Lian Li Industrial Co. LTD was established in 1983 and is a family-owned and operated manufacturer of high-quality accessories and PC cases.
Lian Li spent nearly 25 years in PC manufacturing. Despite seeing many changes in the industry, Lian Li insists that its products must stand out. That is why you should feel the difference with every Lian Li product. Lian Li was the first choice for anyone who builds a computer system, even when the norm in the industry was cost cutting.
Lian Li Industrial Co. LTD was established in 1983 and is a family-owned and operated manufacturer of high-quality accessories and PC cases.
Lian Li spent nearly 25 years in PC manufacturing. Despite seeing many changes in the industry, Lian Li insists that its products must stand out. That is why you should feel the difference with every Lian Li product. Lian Li was the first choice for anyone who builds a computer system, even when the norm was to reduce cost.
Choosing the best Lian Li Case
The best Lian Li cases for your computer build will depend on your personal preference as case design is subjective. Each case is suitable for a specific use case. We have gathered the best Lian Li cases in terms of functionality. The Lian Li PC-O11 Dynamic is the best overall case, featuring impressive styling and features.
Lian Li is well-known for making the finest PC cases, which are more expensive for those who want a premium finish. The company has expanded into the affordable market and now offers more cases, which allows more people to experience the quality craftsmanship. These are the top Lian Li PC cases.
Lian Li LancoOL II Mesh Performance
As the name suggests, the Lian Li LANCOOL II Mesh Performance focuses on performance. The company uses a mesh front panel to maximize airflow. There are many 140mm fans that can be used for exhaust and intake. You can build a powerful gaming system by adding radiators and water cooling.
The Lian Li Lancool II Mesh, a revision to the original Lancool II that we reviewed in December last year, is the Lian Li Lancool II Mesh. The Mesh is a simple panel switch, so the build notes of our earlier coverage are still applicable. The prototype Mesh edition was first seen during our visit to Lian Li’s Taiwanese factory earlier this year. All the changes we discussed then have made it into the final product. This section will be limited to the differences between the original case.
The Lancool II chassis is already available and has been reviewed. However, this mesh version adds significant modifications to the exterior paneling. We won’t be able to recap all of our thoughts on the build quality from the original review. However, we will look back at what Lian Li has addressed. For a complete overview, we recommend that you also read our original Lancool II review.
Magnets are used to secure the four doors on Lancool II cases. These magnets were not used on the original Lancool II. They could have smashed against the metal chassis or chip if they weren’t carefully inserted into the corners. Even if they did, the lower doors would still close, steel against steel. These magnets are protected by foam pads on the Mesh to absorb the impact.
The Lancool II Mesh has excellent cooling. This is due to both the stock fans and the open front panel. However, noise is a drawback. The case was loudest we tested, at 43.1 dBA when the fan speed was 100%. This is behind the Phanteks P500A. We always highlight the mesh-fronted cases we review, but fans can be run at low speeds in well ventilated cases without compromising thermal performance. To meet the 36dBA noise threshold, we reduced fan speed to 65%. This translated to about 700RPM for both the 140mm intake fans as well as the 120mm rear exhaust fans.
Lian Li – PC-O11 Dynamic
Lian Li’s O11 dynamic was featured at CES this year. Although it’s similar to the PC-O11 model, this new version was created in collaboration with Der8auer, a professional overclocker whom we have interviewed many times. The Lian Li O11 Dynamic Review precedes the O11 Air Review, due to be released in May or June. The O11 Dynamic will ship immediately and is more for liquid cooling fans than air-cooled builders. However, you can still buy fans and air cool your O11 Dynamic.
Although the profile of the O11 Dynamic looks very similar to the PC-O11 older model, there are some significant improvements. One has had the PC prefix dropped. The case’s front panel now has a wider glass panel and the aluminum I/O strip at the front is shorter. Also, the LIAN-LI badge is gone from the bottom. Contrary to the flashy custom cases we saw at CES the only branding visible is a metal plate attached to the chassis. This could be removed.
The power button was the only problem with the front I/O. The LED was turned on and some minor scratches were visible. Both status LEDs are located behind the power button, so the blue power light will flicker purple when hard drive activity is active. You can leave either one or both of these LEDs plugged.
The panels’ black borders are just thin enough to conceal the steel supports beneath. The front and side panels are flush with one another to create the illusion that there is only one window. Although we’ve seen cases that have more glass, it’s amazing how much Lian Li managed to squeeze into these cases.
The thumbscrews were used by the PC-O11 to attach the glass panels. This is an unattractive, but common, method. The O11 Dynamic’s side and front panels are held in position by the top panel and metal tabs. The top can be removed by unscrewing two thumbscrews, and then sliding it backwards. After that, the panels can easily be lifted up and taken off the case. The case is easy to open because the front fan mounts and other hardware are absent. It’s also convenient. These little flat-topped posts that lock each panel’s tabs into place are much stronger than traditional bent metal flaps. This method of attaching panels has one drawback: there is no place to grip the glass. If the panels are tightened, it is difficult to remove or replace them.
The internal layout of O11 Dynamic is a strange one. Two PSU bays are located in the back of the case that can be used simultaneously. This feature is not required by many users, but the unused slot can be used for two hard drives. The case comes with the PSU support and the hard drive cage in one slot. They can both be swapped. The empty HDD enclosure is not a problem as it does not obstruct airflow.
The space behind the mobo must be twice as large as the PSU. This cable channel is extra-deep and has plenty of cutouts. For those who are more meticulous, there’s a metal cover that covers the channel and keeps everything in place. These cable covers have been used in many cases, with different degrees of effectiveness. However, it works well here. It really helps keep the thick cables hidden away. Although the cover has 2.5-inch mounts, it is easier to stick 2.5-inch drives into the HDD cage if there aren’t any.
Vertical placement of the GPUs is noticeable as soon as the case was opened. There are many slots that can be used to mount the GPU in a vertical orientation. They are also set away from the glass unlike other cases, which can suffocate the GPUs by pressing them against the side panels. Because of clearance issues, the expansion slot closest to the motherboard cannot be used with an ATX board. There are also mounting holes for the riser cables that don’t correspond with any PCIe slots. We were able to fit our MSI 1080, which is wider than the average case. However, it was easier to fit horizontally with 6-pin PCIe power connectors. The two nearest PCI slots still provide more GPU fan clearance than any other cases.
Lian Li Strimmer Plus
Lian Li’s Strimer Plus has improved lighting, build quality, and a better controller box. This is one of the most impressive RGB products that you can put in your computer. The original Strimer by Lian Li impressed us most last year. It brought eye-catching, customizable RGB lighting to internal cabling. First, it was a 24-pin ATX power extension cord, then later, it was a dual 8 pin PCIe model that can be plugged into your graphics card. We were disappointed with the quality of the product and the absence of an off switch on the expansion slot RGB controller. The Strimer Plus is the sequel from the company. It mostly fixes these problems and improves its appearance. Although the build quality is still not perfect, the controller box now has an “off” setting. The Strimer Plus is a better looking product than its predecessor. There are no exposed screws, better lighting effects and it comes out of the gate with both PCIe and 24-pin. This allows you to enjoy your RGB cable bliss.
