Of the reviews I have watched of this case, yours was the most thorough. You're the only one to install the 2 fans on top of the power supply shroud. Shows that you take your time and think ahead. Quite simple to remove the bracket you mentioned and mount directly to the shroud. You could use finger grills on the inside of the shroud to insure that no cables get into the fans blades.
I've been modding small form factor cases for a while now, by installing an external fan at the back. Indeed, it works really well and for SFF, it's often the only way to add an extra fan.
its a good idea, apart from the fitting concerns noted. with such a variety of hardware I would assume it becomes a case of 'one fan design will never work for everything'
the rear mounting fan, is meant to be used with the AIR MODE motherboard position. Im pretty sure you were able to mount that AIO in AIR MODE without problems (not sure with 280 aios). at least you show an improvement of 6ºC with the rear fan (makes sense). Gamer nexus showed 2ºC worse temps than without it, his results were weird.
Wondering the same thing, aio and MB in air cooling position to allow for external fan. Have run across how much room u have for an AIO in air cooled mode?
Just built my new rig in this case and it was an absolute pleasure. My only annoyance is the opening behind the front fans that looks into the PSU/ Drive bay area. I would love a mesh plate like the rest of the case has, even if it was aftermarket
Great review and walk through. I just finished a similar build in the 216 and thought I would share a couple of challenges that I had to overcome. They are not case related. I also installed the additional I/O controller on the front, which provides some RGB color and mode control for the two front 160mm fans. Ultimately, I decided I would prefer to synchronize the two front 160mm fans with the other Lian Li case fans, so I bought the optional ARGB cable kit for $12 US (Microcenter) and connected the 160's to the Lian Li L-Connect 3 software via the controller that came with the Galahad AIO just as you have used. Now all the Lian Li fans are synchronized. On a different, but related note, I also wished to synchronize my RGB RAM sticks and the RGB side plate of my graphics card. You would think that would be child's play. It isn't at all, simply due to both poorly written and incompatible RGB software. RGB Fusion 2.0 seems like it should be labeled as pure Malware. It corrupts so many things it touches, I had to use an Exorcist process to rid my machine of all traces. Most of the other RGB software that can control RAM and graphics cards is sketchy, but a combination of Signal RGB to find and control the RAM and polychrome to find and control the RGB on my Asrock Phantom Gaming 6800XT finally managed to get it all done. If only Lian Li would extend L-Connect 3 to manage RGB for other devices...one can wish.
I really love this case, and would have bought it if I thought it would be possible to find filters for the front and side intakes. The two 160mm and two 120mm intakes are enough to keep up with hot builds even if they had filters. I ended up choosing the be quiet! 500dx for the filtration. (I don't like how the fine dust that does get through mesh screens gets caked up and wants to get into everything.)
Lian Li offers an optional (and inexpensive) magnetic fine mesh dust filter for the front of the case, which fits like a hand into a glove into the cut out grooves. It works great! You can also fit some additional fine mesh screens into the side vents, though my observations are that these are not the source of most dust. The two 160 mm fans in the front act as the main inductors of airflow (and dust). The fine mesh filters work like a charm.
Bought this case for my 7800x3d 4080 build and couldn’t be happier. The 3 fans came in clutch. Plenty of space for all your needs. Highly recommend this case if your on the fence.
@@todayisagoodday5027 Im going for same build soon but i will go with cpu aircooler and maybe add 2x140mm on top to exhaust? how are cpu and gpu temps?
@@redzinter Everything is working great. Try it without the top fans and see. You can always add them later. What I love about building is that you can change parts. Outside of ridiculous GPU prices it's affordable and fun.
A well covered review. I'm planing to buy this cabinet and this video has been really useful in showing all the customization features this case has got. Thanks!
Just switched to this from a NZXT H5 Flow. Adding 2 140mm fans at the bottom of the gpu really helped a lot on the temps of my 7900xtx. Dropped more than 10 deg from 75 down to 60-65 deg.
Great review. I loved the build sequence. I really like the cable management options. I've been buildiing PCs since the very late 80s and continue to be impressed with the cumulative effects of all the little improvements over the years. This goes high on my recommended list. You say the case uses 160mm fans and is optimised for watercooling; is there a 160x320mm radiator available and if there is, how well do the supplied fans work with it? You made a comment about static pressure so I'm guessing that's the point. For EATX boards, rather than rotate the panel with the grommets can you flip it over, so the big grommet is still at the top?
I'm not aware of any 320 x 160 radiators because 160mm is an odd size. I think the cable management panel can be flipped to allow the large cut out/grommet to stay at the top.
looks like a grreat case. I've resorted to putting fans out on the outside of my Fractal Meshify C Mini case because my gpu was too long and ram too tall for me to fit my 240mm AIO anywhere. So I placed two Phanteks T-30's in front on the outside with their own filter/grills and the radiator on the inside, and for now a little bit of duct tape to fill the gap below the radiator :D
Only thing that is scaring me a bit about recent Lian Li Cases is the weird fan sizes. I have the Lancool with the 200mm front fans. One just died... can't get one that fits because they are weird. Which sucks cause I love the case. Now I am just deciding if I want to stick with Lian Li or try something different. Also Lian Li doesnt sell the fans themselves just have to pick up a new case. Which I guess isnt a big deal since the case is so cheap now that its basically the same price as 2 200mm fans.
And now comes the Lancool 217 with custom 170mm fans and the latest spec sheet says that you can't install any other fans. Maybe because of the backwards-spin function, but still.. why 170? Such a beautiful case, really digging it, but that is a red flag to me.
@@turkeygerky2781 I'm leaning towards the Fractal Torrent just because of the benchmarks, but North is the most beautiful case currently existing. Are you satisfied with it?
One of the strong points of this case is the massive amount of Air Flow that it provides for "Air cooled Systems. So, What are the numbers without Water cooling??
I Don't' use water cooling myself but like to option. That said I primarily chose this case Because of the massive amount of Air Flow that is has. It's also my 3'rd Lian Li case over a long time period.
When i tried to DYI install another exhaust like LIAN LI did here, but on my corsair carbide 275R, I got 0 difference in gpu temps. I'm not sure how you got different results.
Great review of the case! I'm definitely getting this case. As for external fan.. I wouldn't call it a "significant" change in gpu temp... as based on your chart, With the bottom fans installed, and external fan NOT installed. the temp was 45. It became 44.. 1 degree difference with the external AND bottom fans installed correct? To me, 1 degree isn't a deal breaker. Unless you're referring to just having the external and NO bottom fans as being the significant change (6 degrees). I could've heard wrong or missed that bit. So question now on this external fan. Think i already know the answer, (no).. but anyways. Will that external fan fit if you did a vertical mount for GPU?
wwell.. now days, RBG is controlled thru the motherboard, and software, so... have you the same control options thru software, or only with the extra $14 costing module manually? cos if it only works with the extra add on manually, its a bad design....
Not enough cable clearence on the non glass panel side. The placement of the SSDs is unergonomical. They should had been sideways and not vertical. No RGB controller incorporated.
Have yo done any gaming on this pc? 21:45 That chipset fan is gonna go off after 30min of gaming and it's not gonna be pleasant. The gpu's completely covered it. I have the same issue after going from a 2 slot to a 3 slot gpu
This review gives a better showing than that of GN. Off that I thought it was a bit meh! tbh. Worth a punt on this showing perhaps but there seems to a qc issue with the top panel sagging because the structural integrity isn't quite there; a hit and miss thing that is going to vary case by case. A 217 ought to be taller on new tooling and inherit the center screw in the top panel from the Lancool III. That rear fan is a good idea that hasn't been thought thru properly, making me think they might have hired some Thermaltacky folk! Half-arsed might be too harsh, but I'd be fifty-fifty until we are beyond a sample size of a couple in reviewers hands. Lastly, if your headline is a question, the answer is always no.
I've not had chance to watch the GN review yet but from my experience building the system, looking at structural integrity and using the features of the case gave me all good impressions. I had no issue at all with the top panel, I'm intrigued to see what issue others had with it. It's sounds crazy to say this but you don't get much case for £100 in the UK market these days so it seems like good value.
@@KitGuruJames That is all a good reviwer can do, honestly report on the example of the product in front of them. There isn't any thing wrong that isn't easily sorted; that is why I don't get it that Lian Li didn't sort it. I expect Thermaltake to have good ideas and fluff their execution; Lian LI not so much. There isn't anything here that whipping the cordless drill and Dremel out, and using nuts and screws from the bit box won't sort, probably. But we shouldn't have to do that. I think Lian Li listened too hard to their bean counters and fell between two stools. Its a head scratcher though, they splashed out on bespoke fans and cooling solution; but cheaped in using an extant chassis and its tooling. A good review and a nice tidy build eased by the base chassis being above average in the builder friendly stakes in the first place. But for the caveats, I'd probably have it a contender for Best Case of the Year, certainly the best relatively budget case, myself.
@@platdujour fr lol 2x200mm fans in da front, i just wish there was more support for the 160mm fans on the 216. maybe thats the intention tho to open up the market for sizes between 140mm and 200mm
Lian Li have certainly adapted their styling to get with the times in the last year, thats a pretty great case, but it could still be improved in some areas.
Hey great content thank you. Could you have fit the AIO and have the motherboard In the top mount position? I know it's not meant to be there for water cooling but is it possible? How much room is there for an AIO with MB in "air cooling" position?
I installed an Arctic 360 with Rog Strix 690 mobo on air position (top). Little tight but it fits. This way you can install the bottom and rear fans. Gpu is an RTX3080
just bought the white one and added the front filter availibe from Lian Li. Its awsome - and on top i added an outside pollfilter and still under full load cpu with 2 full loadded gpus its coolsl perfectly ! PSU 1K running at 70%
I am building mine right now using the Black Lian Li Lancool 216 case. I installed the following. Thermaltake LGA1700-BCF CPU mounting bracket and tossed the stock intel piece that warps CPUs. I also installed the Thermaltake Peerless Assassin 120 CPU Fan/Heatsink. I put in the new i712700K CPU with 64GB of Trident Z5 DDR5-6400 RBG Memory. Installing an Nvidia RTX 4080 FE graphics card with the 12VHPWR 90 degree connector. I am using an EVGA 1000GQ PSU. I am using and EVGA Z690 Dark Kingpin Motherboard with a WD 2TB SN850X Gen 4 NVMe SSD 7300MB/s. This is the 1st new computer I have built and the 1st new computer since 2001. Tired of old used hand me downs. I have a question about adding more fans. As far as you can tell would I be ok with the included front 2-160mm fans and the rear 120mm fan, or would you suggest adding more fans? I am considering adding a rear where the GPU exits. Would you be able to suggest exactly which Lian Li fans I should get for adding cooling below the GPU in the case and also which Lian Li fans would I need to get for above the CPU Fan/Heatsink since my CPU socket is rotated 90 degree on my Kingpin motherboard?
I like the way you can turn your horizontal GPU into a vertical GPU by rotating the expansion slot cover 90 degrees & using a riser cable. Just one question, can I use my riser cable from the Original NZXT H1 in this case? 🔥 🤔 😂 Just joking, of course! Although that add on to my insurance policy for extra fire insurance DOES look interesting...... Nah.
Lian Li is making a huge mistake by not offering matching ARGB ring-type fans, like the 160mm front mounted fans but in both 120mm and 140mm versions. I had to buy something close, the MF140 for the rear and a 3pk of MF120 to replace the Corsair LL120’s in my AIO. Everything is due tomorrow so I can’t comment on how well they’ll match. Lian Li could’ve offered an optional controller that could handle up to a dozen of those ARGB fans/lights if that’s what a customer is looking for. Sure the magnetic filter is offered as an option for the front but they missed an opportunity to offer a vertical GPU riser cable kit for the Lancool 216. I would’ve been fine to delete the HDD cages since I’m strictly NVMe anyway. Another option Lian Li could’ve offered…taller feet to raise the height. Maybe even wheels for cases on the floor. Huge missed opportunity. Lian Li could still take advantage of offering those optional accessories. Heck I guess anyone could step in and make some money on the OEM mistakes.
Bro my motherboard has only 1argb header so this means if I connect the case argb connector to my motherboard argb header to control front pre installed 160mm argb fans lighting, I can't use Lian Li UNI Fan SL comes with Galahad 360 cooler right? Because I don't have any other argb header on my motherboard To control those UNI fans lighting? Right? Please help me I want to sync all my fans lighting.
160 fans are noisier than 120? the version of lancool III looks more flexible. For an upgrade under 4080-4090, there will be more space in it. 216 is an excellent budget option.
I have this case but went with vertical mounted GPU. I'm using the same AIO but I put my motherboard at the higher setting because it looked better with the GPU vertically mounted. It is so easy to build in and I have built alot of computers over the years. A highly recommended case.
Very nice video, just purchased this tower had a little concern with the Noctua NH-D15 even though the website says it's fine. Thanks for not playing the music while you were talking like other youtube personalities. Very nice channel.
Can you connect those front fans to the separate lian li controller you can get with the unifans? Would be nice controlling them with the rest using the software, instead of using those physical case buttons. I haven't used unifans before, but I am currently rebuilding my PC. Dialed down cases for a while, and I plan on going with this one, just curious about the RGB support on those front fans. The more I look at builds in this case, the more confident I am with my decision, now I gotta decide on white or black... This build came out really nice with the black though btw.
I as of yet found anyone that did a build with the top I/O moved to the bottom left of this case, here's what i found when I tired. It must be me or a piss poor design when moving the top IO panel down to the bottom left side of the case. There is no way to remount the fan bracket as the cables are to thick to allow the fan bracket to re-attached at the bottom as it pushes it a good 1/4 to 1/2 inch away from the case. You would break the I/O module connecters trying to force it. The RGB module fits as there are less cables and not all as thick as the ones that are attached to the I/O module which allows the cables to fit in the fan shroud. If the fan bracket or the case itself had a small cut out for the I/O cables like it does at the top it would work. Save yourself the trouble & leave the I/O module where it is UPDATE 12/23/22, I was able to finally get this to work, one word of caution, be careful when attaching the I/O to the computer case. Leave the fan bracket attached to the computer case (manual says remove it) & route the cables below the bottom of the fan bracket & up through the fan shroud as best as possible. Attached the top screw first then push the bottom of the I/O towards the fan, it's a very tight fit & you will hear the small clip on the back of the I/O snap into place which should align the screw hole on the case & I/O bracket.
Nice vid, enjoyed the thoroughness of how you showed it in beginning. It wasn't on some turntable with some chick pointing at the window going oooh glass :) Seriously it was informative and cemented my decision to get one soon, the Fractal Design case just isn't good enough to keep the cpu as cool as I'd like. You pointed out things that someone who builds comps would appreciate knowing. Did you try putting cheap wire grills on the bottom fans or mesh grills? If so did it affect noise or airflow? Is there a HDD activity led, I've never noticed one, consider them an essential tool. Oh another reason for getting this case for myself, the grommets are in a good position for how I run the gpu power, over the top of gpu with 180 deg connectors on the card.
I need more cooling to GPU and it looks like bottom fans would help. Is it so that PSU needs to stay fan down, GPU of course as it is(fans down, sucking air in?) and bottom fans pushing air upwards? Overall I have one exhaust in the back, aio pushing up in the top and two large fans sucking in in the front.
I'm finding it difficult to find a case with bottom, front, top and rear placement for fans. They always put the PSU in the bottom or top or have solid glass panels all around. Would also like 420mm rad support for front and top.
Question..Im building my first pc and i got this case with the rgb controller. And i never see this explained but on the motherboard it only has one usb 3.0 connection but both panels have a usb 3.0 cable how are you plugging both of them in?
I don’t like where power supply right below GPU and while having that lower fans intake can amplify the heat at some time and ends in negative result ..
I was thinking about installing the external fan on the vertical gpu configuration. So it sits on the right side with the gpu on the default horizontal position. I may be able to use the 1st and 2nd output ports on the gpu. I’d love to use a arctic p12 max on it.
Looks like the almost perfect case that works on floor or desktop. I do wish it had more open mesh like the rear fan in front and on top with filters behind as the mesh it has is only 50% open holes. I am also not a fan of the rear fan Not being RGB as it is called RGB version.
In regards to the external fan not fitting in the AIO config, can't you just get a drill with a 1/8 bit, drill some new holes with the bracket lower, then use some machine screws?
