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, Overclocked
As always, our overclocked settings separate the men from the boys. Lian Li's design in the PC-90 acquitted itself admirably in our stock settings, and as you'll see, the two intake fans and single exhaust are more than up to the task of keeping our system cool even when heavily overclocked.
It's virtually a clean sweep for the PC-90. Lian Li is able to do more with less than the competing enclosures are; it still manages to hang with the Cosmos II and it seems clear that the PC-90 can handle the kind of dual-CPU workstation it appears to have been designed for.
Even noise levels are actually decent. While idle noise is less than ideal, a proper implementation of fan control on the motherboard (or even a dedicated fan controller) could probably take the edge off of that. Meanwhile, load noise isn't great, but it isn't terrible either. Despite making no allowances for acoustics the way competing cases like the Level 10 GT, Cosmos II, and SilverStone FT02 do, Lian Li's PC-90 is still able to compete on noise (and flat out win on thermals).
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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 ?