We like this style of edit for case reviews! It's a lot more work to do it this way than the massive voiced over sections, but also more rewarding and fun since cases are so mechanical. We'll keep trying to do this style whenever time allows!
For sure, GNs video quality and editing skills have skyrocketed over the last year. Amazing work everyone. Also will GN ever do Case Review with a CPU CLC\AIO? Almost all of my friends who have PCs built in the last few years have a water cooled CPU and an air cooled GPU? The current method gives very good results that should translate to what to expect with a CLC as far as airflow, but still it would be interesting to see a one-off video showing the differences in your current air numbers vs the average numbers of a few cases with a CLC.
Lian Li seems to be the only case manufacturer doing actual engineering in the space right now. Not gimmicks and not just slapping foam everywhere to claim "SILENT!" but actually trying to make a case that is easy to build in and work with after the PC is built and that produces good thermals.
I don't really understand the logic of a "silent" case. If you want less noise just lower the fan speed. Closed off cases with foam necessitate higher fan speeds to avoid overheating which negates the noise benefit. Am I missing something?
@@chrys9256 yes. coil whine for example, high pitch noises, fan motor noises some fans produce at low speed, and just the white noise created by airflow is very easily blocked by foam. So it always helps a bit actually, but as you said, on top of that you have to make a sensible fan curve too. No point in getting foam padded panels and leave the fans blasting away.
Wow... Looks like Fractal and Lian Li are starting to become the true titans of the case industry. God bless competition! This is definitely an exciting $100 buy.
@@GamersNexus I want to see what a Torrent v2 would possibly look like. Who knew that a case focusing on airflow and proper engineering would turn out to be a good product?
@@Gatorade69 You're definitely right. Maybe it's my being newer to the PC realm, but I feel recently that they went from "good" to "great". I can say that the Phanteks P500A is "good", but I would say that the Fractal Torrent is "great". But Lian Li and Fractal also putting out more mid-range hits like this and the Fractal Pop Air? "Titans of the case industry".
just bought and installed in the 216. Its hands down my favorite case of all time, and it was also the best and easiest to build in. Form, function, performance, style. Love it. Would recommend 10/10.
I picked this up from Newegg based on GN and a few other recommendations. Was delayed in shipping but it arrived yesterday (for clarity I ordered the White ARGB model and I live in the US). I moved my system out of my old NZXT H510. This case is an entirely other level, I had forgotten how spectacular LL cases are. This case is 100% everything that Steve mentions and more in this video. WELL worth the ~$115, I am thoroughly impressed.
That's cool to hear - I'm actually planning on migrating my own build out of an NZXT H500, lol. For me it's between this and the Fractal Pop Air, which isn't too far behind in terms of thermals and has some fun color options (but is a bit more expensive right now). Tough decision!
@@NoahRichard I picked this case up as well and would form a deeper relationship with it if physically possible. That being said there are a tonn of great options and for me it was important to remember I could get a top of the line case at around 100 bucks and this case didn't disappoint in any aspect.
WOW! That's literally what I'm doing right now. Have an NZXT H510 and I'm upgrading to the same White ARGB model as well as the thermals and noise are starting to get to me. Decided to search up reviews of this case to get me excited for it. I'm curious, what are your specs? I'm rocking a 5600x and a 3080 FE.
I built two pcs with it. Mine and that of a friend. My only problem with it is that I could put the PSU only fans down in instead of pulling the air from the case out.
at first i was considering the nzxt h510 because of the aesthetics but eventually i went with lancool 2 mesh because of value. couldnt be more happy with it
Oh yeah, due to the fantastic design of that case it's going to be chilling in the top 5-10 results for years. And notice, that's at STOCK. Other channels have tested placing fans on the vented PSU shroud and it improves things further.
I swapped from Lancool 2 Mesh to 011 Evo and kind of miss the ease of the lancool 2's hinged doors. The Evo looks nice but needs way more fans to keep GPU temps down. The Lancool 2 mesh is the best out of the box experience balanced for cooling both CPU and GPU to the max while still being quiet.
Recently purchased the 215 based on GN reviews and was not disappointed. Considering I came from the Thermaltake VG200 which has atrocious ventilation, I am very, very pleased. The 215 is still a great case
When Lian Li first showed this case off in one of their showcase videos, I commented to request the molding around the fans to prevent backflow (there were large gaps between them originally). I don't know if they actually saw my comment and listened--probably not, they have very smart engineers who were surely already thinking of this--but I'm glad they made this change anyway. It's something I wish more case manufacturers with unique fan setups did! edit: With vertical GPU fin orientation, you flip the fan around and have it as extra intake. I'm not sure how helpful this will really be, but it's how Lian Li initially showed it off. It's also completely unfiltered intake going straight into your GPU fans, so maybe not ideal.
G'day Konga, Yeah it is hard to know as multiple people can see something & get an idea to make change in a similar or even same way, Lian Li staff may have already been working on or waiting for the new fans but wanted to get some press out so just went with fans they had. It would be nice for manufacturers to consistently say if changes are due to feedback when that is the case, unlike nVIDIA who as an example said it was all them who decided to "Unlauch RTX4080 12GB" because after some thought THEY thought the name would be confusing, Definitely NOT all the negative Reviewer & subsequent Viewer Comments for the week or so in between Annoucement & Unlaunch.
There was a recent post in the overclocking subreddit where they jerryrigged an 80/92mm fan to the back of the pcie slots, just like this case. Several user reported multiple degrees lower gpu temps. So this is a really awesome development to see. I think the difference with this case is so small, because the airflow from the front panel is already great. Perhaps this add-on is better suited for cases with restrictive front panels.
Can I just say that I really really really appreciate that they've given us two different placements for the motherboard? I can't tell you how many times I've struggled with top-mounted radiators smushing the cpu cables and making things like fan headers a royal pain in the ass to plug in. Usually I just unscrew the whole top of the case just to avoid the hassle, but that's a huge time sink.
@@FAT9L That's certainly true when you're building a system for the first time, but I'm talking about everything that happens after that. The little maintenance things. Swapping fan headers, swapping the rear case fan, checking/reseating the cpu cables, reseating or swapping out ram (if the ram is tall and the radiator is thick), etc. It sucks to have to take off all three panels, undo all the screws, and then precariously balance the AIO radiator on something while you fiddle around with cables. I'd rather just open the side door and get it done in seconds.
I copped one and it was by far one of the best cases I built with. The included fans are really the star of this and the removable top makes it easier to top-mount a radiator and to plug cables.
Case of the year 2022, IMO. They could've easily charged an extra 50 bucks and still be better than most $150usd cases. Removable panels are not obnoxious either, with just 1-2 screws and it's out.
This is absolutely amazing! Low(er) cost cases from brands that do nothing but cases (mostly). This segment really requires competition and innovation the most.
I love how they let you reorient the little fittings like the IO panel opening and the cable grommet. This is a great level of customization to put into a case compared to the "transformer" cases that took it too far.
It makes me feel bad watching my Lian Li Lancool II Mesh falling down the chart. LOL But it is great seeing Lian Li continuing to make these cases better!
I wouldn't feel bad since it's a great case. You should see it as other cases performing better since they're newer (the Lancool III was likely only possible given what they learned from the Lancool II Mesh), not as it performing worse - especially since it still holds top spots in a lot of categories!
Just keep in mind that these tests are always with stock configurations. Fully optimized builds will likely vary, and the Lian Li Lancool II is probably among the top, possibly even exceeding the Fractal Torrent.
@@nospleen_noproblem Well it made for a better launch platform for the other cases to follow. Hell I love mine. I still have the stock 2x 140MM in front and 120MM in back. I added 2x Artic 120MM PWM fans on the PSU shroud that blow straight into the GPU MSI RX 6750XT from Paul's Hardware. And that design really works, I have to wipe dust off the side cover every 24 hours of operation. And I added only one so far Artic 140MM PWN fan on top exhaust. I tried putting 2 up there but the cables from my Vetroo U6 Pro CPU cooler take up too much room.
A lot of these cases are being made while taking the lessons of the Lancool 2 Mesh into consideration. The case doesn't stop being excellent just because newer cases are better. It will remain great to work in, and it'll remain a great airflow case.
I recently bought this case, the version without RGB, and for those who don't know as I didn't know, the version without RGB comes without the Lian Li hub. Information that is not given on the website or manual. The front fans use 0.5A (I believe 100%) and, to move the front panel to the side, if in doubt, read the manual, it will help you change it easily. I bought the Arctic pwm hub to control the fans, as it uses a SATA cable and is magnetic.
Kudos to Lian Li for addressing long-requested movable front fan railings to eliminate obstruction whether you stick with the 160s or switch to 140s or 120s. And for the dual position motherboard placement options to aid with watercooling up top or with the GPU ports, while keeping dimensions modest.
A couple months ago, there was a popular thread on reddit showing what a huge difference in temps a 92mm exhaust fan over the PCIE slots makes. Feels like Lian Li decided to just slap that on after the fact, because it's incredibly cheap/efficient.
Something to note about the optional rear exhaust - it could potentially be an aid for a row of blower style gpus that are low profile for better stacking, and exhaust all their air out the back. Having a dedicated fan to help pull air out, would benefit the blower fan a lot and lower noise levels plus increase cooling potential.
@@joemarais7683 I do wonder how they will set up the blower card tdps, as in previous gen blower cards there have been examples where power consumption was lowered by stock settings so the cards didn't run hot despite the less ideal cooling solution. And for a card like the 4090, it really doesn't lose much by lowering its wattage consumption, if anything it reaches its true potential in power/performance ratio. But yea, this case would help a blower 4090 stack for sure.
do you think flipping the rear fan around to make it an intake would help by pushing nice fresh air from outside for the GPU fans to take in and help with cooling that way? edit - got to the end of the vid and Steve mentions it, albeit briefly. Would love to see if there's any difference though with it in intake mode
it creates more negative pressure below the GPU, which may lead to it ingesting more of it's own exhaust. generally you want to direct the air upwards to pull the hot air away from the GPU intake.
I've sent an e-mail to GN like 3 years ago showing exactly that [DIY Noctua fan attachment to the exhaust] asking them to test this config and if its worth it. Sadly never happened
@@cosmic_cupcake My current case is a full tower. I bought it specifically because it has 3 160 front fans, 2 120 rear fans, 3 120/140 bottom fans, 3 120/140 and space for 3 120 side fans. The 2 rear 120s help a ton for getting out the hot air
The best compliment from Steve. They made a lot of interesting changes and they aren’t all pointless. Meanwhile this case is pretty much crushing everything else is thermal testing. Never change Steve. Just bought one of these to build in. Super excited to get started!
I had the 215 until switching to the o11 evo. I really liked the case. This case however is much better. Some really well thought out quality of life improvements. They addressed basically every issue I had with the case.
Quick note: If you use a motherboard with a Slot 1 x16 GPU slot, you can use the case in water cooling mode AND use the rear fan add on. The air cooling mode is essentially to shift the 2nd slot x16 of the motherboard into slot 1 of the case. If the motherboard is already using Slot 1, there is no need to shift anything and you get the best of both worlds! Many micro ATX boards will work well with the rear fan add on as well as a top radiator.
@@eliadbb9634 I believe it would be compatible with both the fan attachment while in Water Cooling mode. It appears to have a Slot 1 GPU spacing. (Basically the first GPU slot is directly beneath the IO with no space between. This would put the IO of the GPU in the top slot, even with the Motherboard pushed down, in WC mode.
@@redpillgymnast i found out some reports that people are having some issues with this motherboard. while looking at other mobos i see their pcie slot is little lower than this one on AUROS elite. how can i actually know if it is going to fit with the external fan, since i have to look now for another motherboard to get..
Thanks a lot to Patrick for information on how to make sure if my GPU will be blocked out in Air cooling mode or not. Really helpful and this is the only review where I am able to determine.
I was doing so much research trying to upgrade from Corsair AIR 540, which is an amazing case to this day. Your videos, Steve...helped a lot to choosing Lian Li Evo case, and it will take some time for me to see a case just as impressive as Evo. Lian Li Dynamic is clearly manufactured at the same or near same factory in China, or just plainly stolen design from Corsair Air 540, but it went and perfected many aspects of the design, plus or minus couple of things. 2 chamber design allows easy cable management, and I don't think any case in the near future can mess with Corsair AIR 540 or Lian Li Evo by purely design perspective.
The air/water cooling positions is really well thought. As you said, they are probably going to use this and the fan design on other models, but that's a good exemple of adding value to an entry level product while saving on cost all in the buyer's interest.
How about a test: How much DUST does a dustcover block... compare 4 cases (open, metal hole mesh, dust-cover-mesh, closed) for dust build-up after 2-4 months of usage. And maybe compare the time and effort it takes to vacuum the dust covers vs. actual cleaning the case (more often).
I had gotten the 215 on your recommendation last year. It's a fantastic case, but I can see what you mean about the static pressure. Still, standard 200 mm fans would be easier to replace than custom 160 mm fans
there are 200mm fans on the market and there are none 160 .. especialy custom mold one's like this case , you just replace them with 3x120mm most probably ...
With many modern motherboards skipping the 1st PCIe slot air cooling mode can be a way to add more breathing room for expansion cards in the last slot.
Every case review I'm still happy to see the Lancool 215 in the mix. Overall the 215 has treated me well. I'm wondering now if the new 216 front fans will retrofit in the 215.
I've done that pcie exhaust fan thing as a mod for a while. Used 3000RPM Noctua 140mm IPPC fans, and GPU temps dropped by like 15 degrees when running 2x 2080ti's in 4U rack units.
I have the lancool II mesh and I'm really happy with it. It seems Lian Li is one of the better case manufacturers these days. However I think most of the credit for the mesh revolution should go to GN since a lot of manufacturers have went with the tried and tested fine mesh no filter front.
Cases in this form factor really need a lot of intake, especially if you plan on running 30 series with an 8+ core cpu. But that extra fan on the back really is a game changer. I’m currently thinking of ways to attach a 120mm to mine like they did!
I just started using this case for some of my builds at my company for our high end machines because we don't like RGB. It looked like from the design it would compare very favorably to other cases in cooling. I was pleased to find this review and that it validated my opinion. Thanks!
Great case and review! I was thinking about lancool III, now I can potentially save some money and go for 216 :D I wish You included gpu termals with added fan on psu shroud(like You did for lancool II mesh) I think that's better option than this external rear mount.
Regarding the noise levels : I think it's important to also remember that every 10Db increase actually sounds twice as loud, it's not linear. So this Lian Li 216 is twice as loud as the NZXT H510 and nearly 3 times louder than the be quiet! DB Pro 900. So it's actually a ridiculous difference.
@DanteJDM @@daedalus5070 3dBs is a doubling in pressure (sometimes it is 6 db, depending on source type and dB type bc dBs are weird like that), but not necessarily perceived loudness. Hearing is weird because our ears also perceive volume increases differently depending on frequency. In the world of audio engineering 3 dB is commonly considered a boost/cut amount that will be perceptible by the majority of people across the majority of frequencies but then again, hearing is weird.
I bought the Lancool 215 based on your initial review. Absolutely love the case, though I do wish it had USB C as well. Thermally though? Ooowee it’s nice and cool.
Would be awesome to see how much of a difference that exhaust fan would do with a 4090 FE (or any other GPU with front to back fin orientation). Maybe a quick individual piece to check that, eventually?
While I like the $50-$70 case market with the DIYPC units, Cougars, Thermaltakes, Zalmans, and others...this is a NICE case. I can see using this in a build if we decide not to do the RV thing when we retire in a few years. $110 RGB model looks really nice. Might come in handy as a battlestation at the home base if we go that route, too. Great job on the review, hit all the important points without missing any crucial details, and that's why we all keep watching!
I really really wish more cases still offered metal panels instead of glass, because I don't need glass, I keep my PC under my desk with the showcase side facing the wall, and it only leads to smaller reliability and larger cost for the end user. Lian Li is one of these companies that's dead set on selling you glass and only glass.
I would also like it but that is more of a workstation design and less of an enthusiast's. I would agree but I think the high-end workstation market has really gone completely to HP, DELL, Lenovo, and HP market. But yes I completely agree that it would be nice even as an extra cost option but I doubt that it would sell very well. I would love to see one with mesh and fan mounts to make it an air-cooling monster.
I personally would like to recommend the Zalman Z9 Iceberg Midi-Tower. The front IO features 1x USB C 2x USB 2.0 2x USB 3.0 and a Reset Button. The only "issues" with that case are both audio jacks aren't labeled and the panel is on the actual front of the case. It's a VERY good deal for 80€ I found this after multiple hours of searching.
@@stevenseverin5882 The Fractal Torrent is massive. E-ATX capable. Cable management is easy. The 216 has great cable management too but it's about the size of the Torrent compact. The torrent cases are overpriced IMO and have a couple downsides. If you plan to use liquid to cool the CPU, the only place to mount the radiator is in front. Must remove the huge fans to do that. You can put them in the bottom which should definitely have some fans installed there so it works. Build quality and the cases looks in person were a negative for me. It feels cheap in comparison to cases that cost significantly less. Right now the Torrent and compact are $216 and $186. That's too much as it's gets destroyed by cheaper cases. Also those cheaper cases don't look or feel cheaper. The 216 is half the price so that choice is simple. At around $50 less the Lancool 2 and 3 are far better cases as well. All of these should have fans added to the bottoms below the GPU as it benefits the GPU tremendously. One of the absolute best cooling cases I've seen lately is the Antec df600 flux and it comes with good fans in all the right spots. Since it already has fans in the bottom Below the GPU, I'm confident that case would be at the top of the charts if GN tests it. I haven't built in the Torrent, just the Torrent compact and I'm glad it wasn't my money that bought that case. I would have shipped it back.
You missed a couple features about the case. The top radiator bracket is actually fully removable (according to the product page). The PCIe expansion slots can be rotated for easy vertical GPU support. There is a pre-installed fan hub in the rear of the case which supports up to 4 ARGB fans. You can move the front I/O to the left side of the case if you prefer it (you did mention putting the optional ARGB module there). At this price point this case is an absolute steal. Lian Li have outdone themselves. The 216 will likely be the most popular case in the coming months.
Damn, this makes me want to move up from my Lancool 215, but since I bought this case just a year ago and it's still pretty functional, I have to resist.
"If if feels like it's going to break, you should stop" OMG, so that's why i been breaking everything all my life, I get it now! Thank you GN! On side note, warnings on products are always a bit funny to us common sense folks. They just have to cover all bases as reason they put those warnings is because there is someone out there that will break things and sadly those same people I doubt will even read the warnings but hey, now company can say "I told you so!"
I really want these new cases with huge front fans to be more standard and common so more fan options come out and better, unobstructed case designs come out. It seems really good for noise level for equivalent airflow and it usually looks pretty nice too.
Just built a pc for the first time in this case. Was pretty decent to build in, got the rgb version and the wiring didn't match the manual, but was simple enough to guess where things went and work the first try. Cable management was decent and had good space for a smaller, simple mid tower build
I did a value oriented 5700x/6700XT build for a friend recently where I was able to get a bundle with a 650W Super Flower PSU and a Lancool 215 where the 215 was basically free. It was great to build in and the 200mm fans easily kept those lower TDP parts cool.
I didn't get to read through all of the comments, but there defitinetly is a way to front mount an AIO on this case. You have to remove the two big fans, by unbolting the screws in the support brackets on either sides of the fans. Then you have to unbolt the bracket from the fans. The case itself has 3 additional holes, at the top, bottom and middle for mounting these two vertical support brackets to accomidate 160, 140, and 120mm fans. I own this case, and have my aio front mounted with 3x 120mm fans mounted to both sides of the 360mm AIO, I went with this option so that I could top mount my GPU's 240mm AIO.
I bought my 215 almost lying solely om the back of your review. Great case and I still love it but I've outgrown it slightly. Not the easiest case to custom loop.
What I really want the Industry to move forward from this point is to reduce cable clutter inside the case, take a more rack server like approach to attaching peripherals.
We like this style of edit for case reviews! It's a lot more work to do it this way than the massive voiced over sections, but also more rewarding and fun since cases are so mechanical. We'll keep trying to do this style whenever time allows!
The missing IO shield always triggers me way too much ..
love the edit. something fresh from GN is always welcomed
Totally agree that this style is superior. Time may not always allow, but I do appreciate it.
For sure, GNs video quality and editing skills have skyrocketed over the last year. Amazing work everyone.
Also will GN ever do Case Review with a CPU CLC\AIO? Almost all of my friends who have PCs built in the last few years have a water cooled CPU and an air cooled GPU? The current method gives very good results that should translate to what to expect with a CLC as far as airflow, but still it would be interesting to see a one-off video showing the differences in your current air numbers vs the average numbers of a few cases with a CLC.
At the very least Fractal, Lian Li and maybe Hyte deserve this really cool if more time consuming style
Lian Li seems to be the only case manufacturer doing actual engineering in the space right now. Not gimmicks and not just slapping foam everywhere to claim "SILENT!" but actually trying to make a case that is easy to build in and work with after the PC is built and that produces good thermals.
They take advice from gn
I don't really understand the logic of a "silent" case. If you want less noise just lower the fan speed. Closed off cases with foam necessitate higher fan speeds to avoid overheating which negates the noise benefit. Am I missing something?
Totally agree, lian li and Bequiet are for me the best case manufacturer in engineering aspects.
Be quiet is also very good, a bit more pricey.
@@chrys9256 yes. coil whine for example, high pitch noises, fan motor noises some fans produce at low speed, and just the white noise created by airflow is very easily blocked by foam. So it always helps a bit actually, but as you said, on top of that you have to make a sensible fan curve too. No point in getting foam padded panels and leave the fans blasting away.
Wow... Looks like Fractal and Lian Li are starting to become the true titans of the case industry. God bless competition!
This is definitely an exciting $100 buy.
Kinda reminds me of the old CoolerMaster's TRUE HAF cases.
Whatever happened to Antec ? Liam Li have always had good cases.
Edit - replied to the wrong one. But agreed on much of this!
@@GamersNexus I want to see what a Torrent v2 would possibly look like. Who knew that a case focusing on airflow and proper engineering would turn out to be a good product?
@@Gatorade69 You're definitely right. Maybe it's my being newer to the PC realm, but I feel recently that they went from "good" to "great".
I can say that the Phanteks P500A is "good", but I would say that the Fractal Torrent is "great". But Lian Li and Fractal also putting out more mid-range hits like this and the Fractal Pop Air? "Titans of the case industry".
just bought and installed in the 216. Its hands down my favorite case of all time, and it was also the best and easiest to build in. Form, function, performance, style. Love it. Would recommend 10/10.
Yo could you tell me ur build bud and hows the noise , looking up for this case
How well has it worked to keep dust out? That is my only concern with this case.
@@Darkswordzdid you get it if so how’s the noise and dust?
@@tryfergoodra552did you get it? If yes how’s the dust and noise of the fans?
@@hamzaaltobgy6766 I have the case, but haven't gotten around to putting a rig in it yet.
I picked this up from Newegg based on GN and a few other recommendations. Was delayed in shipping but it arrived yesterday (for clarity I ordered the White ARGB model and I live in the US). I moved my system out of my old NZXT H510. This case is an entirely other level, I had forgotten how spectacular LL cases are. This case is 100% everything that Steve mentions and more in this video. WELL worth the ~$115, I am thoroughly impressed.
That's cool to hear - I'm actually planning on migrating my own build out of an NZXT H500, lol. For me it's between this and the Fractal Pop Air, which isn't too far behind in terms of thermals and has some fun color options (but is a bit more expensive right now). Tough decision!
@@NoahRichard I picked this case up as well and would form a deeper relationship with it if physically possible. That being said there are a tonn of great options and for me it was important to remember I could get a top of the line case at around 100 bucks and this case didn't disappoint in any aspect.
WOW! That's literally what I'm doing right now. Have an NZXT H510 and I'm upgrading to the same White ARGB model as well as the thermals and noise are starting to get to me. Decided to search up reviews of this case to get me excited for it.
I'm curious, what are your specs? I'm rocking a 5600x and a 3080 FE.
@@femboy_twink Do it, it has made everything cooler and it's a seriously impressive case
Nice to see the Lian Li Lancool II Mesh is still chart topping in some tests. Best PC case I've ever owned. 🖤
It's a freaking awesome case.
I built two pcs with it. Mine and that of a friend. My only problem with it is that I could put the PSU only fans down in instead of pulling the air from the case out.
at first i was considering the nzxt h510 because of the aesthetics but eventually i went with lancool 2 mesh because of value. couldnt be more happy with it
Oh yeah, due to the fantastic design of that case it's going to be chilling in the top 5-10 results for years. And notice, that's at STOCK. Other channels have tested placing fans on the vented PSU shroud and it improves things further.
I swapped from Lancool 2 Mesh to 011 Evo and kind of miss the ease of the lancool 2's hinged doors. The Evo looks nice but needs way more fans to keep GPU temps down.
The Lancool 2 mesh is the best out of the box experience balanced for cooling both CPU and GPU to the max while still being quiet.
Recently purchased the 215 based on GN reviews and was not disappointed. Considering I came from the Thermaltake VG200 which has atrocious ventilation, I am very, very pleased. The 215 is still a great case
When Lian Li first showed this case off in one of their showcase videos, I commented to request the molding around the fans to prevent backflow (there were large gaps between them originally). I don't know if they actually saw my comment and listened--probably not, they have very smart engineers who were surely already thinking of this--but I'm glad they made this change anyway. It's something I wish more case manufacturers with unique fan setups did!
edit: With vertical GPU fin orientation, you flip the fan around and have it as extra intake. I'm not sure how helpful this will really be, but it's how Lian Li initially showed it off. It's also completely unfiltered intake going straight into your GPU fans, so maybe not ideal.
G'day Konga,
Yeah it is hard to know as multiple people can see something & get an idea to make change in a similar or even same way, Lian Li staff may have already been working on or waiting for the new fans but wanted to get some press out so just went with fans they had.
It would be nice for manufacturers to consistently say if changes are due to feedback when that is the case, unlike nVIDIA who as an example said it was all them who decided to "Unlauch RTX4080 12GB" because after some thought THEY thought the name would be confusing, Definitely NOT all the negative Reviewer & subsequent Viewer Comments for the week or so in between Annoucement & Unlaunch.
There was a recent post in the overclocking subreddit where they jerryrigged an 80/92mm fan to the back of the pcie slots, just like this case. Several user reported multiple degrees lower gpu temps. So this is a really awesome development to see.
I think the difference with this case is so small, because the airflow from the front panel is already great. Perhaps this add-on is better suited for cases with restrictive front panels.
I'm still waiting for a creative comeback of side panel intakes.
@@Lishtenbird well we did get these angled up bottom fans. Thats the closest you will get while keeping a glass side panel
Could you post a link or tell us how to get to it? Thanks.
@@AliShaikh_744 go to the overclocking subreddit. Sort by "top of past month" and it'll be near the top.
@@Lishtenbird Like Kim Kardashian?
love the laidback, no-nonsense, straightforward reviews. so good.
2024 , I just swapped from a nzxt to the 216 and I absolutely loved it. Engineers really put effort in thinking about the consumer
Gn got some really high GPU temps here. Have you had the same thing happen?
Can I just say that I really really really appreciate that they've given us two different placements for the motherboard? I can't tell you how many times I've struggled with top-mounted radiators smushing the cpu cables and making things like fan headers a royal pain in the ass to plug in. Usually I just unscrew the whole top of the case just to avoid the hassle, but that's a huge time sink.
You usually spend less time and effort just ripping the top off, versus fighting the case to position things where they need to go.
@@FAT9L That's certainly true when you're building a system for the first time, but I'm talking about everything that happens after that. The little maintenance things. Swapping fan headers, swapping the rear case fan, checking/reseating the cpu cables, reseating or swapping out ram (if the ram is tall and the radiator is thick), etc.
It sucks to have to take off all three panels, undo all the screws, and then precariously balance the AIO radiator on something while you fiddle around with cables. I'd rather just open the side door and get it done in seconds.
I copped one and it was by far one of the best cases I built with. The included fans are really the star of this and the removable top makes it easier to top-mount a radiator and to plug cables.
Not quite related to the Lancool, but my coasters arrived an hour ago, and they're sick! The pictures don't do 'em justice, thanks very much!
Case of the year 2022, IMO. They could've easily charged an extra 50 bucks and still be better than most $150usd cases. Removable panels are not obnoxious either, with just 1-2 screws and it's out.
This is absolutely amazing! Low(er) cost cases from brands that do nothing but cases (mostly). This segment really requires competition and innovation the most.
just bought this case recently after watching alot of reviews online. i can say that my money was well spent!
I love how they let you reorient the little fittings like the IO panel opening and the cable grommet. This is a great level of customization to put into a case compared to the "transformer" cases that took it too far.
Ridiculous ...........
How much incredible detail you go into in these reviews. Excellent job guys.
It makes me feel bad watching my Lian Li Lancool II Mesh falling down the chart. LOL But it is great seeing Lian Li continuing to make these cases better!
I wouldn't feel bad since it's a great case. You should see it as other cases performing better since they're newer (the Lancool III was likely only possible given what they learned from the Lancool II Mesh), not as it performing worse - especially since it still holds top spots in a lot of categories!
Just keep in mind that these tests are always with stock configurations.
Fully optimized builds will likely vary, and the Lian Li Lancool II is probably among the top, possibly even exceeding the Fractal Torrent.
@@nospleen_noproblem Well it made for a better launch platform for the other cases to follow. Hell I love mine. I still have the stock 2x 140MM in front and 120MM in back.
I added 2x Artic 120MM PWM fans on the PSU shroud that blow straight into the GPU MSI RX 6750XT from Paul's Hardware. And that design really works, I have to wipe dust off the side cover every 24 hours of operation.
And I added only one so far Artic 140MM PWN fan on top exhaust. I tried putting 2 up there but the cables from my Vetroo U6 Pro CPU cooler take up too much room.
A lot of these cases are being made while taking the lessons of the Lancool 2 Mesh into consideration. The case doesn't stop being excellent just because newer cases are better. It will remain great to work in, and it'll remain a great airflow case.
@@RicochetForce and worth every penny I spent buying it for $120 during the pandemic.
I recently bought this case, the version without RGB, and for those who don't know as I didn't know, the version without RGB comes without the Lian Li hub. Information that is not given on the website or manual. The front fans use 0.5A (I believe 100%) and, to move the front panel to the side, if in doubt, read the manual, it will help you change it easily.
I bought the Arctic pwm hub to control the fans, as it uses a SATA cable and is magnetic.
This might be the most positive review I have ever seen from GN. They even put the word "Impressive" in the title.
Kudos to Lian Li for addressing long-requested movable front fan railings to eliminate obstruction whether you stick with the 160s or switch to 140s or 120s. And for the dual position motherboard placement options to aid with watercooling up top or with the GPU ports, while keeping dimensions modest.
A couple months ago, there was a popular thread on reddit showing what a huge difference in temps a 92mm exhaust fan over the PCIE slots makes. Feels like Lian Li decided to just slap that on after the fact, because it's incredibly cheap/efficient.
where?
Similar result - with perforation in the door near GPU card (old good cases), and when input fans removed.
Still so glad I bought the Lancool II Mesh RGB.
Love the airflow and all the room inside it.
bought my 215 because of your review and im glad i did
200mm are maxed at 1000rpm so you never hear them and they flow a ton of air
great job guys
Something to note about the optional rear exhaust - it could potentially be an aid for a row of blower style gpus that are low profile for better stacking, and exhaust all their air out the back. Having a dedicated fan to help pull air out, would benefit the blower fan a lot and lower noise levels plus increase cooling potential.
Yeah this case seems like it was made for the blower 4090s. Might actually not be a dumpster fire in this case even with 2 of them.
@@joemarais7683 I do wonder how they will set up the blower card tdps, as in previous gen blower cards there have been examples where power consumption was lowered by stock settings so the cards didn't run hot despite the less ideal cooling solution. And for a card like the 4090, it really doesn't lose much by lowering its wattage consumption, if anything it reaches its true potential in power/performance ratio.
But yea, this case would help a blower 4090 stack for sure.
I've been thinking forever "why don't we just add a fan beneath the gpu"
and they've finally done it
do you think flipping the rear fan around to make it an intake would help by pushing nice fresh air from outside for the GPU fans to take in and help with cooling that way? edit - got to the end of the vid and Steve mentions it, albeit briefly. Would love to see if there's any difference though with it in intake mode
@@cj_zak1681 For a non blower gpu I see can it helping since it's prodiving the GPU cool ambient air.
You get my like this time for having Patrick explaining some details in the video. Great stuff as always guys.
Finally a case with a secondary rear fan. I have been wondering why cases dont do this. With the heat load of modern computers its needed badly
I've seen folks do this with zip ties in compact cases like the 4000D to help get hot air out from around thicc GPUs
it creates more negative pressure below the GPU, which may lead to it ingesting more of it's own exhaust. generally you want to direct the air upwards to pull the hot air away from the GPU intake.
I've sent an e-mail to GN like 3 years ago showing exactly that [DIY Noctua fan attachment to the exhaust] asking them to test this config and if its worth it. Sadly never happened
same! Especially weird when CPUs get all the attention with a 65w TDP while the GPU draws 700w
@@cosmic_cupcake My current case is a full tower. I bought it specifically because it has 3 160 front fans, 2 120 rear fans, 3 120/140 bottom fans, 3 120/140 and space for 3 120 side fans.
The 2 rear 120s help a ton for getting out the hot air
The best compliment from Steve. They made a lot of interesting changes and they aren’t all pointless. Meanwhile this case is pretty much crushing everything else is thermal testing. Never change Steve. Just bought one of these to build in. Super excited to get started!
I personally love the little fan on the back. I have no use for this case, but the fan is adorable.
I had the 215 until switching to the o11 evo. I really liked the case. This case however is much better. Some really well thought out quality of life improvements. They addressed basically every issue I had with the case.
Quick note: If you use a motherboard with a Slot 1 x16 GPU slot, you can use the case in water cooling mode AND use the rear fan add on. The air cooling mode is essentially to shift the 2nd slot x16 of the motherboard into slot 1 of the case. If the motherboard is already using Slot 1, there is no need to shift anything and you get the best of both worlds!
Many micro ATX boards will work well with the rear fan add on as well as a top radiator.
Good to know it
sry im such a smooth brain i dont get it, can you tell if "B650M AORUS ELITE AX" able to do that? tysm
@@eliadbb9634 I believe it would be compatible with both the fan attachment while in Water Cooling mode. It appears to have a Slot 1 GPU spacing. (Basically the first GPU slot is directly beneath the IO with no space between. This would put the IO of the GPU in the top slot, even with the Motherboard pushed down, in WC mode.
@@redpillgymnast bless you! much appreciated
@@redpillgymnast i found out some reports that people are having some issues with this motherboard. while looking at other mobos i see their pcie slot is little lower than this one on AUROS elite. how can i actually know if it is going to fit with the external fan, since i have to look now for another motherboard to get..
Thanks a lot to Patrick for information on how to make sure if my GPU will be blocked out in Air cooling mode or not. Really helpful and this is the only review where I am able to determine.
I was doing so much research trying to upgrade from Corsair AIR 540, which is an amazing case to this day.
Your videos, Steve...helped a lot to choosing Lian Li Evo case, and it will take some time for me to see a case just as impressive as Evo. Lian Li Dynamic is clearly manufactured at the same or near same factory in China, or just plainly stolen design from Corsair Air 540, but it went and perfected many aspects of the design, plus or minus couple of things.
2 chamber design allows easy cable management, and I don't think any case in the near future can mess with Corsair AIR 540 or Lian Li Evo by purely design perspective.
The air/water cooling positions is really well thought. As you said, they are probably going to use this and the fan design on other models, but that's a good exemple of adding value to an entry level product while saving on cost all in the buyer's interest.
I would have preferred a slightly wider version of the 215 so the fans weren't obstructed. I'm a big fan of big fans.
Typical fanboy
This comment blows.
I'd like some narrower cases on the market so that I can fit them into my workspace (220mm width).
@@MrGorpm welcome to the small form factor world
@@MrGorpm Narrower cases? Quit being so narrowminded, Roy.
I miss the old days. nice cases with damn optical drives!
I'm right about to buy one of these! I love all the user-friendly parts and interchangeability.
No one can fill the massive void that Case Labs left behind, but at least Lian Li is still making great quality cases for real builders
Will they ever come back?
How about a test: How much DUST does a dustcover block... compare 4 cases (open, metal hole mesh, dust-cover-mesh, closed) for dust build-up after 2-4 months of usage. And maybe compare the time and effort it takes to vacuum the dust covers vs. actual cleaning the case (more often).
I took an angle grinder to the obstructions in my 215 and couldnt be happier with the airflow. Highly recommend
I kind of like the look of the two giant fans up front to be honest. Great price.
I had gotten the 215 on your recommendation last year. It's a fantastic case, but I can see what you mean about the static pressure. Still, standard 200 mm fans would be easier to replace than custom 160 mm fans
there are 200mm fans on the market and there are none 160 .. especialy custom mold one's like this case , you just replace them with 3x120mm most probably ...
Rare Patrick cameo
@Bully Maguire 🅥 n
Great segment, good presentation, good flow!
I bought this exact case after having an OLD Thermaltake case. Night and day diference a great case. A winner. Thanks Steve.
With many modern motherboards skipping the 1st PCIe slot air cooling mode can be a way to add more breathing room for expansion cards in the last slot.
Love your case reviews! The gamers nexus team is a gem for pc builders. Thank you all for your thorough work ❤
Every case review I'm still happy to see the Lancool 215 in the mix. Overall the 215 has treated me well. I'm wondering now if the new 216 front fans will retrofit in the 215.
Dayum, Patrick lookin great with the new haircut. Also thanks as always Steve!
I've done that pcie exhaust fan thing as a mod for a while. Used 3000RPM Noctua 140mm IPPC fans, and GPU temps dropped by like 15 degrees when running 2x 2080ti's in 4U rack units.
I have the lancool II mesh and I'm really happy with it. It seems Lian Li is one of the better case manufacturers these days. However I think most of the credit for the mesh revolution should go to GN since a lot of manufacturers have went with the tried and tested fine mesh no filter front.
Unfortunate timing-sounds like if this had released just a bit earlier, it would've won a category or two in the Best Cases of 2022 video.
I got the 215 based on your recommendation and I am very happy with it. Thanks for all the testing which makes life for us consumers so much easier.
HIT UP
I have this case, and it's silence and coolness is on another level and I'm from India :P
Cases in this form factor really need a lot of intake, especially if you plan on running 30 series with an 8+ core cpu. But that extra fan on the back really is a game changer. I’m currently thinking of ways to attach a 120mm to mine like they did!
Good to see cooling requirements driving the market. I wonder if cases will trend towards bottom triple fans on higher legs as gpu demands go up.
I just started using this case for some of my builds at my company for our high end machines because we don't like RGB. It looked like from the design it would compare very favorably to other cases in cooling. I was pleased to find this review and that it validated my opinion. Thanks!
Just got the Lian Li 216 white. What a case. Super super good! Great price for the quality and specs. Love it!
Great case and review! I was thinking about lancool III, now I can potentially save some money and go for 216 :D I wish You included gpu termals with added fan on psu shroud(like You did for lancool II mesh) I think that's better option than this external rear mount.
Regarding the noise levels : I think it's important to also remember that every 10Db increase actually sounds twice as loud, it's not linear. So this Lian Li 216 is twice as loud as the NZXT H510 and nearly 3 times louder than the be quiet! DB Pro 900. So it's actually a ridiculous difference.
@@ArdgalAlkeides First and foremost, yes. But regardless
Its actually every 3dB
@DanteJDM @@daedalus5070 3dBs is a doubling in pressure (sometimes it is 6 db, depending on source type and dB type bc dBs are weird like that), but not necessarily perceived loudness. Hearing is weird because our ears also perceive volume increases differently depending on frequency. In the world of audio engineering 3 dB is commonly considered a boost/cut amount that will be perceptible by the majority of people across the majority of frequencies but then again, hearing is weird.
@@JuanDi_SDK oh that's interesting! Not the same thing, just picked up 3db from amateur music production etc
But their noise normalized performance also topped the chart, so it just means better performance and noise level at the same time.
I bought the Lancool 215 based on your initial review. Absolutely love the case, though I do wish it had USB C as well. Thermally though? Ooowee it’s nice and cool.
A build I did for my cousin early this year had the 215 and it went super well so I'll definitely consider LianLis stuff for my next case.
Still waiting for a good horizontal case. Been using a haf-xb evo for several years and still haven't seen anything as good come out since.
Would be awesome to see how much of a difference that exhaust fan would do with a 4090 FE (or any other GPU with front to back fin orientation). Maybe a quick individual piece to check that, eventually?
The 216 I think is going to be my first case. I really like it. Funny how I was looking into it a little before they released their video.
Anybody know a better case out there? I like the configurability of moving the front I/O if I want. And the fact that it comes with three fans.
While I like the $50-$70 case market with the DIYPC units, Cougars, Thermaltakes, Zalmans, and others...this is a NICE case. I can see using this in a build if we decide not to do the RV thing when we retire in a few years. $110 RGB model looks really nice. Might come in handy as a battlestation at the home base if we go that route, too. Great job on the review, hit all the important points without missing any crucial details, and that's why we all keep watching!
I really really wish more cases still offered metal panels instead of glass, because I don't need glass, I keep my PC under my desk with the showcase side facing the wall, and it only leads to smaller reliability and larger cost for the end user. Lian Li is one of these companies that's dead set on selling you glass and only glass.
I would also like it but that is more of a workstation design and less of an enthusiast's. I would agree but I think the high-end workstation market has really gone completely to HP, DELL, Lenovo, and HP market.
But yes I completely agree that it would be nice even as an extra cost option but I doubt that it would sell very well. I would love to see one with mesh and fan mounts to make it an air-cooling monster.
I personally would like to recommend the Zalman Z9 Iceberg Midi-Tower. The front IO features 1x USB C 2x USB 2.0 2x USB 3.0 and a Reset Button. The only "issues" with that case are both audio jacks aren't labeled and the panel is on the actual front of the case. It's a VERY good deal for 80€ I found this after multiple hours of searching.
Damn, the Lancool 216 is going to be popular as HELL. The 215 was already a strong contender but this is a step up from that.
6x6x6 is definitely popular as Hell
It's that $100 price that's the most attractive. Any other brand, this would be $150 at least.
What case is overall better (air flow, cable management,etc) between Lancool 216 or Fractal Torrent? If both are almost compairable in air flow?
Unfortunately the 216s popularity will likely result in a higher price tag before long
@@stevenseverin5882 The Fractal Torrent is massive. E-ATX capable. Cable management is easy. The 216 has great cable management too but it's about the size of the Torrent compact. The torrent cases are overpriced IMO and have a couple downsides. If you plan to use liquid to cool the CPU, the only place to mount the radiator is in front. Must remove the huge fans to do that. You can put them in the bottom which should definitely have some fans installed there so it works. Build quality and the cases looks in person were a negative for me. It feels cheap in comparison to cases that cost significantly less. Right now the Torrent and compact are $216 and $186. That's too much as it's gets destroyed by cheaper cases. Also those cheaper cases don't look or feel cheaper. The 216 is half the price so that choice is simple. At around $50 less the Lancool 2 and 3 are far better cases as well. All of these should have fans added to the bottoms below the GPU as it benefits the GPU tremendously. One of the absolute best cooling cases I've seen lately is the Antec df600 flux and it comes with good fans in all the right spots. Since it already has fans in the bottom Below the GPU, I'm confident that case would be at the top of the charts if GN tests it. I haven't built in the Torrent, just the Torrent compact and I'm glad it wasn't my money that bought that case. I would have shipped it back.
What a convenient timing, i was just starting to look for a new case with better airflow and watercooling support
JayZ said that you liked something so I had to come see it myself! :D
I was a shocked to see Patrick with this super cool hair style. Wow! Looks great
Thanks to your review i got the Lancool 215 and I'm damn happy. Keep up with your case reviews
I wanted to comment on how Lian Li is never afraid to try new things with their cases, but I got distracted by Patrick Jr.'s new haircut
Once I build a new PC I'm gonna go with your recs. The best info I've ever seen on cases (and everything else you cover) anywhere!
Mr. Steve, Sir, I just want to say that you are legend and a God among men! You rock! Thank you!
Patrick was PC Jesus #2
After the haircut, he's more like PC Jesus's best friend "PC Peter".
Love you guys!
HIT UP
Something has changed with Patrick. More confidence or something, I found his presentation very appealing. Great job bruh.
"If it feels like you're going to break it you should probably stop." Try telling that to my knucklehead 14 year old son XD
You missed a couple features about the case. The top radiator bracket is actually fully removable (according to the product page). The PCIe expansion slots can be rotated for easy vertical GPU support. There is a pre-installed fan hub in the rear of the case which supports up to 4 ARGB fans. You can move the front I/O to the left side of the case if you prefer it (you did mention putting the optional ARGB module there). At this price point this case is an absolute steal. Lian Li have outdone themselves. The 216 will likely be the most popular case in the coming months.
They did miss some of the better features of this case. Truly amazing case for the price.
Damn, this makes me want to move up from my Lancool 215, but since I bought this case just a year ago and it's still pretty functional, I have to resist.
Lian li has always been awesome. been getting cases from them since 2008
I've bought this case pre order and it's been great I highly recommend this case 👌
Yes! I woke up and saw a preview of the Lancool 216 on Lian Li's page. This is just what I was looking for this morning! 😃
Thanks, Steve.
"If if feels like it's going to break, you should stop" OMG, so that's why i been breaking everything all my life, I get it now! Thank you GN!
On side note, warnings on products are always a bit funny to us common sense folks. They just have to cover all bases as reason they put those warnings is because there is someone out there that will break things and sadly those same people I doubt will even read the warnings but hey, now company can say "I told you so!"
I really want these new cases with huge front fans to be more standard and common so more fan options come out and better, unobstructed case designs come out. It seems really good for noise level for equivalent airflow and it usually looks pretty nice too.
HIT UP.
Just built a pc for the first time in this case. Was pretty decent to build in, got the rgb version and the wiring didn't match the manual, but was simple enough to guess where things went and work the first try. Cable management was decent and had good space for a smaller, simple mid tower build
I did a value oriented 5700x/6700XT build for a friend recently where I was able to get a bundle with a 650W Super Flower PSU and a Lancool 215 where the 215 was basically free. It was great to build in and the 200mm fans easily kept those lower TDP parts cool.
I didn't get to read through all of the comments, but there defitinetly is a way to front mount an AIO on this case. You have to remove the two big fans, by unbolting the screws in the support brackets on either sides of the fans. Then you have to unbolt the bracket from the fans. The case itself has 3 additional holes, at the top, bottom and middle for mounting these two vertical support brackets to accomidate 160, 140, and 120mm fans.
I own this case, and have my aio front mounted with 3x 120mm fans mounted to both sides of the 360mm AIO, I went with this option so that I could top mount my GPU's 240mm AIO.
Bought a few Lian Li PC 60-65 series cases back in 2005, I'm still using them...
I love my Lancool 215 case! Best $70 I ever spent on a case!
I sat through a 6 min Microsoft Edge commercial so they better pay you! Also, great content. GN is the best source for fact based case reviews.
That is one hell of a case at this price range! Hope it stays that way! For now and forever!
OH.
OH..!
I have never wanted a new case more then I did now. I NEED IT.
CoolerMaster had ATCS 840 over a decade back which came with similar 120mm fan on rear panel to suck air out of SLI/Crossfire setups.
I bought my 215 almost lying solely om the back of your review. Great case and I still love it but I've outgrown it slightly. Not the easiest case to custom loop.
What I really want the Industry to move forward from this point is to reduce cable clutter inside the case, take a more rack server like approach to attaching peripherals.
Now i'm looking forward to this case for my build.