VirtualHideout.net, IMHO the 'snap-in' clips that retain the mobo to the pan are pisspoor crap! The most important part of the case is the proper retention of the mobo; threaded standoffs are preferable, clips that snap-in from the TOP of the mobo pan are 2nd in preference. Lian Li appears to use 'snap-in clips' that insert from the BOTTOM of the mobo pan; the bad thing is that pressure upon the mobo from the top {i.e. NORMAL insertion of cards, etc} MAY pop the 'clips' loose resulting in a 'floating loose' mobo that could short out against the mobo pan!!!
In an attempt to save manufacturing costs, Lian Li [IMHO] has mad a major blunder in the design stage that effectively makes the first part (and the hardest to correct at later stages of assembly) of computer assembly stages the WEAKEST link in the case. This is very unfortunate because other than this fault, this product appears to be an excellent design. If a fault similar to this appeared at a later stage of the assembly process a person could easily look beyond it, but when it is the primary (first) stage of 'build-up', IMHO, it renders the whole case as crap!

 

[spec8472]

Whee...
ok, i'll have to check that out then
thanks for the pointers

 

[Gizmology]

I happen to own one of these cases and it is my most favorite part of my PC. I got the silver painted case. The attention to detail on this case is awesome. The motherboard clips which fast_eddie talked about didn't come into play for me. The motherboard tray is the slide out type so you can assure that nothing is loose. The ADDA case fans which they used are a little weak, but they can easily be yanked out, I popped some high performance Panaflo's in mine. I would say it is the creme de la creme as far as cases go. It looks beautiful inside and out and pictures really do not do this case justice. One problem I ran into is that the powersupply is designed to be inserted through the back but mine would not fit because the fingerguard that covers the fan which pulls air off the processor stuck out too far so it would not fit. It was a little bit of a PITA but I got it in through the inside of the case.

Anyway the case rocks and I think you will really be pleased with it.

-Giz

 

[JawaJedi]

I've seen two Lian-Li case reviews online already and i think that they are very very nice cases.. but is it just me? or is the $200+ that they charge for cases just too damn expensive? I mean for 200+ i could get me a new video card... just my 2 cents...

-JawaJedi

edit: $200 US i meant, since you're in Australia...

 

[Gizmology]

I agree that it is expensive but I would say it is worth it if you have the $$.

-Giz

 

[spec8472]

Gizmology:
Thanks for comments, theyre much appreciated
With the original fans, did you notice that they were noisy at all? Since this is going to be operating close to a loungeroom, i dont want to have to turn the PC off just so i can watch a movie.

JawaJedi:
Yes, it is expensive, but after wasting money time and time again on cheap cases, simply because that was the only thing on hand when i've been building the PC, i think its worth investing in something with a good solid design.

I've cut myself a few times on cheap cases, and had trouble with drive racks being off centre/crooked etc. plus motherboard trays that are fixed in place and dont quite match the mounting holes on the board. Plus a stack of other trouble.

 

[JawaJedi]

Well, okay, if you have the money go ahead and buy it, i know that i would... I mean from what i've read, its a great case... at any rate, i reread your original post and you wanted to know where you could get it... i tried to search around and i seem to remember seeing someone selling it, but i can't remember where for the life of me, but what i did find was another review of the black aluminum lian-li:

http://www.virtualhideout.net/reviews/lianli_pc12/index.shtml

So i hope that helps, and if you do get one, let us know if its any good, since people seem to have such a varying opinion of this case...

-JawaJedi

 

[Braxus]

I've seen some of the Lian Li cases at my local store and the do cost an arm and a leg. However they are FREAKISHLY light! Very well designed too. Fans everywhere. Didn't come with a PS so you might need to buy your own.

 

[spec8472]

JawaJedi:
erm, i wasnt really looking for where to get it, i've already made up my mind about the place i'm gunna buy it (www.auspcmarket.com.au)

Braxus:
Cool, Thanks for the post. Yeah, i've made sure that I get a decent powersupply with it

 

[Gizmology]

If you get an Enermax Power Supply you'll be doing what I had to do (*see first post). I apologize but I just have to say one more time that this case kicks much ass and you will be very very happy with it if you decide to get it. Maybe there are one or two downfalls on it but the +'s of this case excede it.

One thing I am going to do is add another 60mm or 80mm fan mount in the rear right below the first 80mm mount in the back. I ordered mine from Singapore (I live in the U.S.) and it arrived safely and I didn't pay much more then the current price that it is now going for in the U.S.

-Giz

 

[spec8472]

hehe, nah, its cool

The powersupply is coming pre-installed, MaCase 300Watt. no idea what these are like, but it should be fine to run a hdd, burner, dvd, and the usual assortment of video card (Geforce 2 MX), nic, KT7 mobo + duron etc with no problems...

I'll put up a post when i do get the case... (probably about a month)