Great review! Bought mine a week ago and moved in the components from another case. Been building PCs for over 30 years and this is the best case that I have ever seen. Thank you for your videos!
Most companies are doing a really good (albeit not perfect job) these days. Years ago it was much worse. Unless you go super cheap, its pretty hard to find a true dud case.
I purchased the black version of the 216 and it has been amazing to build in and work on. it looks great and my GPU has definitely benefitted from this upgrade. I was playing games yesterday and the temps only maxed out at 65 degrees. Those front fans have been amazing in terms of air entering the case. I could not be happier with how it looks and how it is assembled. Thank you for making this case video so I knew what to buy.
@@sundin57 They're quiet enough for my tastes, and like he said it depends on the load. I use headphones so even when the fans were louder I didnt notice it unless I took my headphones off. Also I turned up my fan curve so the fans have more power (even though the system was already staying cool) so depending on your cooling system you can get away with lower fan speeds and made minimal noise. for reference I'm using an i7 11700k and its known to produce heat
Fun fact: The machine screws on that panel you replaced @ 8:03 have a hex head that's the same shape as most interchangeable screwdriver sockets. Meaning you could have socketed on the empty screwdriver. Particularly useful for stubborn screws where the Phillips bit wants to cam out constantly.
the fact that it already has some RGB lighting already installed is really cool, especailly on a less expensive case! The only reason why I've gotten corsair and other "high-end" cases in the past, is because they already have the lighting node/hub or whatever its called making it really easy to add fans if you want/need to!
JayzTwoCents: more subjective, more opinions and personal thoughts, very relatable, more fun, Jay feels like a bro, better editing. (Phil's montages are god-tier) GamersNexus: more objective, more facts and hard, verifiable data; high-level testing in terms of design, engineering, and performance, Steve feels like a professor, more academic than entertaining. Both are important contributors to this industry, and as consumers and enthusiasts it's important to listen to many viewpoints and take in information from many sources.
Y'know, this is why I usually listen to those two and then, I add Linus because well, I enjoy his stuff. He's got a good team around him and I enjoy to hear some of their research and how they put stuff into a different perspective.
Yeah, I mean, I like Linus. But it is the whole LTT team. I watch Jay and GN for the above stated. And Linus when I want to see people having fun with new tech really.
I love that they included fans worth keeping. My thought is either engineer a fan I will want to keep stock or sell the case bare. I hate cases that include poorly designed cheap fans just because they feel obligated to include anything.
there is a black RGB version I just bought one for my son's new build - Lian Li Lancool 216RX RGB Black Mid Tower ATX Case is the model@@guccipucci69420
You don't have to hate those cases. Just remove and replace fans. Anyways even worst fans are better than no fans . For ultra budget builds , in ultra budget cases, it's much better than nothing.
What I like a lot about this case is that they addressed most of the problems with the Lancool II, some of which I gave them feedback about when I built my PC in that case. It took several minutes of wiggling and wedging in order to get the HDD tray out of the bottom of that case, and they fixed that. The front I/O had an exposed PCB that they've now hidden. They also redesigned the cable shrouds in the back so they won't block cable routing along the edge of the case.
You forgot to mention that the grommet plate can be rotated to actually fit the E-ATX better. Which is a cool functionality without compromising design 😁
This is really awesome case with 2x 160mm fans and a 140mm. The Fractal Focus 2 is another amazing budget case for $60-70 and comes with 2x 140mm fans. The Lancool 215 has 2x 200mm ARGB and a 120mm also for ~$100. Lots of new cases out there with tons of airflow nowadays and all for pretty good prices.
My current build is in a Lian Li Lancool 2 Mesh RGB case. I got it for $120 at microcenter. I absolutely love it. I can also see why the Lancool 216 is getting so much praise. It looks like a pleasure to build in.
Just this week I was split between the 216 and the Fractal Torrent Compact. Ultimately went with the more expensive Fractal one and the seemingly superior build quality and just outright monster cooling performances make me not regret the expense but considering how cheap the 216 is I don't think there's a clear winner there. Either let your budget or your aesthetic preferences choose for you. I'd also say : air cooling, go Torrent. Water cooling, 216. Cable management on the Torrent Compact is tight BUT well executed (quality velcro, rails, zip ties, ...)
Love what Lian Li is doing. I can confidently recommend them to any beginner and know they’ll be set for pretty much anything they want to do with very little guidance
I just bought the black RGB version and couldn't have been happier. Fantastic case to build in and comparing it to the H510 I was using previously, it destoys it when it comes to cooling the GPU.
Pretty clever, well-engineered design. I like the cable pass-throughs being flexible, especially. One quibble I have with my case is the pass through cut outs are located in a way that requires a painful torque on the thicker cables.
Jay, I think you missed a feature. It looks like the plate with the gray pass-through grommets can be rotated 180 to accommodate an EATX mobo and still be usable. Unlike other cases where the mobo covers the grommets.
Still using the Lancool II Mesh, Lian Li did so well with it even though this looks amazing I'm not sure I'd upgrade to it just yet. Unless the hotswap HDD back plate option in Mesh will work on the HDD cage in this box, then i"d really consider it just for the new front designed fans and controller option. Lian lI for me has really been the go to no brainer case choice with their Lancool series.
I've been using Lian Li cases for 20+ years now. Compared to Corsair, NZXT, etc., their cases just feel the most practical without being cheap or boring. I've been using the Lancool II Mesh for the past two years, and it's a great case. Easy to build in, looks great, feels solid, easy to keep clean, and you can usually get one for a little over $100 (although Microcenter was selling the RGB version with three 120mm fans for something like $75 a couple of months ago). It's still my recommended case for anyone looking for a new one.
I wish I still could use mine, I couldn't for the life of me fit the 3090 TI in it, given how my radiator was placed. I ended up having to upgrade to the Corsair 5000D Airflow, but I really loved that case.
I just moved my LanCool 215 build into a new 216 so that I could fit a 360 AIO up top. It looks great and the went very smoothly. I'm very happy with this case.
Lian Li strikes me as one of (if not THE) best case manufacturer right now. Solid budget options without unnecessarily cut corners with the 215/216 and the Lancool 2 which is still extremely viable. And really good "enthusiast" options with really good flavoring with the optics-focused O11D family and the ridiculously mechanics-focused Lancool 3. Just solid stuff.
Most cases around this price have issues, this is a case you can build in and maybe upgrade later instead of, well this is good but I'll need to replace/upgrade this right away.
Ive got the lian li 011 air mini. by far one of the best mid cases on the market. if you go with a mini atx board you can squeeze 4 240mm rads in it. a full size psu, 3090 and its overall air flow is just phenomenal. Like the case in this video doesnt have the perforated back panel like the 011 air mini. Ive had a couple other cases and its just not even close to try and compare them.
I thought about using Fractal Design for my next case, but I'm very impressed with Lian Li. They really are the king of PC cases. I don't particularly care for this case, because of the odd 160mm fans, but the rest of it, is nice.
I can't really say I'm unhappy with the NZXT 510 Flow I got earlier this yeat but man, if I'm still in the market for a new build right now, this HAS to be my case. With Jay demonstrating the finer details on the case plus Steve's approval on the technical side of things, there's pretty much no contest at this price point.
I have been using mATX for the longest time as my space is limited but since the RTX 30 generation, its just not enough airflow. If I can find one in stock I am def getting this.
I wouldn’t worry to much about Steve. They do great work on fact type reporting however I watch you for practical hands on stuff. Also your builds and attention to detail.
Over-spending on a case is a pleasure. I didn't need to spend so much on my last three cases but I used each case through three builds over at least four or five years. I find the case to be an important part of the build, and personally I love a large mid tower or a full tower for all the interior space. They are a pleasure to build in, look amazing and can handle any upgrade. By all means, if you can afford it over-spend on your case.
I’m currently in the middle of a rebuild now. Just bought the 13600k. My old case does not fit big air coolers or even a 240mm aio cooler. I love the simplistic look of the black version of this case. And how modular it is. Might just order this on Friday.
i think (k) cpu is not worth , you spend extra money on the same cpu just so you could overclock it and you have to spend extra on the motherboard to get Z M.b and you also will need a better cooler if you gonna overclock it
@@izzygucci64 nothing wrong with the cpu even at stock speeds, it still beats the 13500/12600k with it's 5.1 clock speeds, and larger L2/L3 Cache sizes.
"improved greatly in recent times." -- I disagree. They used to _only_ make all-aluminum cases that were lightweight and very high quality. Now, they moved manufacturing from Taiwan to China and stopped making aluminum cases. They use heavy, cheap steel now. They still make nice cases, but they are far from the "brushed aluminum works of art" they were known for.
We're honestly living in a great time for PC cases. I got a Deepcool Matrexx 40 for $45 from Newegg, installed some Arctic P12s in the front, back, and 240MM AIO and it's just awesome. My reference 6900 XT with thermal pads on the backplate and CPU are sitting at very comfortable temps. My Console Killer living room PC with the Meshilicious is on another level as well.
I just built in a Lancool 215 and it was great to work in and has spectacular thermal performance. Paid $90 for it and constantly wondered what the catch was.
Man, that is a feature rich case. For a 100$ I had Vetroo's AL600 as my leader for mid-tower cases but I'll have to do more comparisons to see if it retains the crown. I love Lian Li's attention to case detail here and they are neck and neck with Fractal overall. The underrated AL600, however, sells at 99-110$ but on the Vetroo site goes for 170$ with an included 360mm AIO. I hope to see it reviewed so I know if it's too good to be true.
When testing if GPUs will fit, esp 4xxx ones, can we start seeing how much space there is to accomodate the 12vHPWR cable, and more importantly, how much space there is to easily manage bending of said cable. Most cases now fit long GPUs (so front of case to back), and most people dont run that much more in the spare PCIe slots so top to bottom thickness isnt really an issue, but for me the biggest problem is how wide (so mobo to side panel) the GPUs are. I know that my OG 011 Dynamic has problems with certain GPUs already, so I think it would be good to show, or at least comment upon. Its really the only fitment issue that most builds have now.
Different people have different requirements for their cases e.g. size, convenience, utility etc. I dont want to get a large PC case that takes up more room than it needs to. Sometimes a case that fulfills those requirements is not available for cheap.
That's a pretty sick case for $100! I especially like the USB panel there on the side. That's by far the most accessible part of my case from where I sit, so occasional thumb drives right there would be awesome. When I get around to making my full water-cooled next build, I'm definitely keeping that case top of mind.
Jay: "check out this custom carbon fiber case I bought for thousands of dollars for my EVGA tribute build." also Jay: "stop overspending on your PC cases!"
I will never overpay for a PC case again...as I did the ultimate overpay 6+ years ago and do not regret it with my Lian Li Standing/Sitting Desk/Case...the last case I will ever buy. Building my 13th gen system in it next.
Now that I built in Lian Li cases for my last 3 builds... I am spoiled with their quality and features, it would be hard to get me to go back to another brand now.
I actually didn't have much options (I'm from Venezuela) but I've chose to go for a Azza Apollo 430 (about 120$ here, idk if it's cheap or not actually), Mid tower but it can fix ATX Mobo and water cooling, even triple fan gpu's I'm not even close to fill the case as I use a Micro-ATX Mobo and haven't been able to buy the gpu yet, still, pretty nice looking case with aRGB an enough space for future upgrades
We need more iFixIt ads which are more up to date since inventory isn't really an issue anymore. Like fixing the 12VHPWR adapters, fixing the artifacting on DLSS3, and fixing the high temperatures on Zen4 and Intel CPUs.
Unfortunately, these types of vids drive the price of the genuinely good budget cases up to match the rest of the mid range and then it doesn't really mean anything anymore :/
Wow!🤩 What a beautiful and well organised case by Lian Li ✊💪. As an ITX builder, this is the first large case (by my standards) that’s actually wants me to buy it 🤣🤫. Great job by the Lian Li designers, builders, engineers etc 🥰.
Hold up...did you just imply, albeit jokingly, around 0:46 that someone should harm Steve? Sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but you may have a $*!+show on your hands if you don't edit that out.
@@eliotwildermann Yeah, yeah, I meant Rhodeasian asking that was weird because it seemed kinda obvious. I guess not everyone is aware of what's going on with all the Nvidia cable ****show.
"This case should cost WAY more than it actually does" - hey can you not suggest companies put prices up?? they price it according to cost/margin. stop that
Jay its not only Steve's opinion that counts... Your comments and opinion of a product is also important... How to show the product, in this case the Lancool tower, its not only a few fun facts, but also so of your opinions from experience and thats is the big difference... I like this one alot... On a lookout for a newer tower... So right in time for me...
I dont think I'll ever need to change my Lancool 2 but my brother is interested in doing his first build and I think I'm gonna strongly suggest one of these.
This is the case I have (in black) with a 4070 ti and I immediately thought "if I upgrade I can actually fit a larger card". the thermals are top notch and the fans are quiet. Love it.
Hi Jayz and the two Banditos. I just got my new 'Puter in the Lian Li 205 Mesh. Boy am I ever impressed with this case. High quality, good price, not too big, not too small and gorgeous LGB lights that are attractive but not intrusive. The 140mm front fans move TONS of air through the case but are almost silent. My CPU and GPU temps are low. Very pleased.
I recently built a computer using the 215 model of this case, worked out great. One of the front case fans started getting noisy after a couple months and Lian Li support sent me two brand new replacement fans!! Great support.
I don't know who reads old comments but I just thought I'd share for anyone trying to select a case for a new build. This past weekend I built a PC for a friend using the Lancool 216, chosen based on Jay and Steve's reviews. It's a fantastic case. So easy to build in. I actually like it better than my Corsair 4000D Airflow.
Upgraded from a Lian Li Lancool PC-K58 to a Fractal Define 7 when doing a full system build a week ago. The Lian Li is still in great condition after 13 years and several rebuilds in it. It even fit my Sapphire Pulse 6800 along with 6 3.5" HDDs. The Fractal Define 7 has an impressive amount of configurability but I'm a bit wary about how durable it will be given how many thin pieces of metal, fiddly plastic parts and small screws that can get stripped there are when moving things around. Anyway, Lian Li impressed me with that case which only costed me 65USD back in the day and I would have stuck with their brand if they still made cases that allowed for a lot of 3.5" HDDs.
THANK YOU JAY! been trying to figure out what case to get (Mine is an old cooler master with terrible airflow), and none of the cases steve awarded for his best case of the year awards were for me. This one is perfect! THANKS!
Correct me if I’m wrong, but it looks like you can unscrew the plate with the rubber passthroughs and flip it. Putting the grey rubber passthroughs toward the front of the case, which would allow better clearance for larger motherboards. You can see right around 4:33.
Put my new rig together in this case just this weekend, after not having had the ability to upgrade my PC for over 10 years it was a joy to build in this case. Definitely recommend it.
A few years ago I bought a Lancool 205 before I was aware of the Mesh option, so this one has a solid front. In July I bought a Lancool 216 for a new build and love it! The basic build was easy, but the RGB kicked my butt!! The case with all the stuff in it is really heavy!!
Wow, what a purrfect timing. I've been actually been looking for a new case since the cost of the Hyte Y60 increased drastically. From 250 to 390 (CAD) It's horrendous! So, I'm thrilled to learn about a new case!
Lian Li makes some good stuff, I am still running a PC-62 that I first used with a 2600k. Its made from thick aluminum unlike most of the stuff you see now that's as thin as a soda can.
I'm totally over spending on a case. Having said that I watched a lot of your videos first and I didn't go in blind, I actively chose to overpay because it all just looks so cool together. Plus it's the most I've ever spent all up on a build personally so I splashed a bit. Thanks for your content dude.
I just finished my build and I used this case and it was the best decision I've ever made. I'll probably use this case for my next build down the road.
Purchased a new build in July 2024, purposely made sure to purchase one in a Lian Li Lan Cool 216 Black ARGB Version case. So far liking it very much, cooling is amazing with the 2 front fans, and rear exhaust. ((I gotta check still to see if front fans are on Speed sensing port on the Fan Hub, probably will during first dust clean out asap here) Otherwise very happy with the case
I bought this case even though I hated that logo on the front. Thankfully, it can easily be removed by taking out a few screws. Excellent case. Great airflow. Solid build. Good price especially for 2 huge 160mm rgb fans and 1 140 in the back. I have no complaints.
$100 for the black version, $115 for the white version. White spreads the RGB effects while black isolates the RGB. Amazing case for modular aspects. You can do a lot off assembly outside the case and then put it together. Lian Li website reveals even more extras. Like a seal plate if you use a 240 AIO instead of a 360 and the ability to install an extra rear exhaust fan if you properly locate the correct GPU.
Just when i bought a new case Jay shows one that i would probably choose over one i bought... And to be honest the positioning of USB and buttons on the side made my day :D
I spent on a second hand FD meshify for 60 euro and it was pretty much brand new with everything still on even the protective film no damage even though it was described that it might have minor damage, one of the best purchase when I was building my pc during the pandemic
fun fact: for the add-on RGB controller you can swap it with upper panel too, or take upper panel down. thx me later For this price it will be most selling case 2022/2023 I think because airflow tests are looks good too, cable management is little better now with this all variations and new better ways for routing.And most funny thing is the add-on fan on backside over PCI ports 😀
Lian Li is killing it with these new cases. I have a a Lancool 2 Mesh. I'm thinking about upgrading to the Lancool 3 since it can fit 4090s better and it has more fan options.
I went ahead and pre-ordered it on Newegg. (The 216X, black with no rgb) Honestly can't wait to get this thing, as it ticks over 90% of my boxes in cases.
first time pc builder here and im glad i bought this case. I showed it to some of my buddies who built pc's before and they were surpised on how thought out this case is. I mainly bought it because it seemed to provide alot of air flow and it comes with 2 160 mm fans and 1 140 mm as exhaust.
Great review! Bought mine a week ago and moved in the components from another case. Been building PCs for over 30 years and this is the best case that I have ever seen. Thank you for your videos!
Lian Li takes so much thought into their products. Wish more companies would follow their methodology.
Liam Li is actually one guy making all the cases in his shed.
@@BrbsmokePUBG he's got a big shed
Most companies are doing a really good (albeit not perfect job) these days. Years ago it was much worse. Unless you go super cheap, its pretty hard to find a true dud case.
@@discostoo what she said
I dont. Shit would be just as expensive.
I purchased the black version of the 216 and it has been amazing to build in and work on. it looks great and my GPU has definitely benefitted from this upgrade. I was playing games yesterday and the temps only maxed out at 65 degrees. Those front fans have been amazing in terms of air entering the case. I could not be happier with how it looks and how it is assembled. Thank you for making this case video so I knew what to buy.
I just bought this case and am new to PC just curious what cpu did you go with Intel or AMD?
Are the big front fans quiet?
@@sundin57 Kinda really just depends on the load
@@sundin57 They're quiet enough for my tastes, and like he said it depends on the load. I use headphones so even when the fans were louder I didnt notice it unless I took my headphones off. Also I turned up my fan curve so the fans have more power (even though the system was already staying cool) so depending on your cooling system you can get away with lower fan speeds and made minimal noise. for reference I'm using an i7 11700k and its known to produce heat
@@sundin57 You can easily configure fan speed in bios
Fun fact: The machine screws on that panel you replaced @ 8:03 have a hex head that's the same shape as most interchangeable screwdriver sockets.
Meaning you could have socketed on the empty screwdriver.
Particularly useful for stubborn screws where the Phillips bit wants to cam out constantly.
I bought the black version. Fantastic case for 100 bucks! Airflow seems pretty good too. Added some more fans to the top.
the fact that it already has some RGB lighting already installed is really cool, especailly on a less expensive case! The only reason why I've gotten corsair and other "high-end" cases in the past, is because they already have the lighting node/hub or whatever its called making it really easy to add fans if you want/need to!
Exactly this, everyone raves about Fractal, but they don't look as nice.
JayzTwoCents: more subjective, more opinions and personal thoughts, very relatable, more fun, Jay feels like a bro, better editing. (Phil's montages are god-tier)
GamersNexus: more objective, more facts and hard, verifiable data; high-level testing in terms of design, engineering, and performance, Steve feels like a professor, more academic than entertaining.
Both are important contributors to this industry, and as consumers and enthusiasts it's important to listen to many viewpoints and take in information from many sources.
Y'know, this is why I usually listen to those two and then, I add Linus because well, I enjoy his stuff.
He's got a good team around him and I enjoy to hear some of their research and how they put stuff into a different perspective.
@@thibni_ linus anoyes me af ...
@@thibni_ I like the LTT team not Linus his crew is great
Yeah, I mean, I like Linus. But it is the whole LTT team. I watch Jay and GN for the above stated. And Linus when I want to see people having fun with new tech really.
@@Yuriel1981 exactly
I love that they included fans worth keeping. My thought is either engineer a fan I will want to keep stock or sell the case bare. I hate cases that include poorly designed cheap fans just because they feel obligated to include anything.
That you then hate and want to replace anyway.
My one gripe is the RGB case doesn't have one in the back, it's just a plain fan
there is a black RGB version I just bought one for my son's new build - Lian Li Lancool 216RX RGB Black Mid Tower ATX Case is the model@@guccipucci69420
You don't have to hate those cases.
Just remove and replace fans.
Anyways even worst fans are better than no fans .
For ultra budget builds , in ultra budget cases, it's much better than nothing.
What I like a lot about this case is that they addressed most of the problems with the Lancool II, some of which I gave them feedback about when I built my PC in that case. It took several minutes of wiggling and wedging in order to get the HDD tray out of the bottom of that case, and they fixed that. The front I/O had an exposed PCB that they've now hidden. They also redesigned the cable shrouds in the back so they won't block cable routing along the edge of the case.
You forgot to mention that the grommet plate can be rotated to actually fit the E-ATX better. Which is a cool functionality without compromising design 😁
That's what it seemed to me, that's great
That's sick! I wish more cases would do that, lol.
This is really awesome case with 2x 160mm fans and a 140mm. The Fractal Focus 2 is another amazing budget case for $60-70 and comes with 2x 140mm fans. The Lancool 215 has 2x 200mm ARGB and a 120mm also for ~$100. Lots of new cases out there with tons of airflow nowadays and all for pretty good prices.
The only thing making the fractal focus 2 not an insta buy for me is the lack of psu shroud. Like seriously how hard/expensive would it be to add it?
@@aerosw1ft What benefit does a PSU shroud have? I don't think any of my cheapo cases ever had one, so I'm not sure what to expect from it.
@@2xKTfc for me mainly an aesthetic, it cowers psu cables
@@aerosw1ft If you want a Fractal case with a PSU shroud in the 100 USD price range, I think the Pop Air is your case.
@@aerosw1ft Lmao
My current build is in a Lian Li Lancool 2 Mesh RGB case. I got it for $120 at microcenter. I absolutely love it.
I can also see why the Lancool 216 is getting so much praise. It looks like a pleasure to build in.
As much as I love Fractal, Lian Li always catches my eye.
Just this week I was split between the 216 and the Fractal Torrent Compact. Ultimately went with the more expensive Fractal one and the seemingly superior build quality and just outright monster cooling performances make me not regret the expense but considering how cheap the 216 is I don't think there's a clear winner there. Either let your budget or your aesthetic preferences choose for you.
I'd also say : air cooling, go Torrent. Water cooling, 216.
Cable management on the Torrent Compact is tight BUT well executed (quality velcro, rails, zip ties, ...)
Love what Lian Li is doing. I can confidently recommend them to any beginner and know they’ll be set for pretty much anything they want to do with very little guidance
Not every of their case is amazing.
Many are, but I don't think all are.
I just bought the black RGB version and couldn't have been happier. Fantastic case to build in and comparing it to the H510 I was using previously, it destoys it when it comes to cooling the GPU.
It looks like the front panel I/O module will also fit in that side location?
Pretty clever, well-engineered design. I like the cable pass-throughs being flexible, especially. One quibble I have with my case is the pass through cut outs are located in a way that requires a painful torque on the thicker cables.
They can flipped to be further out.
Thanks for the price hike Jay
I bought this case a couple days ago. Best case I've owned so far. Very versatile and actually quite fun to play around with.
You can shift the front IO panel from the top to the side. You don't have to buy the extra panel Jay showcased.
The one he featured has the RGB control. The top IO doesn’t have that
I was going to look that up because it looked like it, so thanks for saving me the effort!
Thanks for putting the Steve seal of approval at the beginning of the videos. Much appreciated.
Need the Lancool 3 review next. Aesthetics of it are nice and the mechanics of it are so cool
Jay, I think you missed a feature. It looks like the plate with the gray pass-through grommets can be rotated 180 to accommodate an EATX mobo and still be usable. Unlike other cases where the mobo covers the grommets.
Still using the Lancool II Mesh, Lian Li did so well with it even though this looks amazing I'm not sure I'd upgrade to it just yet. Unless the hotswap HDD back plate option in Mesh will work on the HDD cage in this box, then i"d really consider it just for the new front designed fans and controller option. Lian lI for me has really been the go to no brainer case choice with their Lancool series.
I've been using Lian Li cases for 20+ years now. Compared to Corsair, NZXT, etc., their cases just feel the most practical without being cheap or boring. I've been using the Lancool II Mesh for the past two years, and it's a great case. Easy to build in, looks great, feels solid, easy to keep clean, and you can usually get one for a little over $100 (although Microcenter was selling the RGB version with three 120mm fans for something like $75 a couple of months ago). It's still my recommended case for anyone looking for a new one.
Pretty sure the 21X series isn't supposed to be an upgrade to the lancool II though
I love the lancool II mesh very fun case to build in
I picked up the Lancool 2 Mesh a month ago for $100 and it is a good case.
I wish I still could use mine, I couldn't for the life of me fit the 3090 TI in it, given how my radiator was placed. I ended up having to upgrade to the Corsair 5000D Airflow, but I really loved that case.
Now that you posted this it will cost more than $100 lmao 😂😂😂
💯
definitely lol
Gamer Nexus already gave it a really good review last week lol.
Yup
Exactly Dactly Dude! 😎
I just moved my LanCool 215 build into a new 216 so that I could fit a 360 AIO up top. It looks great and the went very smoothly. I'm very happy with this case.
Yes for aio's this case is awesome, it can fit up to 4 rads, 360/280 on top, 360/280 on the front, 280 on the bottom and a 120 on the back.
Lian Li strikes me as one of (if not THE) best case manufacturer right now.
Solid budget options without unnecessarily cut corners with the 215/216 and the Lancool 2 which is still extremely viable.
And really good "enthusiast" options with really good flavoring with the optics-focused O11D family and the ridiculously mechanics-focused Lancool 3. Just solid stuff.
Most cases around this price have issues, this is a case you can build in and maybe upgrade later instead of, well this is good but I'll need to replace/upgrade this right away.
Ive got the lian li 011 air mini. by far one of the best mid cases on the market. if you go with a mini atx board you can squeeze 4 240mm rads in it. a full size psu, 3090 and its overall air flow is just phenomenal. Like the case in this video doesnt have the perforated back panel like the 011 air mini. Ive had a couple other cases and its just not even close to try and compare them.
I got the 011 D mini and wish I had gone with the Air. I wanna use a full size PSU🥺
Judging by some of the videos GN has done over the years, I think he's received plenty of mysterious packages, like those Yeston GPUs.
I thought about using Fractal Design for my next case, but I'm very impressed with Lian Li. They really are the king of PC cases.
I don't particularly care for this case, because of the odd 160mm fans, but the rest of it, is nice.
They put in movable brackets in the front frame so u can put in 3 x 120s or 140s if u wanted.
it's actually 170 mm wide because of the plastic, they are specially designed for the case
I can't really say I'm unhappy with the NZXT 510 Flow I got earlier this yeat but man, if I'm still in the market for a new build right now, this HAS to be my case. With Jay demonstrating the finer details on the case plus Steve's approval on the technical side of things, there's pretty much no contest at this price point.
There is not, the only company that gets close is Fractal.
I have been using mATX for the longest time as my space is limited but since the RTX 30 generation, its just not enough airflow. If I can find one in stock I am def getting this.
3 fans plus a fan/argb hub is a fantastic value.
@@OriginalSentiment It comes with software.
I wouldn’t worry to much about Steve. They do great work on fact type reporting however I watch you for practical hands on stuff. Also your builds and attention to detail.
Over-spending on a case is a pleasure. I didn't need to spend so much on my last three cases but I used each case through three builds over at least four or five years. I find the case to be an important part of the build, and personally I love a large mid tower or a full tower for all the interior space. They are a pleasure to build in, look amazing and can handle any upgrade. By all means, if you can afford it over-spend on your case.
This case is a no-brainer, yeah you can get a 50 buck case, but you'll spend way more than another 50 to upgrade to this level.
I’m currently in the middle of a rebuild now. Just bought the 13600k. My old case does not fit big air coolers or even a 240mm aio cooler. I love the simplistic look of the black version of this case. And how modular it is. Might just order this on Friday.
i think (k) cpu is not worth , you spend extra money on the same cpu just so you could overclock it and you have to spend extra on the motherboard to get Z M.b
and you also will need a better cooler if you gonna overclock it
@@abdallahg7506 to each their own. I only spent $279 for the cpu. Not really a whole lot of money.
@@izzygucci64 nothing wrong with the cpu even at stock speeds, it still beats the 13500/12600k with it's 5.1 clock speeds, and larger L2/L3 Cache sizes.
@@abdallahg7506 You do not need a z MB for this CPU, it works just fine with B760.
That's a real nice case! They have improved greatly in recent times.
"improved greatly in recent times." -- I disagree. They used to _only_ make all-aluminum cases that were lightweight and very high quality. Now, they moved manufacturing from Taiwan to China and stopped making aluminum cases. They use heavy, cheap steel now. They still make nice cases, but they are far from the "brushed aluminum works of art" they were known for.
We're honestly living in a great time for PC cases. I got a Deepcool Matrexx 40 for $45 from Newegg, installed some Arctic P12s in the front, back, and 240MM AIO and it's just awesome. My reference 6900 XT with thermal pads on the backplate and CPU are sitting at very comfortable temps. My Console Killer living room PC with the Meshilicious is on another level as well.
This case is very similar to my cooler master h500. It was also $100 about 2.5 years ago when I bought it
"Steve likes this case so this video is over"
I died
LOVE YOU JAY
I just built in a Lancool 215 and it was great to work in and has spectacular thermal performance. Paid $90 for it and constantly wondered what the catch was.
Same case I have. Was 94 for me at Microcenter, though my build was in May.
I just used the 205 from micro center for under 100... I only wish the case was more than a 3/5 on the quality prospective...
@@svpracer98 They must have stepped up their game because I found my case to be very high quality and easy to build in.
@@emorris77 or could be the 215 is higher in their product lineup
The only catch is the 200mm fans, but if you like them and they stay quiet, it's good.
Man, that is a feature rich case. For a 100$ I had Vetroo's AL600 as my leader for mid-tower cases but I'll have to do more comparisons to see if it retains the crown. I love Lian Li's attention to case detail here and they are neck and neck with Fractal overall.
The underrated AL600, however, sells at 99-110$ but on the Vetroo site goes for 170$ with an included 360mm AIO. I hope to see it reviewed so I know if it's too good to be true.
It's a pretty nice case, it's definitely recommendable.
Bought this for my second PC and it gives my Lian Li OD11 some competition! BUT it is a good bit cheaper. Great airflow!
🥶🥶
When testing if GPUs will fit, esp 4xxx ones, can we start seeing how much space there is to accomodate the 12vHPWR cable, and more importantly, how much space there is to easily manage bending of said cable. Most cases now fit long GPUs (so front of case to back), and most people dont run that much more in the spare PCIe slots so top to bottom thickness isnt really an issue, but for me the biggest problem is how wide (so mobo to side panel) the GPUs are. I know that my OG 011 Dynamic has problems with certain GPUs already, so I think it would be good to show, or at least comment upon. Its really the only fitment issue that most builds have now.
You need at least 180mm (CPU Height) for easy install the 40 Series cables (tested by PCGH) and this Case has exactly 180.5mm space, so its great XD
Different people have different requirements for their cases e.g. size, convenience, utility etc. I dont want to get a large PC case that takes up more room than it needs to. Sometimes a case that fulfills those requirements is not available for cheap.
This case is the perfect size for value and cooling performance for a silent system.
That's a pretty sick case for $100! I especially like the USB panel there on the side. That's by far the most accessible part of my case from where I sit, so occasional thumb drives right there would be awesome.
When I get around to making my full water-cooled next build, I'm definitely keeping that case top of mind.
Keep your cool Jay. Your numbers speak for themselves. I watch both. Honestly your videos are more relatable to the masses.
That is his way of saying dumbed down, like Florida relatable. God bless you Jay.
Jay: "check out this custom carbon fiber case I bought for thousands of dollars for my EVGA tribute build."
also Jay: "stop overspending on your PC cases!"
"bought"
do as i say, not as i do.
I will never overpay for a PC case again...as I did the ultimate overpay 6+ years ago and do not regret it with my Lian Li Standing/Sitting Desk/Case...the last case I will ever buy. Building my 13th gen system in it next.
Case is a big thing in my opinion, I would.
Now that I built in Lian Li cases for my last 3 builds... I am spoiled with their quality and features, it would be hard to get me to go back to another brand now.
Phanteks are great too
@@gummybearkiller1 ... Glad you like them 👍
I actually didn't have much options (I'm from Venezuela) but I've chose to go for a Azza Apollo 430 (about 120$ here, idk if it's cheap or not actually), Mid tower but it can fix ATX Mobo and water cooling, even triple fan gpu's
I'm not even close to fill the case as I use a Micro-ATX Mobo and haven't been able to buy the gpu yet, still, pretty nice looking case with aRGB an enough space for future upgrades
That case looks decent bro. and decent price :)
We need more iFixIt ads which are more up to date since inventory isn't really an issue anymore. Like fixing the 12VHPWR adapters, fixing the artifacting on DLSS3, and fixing the high temperatures on Zen4 and Intel CPUs.
How do you like the LTT screwdriver, it has been a few videos where you are using it
Unfortunately, these types of vids drive the price of the genuinely good budget cases up to match the rest of the mid range and then it doesn't really mean anything anymore :/
Wow!🤩 What a beautiful and well organised case by Lian Li ✊💪. As an ITX builder, this is the first large case (by my standards) that’s actually wants me to buy it 🤣🤫. Great job by the Lian Li designers, builders, engineers etc 🥰.
Yes, it's one of the few PC cases these days that's big and looks good, most simply look like they were designed by a 5 year old.
Hold up...did you just imply, albeit jokingly, around 0:46 that someone should harm Steve? Sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but you may have a $*!+show on your hands if you don't edit that out.
yah i agree that’s so freaking ridiculous, including the new GN video which proves they were right all along versus clickbaiting and inciting fear…
Ya, that seemed totally out of line. Like waaaay out of line.
Steve likes it, shhhiiiiiiiieeeeeeeeee
0:41 - Who are you referring to?
Steve Burke of gamers nexus
Really?
@@xxxXXXCH04XXXxxx only person who fits the description
@@eliotwildermann Yeah, yeah, I meant Rhodeasian asking that was weird because it seemed kinda obvious. I guess not everyone is aware of what's going on with all the Nvidia cable ****show.
@@xxxXXXCH04XXXxxx yeah there r some people who just somehow seem to miss all the news floating around 1 topic
"This case should cost WAY more than it actually does" - hey can you not suggest companies put prices up?? they price it according to cost/margin. stop that
Exactly 💯. Can't do that
It’s gonna cost more now😂
Jay its not only Steve's opinion that counts... Your comments and opinion of a product is also important... How to show the product, in this case the Lancool tower, its not only a few fun facts, but also so of your opinions from experience and thats is the big difference... I like this one alot... On a lookout for a newer tower... So right in time for me...
I cannot express how much I love the beginning of this, just the first 10 seconds. Too much truth for such a short statement.
Got myself the Lancool III I freaking love it! it's screwless design makes it so easy to clean/build in.
i love that he is still using the ltt screwdriver
I dont think I'll ever need to change my Lancool 2 but my brother is interested in doing his first build and I think I'm gonna strongly suggest one of these.
This is the case I have (in black) with a 4070 ti and I immediately thought "if I upgrade I can actually fit a larger card". the thermals are top notch and the fans are quiet. Love it.
Hi Jayz and the two Banditos. I just got my new 'Puter in the Lian Li 205 Mesh. Boy am I ever impressed with this case. High quality, good price, not too big, not too small and gorgeous LGB lights that are attractive but not intrusive. The 140mm front fans move TONS of air through the case but are almost silent. My CPU and GPU temps are low. Very pleased.
I recently built a computer using the 215 model of this case, worked out great. One of the front case fans started getting noisy after a couple months and Lian Li support sent me two brand new replacement fans!! Great support.
Yeah the good news is these custom 160mm fans are much better than those 200's, after your warrantee is over, I would probably go with 2x 140mm's.
I don't know who reads old comments but I just thought I'd share for anyone trying to select a case for a new build. This past weekend I built a PC for a friend using the Lancool 216, chosen based on Jay and Steve's reviews. It's a fantastic case. So easy to build in. I actually like it better than my Corsair 4000D Airflow.
Upgraded from a Lian Li Lancool PC-K58 to a Fractal Define 7 when doing a full system build a week ago. The Lian Li is still in great condition after 13 years and several rebuilds in it. It even fit my Sapphire Pulse 6800 along with 6 3.5" HDDs. The Fractal Define 7 has an impressive amount of configurability but I'm a bit wary about how durable it will be given how many thin pieces of metal, fiddly plastic parts and small screws that can get stripped there are when moving things around.
Anyway, Lian Li impressed me with that case which only costed me 65USD back in the day and I would have stuck with their brand if they still made cases that allowed for a lot of 3.5" HDDs.
my 7yo daughter just picked out the LanCool 205 Mesh and she loves how easy it was to install stuff using that case.
THANK YOU JAY! been trying to figure out what case to get (Mine is an old cooler master with terrible airflow), and none of the cases steve awarded for his best case of the year awards were for me. This one is perfect! THANKS!
Which Cooler Master case is it?
I have the version previous to the one you tested and its still a solid performer that pushes masses of air while looking good.
This is the case I want for my build I'm so excited it's as good as it is for that price point.
Correct me if I’m wrong, but it looks like you can unscrew the plate with the rubber passthroughs and flip it. Putting the grey rubber passthroughs toward the front of the case, which would allow better clearance for larger motherboards. You can see right around 4:33.
Put my new rig together in this case just this weekend, after not having had the ability to upgrade my PC for over 10 years it was a joy to build in this case. Definitely recommend it.
I love Lian Li and own the Lancool II for my kids. I have the 011 Dynamic and have zero regrets.
A few years ago I bought a Lancool 205 before I was aware of the Mesh option, so this one has a solid front. In July I bought a Lancool 216 for a new build and love it! The basic build was easy, but the RGB kicked my butt!! The case with all the stuff in it is really heavy!!
Wow, what a purrfect timing. I've been actually been looking for a new case since the cost of the Hyte Y60 increased drastically. From 250 to 390 (CAD)
It's horrendous!
So, I'm thrilled to learn about a new case!
Lian Li makes some good stuff, I am still running a PC-62 that I first used with a 2600k. Its made from thick aluminum unlike most of the stuff you see now that's as thin as a soda can.
I'm totally over spending on a case. Having said that I watched a lot of your videos first and I didn't go in blind, I actively chose to overpay because it all just looks so cool together. Plus it's the most I've ever spent all up on a build personally so I splashed a bit. Thanks for your content dude.
I just finished my build and I used this case and it was the best decision I've ever made. I'll probably use this case for my next build down the road.
Purchased a new build in July 2024, purposely made sure to purchase one in a Lian Li Lan Cool 216 Black ARGB Version case. So far liking it very much, cooling is amazing with the 2 front fans, and rear exhaust. ((I gotta check still to see if front fans are on Speed sensing port on the Fan Hub, probably will during first dust clean out asap here) Otherwise very happy with the case
For budget case go for
Revenger, ValueTop, Deepcool
I bought this case even though I hated that logo on the front. Thankfully, it can easily be removed by taking out a few screws. Excellent case. Great airflow. Solid build. Good price especially for 2 huge 160mm rgb fans and 1 140 in the back. I have no complaints.
The lian li logo at the front can be removed? Thinking of buying this case but the front logo is annoying me.
$100 for the black version, $115 for the white version. White spreads the RGB effects while black isolates the RGB. Amazing case for modular aspects. You can do a lot off assembly outside the case and then put it together. Lian Li website reveals even more extras. Like a seal plate if you use a 240 AIO instead of a 360 and the ability to install an extra rear exhaust fan if you properly locate the correct GPU.
Yeah I pretty much assembled the entired motherboard outside of the case, it was easy to put in even with the big ass noctua dh15s cooler
Just when i bought a new case Jay shows one that i would probably choose over one i bought... And to be honest the positioning of USB and buttons on the side made my day :D
I upgraded to this case a few months back and I love it.
I ended up getting this case for my new build, thanks jay! Beautiful case for the money too
I spent on a second hand FD meshify for 60 euro and it was pretty much brand new with everything still on even the protective film no damage even though it was described that it might have minor damage, one of the best purchase when I was building my pc during the pandemic
fun fact: for the add-on RGB controller you can swap it with upper panel too, or take upper panel down. thx me later
For this price it will be most selling case 2022/2023 I think because airflow tests are looks good too, cable management is little better now with this all variations and new better ways for routing.And most funny thing is the add-on fan on backside over PCI ports 😀
That is funny, but for a guy like me with a 1660 ti with one gimpy fan on it, it's a great idea lol.
Ive got 3 builds in this case. Super easy to cable manage.
Love my Lancool 205 for what it is and what I paid, my next build will be the black RGB 216 for sure.
I have the lancool 215 - the older version of this and it’s a really good product for the price
The removable top is awesome. Especially if you have radiator/fan configuration on top and/or like to tinker with your PC and swap parts out.
Lian Li is killing it with these new cases. I have a a Lancool 2 Mesh. I'm thinking about upgrading to the Lancool 3 since it can fit 4090s better and it has more fan options.
I went ahead and pre-ordered it on Newegg. (The 216X, black with no rgb) Honestly can't wait to get this thing, as it ticks over 90% of my boxes in cases.
I can't think of a bad thing about this case, esp if you're only using an matx board, so much room for rads and fans.
first time pc builder here and im glad i bought this case. I showed it to some of my buddies who built pc's before and they were surpised on how thought out this case is.
I mainly bought it because it seemed to provide alot of air flow and it comes with 2 160 mm fans and 1 140 mm as exhaust.
Wish it had additional dust filter, in my house mesh is just not enough :P