Lian Li PC-V2120 Full Tower Case Review

It looks like a radiator. But its interior is awesome.

That's what most desktop computers are anyway

OK, as always, I hate to break most of you out of your "silent reverie", and confront you with a reality check, but I feel I must.

The much vaunted, "styling", of most Lian Li cases, shouldn't be considered, "styling", at all. It's rather more of an industrial chic, based on form dictated by function. So, it's hard to justify calling it, "styling". Don't get me wrong, I appreciate quality of workmanship as a primary feature to be sought out. But in truth, they haven't done much with the "styling" of mayonnaise jars over the years either.

The ribbed extruded aluminum door motif, is far from innovative, and it's been around for decades in other arenas. I's just an engineer's trick, used to stiffen panels, and thus create stiffness, while saving weight. ("Saving weight", is also a euphemism for, "allowing the use of thinner, and thereby less expensive, material).

(If this "offending" door is in fact done by the milling process, I apologize. It's still ugly, I just apologize for the "extrusion" comment).

As to the "silver" finish of the test case, home entertainment electronics migrated to silver a few years back, but has returned to black. The silver is really too distracting in the context of today's home theater. You know, silver speaker grilles blasting you in the face while you're trying to watch your thousand dollar TV.

As to having doors on cases in general, you have to set any program capable of ejecting the tray of your optical drives to not do so, or you run the risk of ruining the tray door drives, every few times you forget and close the door while you're burning a disc.

Oh well, you can take the door of this case, and live with the resultant loss of the very little style it has in the first place.

Now, the wires not reaching controller issue. I say we've really become complacent in the tech field to manufacturer's complacency, if not outright hubris, in supplying "luxury" products as this, that aren't really functional as shipped.

And while I do appreciate the willingness and resourcefulness shown by supplying the initiative to go out and buy extenders for the cables, in any other type of consumer product, this nonsense would be recalled. Since this isn't a "safety" issue, Lian Li can mostly ignore it.

With all of that said, the manufacture of computer cases is probably the venue where there is the lowest start up cost of any field related to electronics. Just subtract what you think you'd pay to build a case factory, to what Intel pays to build a CPU factory, and you'll see exactly what I mean. Look at the laundry list of case suppliers at Newegg, versus the list of CPU suppliers, you'll get my point.

In conclusion, "wow it has wheels on it", but, "I'll take the Antec, and the 300+ dollars change.

EPILOG: Computer case "styling" is a field where it's all too easy to step over the line from elegance to pretense. A prime example of this is the Antec 900. The original release has a wonderful "machiney", intimidating look about it. It is, (was), also a triumph of target marketing, while being very innovative. Then, pressures forced on Antec by a plethora of copies, and competing niche models took its toll. Subsequent models of the 900, such as the 900 II, with it's coarser front grille material, starts to look like the grille of a tow truck, or a 50's room divider screen, and as to the 900 "SE", ( Silver Edition), I would seek a restraining order to prevent it from being within 500 feet of my property.

Nice review.
I think I will stick with my Corsair D700. Much better case.

I think I'll stick with my Lian-Li PC-A77B... aside from the "Smart Fan Controller" it's the perfect case (if they'd included a panel to replace the "Smart Fan Controller" it would be perfect). It's easy to work with, easy to mod (I had no trouble putting a 3x120 radiator in the top under a radgrill and could easily fit another in the front and even keep a few drive bays). Oh, and the A77(B) won't eat a whole in your wallet and if you aren't up for modding there are side panels available with windows pre-cut and even a replacement top panel already cut out for a radiator...

This looks like a nice case, and it is, but it's just not the enthusiast style.

Its cases from Lian-Li like this one that makes me think about them as Jeremy Clarkson says of Porsche..."laziest design team ever"....I mean look at it!... its no Level 10!

Well hell Red, it's not even one of these:

(Collaborative research by DBZ & me).

Lian Li needs to assert a bit of truth in advertising and corporate mission statement, "Lian Li, making journeyman cases available for service in industry"....:rolleyes:

yikes! and Chef thinks mine is gaudy...How tall do you have to be to ride that thing?

Well, I'm pretty sure that it rides you......

:haha: I built a gamer for guy last year that wanted a 3 color circus...that also was no 'Level 10'

Well see, that XClio would have been one stop shopping. That thing probably should play the music at lap dance bars. It actually looks like a prop left over from the original, "War of the Worlds".

Have they released the crock pot adapter for over top of the video card compartment on the "Level 10" yet?

That thing brings one word to mind....Wurlitzer

That's what I said when I saw that VGA compartment on that thing. My 4 x 5850's run at 75-80c with literally 1000 CFM rolling past them. The VGA compartment on the '10' would be ...uh...one hot...box.

So you're giving the nod to XClio for sound reinforcement duties at the neighborhood roller rink then? Them's sure is some powelerful lookin' fans in thet suker.... If the local cover band's Leslie speakers blow a pinwheel, that'd be your go to case.

Yep...er this here fancy feller:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811144244

Maybe it could play "Pour Some Sugar On Me"¹ at every successful POST with the added bonus for autograph hounds that you could get to meet Tiger Woods, David Duchovny or Jeff Reed² when they turn up on your doorstep shortly after system switch on.




¹ Yes, well aware of strip clubs play lists
² This autograph would probably devalue the paper it is written on.

Help me.....i've gone blind>>>>!!!!!

Or at the very least, irritate the heck ouf of your a**, if it were written on toilet paper

The wheels are turning..! So what you're saying is this; the XClio could be painted white, autographed by these infamous visitors to strip clubs everywhere, then auctioned off on Ebay, with proceeds going to benefit aging hookers with Crohn's disease.

well mom told ya that you would!

yep, and Sheena Easton's 'Sugar Walls' was very popular at the 'DeJa vu' back in the day.

Replace the dial faces with this and you could comfortably quadruple the asking price. Make a killing...at least before HK's lawyers scent blood.

Indeed :haha:. I'm thinking about the automatic rifle you sourced for my daughters 11th.

So Cap, did we settle this? do I owe ya $10?

Well, I thought that Matthew more or less settled it to at least 75/25, he's Zorro. And anyway, if you don't pay me, I'll beat you within an inch of your life with my handbag......