Recently, we were in search of a new PC case to fulfill the role of arduous performance oriented motherboard review testing. We decided to step up from our trusty Lian Li PC75 to something more current. We have been looking for a something that is a little more friendly to the continual chopping and changing of vital system components that we subject our lab PC cases to at least a couple of times a week. Naturally, as previous Lian Li case owners we were drawn to their newer offerings, especially the revised V-Series that was unveiled at CeBIT in Hannover earlier this year. There, Lian Li publicized a few shake-ups to their entire consumer case line-up; notable additions to the vast lineup are gaming cases known as the Armorsuit series and new cases for the HTPC buffs among us.
For the V-series of cases, most of the revisions are centered on functionality rather than radical changes in aesthetics. The clean look that is synonymous with Lian Li remains intact. Internal graphics card holders, hard drive cages, and intake fans all receive a work over to ensure the ease of use of these components remains in line with the demands of today's user. The new V-series features standard ATX motherboard tray orientation while the "upside-down" ATX motherboard tray is still available in the V "Plus II" series of cases. At the top of the list to replace our aging and battle worn PC-75 is the PC-V2110 (ATX). It's a full tower case offering plenty of room for us to go wild without cutting ourselves or spitting out several new swear words every time we swap components.
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Lian Li is one of those companies that enjoys fierce user loyalty. It's a situation where if you've owned a case from them in the past, the first port of call for a new purchase is likely to be another case from Lian Li. Make no mistake, the PC-V2110 is an expensive case aimed at the connoisseur; we don't know if we qualify as real life connoisseurs of all things fine, but it's nice to delude ourselves that perhaps we are.
At this end of the spectrum, ease of use, construction quality, airflow, expansion potential, and overall aesthetics rule, not necessarily reflecting return per dollar of cost. If a case can do all of the above well while managing to still look good, we have ourselves a winner. We felt it only fair to put our thoughts down on paper today to reveal what we think is good and what could perhaps be improved.
With the initial pleasantries out of the way, let's move on to the nitty-gritty of specifications and features.
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aeternitas - Tuesday, June 10, 2008 - link
If you want to see what im comparing this to; http://www.silverstonetek.com/products/p_contents....">http://www.silverstonetek.com/products/p_contents....HexiumVII - Tuesday, June 10, 2008 - link
Please post shots of the case while filled to the brim, like maxed out hard drives please!!Googer - Thursday, June 12, 2008 - link
Here's a Video (several thousand pictures) of the Case.http://www.vimeo.com/1004500">http://www.vimeo.com/1004500
aguilpa1 - Tuesday, June 10, 2008 - link
I have no doubt the build quality is exceptional as I have the V1000B myself but this has no circulation to it? Plus it looks like they still haven't figured out how to make a removable mobo tray? If Anand plans to make this a test case I would think that would be priority. I have had to change mobos enough to know its important.Rajinder Gill - Tuesday, June 10, 2008 - link
Sorry, page 3 has been updated - the tray is removable.Stock airflow is designed with silence in mind and is adequate in most cases. We'll probably end up water-cooling everything as I have a couple of spare PA 120.2's which should fit in the base nicely with a bit of modding..
regards
Raja
yyrkoon - Tuesday, June 10, 2008 - link
Removable motherboard trays do not make a good case, although I personally would not mind one as well. I have probably the 'cheapest' in the Lian-Li line (the PC-G50), which as far as I know is no longer made, but dahm the case is less than 16" tall ! Cramped, but it looks nice, unlike those embarrassing cases another user mentioned, and its very compact, which is why I bought it aside from the fact that it uses(or can use) 3x 120mm Fans with the Lian-Li 4in3 HDD bay add-on.I also own an Antec P182 case, and while I think it is very well built especially considering layout(and I do like it), it just seems so much like a monster by comparison, and it is only a few inches taller . . . I guess my full tower 'lovin' days are over with.
strafejumper - Tuesday, June 10, 2008 - link
looks decent to me, most cases especially "gaming cases" look incredibly bad to me, like embarassingly ugly to have in your house. This one looks pretty good although i've never owned a lian-li so i don't think i fully understand whats good about them.Currently i still have this chenming/chieftec case: http://www.case-mod.com/images/chen_black_lg.jpg">http://www.case-mod.com/images/chen_black_lg.jpg - add a light in the window, a modular psu, and a couple decals and it looks great, i've had it a long time and no plans on changing it.
This is kind of the best case i've seen though hp blackbird : http://h20435.www2.hp.com/gallery/files/Gallery-De...">http://h20435.www2.hp.com/gallery/files/Gallery-De...
i really like how it is suspended and a nice low angle in the air instead of resting on some plastic feet, and the arm that suspends it is really sturdy (i think i read someone stood on top of the case and it was fine.) I Gotta fit one of those in the budget one day just for the case :)
Noubourne - Tuesday, June 10, 2008 - link
I have not seen anyone mention a Panaflo for a very long time now. I have a couple of those 120x38s sitting around, and they really can push the air.I have since switched to Yate-Loons though, and I am very happy with their performance.
I liked this review. Good to see what some increased airflow will allow in this case. I would like to see even more of that kind of thing in the future with some noise measurements added on.
I'm currently running an Antec 900 and it's a very open design like some others, but the large exhaust fans really reduce the amount of noise generated by the machine. I've had more closed designs in the past that do a good job of keeping the noise contained.
At any rate - the ability of a case to cool and keep quiet are always my two main considerations. I'd love to see case reviews compared on those two points using standard methodology to get an idea of how different cases perform.
Rajinder Gill - Tuesday, June 10, 2008 - link
Hi,All good points that we should consider. It's been a long time since we looked at cases and the excuse of needing a new one for the motherboard stuff kinda rifled into reviewing one.
I still love the Panaflo's, they are unique in some ways. I had a spare lying around so ran with it and now it finds home for the exhaust on the V-2110.
The noise measurements are one area I should have looked into and it was on my mind, so certainly worth adding to anytihng down the pipe in the future..
I approached this a little nervously with it being my first case review and all. Also had some video that I did not quite cut but will endeavor to do so on future reviews. Thanks for the approval anyway :)
regards
Raja
just4U - Tuesday, June 10, 2008 - link
Raja, others have been a little perplexed by the new hard drive setup by Lian-Li (looking at other reviews) In your opinion, Is it any better then their old design?