EXPERT INSIGHT & TRUSTED REVIEWS

EXPERT INSIGHT & TRUSTED REVIEWS

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The 6 Best Lian Li Cases in 2024

We’ve updated this feature in May to cover recent Lian Li releases. Our top picks remain the same this time around.

Lian Li is arguably the best PC case brand in the business today.

While there are plenty of other great companies offering towers to consider, this manufacturing beast seems to balance price, quality, and features like no other.

What in Tech’s latest feature is here to guide you through the best Lian Li computer cases for gaming, streaming, editing/production usage, and more.

Top Picks

Best of the Rest – Alternative Choices

Source: jerameyj

Overall Best Lian Li Case: PC-011 Dynamic

The PC-011DX isn’t just the best Lian Li PC case, but our choice for the best PC case available today for any mid-range build.

There is simply so much to praise with this chassis.

To start: stock photos do not do its aesthetic justice (check out the cover photo of our best PC case feature to see what this case can look like in practice).

The build quality is the best you’ll find in its price range.

With an exterior (and most of the interior) made with high-quality SECC steel and a beautiful finish, the case feels as good as it looks.

Then there are the thick tempered glass panels that fall down the full length of both the front and the side of the chassis (with the rest of the front boasting a sleek aluminum).

This is perhaps what gives the case such a beautiful presentation.

You’ll notice most cases have a partial side window and nothing else.

And while there are some great cases that do have a front window (like say, the NZXT 510 Elite), they’ll often also be partially covered at the bottom.

You may realize that a lot of cases do this because it hides the “uglier” parts (like the PSU).

Well, Lian Li completes the same task in a much better way by operating as a dual-chamber PC case.

This means it has a dedicated compartment on the non-window side to install your PSU/drives and give you significantly better cable management/airflow than your average tower.

Having a case that reveals the full length of your PC really makes it the perfect case for showing off your awesome internal components (especially if any RGB elements are present).

We gave the PC-011DX the top spot in our “Best Looking PC Case” feature due to all of these fantastic elements.

But enough on the design, because the tower excels in size too.

This Lian Li tower is an ATX PC case with room for:

  • 8 x expansion slots
  • 2 x 3.5″ + 4 x 2.5″ drive bays
  • VGA card length up to 420mm (enough for pretty much all mainstream cards)
  • Front I/O panel that includes a USB3.1 Type-C port

With the large dimensions, you’ll have great potential here for a multi-GPU gaming PC (or plenty of space for ventilation if not).

The drive bay allowance is quite standard, and more than enough for most (especially a PC case for gamers, streamers, and normal usage).

What’s more, all of the bays are hidden in the second hidden chamber.

And finally, there’s cooling.

This Lian Li mid-tower is one of the best PC cases for overclocking and cooling around, with:

  • Up to 9 x 120mm fans
  • Up to 1 x 360mm, 1 x 280mm & 1 x 240mm radiators

This is a really great capability for an ATX PC chassis.

But what makes it even better is the incredible ventilation achieved by the large internal space and hidden components in the second chamber not interfering with the airflow.

By now, you can probably understand why we love this case so much.

It’s really hard to believe you get all the build quality and features in its mid-range price.

Simply put, this is the best Lian Li PC case available bar none – and possibly the best by any brand.

If you’re building for gaming, production, or general usage, you’ll be hard-pressed to find better than the Lian Li PC-011 Dynamic.

2024update: The PC-011 remains my top Lian Li case pick (and the best PC case in any category) for 4 years running – I’ve not seen anything enter the market that manages to match it in the quality it offers across the board.

Source: Lian Li

Best Budget Lian Li Case: LANCOOL II

While you can go even cheaper with our pick lower down, the LANCOOL 2 is easily the best choice for someone who wants the great quality LianLi is known or on a budget.

With a solid SGCC exterior build quality and tempered glass on both of its size, you’ll be hard-pressed to find a case that feels as high-quality at its price point.

The most striking visual features however are the two RGB strips running up the front of the case – This case would be a great start to an RGB build.

You have decent space in here too, with:

  • 7 x expansion slots
  • 4 x 2.5″ & 3 x 3.5″ / 2.5″ drive bays
  • VGA lengths up to 384mm

There is still enough size in here for a multi-GPU gaming setup should you wish to upgrade your budget setup later.

The storage capability, in particular, is excellent, this is easily one of the best budget PC cases for video editing, media center, and other PC setups that demand lots of drive space.

You’ll have more than enough cooling for a budget build too, with:

  • Up to 8 x 120mm fans
  • Or up to 1 x 360mm & 1 x 240mm radiators

While the internal design and cooling availability doesn’t reach the highs of the PC-011, this case still performs great and very impressively at its price-point.

While we would push you to pick up the dynamic if you can afford it, know that this is still a fantastic option.

If your wallet is tight, rest assured this is the best budget Lian Li PC case available.

2024 update: Although I still highly rate the LANCOOL II, I’ve seen it run into some stock issues occasionally over the last several months (or price hiked where the case is being sold for $200+). If you liked the look of it but this is the case, the LANCOOL 205 MESH is an ideal replacement, and arguably a little better if you are airflow focussed due to its front mesh panel.

Source: Lian Li

Best High-End / E-ATX Lian Li Case: PC – O11 Dynamic XL

If you’re looking to go all out, this is the case for you.

Sharing many of the fantastic qualities as its smaller PC-011 brother, the XL is made for those creating the biggest gaming/production beast they can.

With a similar fantastic design to the PC-011, you’re also getting a full aluminum exterior and a tastefully subtle RGB strip running down the front.

But space is where the XL really shines, with

  • 8 expansions slots (and options to upgrade to vertical installs)
  • 6 x 2.5″ & 4 x 2.5″ / 3.5″ drive bays
  • Graphics card lengths up to 446mm

With even more space in this case, if you’re building a crossfire/SLI GPU setup, you’re going to have so much room to play with here.

And the storage allotment speaks for itself, this is easily one of the best PC cases for video editing and other utilities that demand high bay space.

The XL is also a great option if you’re looking at building an E-ATX motherboard PC.

While the top two picks above do support E-ATX, we’d recommend picking this case up over them if that’s your inclination.

Cooling wise, the XL is clearly designed to overclock and cool some meaty components, with:

  • Up to 10 x 120mm fans
  • Up to 3 x 360mm radiators

Even in a multi-GPU build, it’s really hard to imagine needing more availability for your air or water cooling solution.

PC-011 Dynamic vs XL

The key difference between the two is the XL having an improved exterior material/RGB strip and the upped space requirements.

We will say that the PC-011D will satisfy a large majority of gaming & other PC build needs.

But if you’re trying to build the best PC you can then here’s the one.

If budget isn’t a consideration for you, the PC-011 Dynamic XL is the best of the best Lian Li computer cases.

Source: Lian Li

Best Lian Li Mini ITX Case: TU-150

If you’re looking for a portable PC case or simply trying to build the smallest PC possible, our last top recommendation is for you.

The TU-150 is one of the best looking mITX PC cases around with a full aluminum exterior and tempered glass window.

The finish on the case is gorgeous and it has a quality of life feature we’re surprised we don’t see more on a mini-ITX case: a retractable handle.

The handle, size, and sturdiness make this ideal for a LAN party PC case or even if you’re looking for something console-sized.

Despite the small space, you’ll still have room for:

  • 3 x expansion slots
  • GPUs up to 320mm in length
  • 1 x 2.5″ & 1 x 2.5″ / 3.5″ drive bays
  • A front I/O panel that includes a USB3.1 Type C port
  • Air cooling: Up to 4 x 120mm fans (one could be replaced for a 120m radiators to add water cooling)

Of course, this availability isn’t impressive compared to our other top picks.

But for its form factor? The TU-150 excels in offering what most tiny builders will need.

And the cooling on offer ties in perfectly with a well-built internal design that doesn’t just look great but offers decent airflow for the size.

Simply put, if you’re looking for a tower as small and portable as possible that still performs, know this is easily the best Lian Li Mini ITX PC case for it.

Best Lian Li Micro ATX Case?

Unfortunatley at the time of writing this feature, there is no Lian Li mATX case option we would recommend.

We would suggest picking up the PC-011D if your build is demanding, or pushing down your requirements to a m-ITX build and picking up the TU-150 if small form factor is your main focus.

Best of the Rest – Alternative Choices

While the 4 chassis’ above are easily our top picks for the best Lian Li PC cases, we’ve recommended a couple of alternative options for very specific needs.

Best PC-011 Alternative: O11D Mini

PC-011 Dynamic vs O11D Mini: The Mini was developed as an option to be very similar to the PC-011 but those happy to sacrifice some spec/airflow space with a more compact build.

We prefer the all-round capabilities of the full-size dynamic, but if you want something smaller, the Mini is a fantastic choice.

Cheapest Lian Li PC Case: LANCOOL 205

While we’d stick to the LANCOOL II for your budget build if possible, we wanted to include the cheapest option Lian Li provides because its still a decent case.

You’ll be losing out on some aesthetic, build quality and cooling potential compared to the II, but on a budget, it’s still a great option.

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About the author

Picture of Kaelum Ross
Kaelum Ross
Kaelum Ross, BSc is the Lead Writer at What in Tech and a leading authority in PC hardware and software. With a career as a senior IT professional, Kaelum has led multi-million dollar projects covering everything from bespoke software development to complex Windows hardware upgrades. Today, Kaelum uses his expertise to serve What in Tech's readers and has been featured in numerous global publications including New York Magazine and Lifewire.

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