Lian Li's PC-90: The Hammer Strikes Hard
by Dustin Sklavos on February 21, 2012 12:00 AM EST- Posted in
- Cases/Cooling/PSUs
- mid-tower
- Lian Li
Noise and Thermal Testing, Stock
While I didn't have high hopes for the Lian Li PC-90's acoustic performance due to the lack of allowances made for noise dampening, I was fairly optimistic about how well the pair of 140mm intake fans would handle thermals. As it turned out, that optimism was well justified.
It's important to understand what Lian Li is achieving in the PC-90 compared to the other enclosures we've tested. Only the Cosmos II is really able to hang with it, and that enclosure is three times as heavy, $100 more expensive, uses more and larger fans, and has a compartmentalized internal design.
These things in mind, the Cosmos II is admittedly also quieter. These stock settings don't produce a whole lot of stress, though, and our enthusiast-class enclosures here don't have much of a problem keeping pace with each other acoustically under full load.
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dj christian - Thursday, March 1, 2012 - link
I hate my Lian Li PC-71 to death!!Worst case i ever owned. Well it's upsides is it's roomy and the components in it's turn get's quite cool but other than that the build quality is just plain horrid! Vibrations reproduces easily from the drives and fans and things break easily because of the weak aluminium. And the screws, too many of them to keep track on. The manual is misspelled in a lot of places, well it's made in China so it doesn't suprise me a bit.
FungYW - Tuesday, June 19, 2012 - link
This PC-90 case is amazing, judging by the thermal performance with just 2x 14cm intake fans and 1x 12cm exhaust fans. If temperature rised up and just add the option fan on top. I may get this case for my home theater build.Regarding to the cable management, just AnandTech builder didn't take time to tidy up cables.
Look at this page you guys will see how good this case can be done:
http://www.coolenjoy.net/bbs/cboard.php?id=system&...
Personally I own a Lian Li PC-A05 (oldest verison without top mount fan hole), I just upgraded it to Lian Li PC-P80N! The idle and load CPU and GPU temperature drop 6-10C. The reason A05 is no good for hot air exhausted because 50% hot air trapped inside the case, cannot exhaust it out directly, because of the front panel only has side exhausted holes. The upper part of the case is like dead zone. No direct air flow to GPU.
For PC-P80N is build like a tank, which has 3x 14cm front intake fan, which gives direct air flow to all parts. (This is crucial for good thermal performace). Exhausted the hot air by 2x 14cm fan from top and 1x 12cm fan from rear. I don't even notice the fan is on from 3 feet away.
Regarding to the price, I think it's very reasonable for a pure Alumunum case and built by Lian Li. For those who complain it is explain you better suit for the heavy steel case with plastic front panel :)
shlomo nixon - Tuesday, April 2, 2013 - link
hello gay mer's i have the lian li pc90 ayear ago and it is the best i allso useing the top fan hole and it help me to Lower the temperature of the gpu .As for the price. Do not forget the cabinet is built from aluminum, never rust and the chassis is much easier than other chassis and much more compact on the outside and big on the inside anyway. Thank lian li you are the best.Lonerski - Monday, April 8, 2013 - link
Interesting review but... can someone explain me why noise level with an idle system can be between 36 and 38 db (yay, even if measured at 1') ? It appears pratically impossible to me. Maybe you used a flawed regulation stuff that always send high power ?