Beyond using GaN tech to shrink their size and including ever-higher wattage to meet the demands of high-end GPUs and local AI, PC power supplies aren't exactly a space known for flashy innovation. But Lian Li is having none of that.

The company's upcoming Platinum V2 line, expected to arrive in September, keeps the extended lip with 90-degree-angled connections for ease of installation and less cable mess, while adding a few more new tricks.

An LED on the side of the unit switches from green to red when it's time to clean the supply's intake fan. And much like higher-end cases, there is a magnetically attached filter over the fan that you can pop off for convenient cleaning.

If that weren't enough, the inner edge of the PSU houses an expansive four-pin fan (6 connectors) and USB 2.0 (4 connectors) hub, which snaps on via magnets and pins, so you can remove it to connect all those fiddle wires, then pop it back on the PSU. The hub itself connects to a USB 3 header, which includes a passthrough so you don't have to sacrifice what might be the only 20-pin header on your motherboard.

My main concern is that plugging all your fan and accessory cables right next to your power cables could result in exactly the kind of cable jumble that the Edge line was designed to help with. And shoving that many cables next to each other in a tight space doesn’t sound great if something goes thermally sideways. But we'd have to try one out to say for sure how much of an issue that might be.

Lian Li hasn't divulged pricing yet, but it does plan on launching 1,000, 1,200, and 1,350-watt models of the Edge V2 in September.

PC case and accessories manufacturer Lian Li has announced a new variant for its DK07 motorized standing desk. The company has retained the original launch price of $1,399.99, and the desk is available starting today through Amazon, Newegg, Caseking, Overclockers UK, and SCAN.

Originally launched back in 2024, the updated version now comes in a dark walnut wood finish with a tempered glass panel and enough internal space to accommodate single or dual E-ATX systems.

• Check out the Lian Li DK07 Wood on Amazon
• Check out the Lian Li DK07 Wood on Newegg
• Check out the Lian Li DK07 Wood on Caseking
• Check out the Lian Li DK07 Wood on Overclockers UK
• Check out the Lian Li DK07 Wood on SCAN

Apart from the new tabletop finish, the new DK07 Wood offers features similar to the original, including an adjustable height ranging from 676 millimeters (26.61 inches) to 1,162 millimeters (45.7 inches), along with three customizable preset positions. For accessibility, the desk comes with a sliding front panel to lift the tempered glass top when accessing internal components. Additionally, the removable modular motherboard trays make the building process more convenient, allowing users to install and prepare components outside the desk before placing the system into the chassis.

The desk supports both horizontal and vertical GPU orientations, with clearance of up to 383mm in length. In terms of power supply, one can install up to two full-size 220mm PSUs with up to 10x 3.5” HDD and six 2.5” SSDs. There’s plenty of cooling options as well, including support for a 480mm radiator or up to four 360mm radiators and 17 x 120mm fans in a single system setup, or up to two 360mm radiators and 12 x 120mm fans in a dual system setup. You also get dedicated front panel I/O for each system, which includes power and reset buttons, two USB 3.1 Type-C ports, two USB 3.0 Type-A, and a mic/audio jack. Other notable features include a built-in wireless charging pad, two drawers, internal cable organizers, dual cable pass-through holes for peripherals, and a rear cable tray.

Lian Li’s DK07 standing desk seems quite the practical solution as it not only saves on space but also doubles as a chassis for two PCs with all the proper organization one could ask for, and even a tempered glass panel to show off your premium hardware. In more than one way, it makes more sense than it initially sounds, especially at $1,399.99. Considering the amount of functionality packed into the desk, the pricing feels somewhat reasonable when compared to buying a premium standing desk and a pair of enthusiast-grade PC cases separately. That said, it remains a niche product aimed at enthusiasts.

Lian Li Industrial Co., Ltd., founded in 1983, is a Taiwanese company renowned for its premium computer cases, power supplies, and PC accessories. As one of the oldest players in the PC hardware market, Lian Li is recognized for its commitment to high-quality craftsmanship, innovative aluminum-based designs, and solutions tailored to both industrial and consumer markets. Their product lineup includes mid-tower and full-tower cases, compact enclosures for smaller builds, and cutting-edge PSUs, all acknowledged for their modularity, durability, and forward-thinking features. Among PC enthusiasts, Lian Li's reputation for blending functionality with aesthetics has established them as an industry leader.

This review examines the SP1000P, representing Lian Li's entry into the high-wattage SFX market segment to see if it belongs among the best power supplies in the market. The SP1000P delivers 1000 watts from the standard 100mm SFX form factor, representing exceptional power density achieved through advanced circuit topology and premium components. The unit employs a flat copper strip transformer rather than conventional wire-wound designs, improving electrical performance and reducing its footprint. ATX 3.1 certification confirms transient handling capability, critical for modern graphics cards. The implementation targets small form factor enthusiasts requiring maximum power output without compromising system dimensions.

Specifications and Design

In the Box

The Lian Li SP1000P arrives in compact cardboard packaging befitting its SFX dimensions. A predominantly black theme with blue accents establishes brand identity. The unit image dominates the front panel, communicating form factor clearly. Protection proves adequate, with the PSU enclosed in a protective pouch and foam inserts providing shock absorption during transport.

The bundle exceeds typical expectations. Beyond the standard AC power cable and mounting screws, Lian Li includes an SFX-to-ATX mounting plate adapter enabling installation in standard ATX chassis. An AC power cable extension features an integrated power switch, addressing cases where PSU mounting renders the unit’s rear switch inaccessible. Cable combs arrive in quantity, permitting organizational customization. Finally, there is a small number of traditional cable ties included.

All cables employ an all-black aesthetic with black connectors and wires. Individual sleeving creates visual cohesion while maintaining flexibility. The cable configuration proves conservative for a 1000W unit, providing one 12V-2x6 connector and three 6+2 pin PCI Express connectors. Five SATA connectors represent minimal provision for storage-intensive builds. The 12V-2x6 connector features thin sense wires with stiff insulation that behave like stranded hair, requiring extra care if aesthetics are important. Partial coloring on 12V-2x6 connectors provides visual feedback confirming correct insertion. The connector count suggests a platform optimized for compact, focused builds rather than maximum peripheral expansion.

External Appearance

The Lian Li SP1000P measures precisely 100mm in length, conforming exactly to standard SFX specifications. Achieving 1000W output from this form factor represents extraordinary power density. The matte black chassis paint job demonstrates excellent finishing quality, with smooth surfaces free from manufacturing imperfections.

The design conforms to conventional SFX architecture. The bottom features horizontal ribbed ventilation forming a parallel bar finger guard for the 92mm fan. Decorative stickers with series and company logos occupy the left and right sides. A comprehensive electrical specifications sticker covers the entire top surface.

The front hosts the normal AC power cable receptacle alongside a compact power switch. The rear presents the modular cable connectors which are complemented by a subtle legend, even though the connectors are keyed and it is not possible to insert them wrong.

Internal Design

The Lian Li SP1000P employs a Hong Hua 92mm fan utilizing a fluid dynamic bearing engine. FDB designs represent optimal acoustic-to-reliability balance, maintaining low operational noise at elevated speeds while delivering strong mean time between failure figures. The fan specification indicates an extremely high 2900 RPM maximum speed. The unit implements zero-RPM mode, permitting fanless operation during light loads.

We could not indisputably verify the OEM behind this PSU. The design resembles Helly Technology platforms but there are distinct characteristics that lead us to believe they are not behind this platform. The origin is likely to be one of numerous OEMs that emerged over the past decade around Guangdong, sharing R&D and often human resources as well. Regardless of uncertain lineage, build quality proves very good with no manufacturing imperfections evident despite the extremely compact design.

The input filtering stage provides adequate protection with two Y capacitors, two X capacitors, and two filtering inductors. Portions of the filtering stage occupy a daughterboard attached to the AC receptacle rear. Two rectifying bridges mount on the unit's sizable primary heatsink.

The APFC circuitry employs two Oriental Semiconductor 60R017HT4Z MOSFETs and a diode, positioned on the primary heatsink. One encased inductor and two Rubycon 420 μmicroF capacitors comprise the passive components.

The primary stage employs two Oriental Semiconductor MOSFETs, forming a half-bridge inversion topology. These mount on the primary heatsink alongside the APFC and input bridges. The heatsink proves fairly large with ample dissipation area, though it must handle multiple component groups with only modest airflow from the 92mm fan. The main transformer represents the platform's engineering highlight. Rather than conventional wire windings, its flat copper strips reduce losses, improve power quality, and permit higher operating frequencies that minimize transformer footprint.

The secondary stage utilizes six Oriental Semiconductor SFS04R007UGNF MOSFETs on the PCB underside, generating the primary 12V rail through synchronous rectification. These are industrial-grade MOSFETs that typically target commercial applications rather than consumer electronics. Their cooling depends on the chassis itself and small heatsink around the main transformer. DC-to-DC converter circuits generate the 3.3V and 5V rails.

Secondary side capacitors originate from Nippon Chemi-Con and Nichicon, both premier Japanese manufacturers. This represents premium component selection supporting the ten-year warranty period.

Cold Test Results

Cold Test Results (25°C Ambient)

For the testing of PSUs, we are using high precision electronic loads with a maximum power draw of 2700 Watts, a Rigol DS5042M 40 MHz oscilloscope, an Extech 380803 power analyzer, two high precision UNI-T UT-325 digital thermometers, an Extech HD600 SPL meter, a self-designed hotbox and various other bits and parts.

The Lian Li SP1000P achieves average nominal load efficiency of 90.9% with 115 VAC input and 92.3% with 230 VAC input, measured across the standard load range. These results satisfy 80 Plus Platinum certification requirements with 115 VAC input. With 230 VAC input, the unit approaches but cannot quite achieve the 94% efficiency at 50% load required for Platinum certification, missing by approximately 0.4%. Efficiency proves quite high across the nominal load range. The unit lacks Cybenetics or PPLP certifications at review time.

Efficiency peaks at approximately 50% load and maintains stability across most operational ranges. Low load efficiency proves very good. The fan remains inactive until load exceeds approximately 370 watts, then increases speed linearly with load. The unit becomes audibly loud at loads beyond 60 to 70% capacity though the fan never reaches maximum speed even at 100% load during ambient temperature testing.

Hot Test Results

Hot Test Results (~45°C Ambient)

During elevated ambient temperature testing, the Lian Li SP1000P exhibits fairly significant efficiency degradation. Average nominal load efficiency drops to 88.2% with 115 VAC input and 89.5% with 230 VAC input. Clear signs of thermal stress appear at maximum load. We cannot say this was unexpected for a very compact unit rated for operation at 40°C, regardless of its component quality. Maintaining maximum power output even briefly under these conditions demonstrates capable thermal design despite evident stress.

Fan behavior shifts considerably under thermal stress. Activation occurs earlier, engaging at just 200 watts load. Fan speed increases to meet escalating cooling demands. The fan reaches maximum speed at 90 to 95% load and becomes very loud even before that threshold. Internal temperatures prove very high under these conditions. Given the extremely compact form factor and 40°C rating, maintaining full power output even temporarily under >45°C ambient temperature represents remarkable capability despite the audible strain.

PSU Quality and Bottom Line

Power Supply Quality

The Lian Li SP1000P demonstrates outstanding power quality performance. Maximum ripple measured 24 mV on the 12V rail, 16 mV on the 5V rail, and 16 mV on the 3.3V rail. These figures prove outstanding despite the very compact design and adverse operating conditions. Exceptional filtering and, possibly, the transformer keep voltage ripples extremely low. Voltage regulation proves excellent, maintaining 0.8% on the 12V rail, 1.3% on the 5V rail, and 1.5% on the 3.3V rail. Regulation on the primary 12V line proves particularly good. These figures confirm exceptional power quality across all outputs.

During our thorough assessment, we evaluate the essential protection features of every power supply unit we review, including Over Current Protection (OCP), Over Voltage Protection (OVP), Over Power Protection (OPP), and Short Circuit Protection (SCP).

OCP activates at 132% on the 3.3V and 5V rails, and 116% on the 12V rail. OPP triggers at 118% during hot testing. Protection circuit responses prove very sharp, especially for an ATX 3.1 certified unit designed to handle transient loads.

Bottom Line

The Lian Li SP1000P represents exceptional engineering achievement in power supply miniaturization. Delivering 1000 watts from a standard 100mm SFX form factor requires advanced topology and premium components. The flat copper strip transformer, industrial-grade MOSFETs, and Japanese capacitors demonstrate serious engineering rather than corner-cutting. Build quality proves very good with no manufacturing imperfections evident despite the extremely compact and densely populated internal design. The ten-year warranty period reflects confidence in component selection and thermal management capabilities.

Cable configuration is conservative for a 1000W unit, but is not unwarranted considering its SFX size. The individually sleeved cables create attractive aesthetics, though the stiff sense wires on the 12V-2x6 connector present a minor cosmetic concern. The AC power extension cable with integrated switch demonstrates thoughtful attention to special case and custom build installation challenges where PSU mounting renders the rear switch inaccessible. The included SFX-to-ATX mounting bracket expands compatibility to standard ATX chassis, but keep in mind that the cables of the SFX unit are quite short and will not work with the unit placed any further than right next to the motherboard.

Electrical performance proves exceptional across all metrics. Voltage regulation maintains 0.8% deviation on the primary 12V rail with slightly higher but still good figures on minor rails, demonstrating precise control under varying loads. Ripple suppression achieves outstanding results, exceptional considering the very compact form factor and adverse testing conditions. Protection circuits respond with sharp precision. Efficiency results merit recognition. Cold testing efficiency of 90.9% with 115 VAC and 92.3% with 230 VAC achieves 80 Plus Platinum certification with 115 VAC input. The unit approaches but narrowly misses Platinum certification with 230 VAC input. Hot testing reveals fairly significant efficiency degradation to 88.2% and 89.5% respectively, with clear thermal stress signs at maximum load, though figures remain within acceptable parameters for a unit rated at 40 degrees Celsius.

Thermal management proves adequate for specification compliance though acoustic performance suffers under sustained high loads. The 100mm form factor paired with a 92mm fan operating at extremely high maximum speed creates inherent cooling challenges. The fan remains inactive until approximately 370 watts load, contributing to excellent low-load acoustics. Loads exceeding 60 to 70% capacity produce significant noise levels. Under elevated ambient temperatures, the fan reaches maximum speed at 90 to 95% load and becomes very loud. Internal temperatures prove very high under maximum load hot testing conditions. The thermal control circuitry responds appropriately to cooling demands but this clearly is not a unit designed to be seriously stressed in a very adverse environment.

Component selection demonstrates premium positioning. Rubycon APFC capacitors and Oriental Semiconductor industrial-grade MOSFETs represent solid choices. Nippon Chemi-Con and Nichicon secondary capacitors confirm commitment to reliability. The flat copper strip transformer represents advanced engineering reducing losses and permitting higher operating frequencies that allowed for the unit’s very compact size. Component selection supports the ten-year warranty period convincingly.

The Lian Li SP1000P succeeds in delivering remarkable power density without compromising electrical performance quality. Pricing positions the SP1000P at approximately $185, representing reasonably high positioning for an SFX unit with 80 Plus Platinum efficiency. The market segment for users requiring such massive power output from such compact dimensions remains very niche. Competition exists from other high-wattage SFX units, though few match the SP1000P's power density. Value assessment depends heavily on small form factor requirements and willingness to accept high-load acoustic compromises. Those prioritizing silence should consider lower-wattage alternatives or builds that rarely approach maximum capacity.

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Lian Li Industrial Co., Ltd., founded in 1983, is a Taiwanese company renowned for its premium computer cases, power supplies, and PC accessories. As one of the oldest players in the PC hardware market, Lian Li is recognized for its commitment to high-quality craftsmanship, innovative aluminum-based designs, and solutions tailored to both industrial and consumer markets. Their product lineup includes mid-tower and full-tower cases, compact enclosures for smaller builds, and cutting-edge PSUs, all acknowledged for their modularity, durability, and forward-thinking features. Among PC enthusiasts, Lian Li's reputation for blending functionality with aesthetics has established them as an industry leader.

This review examines the RS1200G ATX 3.1 PSU, representing Lian Li's most sophisticated approach to power supply design. Would this cutting-edge design earn it a spot in our list of best power supplies? The RS1200G introduces a rotatable AC power receptacle, a world-first innovation that fundamentally rethinks PSU orientation and cable management. This mechanism allows the modular cable connectors to exit from either the rear or left side of the chassis, adapting to different case architectures. The implementation appears more versatile than competing solutions, though it introduces its own compatibility requirements. Complementing this mechanical innovation is an optional magnetic USB hub that can mount directly to the PSU, expanding connectivity options for modern systems.

Specifications and Design

In the Box

The Lian Li RS1200G ATX 3.1 PSU arrives in a sizable cardboard box with a predominantly black theme and blue accents. The unit itself dominates the front side, establishing immediate visual recognition. Protection is substantial, with the PSU enclosed in a protective pouch and surrounded by dense foam packaging inserts designed to withstand shipping stresses.

The bundle is comprehensive, exceeding typical PSU inclusions. Beyond the standard AC power cable and mounting hardware, Lian Li provides a magnetic USB hub capable of mounting anywhere within the chassis or directly on the PSU. Two USB cables accompany the hub, offering users a choice between internal motherboard header connection or rear panel USB routing. A specialized backplate with a cable routing notch enables clean exits when necessary. Magnetic cable organizers are included to replace traditional zip ties, offering repositionable cable management. Cable combs arrive pre-attached to select cables, with additional units included for user customization. Finally, Lian Li includes some basic cable ties as well.

All cables utilize an all-black aesthetic with black connectors and wires. The cables employ a flat, ribbon-line construction that simplifies routing in tight spaces. The ATX 24-pin and PCIe 12V-2x6 cables receive premium treatment with per-wire sleeving and factory-installed combs. The cable configuration proves conservative for a 1200W unit, providing one 12V-2x6 connector and five 6+2 pin PCI Express connectors distributed across four cables. The unit's maximum output rating at 40 degrees Celsius and the number of connectors hint that it is not a platform meant to be severely stressed.

External Appearance

The Lian Li RS1200G ATX 3.1 PSU measures 150mm in length, barely exceeding standard ATX dimensions. This compact form factor is remarkable for a 1200W unit. The matte black chassis paint job demonstrates excellent finishing quality, with smooth surfaces free from manufacturing defects.

The design philosophy diverges dramatically from conventional PSU architecture. Modular cable connectors populate virtually every side of the chassis, enabled by the rotatable AC power receptacle. This receptacle represents the unit's defining feature, allowing users to shift modular cable connectors between rear and left-side positions. The implementation permits direct cable routing to the motherboard panel's backside in compatible cases. This appears more sophisticated than competing solutions, as users maintain orientation control based on case requirements. Cases supporting side cable routing can utilize that configuration, while traditional cases can employ rear routing.

A significant limitation exists. The 24-pin connector location inverses relative to other connectors depending on AC receptacle orientation. When standard connectors exit rearward, the 24-pin exits left. When standard connectors exit left, the 24-pin exits rearward. This necessitates cases always accommodate at least the 24-pin connector routing behind the motherboard, effectively eliminating universal compatibility.

The right side is perforated, as rotational capability means this surface can become the front depending on AC receptacle positioning. The fan finger guard integrates directly into the chassis, displaying a unique geometric cutout pattern mixing squares and rectangles. The rear side, which alternates with the left depending on inlet orientation, incorporates a specialized slot for the USB hub. When positioned here, the USB hub draws power directly from the PSU without requiring a SATA connector.

Internal Design

The Lian Li RS1200G ATX 3.1 PSU employs a Hong Hua 135mm fan utilizing a fluid dynamic bearing engine. FDB designs represent optimal acoustic-to-reliability balance, maintaining low operational noise at elevated speeds while delivering strong mean time between failure figures. The fan specification includes a high 2300 RPM maximum speed, though the unit's zero-RPM mode means extended periods of fanless operation while the system is idling.

The PSU originates from Sirfa, a Chinese OEM whose designs have graced numerous mid-to-top tier power supplies over the past two decades. Sirfa's experience shows in the platform's assembly quality and component selection, though some choices reflect cost optimization rather than absolute premium positioning.

The input filtering stage provides adequate protection with four Y capacitors, two X capacitors, and two filtering inductors. Most filtering components mount on a vertical daughterboard, optimizing spatial efficiency and freeing the AC receptacle for movement. Two rectifying bridges are installed on a substantial heatsink immediately following the filtration stage.

The APFC circuitry employs two SRC60R608BS MOSFETs and a diode, positioned on a large heatsink spanning the PCB edge. One encased inductor and two EPCOS (TDK) capacitors totaling 1210 μF comprise the passive components. The total capacitance is massive and EPCOS component quality is top-tier. These German-manufactured capacitors offer superior thermal and mechanical stress resistance compared to most alternatives but are very costly and we rarely see their products even in top-tier units.

In the primary stage, two SRC60R095BS MOSFETs form a half-bridge primary inversion topology. These components are on a separate heatsink positioned after the APFC bulk capacitors. Heatsink dimensions are generous, providing substantial surface area for heat dissipation even under sustained high-power operation.

The secondary stage utilizes eight Infineon 10N04NM6 MOSFETs distributed across two vertical daughterboards, generating the primary 12V rail through synchronous rectification. The absence of dedicated heatsinks for these components hints their exceptional efficiency characteristics. DC-to-DC converter circuits on another vertical daughterboard generate the 3.3V and 5V rails from the primary 12V output.

Secondary side capacitors originate entirely from Teapo, a reputable Taiwanese manufacturer. While Teapo lacks the prestige of premium Japanese manufacturers like Nippon Chemi-Con or Rubycon, they maintain solid reliability records and appropriate specifications for this application. This represents a pragmatic compromise between cost and quality for a unit with a 10-year warranty.

Cold Test Results

Cold Test Results (25°C Ambient)

For the testing of PSUs, we are using high precision electronic loads with a maximum power draw of 2700 Watts, a Rigol DS5042M 40 MHz oscilloscope, an Extech 380803 power analyzer, two high precision UNI-T UT-325 digital thermometers, an Extech HD600 SPL meter, a self-designed hotbox and various other bits and parts.

The Lian Li RS1200G PSU achieves average nominal load efficiency of 90.0% with 115 VAC input and 92.0% with 230 VAC input, measured across the 10% to 100% load range. These results comfortably satisfy 80 Plus Gold and CLEAResult Gold certification requirements. The unit received Cybenetics Platinum certification based on average efficiency calculations, though efficiency dips at maximum load prevented higher certifications from the other two certifying bodies. Lian Li markets this as Gold-certified, likely avoiding internal competition with their premium product lines.

Efficiency peaks near 40% load and maintains fairly good stability across most operational ranges. Very low load efficiency remains good, an important characteristic for modern systems spending significant time in idle states. The fan initiates rotation when load exceeds approximately 300 Watts but maintains very low speeds up to 800 Watts. Beyond 900 Watts, fan speed increases substantially though it still remains below half maximum capability.

Hot Test Results

Hot Test Results (~45°C Ambient)

During elevated ambient temperature testing, the Lian Li RS1200G PSU exhibits notable efficiency degradation. Average nominal load efficiency drops to 88.4% with 115 VAC input and 90.3% with 230 VAC input. Signs of thermal stress emerge at maximum load, though they remain within acceptable operational parameters. This is a product rated for maximum output at 40°C and, although it can reach its maximum output at a higher temperature, the signs of stress are apparent.

Fan behavior shifts considerably under thermal stress. Activation occurs earlier, engaging at approximately 250 Watts load. The fan maintains slow rotation up to 600 Watts, after which speed increases progressively until reaching maximum at 90% load. Maximum load operation produces significant noise levels, though this represents expected behavior for a compact, Gold-certified 1200W unit under thermal stress. Internal temperatures remain within acceptable operational levels throughout testing.

PSU Quality and Bottom Line

Power Supply Quality

The Lian Li RS1200G demonstrates outstanding power quality performance. Maximum ripple measured 26 mV on the 12V rail, 14 mV on the 5V rail, and 14 mV on the 3.3V rail, all substantially below industry safety limits and representing excellent performance considering test conditions and massive power output capability. Voltage regulation proves equally impressive, maintaining 0.9% on the 12V rail, 0.7% on the 5V rail, and 0.6% on the 3.3V rail. These figures indicate exceptional power quality across all voltage outputs under varying load conditions.

During our thorough assessment, we evaluate the essential protection features of every power supply unit we review, including Over Current Protection (OCP), Over Voltage Protection (OVP), Over Power Protection (OPP), and Short Circuit Protection (SCP). OCP activates at 126% on the 3.3V rail, 128% on the 5V rail, and 112% on the 12V rail. OPP triggers at 110% during hot testing. These protection thresholds are exceptionally sharp, particularly for an ATX 3.1 certified unit.

Bottom Line

The Lian Li RS1200G ATX 3.1 PSU represents genuine innovation in power supply design, addressing cable management challenges through mechanical ingenuity rather than incremental improvements. The rotatable AC inlet provides unprecedented installation flexibility, adapting to diverse case architectures while maintaining compact ATX dimensions. This feature alone distinguishes the RS1200G from conventional offerings, though it introduces specific compatibility requirements that potential buyers must carefully evaluate. The 24-pin connector placement creates an inherent limitation. Cases must accommodate behind-motherboard routing for at least the primary ATX cable, eliminating compatibility with chassis lacking appropriate cable management provisions. This restriction is not insurmountable but requires careful case selection, potentially limiting the RS1200G's appeal to builders with existing incompatible cases.

The magnetic USB hub adds practical value for builders requiring additional connectivity and cable management. Direct PSU mounting eliminates SATA power requirements when positioned in the dedicated slot, simplifying cable management. Alternative mounting locations throughout the chassis provide flexibility for specific layout requirements. This feature addresses modern system connectivity demands elegantly, though its utility varies significantly based on individual build requirements. Cable configuration proves conservative for a 1200W unit. One 12V-2x6 connector and five 6+2 pin PCIe connectors accommodate most GPU requirements but may prove limiting for some top-tier builds. Flat ribbon cables with magnetic cable organizers simplify routing in constrained spaces, representing thoughtful attention to practical installation concerns.

Electrical performance proves exceptional across all metrics. Voltage regulation maintains sub-1% deviation across all rails, demonstrating precise control under varying loads. Ripple suppression achieves outstanding results, particularly given the unit's 1200W output capability and compact form factor. Protection circuits respond with sharp precision, balancing safety with practical operational requirements. The OCP threshold is rather conservative but this unit is certified to handle ATX 3.1 transients. Efficiency results merit recognition. Cold testing efficiency of 90.0% with 115 VAC and 92.0% with 230 VAC comfortably exceeds Gold certification requirements, with Cybenetics awarding Platinum certification based on average efficiency calculations. Hot testing reveals significant but predictable efficiency degradation to 88.4% and 90.3% respectively, with thermal stress signs at maximum load, even though the figures remain within acceptable parameters.

Thermal management proves adequate though not exceptional. The compact 150mm chassis and overall topology, although paired with a 135mm fan and good heatsinks on the primary side, create inherent cooling challenges at maximum power output. The fan remains inactive or operates at minimal speeds under moderate loads, contributing to excellent low-load acoustics. High load operation produces significant noise levels, particularly under elevated ambient temperatures when the fan reaches maximum speed. Overall, the thermal control circuitry is very reasonably programmed and responsive.

Component selection demonstrates pragmatic engineering. EPCOS APFC capacitors and Infineon MOSFETs represent premium choices in critical high-stress positions. Teapo secondary capacitors occupy a middle ground between economy and premium Japanese alternatives, appropriate for the 10-year warranty period but not representing absolute top-tier specification. This mixed approach balances cost optimization with reliability requirements.

Pricing positions the RS1200G at approximately $180, representing premium positioning justified by innovative features and solid electrical performance. Competition exists from conventional high-wattage units offering lower pricing but lacking the RS1200G's distinctive capabilities. Value assessment depends heavily on individual compatibility requirements and appreciation for the rotational design innovation.

The Lian Li RS1200G ATX 3.1 PSU succeeds in delivering meaningful innovation beyond incremental specification improvements. Exceptional electrical performance, comprehensive protection features, and thoughtful accessory inclusion demonstrate engineering competence. The unit’s performance at maximum load suggests the platform may be a little stressed at 1200 Watts, although it can deliver its maximum power output under adverse circumstances if necessary. Case compatibility limitations represent the primary concern, requiring careful evaluation before purchase. For builders with compatible cases seeking innovative solutions and exceptional power quality, the RS1200G merits serious consideration despite its premium pricing.

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Lian Li’s Lancool 217 is one of my favorite cases of 2025, thanks to its classy wood trim, complete lack of RGB, and excellent airflow due to large 170 mm intake fans. Now the company is back with a version of the 217 that’s the polar opposite. With an RGB-lit front infinity mirror, three RGB fans, and top-mounted buttons to control the lightshow, this case feels like it fell off the set of the recent Tron reboot and onto my workbench.

But at its core, the Lancool 217 INF is still the same dual-chamber case as the 217, with nearly all the same great features, plus one change that fixes my main gripe about the original. The front panel IO can be moved from its default location on the bottom side to the top, where the three USB ports and audio jack are a lot easier to reach if your case lives on the floor.

Lian Li Lancool 217 INF Specifications

The Lancool 217 and the 217 INF are so close to each other in specs that the table above is nearly identical to the previous model. The major downside is that the 217 INF lacks the GPU-focused bottom-mounted 120mm fans (which you could add yourself, since the mounting holes are still there). And the price has gone up $5 over the non-RGB model. But with the infinity mirror, RGB fans, configurable front IO, and support for the company’s wireless fan and RGB control via a built-in receiver, the minor price jump hardly feels prohibitive given the added features.

Storage aplenty

Like its non-RGB sibling, the Lancool 217 INF offers lots of storage options for those who need more than just M.2 storage. Two removable drive bays in the bottom hold up to four total 3.5-inch drives. Two removable panels behind the motherboard can house 2.5-inch drives, and there are screw holes for mounting a third 2.5-inch SATA drive behind the GPU cooling fans, at the back of the PSU shroud.

Just note you'll need to remove one of the 3.5-inch drive sleds if you're using a long power supply. Even with the small Enermax Revolution D.F. power supply I used in the 217 build, it was helpful to remove the first drive cage to make room for cable clutter.

Pick your port placement

Port selection on the 217 is pretty standard. But for a case that's just shy of 19 inches tall and 20 inches deep, the default location on the bottom side isn’t great unless you’re plopping this mid-tower on your desk. But unlike with the original 217, Lian Li lets you move the ports on the 217 INF up to the top. This isn’t exactly simple, as you have to remove basically all the panels, take out some screws, and remove all the front-panel wires through a hole in the front, then snake them through a hole in the top, re-attach the panel, and put everything back together.

All that took me about 10 minutes, even without looking at the manual, so it’s not exactly a chore. I don’t love the way the ports are recessed below the panel in their top spot, but I certainly welcome the ability to move the ports to a better position.

Big fans, embedded in glass

The Lancool 217's fans are the same 170 mm as the original model. But here they sport RGB and are embedded in the infinity mirror front. The fan covers, which look and feel a lot like speaker grilles, can be turned counter-clockwise and removed for cleaning.

Surrounding the fans in glass rather than the open mesh of the original model's front undoubtedly changes the internal airflow to some extent. But with such large fans covering nearly the entire front of the case, cooling should still be more than adequate for air coolers and gaming-focused builds. But I still wish Lian Li had included bottom fans for the GPU, like on the original 217.

Power supply mounting: traditional or sideways

Just as with the original 217, the power supply installs in the bottom rear of the 217 INF. You can mount it the traditional way, with the cable and switch poking out the back if you remove a pre-installed panel. And you'll want to do this if you have a long PSU. But the Lancool 217 is really designed for you to mount the power supply sideways. There is a cable extension with an L connector to plug the PSU in from the motherboard side, and this gives you easier access to the PSU connectors, which then face the rear motherboard area.

This works well for normal-sized PSUs, but if you're installing a PSU that is longer than about 140 mm, you're likely to run into cable clearance issues with this orientation. That goes doubly if you're building a system with a rear-connector motherboard (which the 217 INF supports), where cable clearance and cable slack space are tough to come by.

Cable routing

The Lancool 217 INF has three large grommetted holes for cable pass-throughs, as well as slits along the rear of the PSU shroud. Combined with the several pre-installed velcro straps and cable clips, plugging things in and keeping cable mess to a minimum was simple.

Bottom line

Personally, I much prefer the wood accents and refreshingly RGB-free fans of the original Lancool 217. That and its five-fan cooling help make it one of the best PC cases you can buy. But if you like the large fans in that case, but are after something with a design that will stand out loud and proud in your gaming setup, the Lancool 217 INF is well worth considering. That’s especially true if you’re going to put your PC on the floor. Because the 217 INF’s configurable front IO lets you move those ports up to the top where you’re far more likely to use them.

The original version of the Lancool 207 impressed us around this time last year, with its airflow and included fans, at an affordable $80-$85 in the U.S. Today we’re taking a look at a refreshed variant, the Lancool 207 Digital, which effectively delivers all that was great about last year’s model, plus a bright front-mounted screen, for about $20 more.

We’ll be taking a close look at the primary upgrade in this digital model, the 6-inch, 1600x720 screen that’s rated to 500 nit of brightness. It can show performance metrics or even be configured as a secondary monitor.

We’ll also run the case through some difficult thermal benchmarks, using Intel’s i9-14900K and an Nvidia RTX 4000 series GPU to test its cooling effectiveness, both at noise-normalized settings and with the fans at maximum speeds.

Will Lian Li Lancool 207 Digital make our list of the best PC cases? You’d better believe it! The thermal performance of this case is among the best on the market, as you’ll see in the benchmarks section. Let’s take a look at the specifications and features of the case, then we’ll wrap up our review with thermal results.

Product Specifications

Features of Lian Li’s Lancool 207 Digital PC case

▶️ GPU length and anti-sag support

While it is a fairly compact mid-sized case, Lian Li’s Lancool 207 supports the biggest RTX 5090 GPUs, with room for graphics cards up to 375mm (14.76 inches )in length. An essential GPU anti-sag bracket is included with the case, outlined below in red.

▶️ PSU up front makes room for cooling at the back

Most PC cases have the power supply installed in the rear of the case, but Lian Li’s Lancool 207 features a front placement for the PSU. This is a trend we’ve seen elsewhere, like in Montech’s HS01 Pro. But here it’s at the bottom, and turned 90 degrees. A bottom mesh cover assures the PSU won’t have an issue dumping its heat outside the chassis.

▶️ Dual fans up front and the bottom of the case, with strong airflow in the back

The case comes with two 140mm fans installed in the front (non-RGB on this model), and two 120mm fans installed on the bottom. Despite lacking – at least in the default configuration – a traditional exhaust fan, airflow through the back of the case (which is also mesh with large holes) is very strong! For those wanting the best cooling possible, an exhaust fan can be installed here. Up to three additional fans, or a 360mm AIO, can be installed at the top of the case.

▶️ Air cooler support

In addition to supporting the largest GPUs on the market, the Lancool 207 Digital also has room for larger air coolers, with towers up to 180mm tall (7.1 inches) supported.

▶️ Bottom view: rubber feet and dust filter

There are four rubber feet on the bottom to ensure airflow to the PSU (there’s also a dust filter here) and prevent it from moving.

▶️ Back side, cable management, and storage support

From the backside of the case, we see a simple but efficient setup. Cables can be managed and tucked in a tidy fashion secured by the three velcro straps on the left side of the case and through the top. Those who have extra cables from their PSUs can stash them above the SSD plates, highlighted in blue. Both 3.5-inch and 2.5-inch drives are supported by the drive plates, shown below.

▶️ ATX, Micro-ATX, and Mini-ATX support

While the Lancool 207 won’t support the largest EATX motherboards, it does support standard-sized ATX boards up to 244mm in width, as well as smaller boards. We’ve installed the Asus Z790-P Prime Wifi, paired with Intel’s i9-14900K CPU for this review’s testing.

▶️ IO panel

The IO panel is located at the front and top of the case. It offers a power button, audio jack, and three USB ports – two USB-A and one USB-C.

▶️ Accessories packaging

Lian Li goes the extra mile in the packaging of case accessories. Many manufacturers include the spare parts in simple plastic bags or a cardboard box. The Lancool 207 comes with a premium box that includes dividers that can be used to customize it as desired.

▶️ Toolless side panels

The side panels of this case can be removed and installed without tools, which some may appreciate for simplicity.

▶️ Six-inch, 500-nit 1720x600 display

The distinguishing feature of this case revision is the inclusion of a 500-nit, 1720x600 display. This can be customized through Lian Li’s L-Connect 3 software, which we’ve covered in-depth in previous reviews. It allows easy customization of the screen to show performance metrics, images, or videos of your choosing. There is a large variety of pre-packaged themes to choose from, I’ve shown a few in the pictures here.

But if you don’t want to use Lian Li’s software or just want to display something else, the screen can also function as a secondary display.

This allows the display to be used as you see fit – I’ve run Furmark at a whopping 450 FPS in the demo above. One thing I like using this feature for is to set up a slideshow of pictures in an album, changing every few minutes to display a different memory.

Most users will need to connect the display to a USB header on their motherboard. However, if you don’t have a spare USB header on your motherboard, Lian Li aslo includes an adapter so that the display can be connected through a traditional USB-A port!

▶️ Rear view

There’s not much to say about the rear of the case. Like most, it supports seven PCI-e expansion slots. The main difference you’ll notice from typical cases is the power plug on the bottom of the case, which connects to the power supply in the front of the unit.

Thermal tests, test setup, and testing methodology

The measurements I’ve benchmarked this case against focus on the efficiency of the case’s thermal transfer.

Our thermal tests are presented to give you more information about the product’s performance, but aren’t intended as the sole judgment of the chassis. The style, price, features, and noise levels of a case should also be considered, and we all have different preferences. What I might like in a case, you might not, and that’s OK. My goal with these reviews is to give everyone, no matter their preferences, enough information to decide whether or not a product is right for them.

Maximum thermal performance – pre-installed fans noise-normalized to 38.9 dBA

This set of tests is designed to appeal to those who love quiet PCs, with both system fans and the CPU fan noise-normalized to 38.9 dBA. Consider this a measure of the case’s thermal efficiency when the fans are set to run quietly.

The first noise-normalized test stresses only the CPU, running Cinebench R23 multi-core with power limits removed. I did a double-take when I saw the results here. The performance shown was better than any other result I’ve had since adopting this method of testing PC cases. This is a testament to the efficiency of the fans and airflow of this PC case.

The second noise-normalized test I perform is much like the above, but also fully stresses the RTX 4070 TI Super GPU I have paired with the system, adding another 295W of heat to the case. The GPU temperatures in this test were the third-best I’ve seen among the cases I’ve tested this way. The result of 64.2 degrees Celsius is only 0.7 degrees C warmer than our best result here!

As a result, the GPU’s fan speeds were also the third-quietest in this scenario, with an average measurement of 1,454 RPM.

Maximum Noise Levels

In terms of maximum volume, Lian Li’s Lancool 207 Digital spins up to 46 dBA with my sound meter from 1 meter away, which is more or less average for PC cases. One thing my charts don’t show, however, is the pitch noise, which isn’t particularly annoying here (at least to me). So I would say that the noise doesn’t “feel” as loud as the dBA measurements would indicate. But your ears may give you a different opinion.

Maximum thermal performance – pre-installed fans at full speed

Our noise-normalized results are designed for folks who prefer silence, but what if you don’t mind additional noise and just care about maximum performance?

Starting with a CPU-only stress test, we measured 296.3W. While not quite as impressive as our noise-normalized results, the Lancool 207 Digital performed well enough here.

Adding the heat of a GPU returns the Lian Li to the front of the pack in terms of performance, showing our best result recorded thus far with, 294.3W cooled (on average) during this test.

Now let’s look at the temperature of the GPU. With the system fans at full speed, the thermal result is our second-best, with an average of 62.5 degrees C.

The thermal efficiency of Lian Li’s fan configuration means that the GPU has to work less to maintain low temperatures, resulting in fan speeds running at an average of 1,307 RPM. Only Montech’s case did better here, and not by much.

Conclusion

Lian Li’s Lancool 207 Digital is an impressive case. Thermal performance is simply excellent, among the best avialable. And its chart-topping noise and thermal results and nice-looking screen, paired with a very reasonable price, makes it my new favorite compact midtower case.

If you’re on a tight budget, the basic version of this case is currently available for only $90 in the U.S. But the Digital version tested here includes a fancy six inch, 1,600x720-resolution display for $105, just $15 more!

Lian Li made a splash at this year’s Computex trade show in Taiwan, unveiling a range of new cases, AIO liquid coolers, and even a lineup of power supplies. But what may have flown under the radar is the company’s next step toward truly wireless PC case fans. Their latest Uni Fan SL-Infinity Wireless fans, in true sense, do not require any cables and can be controlled wirelessly. However, there’s a major catch - the fans run on power supplied by a small power bank, limiting their runtime to just 20–30 minutes.

While powering the fans and onboard LEDs via a power bank is one option (limited to certain early units), the Uni Fan SL-INF Wireless fans also come with a module that attaches to a single fan or a group of interlocked, daisy-chained fans. This module includes an internal wireless transmitter and a cable with a PWM power connector, which must be plugged into the motherboard. As such, the fans reduce cable clutter somewhat, but their true wireless capacities are extremely limited.

There’s also a USB dongle which acts as a wireless receiver and is required to be plugged into a USB port at the back of your motherboard, or a USB internal header on the motherboard. The receiver can be used to control other wireless products from Lian Li, including its range of Strimmer Wireless ARGB extension cables, which were first showcased at last year’s Computex. Using the company’s L-connect 3 software, users can then control the lighting effects, fan speeds, fan curves, monitor system stats, and more.

While the intention to eliminate controller hubs and ARGB cables from your fan setup is appreciated, without the paltry battery pack, these fans don’t technically qualify as ‘wireless.’ Having said that, they do look premium and include 58 LEDs to offer tasteful RGB lighting across dedicated zones, including the blade hub, diffused side strip, and inner edges. Both the hub and sides offer infinity mirror effects while each side comes in a different RGB lighting pattern, allowing you to change the look by simply flipping them to the other side.

Popular PC case and components manufacturer Lian Li has just announced a new 360mm AIO liquid cooler. The Hydroshift II LCD-C was showcased at Computex 2025 and is a follow-up to the company’s original Hydroshift LCD 360 series that we reviewed last year. Lian has redesigned the cooler to include a thinner radiator for a more compact look and improved compatibility with more compact cases. Just note that a slimmer radiator generally means less cooling performance.

The side-mounted tube design has also been updated with flexible server-grade corrugated tubing, which is designed for smooth bends around the radiator without reducing flow or internal diameter. There’s also a new sliding tube clamp for improved tube alignment directly over the CPU block.

The tubes can be secured using various mounting points on the side of the radiator, or using the screw mounting holes at the top, allowing it to be secured directly to 140mm fan brackets. The pump block itself is now cable-free (sort of), as all the connections have moved to the radiator. There’s also a new latch-in-place mounting mechanism that helps make installation a bit easier by holding the block securely while you're screwing it down. That certainly sounds like a welcome design feature.

The pump block also features a round, 2.1-inch IPS display (480x480 resolution, 60 Hz refresh, and up to 500 nits of brightness) with an outer RGB ring. The LCD can be controlled using three methods, including an offline mode that doesn’t require any additional USB or software. Turning the RGB pump cap lets you switch between thirteen preset screen designs. Turning it the other way to change the lighting effects.

Lian Li has a range of new products coming this year, including cases, power supply units, and AIO liquid cooling solutions with LCD displays. Currently being showcased at Computex 2025, the company has officially launched the new Lancool 4, Lancool 217 INF, O11D Mini V2, DAN Case B4, Vector V100, and Vector V200 cases, along with the HydroShift III AIO, which features a 2K panoramic LCD screen. Additionally, Lian Li is introducing four new PSU series, namely the DWS, RS, RB, and SP.

The Lancool series of mid-tower cases is known for efficient airflow, largely due to its front mesh panels. This year, however, Lian Li is shaking things up by replacing mesh with tempered glass and integrating fans directly into the panels.

Starting with the Lancool 4 (currently listed as a prototype), the chassis resembles the Lancool III but now features a curved glass front panel with three integrated 140mm fans. All three fans are daisy-chained and include individual dust filters. The case also adopts a vertical PSU layout, which frees up more space in the bottom compartment, allowing the installation of three 120mm fans. Additional mounting points are available for three 120mm or 140mm fans at the top, and a single 120mm or 140mm fan at the rear. The case is expected to launch in October in black and white color options, priced around $130.

The new Lancool 217 INF follows a similar concept. While it retains the overall design of the original Lancool 217, it now includes an infinity mirror glass front panel with two integrated 170mm fans. Lian Li notes that the case will include built-in lighting controls and an integrated L-Wireless receiver, allowing control without extra cables. It also retains key features from the original, such as two PSU mounting orientations enabling easier side cable access, support for reverse-connect motherboards, and various fan mounting options. The case will be available in October for $120 in black and $125 in white.

Lian Li is also introducing new fish-tank-style cases, including the O11D Mini V2, a follow-up to the original O11D Mini. Despite the name, the case is anything but “mini,” as it supports full-sized components, including ATX motherboards, ATX power supplies, and up to 360mm AIO liquid coolers. It features front and side tempered glass panels, with mounting options for three fans at the bottom or top, one at the rear, and two on the side.

One standout detail is the bottom intake fan mount, which is tilted upward by 25 degrees on one side to improve airflow. The back panel also includes a mesh section that protrudes by 3mm, providing extra clearance and ventilation for large vertically mounted PSUs. Additionally, the O11 Mini V2 offers flexible I/O port mounting, allowing users to position it either on the front or top of the case.

The case is expected to launch in July, starting at $90 for both the black and white variants. For an additional $10, buyers can opt for a version that includes five non-RGB case fans.

Next we have the Vector series of cases which are going to be targeting budget PC builders. The V100 and V100 Mini are pretty standard looking cases with front and side tempered glass panels, a diagonally cut PSU shroud, and low price points of $60 and $45 respectively.

The V200 is a bit more interesting as it includes an 8.8-inch LCD screen integrated into the bottom shroud, along with a touch panel at the front to power on/off the PC and for lighting control. The LCD can be customized through Lian Li’s L-Connect 3 software and can be used for system monitoring or adding visual effects. It also offers a slanted lower edge at the bottom of the side-mounted fans to improve airflow for GPU cooling. The V200 will be available in September and is priced at $110, which is quite good for a case with an LCD screen.

Lian Li also has a new case in collaboration with Dan Cases this year. The new Dan Case B4 is a fairly small chassis that offers support for mATX motherboards, 140mm ATX PSUs, 280mm AIOs, and 4-slot GPUs up to 360mm in horizontal orientation. It also offers a modular approach wherein the case can be flipped upright and mounted on the included modular stand for a vertical setup. In this mode, the case accommodates up to 360mm AIOs by removing the rear 120mm fan bracket and better GPU cooling with a dedicated air chamber that offers mounting for three 120mm or two 140mm fans.

The reversible stand will also let you choose between a mesh exterior or an exposed air chamber, while the case comes with two pre-installed 120mm slim fans. The case is expected to launch in October with a price of $100, available in black or silver color options.

Moving away from cases, the new Hydroshift III AIO liquid cooler features a curved 2K resolution screen with a motorized mechanism that can move the display horizontally, allowing users to get that perfect viewing angle. Sitting right above the pump is an integrated VRM fan that can potentially help in cooling both RAM and VRM modules. The company also notes that the AIO comes with industrial-grade metal tubing and fixed-position hinges, offering better durability and precise tube alignment.

Lian Li's O11 range of PC cases has been in the wilderness for quite some time and is still a very popular choice for new PC builds, thanks to its initial design and more recent iterations that expand on that success. The Lian Li PC-O11 Air Mini is our pick for the best compact ATX PC case, and this Spring Sale 2025 deal on the Lian Li O11 Vision is good news if you're looking to get your hands on one of the prettiest cases for your latest build and show off your components through the tempered glass windows.

It's not the best price I've ever seen for this case, but it is a good price. Also, this case is pretty much out of stock everywhere right now. If this is the case you've been waiting for, you might want to jump on it sooner rather than later. Available at Newegg, the Lian Li O11 Vision is $149 while stocks last. The version offered at this price is the white variant with clear glass panels. You can get the black version with tinted glass panels for $10 less, but as we covered in our review of the Lian Li O11 Vision, it can be a little too dark and mask the view of your components and RGB.

The Lian Li O11 Vision uses a dual-chamber design that allows you to display all your precious parts and fans in the tempered glass "Fish Tank" side of the case, while your power supply, cables, RGB controllers, and extra 2.5-inch SSDs are stashed in the closed area. This makes the PC build look neat and tidy, but the negatives of the dual chamber design are that the cases are usually pretty wide and can take up more of your valuable desk space.

Lian Li Industrial Co., Ltd., founded in 1983, is a Taiwanese company renowned for its premium computer cases, power supplies, and PC accessories. As one of the oldest players in the PC hardware market, Lian Li is known for its commitment to high-quality craftsmanship, innovative aluminum-based designs, and solutions tailored to both industrial and consumer markets. Their product lineup includes mid-tower and full-tower cases, compact enclosures for smaller builds, and cutting-edge PSUs, all recognized for their modularity, durability, and forward-thinking features. Among PC enthusiasts, Lian Li's reputation for blending functionality with aesthetics has set them apart, but it has yet to rank among our best power supplies list.

We examine the latest entry in Lian Li's power supply lineup, the Edge Gold EG1000G ATX 3.1 PSU. Positioned as the Gold-certified successor to the Platinum-certified EG1000 model, this unit incorporates a unique approach to PSU design. Once again, the highlight of the EG1000G is the shape of the chassis itself, which forgoes the ATX cuboid shape and standard length. While retaining the distinct L-shaped chassis introduced in the EG1000, the EG1000G refines and expands upon its predecessor's innovative features by introducing a magnetic fan dust filter and a detachable USB/fan hub.

Specifications and Design

In the Box

The Lian Li EG1000G ATX 3.1 PSU is packaged in a standard rectangular box, moving away from the L-shaped box used for the EG1000 model. The packaging is sturdy, providing ample protection for shipping. The unit itself is further safeguarded by a protective pouch and dense foam inserts.

The bundle includes all the essentials: mounting screws, an AC power cable, and a basic manual. Additionally, the company provides a few cable ties, a couple of cable combs, and a PCI slot cover designed for routing cables to the rear of the case. Also included are the necessary cables to utilize the PSU's USB/fan hub functionality.

This PSU features a fully modular design, allowing all DC cables, including the 24-pin ATX connector, to be detached. The cables are all-black with individually sleeved wires, ensuring easier cable management. The PCIe 5.1 connectors are an exception, featuring blue tips to indicate proper installation (if properly installed, the blue part should not be visible at all). The ATX and PCIe 5.1 cables come with preinstalled wire combs, which can be repositioned or removed entirely based on user preference.

External Appearance

The Lian Li EG1000G ATX 3.1 PSU features the same distinctive L-shaped chassis as the EG1000, measuring 182 mm in length – significantly longer than a typical ATX PSU. This design results from the horizontal placement of the modular cable connectors, increasing the unit's depth. This design has certain advantages but requires careful cable routing in standard PC cases, particularly for those not designed with dual-chamber layouts in mind.

The unit has a minimalist aesthetic, with a smooth matte black finish. Large stickers cover the left and right sides; the left sticker is purely decorative, while the right provides detailed electrical specifications and certifications. The bottom side of the unit features a full-surface mesh fan finger guard, with a badge bearing the Lian Li logo in the lower-left corner. This mesh doubles as a dust filter and is magnetically attached, with a cloth-like tag to facilitate removal and cleaning.

The front of the PSU houses the standard on/off switch and AC power receptacle. The rear is designed to accommodate a detachable, magnetically mounted USB/fan hub, enabling users to connect multiple devices requiring USB headers or fan control to the PSU and route a single cable to the motherboard. The modular cable connectors are clearly organized.

Internal Design

The Lian Li EG1000G ATX 3.1 PSU is cooled by a Hong Hua HA1225M12F-Z 120 mm fan, which features a Fluid Dynamic Bearing (FDB) for improved reliability and durability. Given its high efficiency, this fan is sufficient for cooling the unit at a maximum speed of 2000 RPM, though its size is relatively modest for such a dense 1000W power supply.

The PSU is manufactured by Helly Technology, a Chinese OEM established in 2008. Helly Technology is relatively young compared to other PSU manufacturers but has built a fair reputation for designing platforms used in mid- and high-tier power supplies. Helly also manufactured the platform for the Platinum-certified Lian Li EG1000 PSU but the platform of the EG1000G is significantly different.

The input filtering stage includes two Y capacitors, two X capacitors, and two filtering inductors, an adequate but conservative configuration. Two rectifying bridges, mounted on a dedicated heatsink, handle the AC input voltage. The Active Power Factor Correction (APFC) circuit consists of two MOSFETs, a diode, a large inductor, and an EPCOS 820 μF capacitor. The EPCOS capacitor is one of the unit’s marketing highlights due to its exceptional quality.

In the primary stage, the EG1000G employs a typical half-bridge LLC topology, with two Fuxin FXN45N50T MOSFETs on the shared heatsink alongside the APFC components. The secondary stage features six Huayi HYG009N04LS1C2 MOSFETs around the main transformer, generating the primary 12V rail. The 3.3V and 5V rails are derived from DC-to-DC converters. Capacitors on the secondary side come from Ltec and Beryl, which are mid-tier suppliers rather than premium Japanese manufacturers.

Cold Test Results

Cold Test Results (25°C Ambient)

For the testing of PSUs, we are using high precision electronic loads with a maximum power draw of 2700 Watts, a Rigol DS5042M 40 MHz oscilloscope, an Extech 380803 power analyzer, two high precision UNI-T UT-325 digital thermometers, an Extech HD600 SPL meter, a self-designed hotbox and various other bits and parts.

The Lian Li Edge Gold EG1000G PSU achieves an average nominal load efficiency of 90.0% with a 115 VAC input and 92.1% with a 230 VAC input, measured across the range from 10% to 100% load, a very good result for such a platform. These results comfortably meet the 80Plus Gold and PPLP.info Gold certification requirements but fall short of higher efficiency certifications due to its half-load efficiency. Cybenetics granted the unit a Platinum efficiency certification, as the certification is based on average efficiency.

At very low loads, efficiency remains satisfactory, and the fan remains inactive. The fan begins operating when the load exceeds approximately 450 Watts, following a linear speed curve that scales with the load. While the fan speed increases to manage thermal output, it does not reach its maximum RPM even at high loads. Due to the unit's compact design and the use of a 120 mm fan, internal temperatures during cold testing are slightly elevated compared to larger units in this wattage class. It is worthwhile to mention that the fan cooling profile is less aggressive than that of the Platinum-certified EG1000, allowing the EG1000G to operate without its fan over a wider load range.

Hot Test Results

Hot Test Results (~45°C Ambient)

During hot testing, the Lian Li Edge Gold EG1000G PSU exhibits significant efficiency degradation due to elevated ambient temperatures. The unit achieves an average nominal load efficiency of 88.5% with a 115 VAC input and 90.6% with a 230 VAC input. There are slight but inconsequential signs of thermal stress at maximum load.

The fan behavior changes notably under higher ambient temperatures. It activates earlier, at loads just below 300 Watts, and follows a similar linear speed curve as in cold testing. However, the fan accelerates more rapidly under hot conditions, reaching its maximum speed when the load approaches 900 Watts. At lower loads (below 300-400 Watts), noise levels remain moderate, but the fan becomes progressively louder with increasing load, reaching high noise levels at loads exceeding 800 Watts.

The unit's compact dimensions and use of a 120 mm fan contribute to elevated internal temperatures during hot testing. While internal temperatures remain within safe operating limits, they are on the higher side compared to other units in the same efficiency class. A slight temperature spike occurs at maximum load when the fan cannot increase its speed further, but this does not approach levels that would trigger an over-temperature protection (OTP) event, even if only barely.

PSU Quality and Bottom Line

Power Supply Quality

The Lian Li Edge Gold EG1000G demonstrates solid voltage filtering performance. The maximum ripple measured was 46 mV on the 12V rail, 18 mV on the 5V rail, and 16 mV on the 3.3V rail, all well within industry safety limits. Voltage regulation is extremely precise, with the 12V rail exhibiting 0.3% regulation, the 5V rail at 0.6%, and the 3.3V rail at 0.5%. These figures indicate excellent power quality across all rails.

During our thorough assessment, we evaluate the essential protection features of every power supply unit we review, including Over Current Protection (OCP), Over Voltage Protection (OVP), Over Power Protection (OPP), and Short Circuit Protection (SCP). OCP performance was sharp, with activation points of 126% for the 3.3V rail, 128% for the 5V rail, and 122% for the 12V rail. Over Power Protection (OPP) was also evaluated, triggering at 124% during hot testing. The 12V line OCP is sharp, but not overly so, for an ATX 3.1 certified power supply.

Bottom Line

The Lian Li Edge Gold EG1000G ATX 3.1 PSU positions itself as a distinctive and forward-thinking power supply unit aimed at enthusiasts and system builders looking for innovation and high-quality craftsmanship. Its standout feature remains the unique L-shaped design, optimized for dual-chamber chassis and offering creative options for cable management. However, the unconventional chassis shape, extending the unit's length to 182 mm, introduces compatibility limitations with standard ATX cases. This design, while visually striking, appeals primarily to users who prioritize aesthetics and innovation over universal compatibility.

Despite its lower efficiency, EG1000G actually improves upon its Platinum-certified predecessor, the EG1000, with features such as a magnetic fan dust filter and detachable USB/fan hub. These additions add convenience and usability but are niche in their application, appealing to builders who specifically value these functionalities. Despite these refinements, the PSU faces stiff competition from the EG1000 itself, which offers a higher Platinum efficiency certification at a slightly higher price point.

In terms of electrical performance, the EG1000G easily meets 80Plus Gold and PPLP.info Gold efficiency requirements, with average nominal load efficiencies of 90.0% (115 VAC) and 92.1% (230 VAC) in cold testing. Its average efficiency, however, is very high, which is why Cybenetics graced this unit with its Platinum certification. Voltage regulation is extremely tight, and ripple suppression is very good, delivering great overall power quality. Thermal performance is adequate but constrained by the PSU’s compact internal volume and 120 mm fan. While the fan ramps up linearly with load, its small size limits cooling efficiency, leading to elevated internal temperatures during operation, particularly under heavy loads. The unit operates quietly at low to moderate loads, but noise levels increase substantially as the load approaches maximum capacity and/or if the ambient temperature gets high. This could be a concern for users prioritizing silent operation in their builds.

Overall, the Lian Li Edge Gold EG1000G ATX 3.1 PSU is an innovative, well-designed power supply that balances aesthetics and functionality with performance. Its unique features and unique design cater to a niche audience with specific needs, particularly builders using dual-chamber cases. We particularly liked the idea of having a magnetically attached fan dust filter that can be easily cleaned by the user. However, its high price point places it in a difficult position in the market, with a lot of internal competition from the EG1000 itself, which is currently only $20 more expensive. At approximately $155, it offers an innovative solution but may not provide the best value for users without special wants or needs.

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In recent years, manufacturers have placed a larger emphasis on cable management resulting in a variety of unique approaches. A simple example is that many AIO liquid coolers now include clips to keep AIO tubing nice and tidy. A more extreme example is MSI’s Project Zero motherboards, which move all cable connections to the back. 

We’re looking at a new Hydroshift LCD 360S AIO from Lian Li that features a simple but effective method of obscuring AIO tubing. Looking at the picture below, you might think that most of the tubing has been removed – but looks here are deceptive. We’ll take a look at how Lian Li accomplishes this innovative styling in the review below.

Does Lian Li’s Hydroshift 360S have what it takes to earn a spot on our best AIO coolers list? We’ll have to put it through testing, pairing it with Intel’s i7-13700K CPU to find out. But first, here are the specifications from Lian Li.

Cooler specifications

Packing and included contents

The packaging of this AIO is typical, with molded cardboard protecting the AIO and other contents.

Included with the cooler are the following:

• 360mm radiator and CPU block
• Three 120mm preinstalled fans
• Mounting for modern AMD and Intel Platforms
• Thermal Paste
• Cable management clips
• Alternate parts for cases with reverse installation options

Features of Lian Li’s Hydroshift LCD 360S

▶ Tubeless Aesthetic

The standout feature of the Hydroshift 360S is what Lian Li calls a “tubeless aesthetic”. This name isn’t quite accurate, as the unit still has tubes just like any other AIO. But Lian Li designed the unit so it carefully wraps coolant tubing behind the back of the AIO, which hides most of it from view using an attached bar.

▶ Reversible design

Lian Li includes an alternate cover that can be installed on the opposite side in order to facilitate reverse case setups like those featured in Lian Li’s 011 Cases.

▶ Full RAM compatibility

As an AIO does not interfere or overhang DIMM slots in any manner, all sizes of RAM, no matter how tall, are compatible with Lian Li’s Hydroshift AIOs.

▶ 27mm or 31mm thick radiator

The radiator included with Hydroshift 360S we’re testing here is a standard 27mm size. The pricier 360RGB and 360TL models feature thicker 31mm radiators, which should give them an edge in thermal performance.

▶ 2.88-inch IPS Display, L-Connect Software

The Hydroshift AIOs each feature a 2.88-inch IPS display with a 1:1 aspect ratio and 480x480 resolution, and capable of sustaining 500 nits of brightness.

The display is controlled by Lian Li’s L-Connect software, which you can also use to change the speed of the fans and pump of the unit. There are a few pre-included designs that you can use and customize, or you can upload an image or video file of your choice.

▶ AIO Tubing Clips

Curiously, Lian Li also includes two cable management clips that can be used with the AIO’s tubing, but you shouldn’t need to use these if you install the unit properly.

▶ 3x 120mm fans

There’s more to a cooler than just the heatsink or radiator. The bundled fans have a major impact on cooling and noise levels, as well as how the cooler looks in your case. The fans included in the Hydroshift 360S are basic, without any frills or RGB lighting. If you’d like fancier fans with ARGB lighting or infinity mirrors, they are available with the pricier Hydroshift LCD 360RGB and 360TL models.

▶ Thermal paste with application tools

Lian Li includes a small 1g tube of thermal paste, and application tools. 

LGA1700 Socket Bending

There are many factors other than the CPU cooler that can influence your cooling performance, including the case you use and the fans installed in it. A system's motherboard can also influence this, especially if it suffers from bending, which results in poor cooler contact with the CPU. 

To prevent bending from impacting our cooling results, we’ve installed Thermalright’s LGA 1700 contact frame into our testing rig. If your motherboard is affected by bending, your thermal results will be worse than those shown below. Not all motherboards are affected equally by this issue. I tested Raptor Lake CPUs in two motherboards. And while one of them showed significant thermal improvements after installing Thermalright’s LGA1700 contact frame, the other motherboard showed no difference in temperatures whatsoever! Check out our review of the contact frame for more information.

Testing Methodology, and how my testing differs vs the competition

My cooler testing is designed to emulate the conditions a user would actually experience when using a computer. Some reviewers test coolers using an open bench. I do not like this method, it reduces cooling difficulty. When you use a case, the internal temperature of that case will become higher than that of the room’s ambient temperature, increasing the saturation of the cooler and overall cooling difficulty. Testing outside of a case will give an advantage to weaker coolers, especially those with fans that aren’t very strong. 

Others test using a thermal heatplate. This method suffers from all the drawbacks of an open bench, but also doesn’t accurately represent cooling a CPU. A thermal plate evenly distributes a thermal load across the copper heat conduction square. The problem with this type of testing is that modern AMD Ryzen and Intel Core CPUs have most of their heat concentrated in a few hotspots – and cooling a concentrated source of heat is more difficult than cooling a source that’s spread evenly.

The last thing I do differently from some cooler testers is that I insist on using relatively new CPUs for cooler testing because people building new PCs are likely using recent CPUs. Also, thermal density is just different with newer CPUs. Products like Ryzen 3000 “Zen 2” and older 14nm Intel CPUs have lower heat density compared to modern counterparts, due to a combination of using older manufacturing processes and running at lower clock speeds. Using a weaker cooler with an older CPU can make the cooler look better performing than it actually is with current-gen silicon. 

Today's highest-end CPUs, whether Intel or AMD, are difficult to cool in intensive workloads. In the past. reaching 95 degrees Celsius or more on a desktop CPU might have been a cause for concern. But with today’s top-end CPUs, this is considered normal operation. Similar behavior has been present in laptops for years due to cooling limitations in tight spaces.

All testing is performed with a 23C ambient room temperature. Multiple thermal tests are run on each CPU to test the cooler in a variety of conditions, and acoustic measurements are taken with each result. These tests include:

1. Noise-normalized testing at low noise levels

2. “Out-of-the-box”/Default configuration thermal and acoustic testing

     a. No power limits enforced

     b. Because CPUs hit TJ Max in this scenario, the best way to compare cooling strength is by recording the total CPU package power consumption.

3. Thermal and acoustic testing in power-limited scenarios

     a. Power limited to 175W to emulate a medium-intensity workload

     b. Power limited to 125W to emulate a low-intensity workload

The thermal results included are for 10-minute testing runs. To be sure that was sufficiently long to tax the cooler, we tested both Thermalright’s Assassin X 120 R SE and DeepCool’s LT720 with a 30-minute Cinebench test with Intel’s i9-13900K for both 10 minutes and 30 minutes. The results didn’t change much at all with the longer test: The average clock speeds maintained dropped by 29 MHz on DeepCool’s LT720 and 31 MHz on Thermalright’s Assassin X 120 R SE. That’s an incredibly small 0.6% difference in clock speeds maintained, a margin of error difference that tells us that the 10-minute tests are indeed long enough to properly test the coolers.

Testing configuration – Intel LGA1700 platform

Thermal results without power limits

Without power limits enforced on Intel’s i7-13700K, the CPU will hit its peak temperature (TJ Max) and thermally throttle with even the strongest of air coolers. When the CPU reaches its peak temperature, I’ve measured the CPU package power to determine the maximum wattage cooled to best compare their performance.

The general exception to this comes with the strongest AIOs on the market, which can keep Intel’s i7-13700K under TJ Max. This is no small task, as many 360mm AIOs fail this test. Lian Li’s Hydroshift 360S passes this test, keeping the CPU’s temperature at 67C over ambient - performing on par with some of the best coolers we’ve tested including DeepCool’s LT720 and Iceberg Thermal’s IceFLOE Oasis 360.

To achieve this level of performance, the unrestricted fans run up to 48.5 dBA. This is slightly louder than I am personally comfortable with, but it is in the middle of the road for liquid cooling results. 

Thermal results with noise normalized to 38.2 dBA

Finding the right balance between fan noise levels and cooling performance is important. While running fans at full speed can improve cooling capacity to some extent, the benefits are limited and many users prefer a quieter system. With this noise-normalized test, I’ve set noise levels to 38.2 dba. This level of noise is a low volume level, but slightly audible to most people. 

With the noise of the fans limited to 38.2 dBA, Lian Li’s Hydroshift 360S cooled 230W. This is one of the better results we have for this scenario, with stronger units only gaining a few watts of cooling performance.

175W Cinebench results

Most coolers on the market can keep Intel’s i7-13700K under its peak temperature if the power consumption is limited, so for this test, we’ll be looking at the CPU’s actual temperature.

The result of 51C over ambient is fairly good, in the strongest third of our results. But noise levels reached 45.3 dBA, which is louder than most results we have seen for this test.

125W Cinebench results

The lowest power limit I test with Raptor Lake CPUs is 125W. This is a high enough limit to allow the CPU to maintain its base clock speeds even in the most intensive tests, and most coolers should be capable of keeping the CPU below TJ Max (the max temperature before throttling) – even low-end coolers.

Really, thermals do not matter in this scenario. Even Intel’s stock cooler can handle a load like this with ease. Noise levels, rather than CPU temperature, are the most important factor here. The cooler reaches 38 degrees C over ambient in this scenario, which is one of the better results.

Noise levels reached 41.4 dBA in this scenario. While this isn’t loud exactly, this is one of the loudest results we’ve seen from any AIO.

Conclusion

Lian Li’s Hydroshift AIOs feature a unique approach to managing and reducing clutter from AIO tubes, and those who are particular about cable management may find this very appealing. In particular, those building systems with rear-connector motherboards that hide many of the other cables inside a PC, could severely limit the amount of tubing that’s visible in a build with this cooler.

But the Hydroshift 360S retails for $179.99 USD, and it’s not the strongest or quietest of coolers in its price range. If you’re looking for more cooling performance, models with thicker radiators and stronger fans, like the Hydroshift LCD 360RGB and Hydroshift LC 360TL, are also available, though I haven’t had a chance to test that model yet.

Lian Li, one of the leading PC case manufacturers, just launched a new set of affordable PC cases. These cases will give enthusiasts with limited budgets more options when choosing a great-looking PC case. The company has also released the Strimer Plus V3 WRLS PC cables, allowing you to wirelessly connect the power cable to its RGB controller and reduce cable clutter inside your desktop computer.

Great cases made more affordable

The Lancool 207 is the most affordable Lian Li case to launch at Computex 2024. This mid-tower case can fit Standard ATX motherboards up to 244 mm wide with seven expansion slots. It can also accommodate two 3.5- or 2.5-inch drives, a 360 mm radiator, and up to eight fans. Its front is dominated by black mesh with two 140 mm fans, and it also has a 4 mm tempered glass side to showcase your build. Lian Li also includes two 120 mm fans above the PSU shroud, saving you money on case fans.

This new case can accommodate even the largest graphics cards with its 410 mm GPU clearance. You can also install CPU air coolers up to 167 mm tall in the case, letting you install 140 mm fans. But, best of all, the 207 only costs $79.99, making it the most affordable mid-tower mesh case in Lian Li’s line-up.

Lian Li also introduced two premium cases with a $119.99 MSRP: the Lancool 217 and the 011 Vision Compact. Both cases support E-ATX motherboards under 280 mm, are compatible with the new back-connect motherboards for a clean build, and are available in black or white.

The 217 is about the same size as the great Lian Li Lancool 216 but is $20 more expensive. However, the wooden touches around the edges of the case add personality to your desktop PC. It also makes it suitable for enthusiasts who prefer a nature-themed work or gaming station with touches of wood. The 217 also supports four 2.5-inch drives behind the motherboard tray and two 3.5-inch drives in the hard drive cage so that you won’t run out of space for storage.

However, it has a smaller GPU length clearance of only 380 mm, meaning you cannot go for the largest of the large GPUs, like the Zotac RTX 4090 PGF OC, which measures 381 mm. The case also includes two 170 mm front fans and one 140 mm rear fan, and it can take on three 120 mm or two 140 mm fans at the top and three 120 mm fans above the PSU shroud.

The O11 Vision Compact is a slightly smaller version of the O11 Vision, but it still retains its optional top glass panel (which is already included in the box). This case is $20 cheaper than the original O11, meaning you can spend that extra savings on additional fans (which are still not included in the case) or on a good meal after finishing your build.

This dual-chamber case has a 408 mm GPU length clearance, though, letting you install the biggest GPUs available on the market, and even the larger ones we expect are coming soon. This fish-bowl case can also take up to three 360 mm radiators — one for each side.

A wireless power cable?

Aside from these great new cases, Lian Li also makes ARGB power cables with its Strimer Plus line. It introduced the third version of its Strimer series with the Strimer Plus V3 WRLS, which is now wireless — but not that kind of wireless. The Strimer V3 loses the cable that connects the power cable’s ARGB lights to the controller and replaces it with an RF transceiver.

That means you can connect and control the lighting effect on the PSU cable without the extra wiring, helping you achieve a much cleaner build, even on the other back side of your case. You can get the V3 WRLS for your 24-pin motherboard, dual 8-pin GPU, triple 8-pin GPU, and the 12VHPWR GPU connector, letting you unify the design on your PC without the required extra cable management.

It also launched the Uni Fan SLV3 120 and the SLV3 LCD 120, which use the same wireless technology to connect to the controller. While you still need to run power cables to these fans, wireless control will reduce the clutter inside your PC case, making it easier to build, troubleshoot, and upgrade your PC in the future.

Lian Li wants you to clean up your PC builds

Lian Li also showcased its L-shaped EDGE PSU for dual-chamber cases and its HydroShift AiO line, which hides most of the tubing along the side of the radiator to reduce clutter inside your desktop. The company's products introduced at Computex 2024 seemingly want you to hide all wires and cables on your PC, but this must be the trend currently sweeping through the PC building community.

Lian Li has everything you need to build a clean desktop computer: dual-chambered cases, compatibility with back-connect motherboards, hidden AiO hoses, wireless ARGB controllers — what more can you ask for? And with the more affordable prices of some of its best cases, you can hide your power cables, even with a limited budget.

Lian Li has officially released its new SUP01 chassis. After seeing it for the first time at Computex 2023, buyers can finally get their hands on the new case, which promises a unique building experience.

The SUP01 is an airflow-first small-footprint case, a welcome addition to a Lian Li lineup that includes big and wide fishtanks like the O11 Vision. The SUP01 contains three separate airflow loops, providing the front-mounted GPU and a radiator in the rear chamber with their own cool air supplies.

The small footprint of this case is no joke. The 404 mm x 212 mm length and width clocks in at just shy of one square foot of desk real estate. The 45L case sits 524 mm tall, tall enough to mount a GPU of up to 400 mm long and four slots thick behind its front panel. Your graphics card will connect to the motherboard with the help of an included PCIe 4.0 riser cable, complete with its own ARGB strip to match the marquee ARGB strip running across the bottom of the viewing window on the front and main side panel. The GPU will also receive its own air exhaust with three pre-installed fans expelling hot air through the rear side panel.

You won't be able to mount your graphics card normally in the short main chamber. Still, you can join the bleeding edge of case design with Asus's "BTF" back-connect motherboards — moving every case connector from front-panel I/O to 24-pin ATX to the rear of the motherboard for invisible cable runs. The SUP01 also ships with a plethora of Velcro cable ties to make dealing with those back-connected cables easier.

Perhaps the most significant change made to the SUP01 since its unveiling at Computex 2023 is the addition of mesh; three mesh panels cover the front, top, and back side panels to maximize airflow (don't worry, there's still a tempered glass side panel). CPU cooling is best handled with a 360mm radiator, keeping the main chamber free of CPU heat. The radiator and the GPU exhaust fans mount in the back side panel channel, hinging on independent brackets that pivot to a 45° angle for ease of installation. For storage, two 2.5-inch drives can be installed in the main chamber, and two 3.5 or 2.5-inch drives can rest in a drive cage behind the power supply.

The 45-liter SUP01 retails for $149. Thankfully, the price tag of a SUP01 build won't be inflated by nine extra fans like other Lian Li case builds demand. For the future of Lian Li, look no further than Computex 2024, which will be covered live and in-person by Tom's Hardware from June 2-4. Lian Li always comes to the industry showcase with beautiful new hardware to show off, and we expect this year will be no different.

Lian Li has unveiled a new PSU lineup designed primarily for dual-chamber cases featuring vertical PSU mounts, like its O11 series. The new PSU lineup, dubbed the Edge series, features an L-shaped form factor with all the main power connectors mounted on the bottom rather than the side. Lian Li's goal with these new PSUs is to give builders easier access to the power connectors behind the PSU when mounted vertically.

Lian Li's design philosophy dramatically differs from most ordinary PSUs today. All of the main power connectors, including the ATX 24-pin, EPS 8-pin, PCIe supplementary power connectors, and miscellaneous power connectors (powering things like SATA or Molex adapters), have been moved to a bottom interface that juts out from the bottom of the PSU.

This new design reportedly improves cable accessibility — in chassis with vertical PSU mounts after builders build their PCs, making it easier to re-arrange cables that have already been plugged in. This is especially true of the power cables traditionally installed on the bottom row of connectors on a regular power supply. Lian Li's Edge series PSUs flip the orientation of these connectors, making it easy to access both rows of cables.

Lian Li has also implemented an internal USB hub into its new PSUs installed where the power connectors would typically be. These internal USB connectors are designed to expand the system's overall internal USB header count and power additional peripherals like RGB controllers, all-in-one liquid coolers, and fan controllers. These additional headers will be handy with motherboards that lack many USB 2.0 headers, which is usually the case with older low-end and mid-range motherboards.

The new Edge series will comprise four SKUs, featuring a 1300W flagship model, a 1000W version, and two 850W variants, one with sleeved cables and one without sleeved wires. (The 1300W and 1000W versions only come with sleeved cables.) Lian Li's new PSU lineup also has a native 12VHPWR power connector and cable for powering Nvidia's latest RTX 40 series GPUs.

Despite their elongated look, the PSU shroud has been shortened to accommodate the L-shaped design, so these units are still compatible with standard ATX PSU mounts. Release date and pricing have not been announced.

Lian Li has filed a patent suit in California requesting action against Phanteks (h/t OC3D). The Taiwanese aluminum case stalwart alleges that its Dutch rival has willfully infringed upon its patented fan design innovations. Specifically, Lian Li indicates that Phanteks D30 series fans infringe upon US patent 10,690,336 B1, which was awarded to Lian Li in June 2020. The patent describes a method of daisy chaining RGB fans using a simple, compact connector.

The UNI range of fans from Lian Li has been quite successful. Part of this product line’s appeal may be due to its “revolutionary” interlocking modular connectors, making them “cableless” and great for daisy chaining in systems while minimizing cable clutter.

Perhaps Phanteks was ‘inspired’ by the Lian Li fans, or at least the idea behind them. However, it is hard to believe the idea of minimizing cabling while maximizing RGB and airflow in a system is unique to Lian Li. Also, perhaps the Phanteks D30 series is too similar to Lian Li’s designs to have been truly independently originated. These and similar questions will probably be central to the upcoming deliberations in the US District Court for the Central District of California.

The court case was filed on September 8, 2023, and reportedly comes about three months after Lian Li sent a letter to Phanteks about what it thought were patent-infringing products. Phanteks has continued to market and sell its D30 fans since May, and it seems like a lack of acknowledgment of Lian Li’s claims has precipitated this lawsuit.

What Lian Li hopes to achieve with its legal action is a judgment confirming that Phanteks has infringed its US patent. If successful, Lian Li will seek damages to date, plus a sales injunction on infringing products sold without a license.

We aren’t patent experts, so it is hard to know whether Lian Li’s court action has a great chance of success. The overall idea shared by the rival fan daisy chain designs seems to be similar, but the execution might be different enough to save Phanteks. If Lian Li is successful here, it might also trigger further litigation involving products like the Thermaltake SWAFAN EX and Corsair iCUE Link systems.

Lian Li made an apology to Chinese netizens this weekend. The iconic glass-and-aluminum PC case maker, based in Keelung, Taiwan, found itself in hot water for using the Taiwanese flag in its website language selection menu, reports SETN News.

After many complaints on Chinese tech forums - due to a perceived 'One China' principle transgression - Lian Li apologized for "a staff error." However, China's army of keyboard warriors appears to remain unsatisfied, as Lian Li only issued its apology on China-based social media properties such as BiliBili and Weibo.

In some world regions / some platforms, the Lian Li website will give visitors a language choice option. Next to the site language options, there is a little flag providing a visual cue to the language selection. Normally, this would be viewed as a refined and helpful aspect of a language selection UI, but not in this case. Lian Li's "staff error," was to use the Taiwanese flag, also known as the flag of the Republic of China or ROC, to indicate the on-screen language choice of Traditional Chinese. Traditional Chinese characters are used in Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macau, with Chinese mainlanders (People's Republic of China, PRC) tending to prefer Simplified Chinese.

After some commotion in China about the use of the Taiwan ROC flag by Lian Li, the case and cooling firm decided to publish the apology above. You can follow the link in the intro for the Weibo post. But for our readership, a Google-translated version of the post has been screen-grabbed and embedded.

It is clearly in Lian Li's commercial interests to appease indignant Chinese readers complaining about the Taiwan flag on its site. Apparently, setting out to soothe this sizable market, the case maker wrote that "The wrong flag setting was caused by a staff error," adding that "After receiving the feedback, we have rectified it as soon as possible." Lian Li then offered its verbal support of the 'One China Principle', asserting that it "firmly supports the 1992 Consensus" on the issue. Lian Li added a further apology at the end of its apology, for good measure.

Lian Li's attempt to gloss over its Taiwan flag slip has seemingly left few people satisfied. Chinese netizens seem to see the apology, limited to Chinese social media, as insincere and two-faced. On the flip side, Taiwanese citizens have reportedly been mocking Lian Li as it kowtows to Chinese internet users. Apparently, Lian Li has been pruning Facebook comments by annoyed Taiwanese readers, explaining that the social media page is "for product discussion only."

Lian Li, which makes some of the best PC cases, is rolling out a set of four new chassis this week at Computex 2023, with each having glass on two or even three sides. The company is also showing off a brand new case fan that has an LCD screen in the middle, something we haven't seen before.

The O11 Vision, shown in the lead image, has glass on its front, left side and even on the top. There isn't even a support beam in the front left side to block your view. The top panel is a one-way mirror that makes reflections on the inside of the case but is see-through from the outside. You can attach a 240mm radiator and have it vent out of the back. There's also a removable motherboard tray.

We had a chance to look at the O11 Vision at Lian Li's Computex booth and were impressed by just how much of the internals you can see clearly. If you want to use this case, you better practice good cable management and plan to put it on top of your desk where everyone can see it.

The O11D Evo RGB has a seamless glass view from the front and left side. However, the top can be used to mount radiator fans and case fans can vent out of the bottom or the back. It also has diffused RGB strips on the top and bottom. 

We noticed that the mesh on the right side also gives you a nice view into the case. We were able to see the custom cooling loop and RGB lights from the right side without seeing the ugly cables that were stashed in the right back.

The O11D Evo XL, shown below, is an e-ATX case with class on both the front and left sides, along with a removable support column. The motherboard tray is height adjustable so you can change its position. 

The SUP 01 Concept case, shown below, is meant to be tall and thin. In order to achieve its svelte dimensions, you have to mount the GPU upright. It also has three tempered glass glass panels and room for fans to exhaust out the right side. 

The O11 Vision, O11D EVO RGB, and O11D EVO XL are all due out in Q3 for prices ranging from $139 to $244. The SUP 01 will come in Q4 for $144.

UNI FAN TL LCD Has Its Own Screen

Lian Li is also releasing some new coolers and case fans. The highlight is the UNI Fan 2nd Gen TL LCD. Like other UNI fans, this 120mm spinner can connect to its siblings magnetically. However, what makes it stand out is that it has a a screen that can show animated GIFs, MP4 videos, still image or system information. 

At Lian Li's booth, the company had two different displays with the fan. The first was showing the temperature while the second was showing a Pac-Man animation. The colors were bright when we viewed them straight on, but they faded a bit at wider viewing angles. The company says that the fans will be available with the blades facing either way so you can configure them for exhaust or intake.

The Uni Fan TL LCD will launch in Q3 for $139 for a three pack. According to Lian Li the screen size is still pending and could be either 2.1 or 1.6 inches. It will run at up to 2,100 RPM. 

Lian Li has a new RGB power cable, this time developed for the 12VHPWR connector found on many of the Nvidia GeForce RTX 40-series GPUs. The new cable, the Strimer Plus V2 12VHPWR, is available for pre-order today, starting at $49.99. The company also announced new fans, too.

There will be different variants depending on the power supply you're using. For newer ATX 3.0 PSUs, you can get a 12+4 pin connector on both ends. Those using older PSUs can get 12+4 pin on the GPU end and three 8-pin connectors to attach to the power supply. You can also choose between a slim version with eight light guides or a thicker variant with 12 light guides, which bumps the price up to $59.99.

Lian Li says that the Strimer's 12VHPWR connector, which has a bit of a troubled history, has a custom design on the GPU end, with "improvements to its original design to provide a stronger connection to the GPU, and uses materials to ensure the connector’s durability."

The company states that the Strimer uses gauge wires that deliver up to 600W of power to the GPU. Perhaps most importantly, Lian Li claims its cables can "sustain higher temperatures and sharper bends even when it is close to the connector." In fact, a portion of the connector housing can be detached from the Strimer for tighter bends.

This might sound like a lot of precautions, but it wasn't long ago that people thought these 12VHPWR connectors were melting in their GPUs. (Nvidia ultimately said these 16-pin plugs were not being properly inserted into GPUs.) The Peripheral Component Interconnect Special Interest Group (PCI-SIG) told companies to better test their products to ensure there were no further incidents. (If this were to melt, it would probably make for a fascinating light show, that's for sure.)

We've used previous Strimers in some of our PC builds, like the RGBeast.

Lian Li also has a series of RGB fans coming out today. The Uni Fan AL V2 comes in 120 mm and 140 mm sizes and has addressable RGB on each corner of the fan. It allows for daisy-chaining up to six fans on a single port, and the company says the 28 mm frame offers up to 20% improved performance over prior fans. With black and white designs, it can fit lots of build themes. A single 120 mm fan is $27.99, while a triple pack with a controller is $89.99. A single 140 mm fan is $30.99. Like the Strimer, it is available for pre-order today.

Lian Li has been in the spotlight for the last few years, primarily due to the O11, which masterfully balances tempered glass and airflow. However, the company has other impressive chassis, like the compact Q58, the transforming O11D Evo and the Lancool line, most recently represented by the Lancool III. 

But the company's latest case, the Lian Li Lancool 216, still manages to stand out in a field of successful sibling cases, with two 160mm fans, a rotatable PCIe bracket and a GPU fan mount. Since this case has so many unique features, I expected the price to be higher than most. But the base model Lancool 216 is only $100, with RGB variants just $15 extra. Even though it’s affordable, there are innumerable other cases in this price range. Let's dig in, check out the test results and see if the Lancool 216 earns Lian Li yet another spot on our Best PC Cases list. First though, here's the full specs list from Lian Li. 

Specifications of the Lian Li Lancool 216

Features of the Lian Li Lancool 216

The Lian Li Lancool 216 is a mid-tower chassis that takes some inspiration from the Lancool III we looked at earlier this year. In fact, at first glance, it looks nearly identical to that case. But there are significant differences, like the front fans. The Lancool 216 comes with two big 160mm fans – the only other case on the market that sports these spinners is the Fractal Torrent, which was arguably one of the best-received cases of 2021. The Lancool 216's unconventional cooling approach doesn’t stop with the front fans, as this case comes with a PCIe fan bracket for directing airflow at your GPU. More on that soon. 

Like all airflow-focused cases on the market, the Lancool 2016's front is almost entirely mesh. One of the issues I had with the Lancool III was its underwhelming thermal performance. However, as we’ll see in testing, the 216 is nothing like the Lancool III when it comes to cooling, despite being part of the same case family.

The new Lian Li case features a decent IO: You get power, a reset button, two USB 3.0 Type-A ports and , One USB Type-C, plus an audio combo jack. And, in a design nod to the O11D Evo, the IO can be moved to the lower left corner of the case, which makes room for the RGB controller. Yeah, the only way you can adjust the RGB on the 160mm fans is via the RGB controller, which costs $15 extra. I get that Lian Li wanted to hit the appealing $100 price point. But asking $15 extra for an RGB controller box feels like the company is dangling a key feature of the case in front of you like a carrot on a stick. At least you also get two extra USB-A ports if you opt for the controller. But of course then your motherboard will need two spare headers.

While there's plenty to praise, one gripe I have with the Lancool 216 is the motherboard installation process. The standoffs come pre-installed like most other cases, but they need to be unscrewed and moved up in order for the motherboard to sit high enough so you can connect the PCIe / GPU fan without issues with wire clearance. To take advantage of the GPU cooling feature, you’ll have to move the standoffs and flip a piece that goes around the IO shield. While it’s annoying to do this, it’s worth it– trust me.

I’ve seen case companies dabble with a rotatable motherboard tray, but never a rotatable PCIe bracket. The PCIe bracket on the Lancool 216 can be rotated to accommodate a vertical GPU layout, without smushing it up against the glass. Don’t worry; even if the GPU is vertical, you’ll still be able to utilize the PCIe fan feature. 

Courtesy of Lian Li

GPU Cooling

Now, on to the main event: the GPU bracket fan mount. The Lancool 216 comes with a 120mm fan mount that screws on to the back of the PCIe bracket. The idea of the bracket is simple: slap a fan to the PCIe bracket below the graphics card to pull hot air from the GPU. While it’s uncommon to see them on the market in 2022, this feature greatly impacts folks running with blower-style GPUs.

The idea of the GPU fan mount is interesting, but it also blocks access to any PCI cards below the GPU, as you can see in the image below. While that's bad if you have a dedicated sound card or USB expansion card, the vast majority of people – especially people shopping for a $100 case – probably just have a GPU installed.

Since I had a couple of them on hand, I installed one of the new be quiet! Silent Wings 4 fans in the PCIe slot, and with its maximum RPM of 2,500, it seemed right at home. Since graphics cards are becoming more powerful (and power-hungry), I love having a large fan that can help move the GPU-warmed air out of the case.

Internal Layout

The Lancool 216 stands at 19.4 x 9.25 x 19 inches (HWD), which is pretty large for a mid-tower, but a tad shorter than the Lancool III.

The top panel on the Lancool 216 is easily removable thanks to a couple of screws, which made connecting the EPS-12V cable much easier for me.

Behind the motherboard tray you’ll find metal tabs to keep your cables in line and an RGB/fan hub. The hub is nothing special, but I noticed one of the male RGB connectors was bending outward, which is concerning. The metal tabs for holding cables are an interesting choice, but they work well enough.

Hard drives are housed where they should be: underneath the PSU shroud in a cage. The cage can store two 2.5- or 3.5-inch drives. If you don’t use hard drives, then this case can hold six total 2.5-inch drives, with two sleds behind the motherboard tray.

If you’re planning on using a big air cooler, the Lancool 216 can support up to 180mm (7.1 inches), which is more than enough for the tallest of towers. The same applies to GPUs, as this chassis can fit cards up to 392mm (15.4 inches).

While the main feature of this case is its big front 160mm fans and the PCIe fan bracket, Lian Li included mounts for a more traditional orientation. The front fans can be removed in place of 3x 120 or 2x 140mm spinners to accommodate radiators. The top of the case can house the same configuration. Like the Lancool III, the 216 has room for two 120 or 140mm fans on the PSU shroud. Lastly, the rear exhaust can fit a 120 or 140mm fan.

Testing Hardware

Our testing hardware uses Intel’s 12th Gen Alder Lake platform. We’re using a Core i7-12700KF, cooled by a Noctua U12s air cooler. Our graphics card is a Gigabyte RTX 3070 Ti Gaming OC and our motherboard is the MSI Pro Z690-A WIFI.

Acoustic Results for the Lian Li Lancool 216

Our acoustic test consists of three scenarios: We run the CPU at full load, the CPU and GPU at full load, and an optimized mode. The CPU full load test runs the CPU and case fans at their maximum speed. For the CPU and GPU full load acoustic test, we also stress the Gigabyte RTX 3070 Ti Gaming OC and set the fans at 75% speed, because in gaming, the fans never run at 100 percent and are far too loud when they do.

For the optimized mode, we run the GPU fan speed at 30% and the CPU and included case fans at the lowest speed they will spin.

It should be noted that when running our acoustic tests, we did not have the PCIe fan running, since it doesn't come with this fan and acoustics would differ based on what fan you install there. We did, however, install and run the Silent Wings 4 fan in this spot for our Thermal tests, since this is a key feature of the case. Like its older sibling, the Lancool III, the 216 is a loud case. However, I’m not bothered because the fans are bigger than usual. Don’t get me wrong, this case isn't quiet, but the thermals make up for the noise,as we're about to see.

Thermal Results for the Lian Li Lancool 216

For the thermal tests, all case and CPU fan speeds are set to 100%. The Core i7-12700K is set at a 4.7GHz clock at 1.3v on all performance cores, to ensure consistent power consumption across test scenarios. Letting the GPU run at 75% fan speed enables it to maintain its power target while sticking to one set reasonable fan speed, so the temperature is the only variable.

Because they’re the only two major-brand cases on the market that feature 160mm fans, I directly compared the Fractal Design Torrent Compact and the Lian Li Lancool 216. The difference in CPU thermals is within margin of error, but the 10-degree difference in GPU teps clearly indicates that the PCIe fan is legit.

After comparing the Lancool 216 to the best-performing cases from this year, it’s safe to say that this case is worth strong consideration, especially if you want impressive GPU thermals.

Bottom Line

Over the past year or so, the most popular cases on the market have been airflow-focused instead, rather than focusing on glass and RGB. With that said, many of those cases are starting to look the same, and so feeling a bit boring. That doesn’t apply to the Lian Li Lancool 216, because the company brought some of the defining features of the Lancool III and O11D Evo, and added a helpful PCIe fan with its latest case. 

Let’s not forget the Lancool 216 is also only $100 (plus $15 if you want to add the nice RGB controller), which makes it extremely competitive in at a price point where the market is overflowing with options. With so many high-priced cases debuting this year (we're looking at you, Cooler Master) It's nice to see you don’t need to spend a lot on a case to get fantastic performance and quality. With that in mind, I’m willing to forgive the subtle issues I had with the 216 because it’s without a doubt, one of the best cases I’ve seen in a long time.

MORE: Best PC Cases 2022

MORE: Best Mini-ITX Cases 2022

Cases and cooling specialist Lian Li has released the Lancool 216 mid-tower chassis, which it initially teased back in the summer. This is a modestly modernized take on the Lancool 215, which we reviewed and praised back in January 2021, and addresses several of its predecessor's shortcomings. It is now bigger, but in these days of gargantuan GPUs roaming the earth, the enlarged capacity might actually be good.

Lian Li claims that the Lancool 216 can be optimized by a PC DIYer for either air cooling or AiO cooling. It certainly is flexible, and as well as making that cooling choice apparent, it supports up to E-ATX motherboards, has a removable top 360 radiator bracket, offers a 90-degree pivoting PCIe expansion slot panel, with a relocatable front I/O panel, has options for an external rear mount PCIe fan, plus provides plenty of expansion options for storage and today’s biggest GPUs. Buyers can also purchase this case in black RGB, white RGB, and plain black options.

One of the most significant visual differences between the new Lancool 216 and its predecessor is the refreshed “continuous front to top mesh” design. This update makes the design somewhat less boxy. In addition, the new front I/O panel is another welcome change, with two new features. First, the panel is relocatable from the top front edge to the front left side edge, and second, the I/O panel now includes a USB-C port.

The previous gen model didn’t have a front dust filter, and the same is true of the Lancool 216. However, Lian Li is making a full-coverage dust filter available as an optional accessory for this section. Pricing for the accessory is unknown at this time.

We’ve discussed some of the characteristics of the Lancool 216 and highlighted new and improved features, so now it is time to look at the tech specs. For those who bought the Lancool 215 or were interested in it at the time, please check the comparative specs table below.

The above specs help highlight some of the benefits the extra size of this already chunky chassis delivers. Users have traditional and vertical modes to choose from for fitting GPUs. The newer chassis has some extra length to play with – an extra 22mm. It is also notable that the 20mm wider chassis should help with any GPU power cable bending you might have to indulge in to fit the tempered glass side panel back on.

Other benefits of the extra capacity include; the increased max compatibility for CPU coolers and PSUs, the size and amount of fans, and additional storage device fitting capacity.

Lian Li says that the Lancool 216 is available now priced from $99.99, and you can check the product matrix below for models and prices. Be aware that the three models are all bundled with three fans (2x 160mm front, 1x 140mm rear), but with the RGB models, the two front fans feature RGB lighting and a USB controller. The USB controller is available separately at $13.99.

If you are looking for a new PC case and the new Lian Li Lancool 216 appeals, please also check out the Tom’s Hardware Best PC Cases 2022: Our Tested Picks for Your New Build feature.

Over the last year or so, the PC case market has offered up some interesting and impressive cases that combine airflow sufficient airflow (usually via a mesh front panel) with attractive looks to back the performance. Examples that come to mind include Fractal’s Torrent and the surprisingly affordable Phanteks Eclipse G360A. But Lian Li arguably carried this trend to the forefront with cases like the Lancool II Mesh Performance and the morphing O11D EVO, as well as other variants of the hugely successful O11 line, going all the way back to 2018. If you need any evidence of just how popular its cases are, you only need to take a cursory glance at PC builds on Instagram, most of which seem to be housed in one Lian Li case or another.

Now the company is back with the latest installment of its Lancool line, the Lancool III. As with previous iterations, this is a pretty large chassis (nearly 21-inches tall and deep). But the case comes with four 140mm PWM fans and support for the largest hardware due to its modularity. At $159.99 for the black RGB model we tested and $169.99 for the white RGB version (with non-RGB versions available for $10 less), does the Lancool III live up to its legacy and earn a spot on our Best PC Cases list? Let’s dig in and find out.

Specifications of the Lian Li Lancool III

Features of the Lian LI Lancool III

The Lian Li Lancool III is a beefy mid-tower ATX case that’s more down-to-earth than the O11, but packs a similar punch with the level of modularity, creativity and attention to detail.

When the Lancool III first arrived, I tried to open the tempered glass side panels and simply couldn’t. However, the brushed aluminum pillars on the front panel open like the handle of a car door, thus allowing the glass to swing open elegantly. While I love this unique panel release process, the brushed aluminum is a fingerprint magnet, so you’ll want to be careful to grab the handles from the inside rather than the front. Aside from the pillars, the front of the case is covered in mesh with small 1.5mm holes. Now, I don’t go around measuring the diameter of the holes on other mesh-fronted chassis, but Lian Li points out the size here, claiming it strikes a good balance between airflow and stopping dust from getting in the case. (there’s no filter up front but there is on the bottom.)

Rather than having glass that runs all the way down the sides of the case, the Lancool III borrows a page from the also excellent Lian Li Q58 ITX case. The PSU shroud area is flanked by mesh doors that swing out and down. The left door is barren, yet when opened will give you access to the two included hard drive cages. There are two cages here, which means four 3.5 or 2.5-inch drives can hide alongside the PSU. The other mesh flap comes with two pre-installed 2.5-inch SSD sleds, and two more can be found behind the motherboard tray. On top of that, this case can fit three more SSDs on top of the PSU shroud (assuming you aren’t planning on placing fans there). That’s a lot of storage options, though I did have to remove one of the drive cages to make the installation of our PSU and its cables easier. But even with one cage removed, you still have room for two old-school 3.5-inch hard drives.

On most cases these days, the IO is housed up top and you don’t think much about it, even if it’s inconvenient for those who want to put their system on their desk. However, the Lancool III’s IO can be moved from its default top spot to the bottom– right underneath the Lian Li logo. Another nice touch: Connecting the front IO to your motherboard has never been easier, as Lian Li has combined the frustrating header cables into one. That cuts at least a third of the annoying fiddling and frustration of the average PC build by at least a third.

Internal Layout

The Lancool III stands at 20.7 x 9.3 x 20.6 inches (HWD), which is almost as tall as the Corsair iCUE 500T. While this is a large case, the internal cavity doesn’t seem at all wasted. Lian Li wanted to make sure that you get the most out of every inch in this case by making it compatible with gargantuan radiators (up to 420mm up top) and other cooling components.

Three radiators can be installed in total, and two can be mounted in dual positions to make room for other components. There are six possible pump mounting points on the bottom shroud and in front of the motherboard, removable brackets for mounting radiators outside of the case, and even a fill/drain hole in the bracket up top for custom cooling loops. Oh, and you can install up to ten 120mm fans or nine 140mm fans–four of the latter are included. For those who like to experiment with and/or overload a case with cooling, the Lancool III is a wonderland of options.

I never understood why case companies add glass to the rear side panel, as Lian Li does here, because who wants to see their bird's nest-like cable mess? However, the Lancool III features small metal doors that cover your cables, similar to the bigger CoolerMaster HAF 700 Evo. If you are a cable managing guru, the doors can be removed and show off the profusion of Lancool’s Velcro cable ties. There are three big straps and five small ones, making it fairly easy to keep your cables in line.

Lian Li Lancool III Cooling

The glass-flanked O11 Dynamic arguably brought Lian Li to its current prominence (after several years focusing on very expensive all-aluminum cases. But the company is no stranger to the importance of airflow. While the O11 is great for custom water loops, this chassis has the potential to be the same. At the top of the Lancool III, there’s a fill port on the radiator bracket that supports up to 420mm. But again, it’s not just up top where the Lancool III’s cooling capability lies, it’s everywhere else. I mentioned that three 2.5-inch SSDs can be installed above the PSU shroud, but that can be substituted for more cooling, should you choose. If you remove the SSD tray, you can install a radiator up to 360mm here as well. And while it sounds odd to have a radiator at the bottom, the mesh sides of the shroud do let more fresh air in than you might expect.

The front of the Lancool III has a lot of room (360mm of radiator support), but Lian Li included 3x 140 PWM aRGB fans. While I can’t complain, I found it funny that the company included a non-RGB 140mm spinner in the rear. It is, at least PWM. The included fans aren’t cheap, as the aRGB spinners in the front get up to 1650 RPM, while the one in the rear can hit 1800. As we will see shortly in testing, though, the fans lean more toward aggressive than silent.

If you choose the more traditional air cooling, the Lancool III can support tower coolers up to 185mm (7.3 inches). Supported GPU length is up to 420mm (16.5 inches), so even the most oversized graphics cards should fit without issues.

Oh, and if you find the traditional standard GPU installation a bit boring, the company will also offer a vertical GPU mounting kit, similar to the O11D Evo, with your choice of PCIe 3.0 or 4.0 riser cables. The kit will even let you mount the card in two places above the PSU shroud so you can leave clearance for fans or let it sit lower down if you don’t have spinners there. The company hasn’t yet told us how much the riser kit would cost.

Testing Hardware

We’ve updated our testing hardware to use Intel’s 12 Gen “Alder Lake” platform, which has shaken up the desktop landscape (and taken prominent spots on our best CPUs for gaming list). We’re now using a Core i7-12700KF, which is being cooled by a Noctua U12s air cooler. Our graphics card is a Gigabyte RTX 3070 Ti Gaming OC.

On top of that, going forward, we’ve switched our motherboard out for the MSI Pro Z690-A WIFI. The Aorus Z690 Elite we were using for previous reviews died during the initial build of this review, so we had to swap it out.

Acoustic Results for the Lian Li Lancool III

Our acoustic test consists of three scenarios: We run the CPU at full load, the CPU and GPU at full load, and an optimized mode. The CPU full load test runs the CPU and case fans at their maximum speed. For the CPU and GPU full load acoustic test, we also stress the Gigabyte RTX 3070 Ti Gaming OC and set the fans at 75% speed, because in gaming the fans never run at 100 percent and are far too loud when they do.

For the optimized mode, we run the GPU fan speed at 30 % and run the CPU and included case fans at the lowest speed that they will spin.

The results we got from the Lancool III were, well, strange. There was barely any difference in noise between our two tests. Nonetheless, the results weren’t too bad if you keep in mind that this case comes with four 140mm fans that sport relatively high RPMs. It’s also worth mentioning that this chassis has more porous panels than most mesh-covered cases, as the flaps on the PSU shroud are also mesh. The acoustic results were a bit louder than I would’ve liked, but that’s typically the tradeoff with airflow-first cases–unless you’re getting the NZXT H7 Flow.

Thermal Results for the Lian Li Lancool III

For the thermal tests, all case and CPU fan speeds are set to 100%. The Core i7-12700K is set at a 4.7GHz clock at 1.3v on all performance cores to ensure consistent power consumption across test scenarios. Letting the GPU run at 75% fan speed enables it to maintain its power target while sticking to one set reasonable fan speed, so that the temperature is the only variable.

I’d be lying if I said that I was slightly disappointed by the thermal results from the Lancool III during our CPU stress test. During the CPU test, I never felt concerned for our little Intel Core i7-12700K, but I was surprised to see a case with four 140mm fans not keeping the CPU temps lower. The Lancool III came back to earth during our GPU test and tied the H7 Flow in thermals there. Perhaps the improvement in temps on the GPU front are correlated to the mesh flaps on the PSU shroud.

Bottom Line

There’s a reason why Lian Li has a reputation for being one of the best in the business. And the Lancool III is another exemplary representation of what the company can do. The case isn’t perfect; the brushed aluminum front flaps pick up fingerprints too easily for a door release. I’m also well aware that we run stress tests that are more demanding than most users will regularly experience. But even with fans as loud as these, the case wasn’t able to cool our CPU as well as I expected.

With those issues out of the way, for $160, I can somewhat forgive Lian Li, because the level of detail and creativity in this case is far beyond anything that I’ve seen in recent months. The Lian Li Lancool III RGB packs in a lot for its price. If you want RGB and airflow for a reasonable price tag, this is certainly something worth looking at. And if you prefer to be RGB-free, the base models cost $10 less and come with the same number of fans.

Even the best PC builds need some panache. If you really love RGB, Lian Li’s Strimer series of illuminated power extension cables is made for you. Available in both 24-pin ATX and 8-pin GPU varieties, the Stimers feature a layer of addressable RGB lights that sits on top of the cable itself. Since these are extension cables, you can pair them with everything from one of the best PSUs to the cheapest one you find on sale.

The Strimer Plus V2 line adds some new wrinkles to this flair-filled formula, improving the flexibility and brightness of the cables while introducing a new controller hub and custom software. Available for $70 for the 24-pin cable (and L-Connect 3 control hub), $50 for a dual-headed GPU cable or $60 for a triple-headed GPU cable, the new Strimers don’t come cheap, particularly when you consider that a full suite of regular extension cables costs $20. However, if you can afford the price, you’ll get a splash of colorful illumination that makes your PC stand out.

Installing and Using the Lian Li Strimer Plus V2

When I took the Strimer Plus V2 cables out of their packaging, I was really impressed by how Lian Li creates the illusion that each cable itself is lit. Instead, on top of the cables themselves is a thick, silicone cover that tricks you into thinking these are the actual power cables and doubles as a diffuser.

When we reviewed the Stimer Plus, the cable felt a bit too stiff. However, Lian Li addressed this issue on the Plus V2 by changing the material of the RGB covers from PVC to TPE, a particular type of silicone that’s said to increase flexibility. The increased flexibility can also be attributed to a slimmer cable stack. The height of the RGB layer, plus the cable layer is only 8mm, whereas the previous Strimers were 11mm. The last visual change Lian Li made to its new Strimer extensions is the addition of a side light diffuser, which allows color to shine out of the sides of the cables instead of just the front, making the whole display brighter.

While all of that sounds fine and dandy, the measurements of the extensions have to be long enough to reach your components without showing your existing PSU cables. The length of the PCIe cables are 11.8 inches (300mm), which is more than enough for most cases. The 24-pin measures 7.8 inches (200mm), which is also generous.

To install the new Strimers, you just plug them into your PSU’s power cables and connect the little RGB cable to the RGB hub. The extensions feature tiny cables that connect to an RGB hub powered via SATA like on the previous version. You’ll also want to make sure that your motherboard has a 5V ARGB header on board, as you’ll need it to connect the hub. Unlike the original Strimers, you will not use the hub to control the lighting. Instead, all RGB goodness is controlled via Lian Li’s new software, L-Connect 3.

I installed the Strimers into the Hyte Y60, an ATX case with three tempered glass panels that allowed me to get a good view of the bright, vibrant light show. Because these are extension cables, I connected them directly to the motherboard and then looped them through the rubber grommets to my power supply’s cables. Even though the Strimers were cut down in size since we last visited them, I accidentally knocked a rubber grommet out during installation. However, this was only the case with the chonky 24-pin Strimer as the PCIe cables weren’t an issue to install.

I haven’t worked with PSU extension cables in a long time and even when I did, the only cable I extended was my PCIe cables because I love the individually-sleeved cable look. The 24-pin cable had enough flex to create the perfect semi-circular route to the back of my motherboard tray. While the PCIe cables still looked gorgeous, I had my graphics card mounted vertically, so I couldn’t develop a route as pretty as with the 24-pin. Overall, these things really glowed and were full of color.

Since I moved about a year ago, I’ve had my personal rig nestled underneath my desk, so I haven’t felt the love for RGB in my chassis. While the Lian Li Strimmer Plus V2 wires don’t make me want to go out and buy hundreds of dollars worth of RGB kits, these cables raised an eyebrow because they provide something different than the usual light-up fans that people use to adorn their builds.

Whenever it comes to adding RGB to your rig, what also joins the party are a bunch of wires that make you question whether or not you should return the kit. However, with the Lian Li Strimer Plus V2, all it takes is a couple of clips and cable routing and you’re done.

Software for the Lian Li Strimer Plus V2

L-Connect 3 is Lian Li’s new software that piggybacks off of its Uni Fan software, but this time it adds the ability to control the Strimers (controlled initially via your motherboard’s software). The level of customization on the Strimer Plus V2 is similar to what you get with a mechanical keyboard that has per-key RGB lighting.

Single mode allows users to control each light channel's color and even features effects from rainbow to ping pong. Honestly, I had a blast experimenting with all of the lighting combos you can create. After I tinkered with the 24-pin cable’s RGB, it reminded me of the Empire State Building when it’s lit up at night. If you already own the previous generation of Strimers, L-Connect 3 is compatible, but you will need to purchase the controller on its own for $20. It comes in the package with the Strimer Plus V2 24-pin cable, but not with the GPU cables.

Bottom Line

The Strimer Plus V2 provides a clear indication that Lian Li is listening to feedback as it added flexibility to the cables, side illumination and a high level of customization that the prior generation products didn’t have. If you don’t already have a Strimer and don’t mind spending $70 or more, the Plus V2 cables are the most compelling yet. These extensions provide a unique RGB addition to your system that makes your build stand out from the crowd.

Ten years ago, Lian Li was mostly known for extremely expensive aluminum cases that many dreamed of, but few could actually afford. But in the last few years, Lian Li has pivoted to become the people’s case maker. Gone is the requirement for everything to be aluminum – these days you’ll find plenty of steel, especially in the frames and mesh – but the design brilliance has remained, if not improved.

The company’s latest ITX case, the Q58, is an example of exactly this new way of thinking – it offers a brilliant design, oh-so-premium looks, and – get this – it only costs $130. If you’re familiar with the world of ITX cases, you’ll know that’s not a lot of money for a small, 14.3 liter case, especially with the likes of the NCase M1 costing around $210 and Louqe’s Raw S1 tallying in at a mighty $330.

So, without further ado, let’s dig in and find out if the Q58 is good enough for our Best PC Cases list. It certainly has stiff competition, with both the Hyte Revolt 3 and Cooler Master’s NR200P impressing us on the compact case front in recent weeks.

Specifications

External Design

Circling around the outside of the chassis, the first thing that stands out about the Q58 is its simple design. You’ll find half-height glass panels at the top, half-height mesh panels at the bottom, and an aluminum front panel that matches the rest of the case, with a finish split right in the middle.

The case’s side panels are made of painted steel with a fine mesh that’s good enough to act as a rough dust filter, but the top panel is made from prettier anodized aluminum and has its mesh milled out. It’s a rougher mesh, but that’s okay as this is the exhaust location, so it doesn’t need to filter any air.

Flip around the back of the chassis, and there’s not much to be seen other than the motherboard’s IO cutout, three vertical expansion slots, a power socket, and a trio of thumbscrews. Front IO consists of a single USB 3.0 Type-A port, a USB Type-C port, and a mic-headphone combo jack.

But don’t be fooled by the tidy, simplistic exterior. Hiding inside the Q58 has a very neat, surprisingly flexible design.

Internal Design

First, lets talk about the panels a little more. The four side panels are all on hinges, and they are exchangeable. The default layout (and the layout I’d recommend), has the glass panels at the top with the mesh at the bottom, but you can opt to swap these around, or have all glass on one side and all mesh on the other. What you can’t do is have glass at the top of one side and the bottom of the other – the panels are mirrored, so their hinges won’t support this.

The one thing we do have to note about the panels is that two of them seemed awfully tough to slip  from their hinges, though Lian Li informed us beforehand that this was an issue with our sample and that it would be fixed in retail cases.

On the right side of the case you’ll find the main motherboard area. This fits an ITX motherboard mounted upside-down, and the bracket for the SFF PSU is installed from the factory.

Flip over to the left side, and you’ll spot the GPU area.

But if you look at the top of the chassis, you’ll spot a large cavity. Believe it or not, you can actually fit up to a 280 mm radiator up here, complete with fans. That’s honestly an amazing amount of cooling power for a case this small, and certainly something you should utilize given you don’t need any other layout.

The bottom of the case supports a single 120mm fan as intake underneath the PSU, though it does not ship with any fans. The bottom does have magnetic dust filters included in the accessory pack.

At the back of the case, near the top, you’ll also spot a fan hub. This is a simple PWM & RGB hub with three ports – so it isn’t SATA powered, but it does offer a neat way to run all your fans and RGB devices through a single header. Given that most ITX motherboards only have one RGB header, and the case supports exactly three fans, this is a neat inclusion, especially at this price.

For storage, you can fit up to three 2.5-inch drives in this chassis and one 3.5-inch drive. These are placed at the bottom, along the top radiator mount, behind the power supply; the last 2.5-inch slot is sneakily placed between the frame paneling at the front. It’s too tight there to get cables to, but Lian Li built in a hot-swap bracket. Keep in mind that the bottom drive only fits if you don’t install an intake fan.

The Q58 can support ATX PSUs

However, if you don’t want to invest in a pricey SFF or SFF-L power supply, Lian Li also includes a bracket to convert the chassis to ATX mode. In this mode, the Q58 will still happily swallow 320mm graphics cards, but you will be making a few sacrifices. For one, the biggest supported radiator drops from 280mm to 120mm, and storage options drop to just two 2.5-inch drives. So, for best results, we recommend sticking to an SFF power supply.

PCIe 4.0 support & white paint costs extra

In its base variant, black with a PCIe 3.0 riser cable, the Q58 costs $130. If you want a model that has a PCIe 4.0-capable riser cable because you’re dropping in an RTX 3000 or RX 6000 graphics card, this will run you an extra $30, bringing the price tag to $160. Meanwhile, the Q58 is also available in white – a finish that costs $10 extra on both the PCIe 3.0 and PCIe 4.0 variants.

We are using the following system for today’s build:

With this build, we’re using the new ITX case test setup based on the 11th Gen Intel Core i5-11600K processor, paired with an Asus Z590 ITX motherboard and a large RTX 3080 Ti graphics card. That’s a lot of hardware to throw at an ITX case, but the Q58 shouldn’t be troubled by this. That said, the Zotac GPU might be too big, so I do have the RTX 2070 Super ready in case I need it. 

Step 1: PSU Installation

First, I installed the power supply in its designated location. By default, the case comes with the SFF bracket pre-installed, and the PSU slides right into place. If you have an SFF-L PSU, you may need to remove the bracket, install the PSU onto it, and re-install the lot.

Step 2: Motherboard Installation

Then, I installed the Asus motherboard, with the AIO’s pump head already installed. I could try and get the PCIe riser cable out of the way and install the pump head afterwards, but that seems like an inefficient way of going about things.

Step 3: AIO Installation

Then, it was time to install the AIO’s radiator at the top of the case. The Q58 supports 280mm radiators, as you can tell from the bracket I removed from the top of the chassis, but I don’t have a 280mm AIO available (yet). So, I installed the bracket and tried to put the radiator in place.

But I made a mistake: I installed the radiator on the bracket outside the case, and with the tubes not routed through the top opening, I couldn’t get it in place. So, I undid the radiator again, ran its tubes correctly, and re-installed the bracket. At this point, I decided that it would be easiest to leave the radiator uninstalled and off to the side, as this would give me extra clearance for cable management.

Step 4: Cable Management

Next, I decided it was time to tidy up all the cables. I find that in ITX cases, this is easiest to do without the GPU installed, as it just gets in the way. About 30 minutes later, I achieved the below result, which is quite tidy.

But there is a catch: The cable slack from the power supply had to go somewhere, and I shoved it right below the PSU. There is plenty of space here, but it is the spot where otherwise, you could install a 120mm intake fan. With some creativity and a lot of extra time, you could fit a fan here and use the standard cables that come with a power supply. There is some space behind the PSU, and you could jam things in a bit tidier – after all, the back of the fan has the prongs that hold up the motor, so you’re unlikely to get blade contact.

However, for best results, you may want to budget for a custom cable set that’s made to the exact lengths you require. This will lead to an easier build and much tidier looks.

Step 5: GPU Installation

With all the cables tidied, and the PCIe power cables pre-routed, installing the large Zotac RTX 3080 Ti was a breeze. I did have to nudge the PCIe riser card over a bit, but with that done, the GPU slotted right into place.

There’s just one thing I need to mention here: The GPU end of the PCIe riser cable could use some extra support. I was pushing down on the GPU, seeking that satisfying ‘click’ letting you know that it’s fastened into the slot, but I wasn’t getting it.

As you can see, I managed to bend the PCB a bit. This wasn’t a problem – I hadn’t damaged it and it did work just fine, but if you’re not careful, you might. Two simple standoffs to hold it up at each end isn’t enough to protect against uncareful installers bludgeoning the GPU in, so I’d like to see Lian Li add a support brace here.

Build Complete

With that, the build was complete. Time to throw on the panels.

In the end, building a system into the Q58 wasn’t as tough as ITX cases used to be. Admittedly, this one was a little trickier with the cable management and cramped space for cable slack, but it was still perfectly manageable with some time and patience. The Hyte Revolt 3 certainly builds easier, but it doesn’t have as nice a finish as the Q58, and while the Louqe Raw S1 both builds easier and is way more premium, it does cost much more and offers far fewer storage, cooling, and PSU options.

Although the Q58 doesn’t ship with any fans, it shouldn’t need any either. The GPU is pressed tight against the intake mesh on the side, and the AIO at the top, if you’re using one, takes care of the CPU and system exhaust. A 120mm fan can be added at the bottom for intake if so desired, but I’m not testing with one today as it isn’t essential.

We are using an updated testing methodology first introduced with the Cooler Master NR200P Max here, which involves new settings, more realistic acoustic tests, and worst-case-scenario thermal tests. For CPU cooling, we’re using the biggest AIO that I have available at the time of testing, allowing you to get a better idea of the thermals you can expect in a typical build intended for the case.

Acoustic Results

As far as acoustics go, the Q58 performs alright but not great. It’s quieter than the Hyte Revolt 3 even with an identical setup, though that’s likely due to the different GPU and AIO orientation. Naturally, the Cooler Master NR200P Max was quieter, but that’s because it was tested with its included 280mm AIO, which has quieter fans that spin at lower maximum speeds.

Thermal Results

When it comes to thermals, the Lian Li Q58 performs better than average, only being outperformed by the NR200P Max when it was using a mesh panel, and even then, it’s only by a sliver. The Q58 does witness a slightly higher CPU temperature, but its GPU temperature is impressive at 58 °C when normalized to a 20 °C room.

Of course, keep in mind with that with this thermal test, the CPU’s clock speed is locked at 4.0 GHz at 1.2V, and the GPU’s fan speeds are locked at 75% to ensure it can meet its power target – in practice, you’ll witness lower CPU temperatures and higher GPU temperatures due to the behavior of the boost algorithms.

Testing the PCIe 4.0 Riser Cable

To test the PCIe 4.0 riser cable, I simply set the PCIe mode in the BIOS to Gen 4, boot the system, run Furmark, and check whether it’s running at Gen 4 speeds in GPU-Z. If the cable makes it through this simple test, it gets our thumbs up, and the Gen4 cable that comes with the $160 Q58 made it through this test without issue.

Conclusion

To wrap this one up, all I can say is that Lian Li has yet another winner on its hands. After the Lancool II Mesh Performance last year, and the PC-O11 Air Mini last week, the company is showing that it is more than capable of building impressive, stylish cases that perform well at impressively friendly price points. The secret appears to be ditching the all-aluminum designs, though some does remain here on specific bits of paneling for that distinct, luxurious Lian Li look.

More specific to the Q58, this ITX case manages to squeeze a high-TDP build such as our system with an i5-11600K and an RTX 3080 Ti into an astonishingly tiny, 14.3 Liter enclosure, not only with a pleasant build process and great looks, but also above-average thermal performance. And there is some room for improvement: We only used a 240mm AIO, but you can bump that up to a 280mm unit and add an intake fan for even better performance.

Conversely, if you’re on a budget, you can opt for the simple version with just a PCIe 3.0 riser cable, convert it to support your old ATX PSU, throw in a cheap 120mm AIO, and the end result will look just the same as ours thanks to the dark tint on the glass.

Priced at $130 for the base variant, with a $30 premium to jump to a PCIe 4.0 riser cable, and a $10 premium for the white finish, the Lian Li Q58 ITX case gets an easy recommendation. We only wish the GPU end of the riser cable was a bit stronger or better supported. Hopefully Lian Li will make that change.

Lian Li has unveiled its latest version of a no-compromises PC case, the Odyssey X, which was designed in collaboration with popular overclocker Der8auer. This chassis can accommodate almost anything, with up to nine fan mounts and three configurations. But you'll have to pay the hefty price of $500 to obtain the Odyssey X.

The chassis is classified as a full-tower case, with support for up to EEB and E-ATX motherboard options, and comes in two colors: black or silver. The biggest selling point of this chassis its monstrous capacity to house large liquid-cooled components within its cavernous chamber.

Another feature is its triple configuration options, which lets you orient the case in three distinct ways depending on the build you're trying to set up.

Dynamic mode is the case's default configuration and looks identical to your standard ATX tower. The motherboard sits to the middle rear of the case, with fan housings to the top and front.

Dynamic-R mode is a complete180-degree spin from Dynamic mode, traditionally called an inverted mode. This config moves the motherboard to the top of the chassis, with the rear I/O sticking upward. Fan mounts are placed to the bottom and front of the case.

Finally, there's a Performance mode that turns the case completely on its back end, giving the case a more vertical appearance. We're not sure why this mode is called 'Performance', but the vertical layout allows the case fans to be much closer to your system components and graphics card, which should allow for better cooling potential.

You have a maximum of nine fan mounts that can be housed within the Odyssey X. All nine mounts are only accessible in Dynamic Mode, with Dynamic-R and Performance modes limiting you to 'just' seven  120mm fans. You can also house 140mm fans in any configuration, but expect fewer fan mounts if you go this route. (You'd think Performance mode would give you the most amount of fan options)

Of course, those fan mounts can also handle radiators as large as 480mm, depending on the configuration.

Besides the case's cooling potential, it also has a decent amount of storage options, with three 3.5-inch HDD trays or three 2.5-inch slots for hard drives or SSDs. The drive trays can handle either drive size.

Cable management to the rear of the case should be very easy to maintain, as there are three large rubberized grommets, allowing cables to pass thru the rear with plenty of cables tie-down points across the whole back part of the case. This is where you'll also find three hard drive slots as well.

Aesthetically the case is quite striking, with the angled double tempered glass side panel doors, plus a fully ventilated front panel. The use of high-end brushed metal and tempered glass gives the case a very premium look.

Currently, Newegg.com lists the Odyssey X's for $499.99 on pre-order, with availability in late July.

Lian Li might be enjoying the fullest success of its existing case lineup, but the company isn't sitting idly by. Today, Lian Li is unveiling four new cases in its 2021 Expo, which is set to kick off in a couple hours. Meanwhile, we've got a few pictures and details about the cases they're about to show off, so we're bringing those to you early. So without further ado, let's dig in:

All-new O11D Evo

The O11D Evo is meant to slot in as an airflow-optimized version of the original O11 Dynamic, bringing features to the table such as rear exhaust, RGB lighting, and better cooling. While sharing the same footprint and similar dimensions of the 'regular-sized' O11D. It will support up to E-ATX motherboards, GPUs up to 445mm long, PSUs up to 200mm in length, and a plethora of storage options. Of course, being a case built for cooling, fan and radiator support is ample too.

Of course, we're really looking forward to this case. One of the things we liked about the O11D Mini is that it did away with the painted steel exterior panels and replaced them for aluminum, and the same is coming to the O11D Evo -- the top and side panels are either made of glass or aluminum for a much more premium finish, and supposedly better airflow as the panels themselves are said to act as the air filters.

SFX Goodness: A4-H20

Built in collaboration with the community-born DAN-cases, the A4-H20 brings a much-needed update to the Dan A4 case. This one supports 240mm radiators along with 2.7-slot GPUs up to 315mm long -- and that's big news for a case that's only 10.4 liters in size.

But Wait, More SFX Joy: The All-New Q58

If you're not dead-set on an absolutely tiny enclosure, but still want something small, capable, and pretty, the Q58 might be for you. At 14.3 liters in volume, it's still a small case, but it's capable of housing GPUs up to 320 mm long next to the mesh intake on the side for great cooling, and you can fit up to a 280mm radiator for cooling the CPU. With a half-glass half-mesh intake on the side, RGB, machined aluminum front panel, this is a case that appears to strike a great balance between looks and cooling, and we can't wait to get it on the test bench.

Some Full-Tower Love Too: V3000+

But of course, there's always a crowd that wants full-tower cases. For them, Lian Li is updating the V3000 into the V3000+. The V3000 isn't exactly old dating back to 2017, but it's looks are tad out of date with today's trends and we can see the potential for an update. This is a massive full-tower case that will house two systems, two power supplies, GPUs up to 420mm in length, up to 16 hard drives or 19 SSDs, and of course there's a plethora of tempered glass, venting, and classy but subtle RGB accents with a remote control.

Full Details Coming Soon

At this time, this is all the information we have. The Expo is premiering in a few hours, so be sure to tune in.

Lian Li's O11D Mini came out at the end of last year (our review here), and thanks to its incredibly modular internals, it's honestly one of the most fun cases 2020 had to offer. Now, EKWB already has a distribution plate ready for it, and call me weird, but I find it quite exciting. 

Being a chassis with lots of glass to look into it, a distribution plate at the front of it is the perfect foundation for watercooled systems with hard acrylic tubing. The distribution plate has inlets and outlets in all the right places to line up with most hardware combinations, meaning you should be able to get away with just a single bend per stretch of tubing.

And that's key to a successful liquid build. I built a system in PCMR 'Special Edition' O11D, also with an EKWB Quantum-Reflection distribution plate, and it really made it a breeze to get my tubing runs to look good. Don't get me wrong, it was still a two-person all-day job as a first-timer to hardline tubing, but the end result looked proper without much waste, failed bends, or hair-pulling fear of leaks.

O11D Mini + EKWB Distro Plate = Magic

Having come to the conclusion that the O11D Mini and an EKWB distribution plate ought to be a magical combination, let's get into a few of the details. 

The plate itself is made primarily out of acrylic, and a D5 PWM pump is used to generate flow. This is a massive-power 23-watt pump that can push through even the toughest, most complicated of loops, and chances are you'll never actually need to address its full power. I appreciate that this distro plate doesn't have a metal cover to hide the pump from the front of the case, allowing you to see it do its work in its fullest glory.

D-RGB is included in the form of a light strip on one side, which illuminates the entire distro plate and can react nicely with pastel fluids. 

Pricing isn't cheap though at $350 for this unit. That said, a D5 pump-res combo unit will also easily cost you about $200, and in all fairness, I reckon the added $150 is worth the convenience in port placement for easier tubing runs if you're already going down the custom liquid route anyway -- and of course the looks. The catch is that it will only fit the O11D Mini, so you'll have to be sure about your decision before committing to the build.

EKWB is currently taking pre-orders with shipping slated for early March.

Earlier this year, Lian Li updated its fully RGB lit Strimer PSU cable extensions for both your motherboard and graphics card. But all you could get at the time was a 24 pin motherboard extension and dual 8-pin GPU extension kit. Fortunately, Lian Li has now updated its product lineup with a new Strimer+ Triple kit that includes a triple 8-pin GPU extension cable and an RGB hub. The kit is designed specifically for aftermarket RTX 3080s and RTX 3090s that are equipped with triple 8 pin power connectors.

If you are unaware of how these extensions work, they don't actually light up the physical PSU extension cable itself, rather the cables themselves are covered by RGB-lit strips. So in reality, you have two sets of cables running from your PSU cables to the system components. But in the end, the cables do look pretty with all that extra mass.

This new Strimer+ Triple kit also includes a little RGB hub that allows you to control the RGB lights however you want. The hub requires a SATA power connection, as well as an ARGB header on your motherboard. If you need to connect other ARGB devices and want to sync them to the hub, you can do that as well.

Keep in mind, this only includes the triple in pin extension for your graphics card. If you want the 24 pin motherboard RGB extension cable, you'll have to buy that separately. The Strimer+ Triple kit goes for $59.99 right now on Newegg.com, and the Strimer 24-pin SKU goes for $10 less at $49.99.