Lian Li Lancool II Mesh Case Review vs. Phanteks P500A, Original, & More

[@GamersNexus]

Watch our fresh Phanteks P500A review here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/fWmWZn99fdWYpas Original Lian Li Lancool II review (non-mesh) here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/aIemZpmqeq-qsNU PC Case Review playlist: kzbin.info/www/bejne/fWmWZn99fdWYpas&list=PLsuVSmND84QtrMP_niRTD2zIa3uUhxIvn Article & methodology: www.gamersnexus.net/hwreviews/3586-thermaltake-level-20-rs-case-review Additional methodology (standardized / normalized tests): kzbin.info/www/bejne/m4fOcouJf8p-ga8

[@gogetpro.]

It’s like Christmas in July. Thanks again guys

[@MrDvneil]

we are really lucky to have you here, not just for your analytic reviews, but because mainly because you a lot of companies are evolving in the right path.

[@kamenriderblade2099]

In general, I agree with Steve "Tech Jesus" Burke in terms of case metrics: 1) Thermal Performance (First) 2) Construction Quality 3) Functionality 4) Aesthetics (DEAD LAST). I ONLY use the BEST Noctua Fans in my PC builds. I run them in 24/7/365 configuration/setup. I can attest to their 15 year MTBF through personal use, it's legit. And the cooling performance is amazing for it's CFM/dBA ratio + Long Hub Motor life. I literally throw away every stock case fan (into the junk bin) I encounter just to use Noctua. You can call me one of Noctua's "Fan Boys". I won't consider any other maker until I can see who the OEM/ODM is and due a small scale test with their fans to prove that their fans are just as good. Currently I'm testing one of the Corsair ML fans to see if their longevity is legit. So far it's good, but it's only been 2-3 years. It's going to be a while before I run it to it's expected MTBF. All cases need to be designed for "Thermal Performance" FIRST, everything else afterwards.

[@djzero5893]

My old case has a handle hole too, just glued some window/door mesh I had laying around over it years ago.

[@xSabinx1]

Can you please review the Cooler master MB311L. It's a budget case with a mATX case with complete fine mesh front panel 2 front fans included. GeerSeekers showed promising thermals in their recent video. I think it would be good to review some good mATX cases for those of us who want something slightly smaller than the p300/p400a.

[@Techy93]

Lian Li's CEO reaching out is a really nice gesture, actions like that genuinely will influence my buying decisions.

[@bothellkenmore]

Around 2000 Lian Li was a highly regarded company in the enthusiast community and then slowly slumped into just making corporate boxes. This CEO has turned that around in just a few years, I'm impressed.

[@chucklos391]

Lian Li might be offering the best case lineup at this moment with Phanteks not far behind. Look at their lineup. Impressive. This CEO is really doing a great job. Especially when taking feedback from the user community and content creators.

[@chucklos391]

@U are My submissive toy I have the black Lancool 2. I populated it with extra fans and the cooling is excellent. I slapped 3 Be Quiet fans in the front and it is bringing in serious air.

[@chucklos391]

@U are My submissive toy My temps are low at idle and been so for a few months. I applied my thermal paste in a "X" design. Look up Puget Systems as they did serious research on this. For intake, I have 3 Be Quiet intake fans in the front. For exhaust, I have two InWin fans on the top and one InWin fan in the back. All PWM fans. CPU cooling is an air cooler. System is quiet. Temps are low. You will be happy.

[@nosveratu7140]

@@chucklos391 what CPU cooler do you use? Hyper 212?

[@Der_Oesterreicher]

If Manufacturers read this: Iam one of many people who buy cases based on Gamers Nexus tests.There is no better channel for that. So better listen to this man

[@earthtaurus5515]

Bought a H500M after watching all the reviews, the review on Gamers Nexus is what pushed me to buy the H500M and no regrets.

[@Der_Oesterreicher]

Yeah i was watching that too, i was looking for some smal case like P400A ,Pure Base DX500, O11 Air and mini. But i dont like RGB and every case had disadvantages. The Lancool seems perfect. Also i like Beve Sturkes honesty

[@planecrazy242]

Didn't buy the original Lancool II based on GN's review, waited and just pre-ordered this one. +1 to Manufacturers that listen, got my $'s

[@loonie5468]

I remember last year I was at a loss of what case to get, then I saw the review for the P400A on this channel, got that for 70 Euros back when they were still in stock and proper price and couldn't be happier. Even with these latest, very competitive releases - I still feel super lucky to have been following this channel back then and still do even now.

[@callidusvulpes5556]

@@Der_Oesterreicher I bought the p400a non-digital (which doesn't have RGB) and I love it. Edit: p400a has much better noise cancellation than lancool.

[@DrearierSpider1]

Thank you to GN for almost single handedly bringing an airflow focus back to case design. I just bought the Cooler Master H500 a couple weeks ago, and love it, and I honestly feel that case would not exist without the extensive testing you did on that product line.

[@WTP_DAVE]

I feel this 100% shows the importance of free and impartial press separate from the political space

[@JuddJadulan]

Does your version come with a tesseract that teleports air?

[@MRD0889]

I was literally about to leave a comment like this 😂😂😂 GN is the best, they now what we want. I want them to design a case :)

[@timberw1lly]

I have the CM H500, too! I did replace the rear exhaust fan with their 120mm Halo, and threw 2 more in the top as exhaust. It was great to build in, and I love the look.

[@mamagalebi]

How are the 200mm fans on that case? I have a HAF 922 and the fans get quite loud despite spinning at a max of 700 RPM :[

[@ShroudedWolf51]

"After our review, the CEO phoned up to talk ideas to improve." You see, Thermaltake? This is how you should behave. You could do so much with your near misses and almost victories.

[@Sesshy2]

That is smart. It is free valuable feedback from someone who is a very experienced builder. The others who sulk/refuse to talk due to bad reviews are immature and can't even see past basic logic.

[@CheekoLFreako]

True Capitalist welcome Criticism and competition.

[@sammiller6631]

@@CheekoLFreako Finally someone recognizes that Capitalism favors competition over profit.

[@abrahamsolis9760]

"we love magnets, even though nobody understands how they work" loved the reference lol

[@JackMcSomeone]

I hope he's a Juggalo

[@ChrisDupres]

Its mesh case week at GN! Who are we kidding, every week is mesh case week here.

[@AudiophileTommy]

NEED M O R E MESH ! We’re all wearing masks but our PCs can breathe ! 2020 BE GONE 😷

[@BenK12345]

GN has said not every case needs a mesh front.. but.. realistically.. water cooling likes air flow too.

[@ChrisDupres]

Heh I'm here for every week being mesh week, just to be clear I'm a huge fan

[@blazetownsend8785]

@@bradhaines3142 Bars? Steel Wire Cage? Chicken wire? None? I like mesh best though.

[@MrInvisibiility]

But this week, the manufactures are on the same page.

[@conza1989]

Christmas in July, 2x GN videos in one day, aww you guys rock

[@Yuzuki1337]

Southern Hemisphere christmas! :D

[@ITAlpaka]

Nnnni i i. O. O

[@ITAlpaka]

Nnnni i i. O. O. O

[@ITAlpaka]

Nnnni i i. O. O. O.

[@spicyboi860]

hhhhhhhhgregg

[@CaveyMoth]

We have finally entered the age of the mesh front mid-tower PC.

[@sonicbroom8522]

May it stay forevermore

[@bothellkenmore]

Well re-entered as I glance over at my 2011 Fractal Arc Midi.

[@CaveyMoth]

@@sonicbroom8522 I can't wait for the age of micro perforated diamond panels.

[@derekburkett6637]

@@bothellkenmore I was going to say the same thing.... *glances* *over* *at* *my* *Corsair* *500r*

[@kentonian]

I have a Lian Li PC-V1000 from 16 years ago still in use. My sons wants this one for his pc :).

[@rubengpires]

Got the case today. For those wondering, it would be very difficult for the side panel to open just by moving the case around. The magnets are super strong and you have to use significant force to open them.

[@dm1972]

Also own this case, they do not open on their own. Magnets and the overall build of the case is really nice.

[@oscara.7950]

@@dm1972 would like to know your build. I’m building my first pc and trying to do the most research 😁

[@dm1972]

@@oscara.7950 10700k, 3070, z40 A pro, 240mm AIO, 32gb 3600mhz. If i could do one step up with the gpu to a 3080 it would be more worth the price for performance/ Maybe the Cpu to an overclocked i9.

[@dm1972]

@@oscara.7950 Buy a nice case and powersupply. The rest can be mid tier. Don't waste money on RGB

[@xXDeltaXxwhotookit]

It's a nice case. Glad to see that someone high up in the company still takes an interest in their products, and strives for improvement... it doesn't seem that common.

[@GinsuChikara]

As I sit here planning my next build, I'm just stunned that I've narrowed it down to two cases, and both of them are by Lian Li. If you told me 5 years ago I'd be buying a Lian Li case, my response would have been "So I won the lottery and don't care about price OR performance anymore?" But here we are, with Lian Li making attractive, functional cases that aren't absurdly priced, and I can't help but feel like it's all thanks to der8auer and GN.

[@randalllawkin]

Ikr

[@dylanandersen9318]

I was thinking the same thing a couple months ago. Safe to say I don't regret buying my O11DXL one bit. Absolutely love it

[@Sachin1671]

I’m planning to get my build in a few months was going to go with the o11 dynamic but seeing it’s lack of stock in cyberpower I was conflicted on what case to choose. Until this got announced. Now I’m trying too se if anything better comes before mid November, if not then lancool 2 mech it is.

[@iankemp2627]

I'm in the same boat. Half a decade ago, Lian Li was just churning minor variations of the exact same ancient case design every year and their only drawcard was "IT'S MADE OF ALUMINIUM". Strangely enough, the market didn't care and I was honestly expecting the company's demise as a result - instead they've bounced back, shown they can innovate once more while pricing competitively and, perhaps most importantly, demonstrated that they're willing to listen to criticism. I hope this trend from them (and other companies) continues and I salute the CEO for their willingness to engage with a community that can be very difficult at times. - a very happy PC-O11 owner

[@angrygamer69]

@@dylanandersen9318 Same!

[@FARLANDER762]

I have a Lancool II Mesh C and really like it. The C variant comes with the USB C port installed. I did use some corrugated plastic (like a garage sale sign, blacked out with self adhesive vinyl), electrical tape, and 1" insulating foam to seal up places where the air could recirculate inside and that has actually achieved positive pressure inside the case while fans are at idle (can feel air leaving the top vent). Moved the front fans to the top so I only had to fix the recirculation at the bottom. Didn't see the hole in the bottom but will seal that this weekend with some of that 1" foam. Definitely letting the mobo control the fans, not using the bridge they included. Have an EVGA RTX 3060 and it's fans rarely even turn on. That said, I don't really push the graphics all that much. I will also be adding the ThermalRight LGA1700 Contact frame this weekend so will be in there anyway. It is recommended by GN.

[@mjc0961]

0:54 - I will never forget when Corsair was trying to market that as the "Qi Spot"

[@warren_r]

Steve, I bought a Lancool II several weeks ago. The magnets have the foam pads, so it's not unique to the Mesh.

[@GamersNexus]

It didn't at launch, so it's new. Thanks for letting us know.

[@ShroudedWolf51]

Kinda hard to account for future changes when they aren't present at the time of review.

[@asphtherogue]

@@ShroudedWolf51 pretty sure they aren't criticizing, just informing of the change.

[@Kjrocksdude]

@@GamersNexus I actually have a white Lancool II that was preorderd and it has the foam on the magnets already. Shipped 12/16/2019

[@UmVtCg]

@@ShroudedWolf51 Hard, but not impossible

[@802Garage]

"We'll go with sausage bodies!" I love this channel.

[@tarfeef_4268]

I'd recommend taking an extra fan filter you might have lying around, or buying some mesh and cutting it to fit in the bottom of you get this case. Should help retain some of that improvement vs taped entirely, and still address the concern with dust.

[@djzero5893]

This is what I did with my, now old CM Storm Scout case, super glued some screen door mesh over the opening.

[@Wanooknox]

7:23 f*ckin magnets! How does they work!?

[@mjc0961]

Tech Jesus brought us another miracle. 😉

[@Yuzuki1337]

I actually know somewhat, you can heat up steel to a point where it looses its magnetism, but when you do that in a magnetic field and it cools down the magnetic field actually gets trapped in the steel, so that is how you make new magnets :D

[@CaioZer0]

@@Yuzuki1337 kzbin.info/www/bejne/bnjch6tobbdsY9U

[@carcharoclesmegalodon6904]

@@Yuzuki1337 You need magnets to make magnets. _It's magic._

[@Yuzuki1337]

@@carcharoclesmegalodon6904 It's kinda funny when you think about it, yeah :D But somehow nature randomly made something out of nothing (like it often does) and we managed to utilise it

[@LyK0sa]

Lancool 2 mesh: the thinking man's mid tower. Great job on the review guys, and kudos to lian li for addressing criticisms so quickly. I'm pretty certain my next build will be in a lian li case, probably the 011D mini (depending on reviews and data), but the L2 mesh is also a strong contender.

[@Laughing_Individual]

Why haven't you guys reviewed the P600s?

[@pjstartv6798]

There is also an RGB Edition of this mesh version of the case. Has the full front mesh, mesh side panel, and honeycomb ventilation changes. However, you get 3x 120mm RGB fans up front instead of 2x 140mm and 1x 120mm and the mode button is still on the front panel. The case in this review is apparently being called the Performance Edition, I assume due to the PWM fan hub and slider on the front panel. Both versions of the case seem to be the same price, at least on Newegg.

[@mgar2112]

Thanks for pointing this out. I wonder how much difference those fans make in thermal and noise. I'm leaning towards the RGB one.

[@temporoyale6251]

He suggested that in the begining of the video, but he said that we should not buy that one, just focus on the performance version

[@pjstartv6798]

@@temporoyale6251 I thought maybe I missed this so I went back and watched the video again and I never heard him mention anything about an RGB Edition of the new Mesh style case. The only time he mentioned RGB was when talking about the original Non-Mesh version of the Lancool II. Can you give me a timestamp of when he specifically mentioned an RGB version of the new Mesh style case?

[@pjstartv6798]

@@mgar2112 Just load up the rest of the case with top fans and rear exhaust fans and it won't matter how much it changes thermals. These videos are great for finding out thermals if using stock fans in case you cant afford more fans. For me personally, I always make sure I can buy extra fans for my builds so I can utilize all fan slots available in the case.

[@Memsie]

Yeah, I was kind of confused that the other two variants (or one other variant in two colours) were not mentioned at all, especially since the fan configuration is different.

[@Tech_Enthusiast_001]

"We are fine with recommending it" - Now THAT is a huge badge right there. It is not just acceptable, but it would be ok to even recommend it? Holly balls, this is a winner!

[@chrisxd146]

After seeing this review I decided to get myself the Lian Li case and it dropped my GPU temps by 10 °C. My original case was a Phanteks P300 that had less airflow than the original Lancool II where I often saw my GPU hit Temps of 75 °C even with the fans running at 3000 RPM. This review was the sole reason I bought the case from Lian Li, I'm seriously thankful for you guys doing such in depth reviews and to Lian Li for listening to your criticisms of the original Lancool II.

[@Anreii]

Can I ask did you cover the bottom air hole and if you got the rgb or performance version? Performance version is significantly more here and I'm wondering if the rgb still holds up.

[@HBKCommish]

I went with the Phanteks P500A instead. I like that it can do 3 140mm fans in the front. I would of been okay with settling for 120mm, but the 120mm A-RGB fans are in short stock. I can't understand why Lian Li wouldn't of made space for a 3rd 140mm fan upfront. Not having a 3rd fan on the bottom virtually makes those vented side panels useless.

[@mjc0961]

It's so nice to have good cases again. Thanks for taking these case makers to tasks so we aren't stuck with stupid glass everywhere and a suffocated PC.

[@sky173]

I'd be curious if the front panel would fit the original Lancool 2 case...

[@_akiaoi]

Yes its compatible and can be sold separately!

[@johnmikkoreyes]

I think they're selling mesh front for lancool ii

[@Hurbster2112]

@@johnmikkoreyes That's great. I'd love to get the mesh front on my Lancool II.

[@matmantis]

@sky173 I emailed Lian Li customer support a few weeks ago asking if they would be made available. The rep’s response was “Thanks for your inquiry. I am glad you like the new Mesh front panel, but at the stage we are not planning to sell the front panel individually. however I will let company to know there are people request for it.” So everyone who has a reg lancool II needs to send customer an email asking about mesh front panels!!

[@Danko_HS]

@@matmantis "Mesh front panel is available for those LANCOOL II users craving to upgrade their system by swapping to a mesh front panel" from their website.

[@purringc5552]

Thank you Gamers Nexus! There are so many cases to choose from. And who knows if any of them are any good. I pick components based on performance and function first before looks. I ended up going with the Lancool II Mesh Performance because of this review. Case moves air fantastically! And thanks Lian Li for listening to Steve and his team to make a good product great!

[@jamesmiscellaneous]

7:26 haha, thanks for making me smile Tech Jesus.

[@noahgarcia7599]

I was cought off guard by this one lmao

[@soapa4279]

Finally, cases are trending back towards mesh and airflow.

[@anhiirr]

finally we round up all the "who needs airflow/cooler, i buy AIO" fools and pushed them off a cliff........i mean into the Next-gen console demo where they belong.

[@ORBrunner]

MESH for the MESH GOD! Cases for the Cases Throne!

[@PaulJohn01]

It seems Lian Li's boss and the company was/is open to constructive criticism , I hope they're reading the very positive comments on all these review channels.

[@ibbi5351]

Upload more mesh case reviews, even if there are none to review. just make up some, please I want more!!!!

[@MrSkyway1111]

Wow the P500A didn't get to keep its top spot in Standardized Fans or Noise Normalized for very long!

[@jesperchristiansen7481]

Well... if you tape the front hole, as Steve recommends, the case will fall behind the P5OOA. Add 3 degrees to the CPU normalized and standardized charts. The hole was a silly decision by Lian Li. Well, maybe not... maybe they were looking for an easy win.The other reviews I have seen of this case doesn’t even mention the hole. With hole closed: Great cpu cooling performance With hole: Chart-topping cpu cooling performance (many consumers will just flip through the charts and forget about “the fine print”) I am a little bit annoyed at this design choice, but performance is still great, so it is not something that will push me away from a purchase. This case, or the P500A, will probably end up as the choice for my next build.

[@nu1x]

@@jesperchristiansen7481 The hole was cheat mode.

[@karasugan]

As @Jesper Christiansen said, the front hole probably makes a huge difference. The temperature penalty is probably not linear in all tests, which is the reason I would have liked to see results mixed in with a) taped hole b) DYI mesh cover for the hole. Either way I think the matter should have been emphasized more in performance section and/or the conclusion.

[@Throw.Cheese]

Can I fit an NH-D15 in here with the second fan raised? I'm am idiot with Ripjaws V memory.

[@BillyAltDel]

Thanks for single-handedly making PC cases great again, GN!

[@XFourty7]

7:26 lmao. At least we understand how "cd /" works!.. oh wait, nm how does that actually work? :D

[@kevinwells9751]

I bought this case when I built my most recent pc a couple years ago and I've totally loved it. It was easy to build in despite the fact that I had a kind of funky custom loop. It has kept things clean and cool, so no complaints from me about the thermals. Personally I don't care that much about aesthetics of a case and I generally avoid RGB wherever possible, so this case is right up my alley, just an all around clean design

[@shaks828]

Does anyone know a case that supports dual push/pull 45mm thick 360mm rads?

[@losergamer04]

Another great, scientific, tech journalism review from an independent team. There not many left these days. Thanks for all that you and the team do.

[@tjrooger1092]

My new favorite case. It's so close to perfect.

[@louisvaught2495]

If you're going to suggest that the hole in the bottom will cause dust ingestion, you should start smoke testing cases. It's a really cheap way to validate airflow, especially on camera.

[@1markknox]

Did I hear an ICP reference??? Magnets, how do they work hahahahaha

[@goldenlightning7933]

10:26 When Steve says “tubes up” does he mean the tubes come from the top of the radiator, or they come from the bottom “up” to the pump/cpu block?

[@meowgi5648]

He meant they come from the top of the radiator. They recommended a while ago that if you're gonna have an aio on the front of the case, you want the tubes to be on the bottom.

[@goldenlightning7933]

Meowgi Ahhhhh okay that makes sense, thank you!

[@dancarazo]

god dammit.. micro center just sold me a build in the Lancool II.... but now that I know a better mesh version exists i must have it.

[@SpiderDice]

"..we like magnets, even though, no one understands how they work." 😂 That was hilarious!!!

[@osirex5495]

I am fucking stupid. My lancool 2 has been working great and I can't complain but I just found out that the fan in the back was oriented the wrong way. I now have 2x140mm front intake, 1x120mm back intake and 2x120mm top exhaust (AIO)... Its been facing as intake for the last year and a half 😂😂

[@lightspeedmonk7108]

Thank you heavy metal 🤘 computer guy I think I found my next case for my new build.🔨

[@hadoukenocx4746]

the thing about Lian Li Lancool II Mesh the two 140 Fans are ofc Better for Performance, BUT if you want to go with Performance put the included Fans out get Some Rly Good 140 Fans and Call it a day, but you end with a empty ugly hole in the front behind the mesh on the bot from the front mesh, my Recomandation and idk why Gamers Nexus did not do that or why he dont say that at all are, i recomand the Lian Li Lancool II Mesh with 3 120Fans ( good one ) or replace them all with good 120 fans and then you dont have a ugly hole in front of the case. and the temps are fine too. and for the hole in the bot from the case get an magnetig mesh thing cut it to the right size and put it on the hole and its magic :D

[@CarlosDiaz-je1bg]

Damn, literally just bought the p400a 2 weeks ago and now there have been 2 cases released that smash it in that time since....

[@whydare4me46]

Haha same but damn the big hole at the front panel

[@matteo964]

P400a is still one of the best

[@panzerschreckpete]

you and me both - but hey, all three cases are effective GN recommends so we win anyway

[@imsura3554]

they dont smash it at all. when you consider noise/temp on both GPU and CPU + price. do not confuse the conclusion of the all the charts. for example, if you take the standardized fan test you can see that the P400a P500a and Lancool II are all within margin of failure of each other - and if you wish to keep phanteks' fans that come with the case, noise levels would be favourable especially considering thermals. so what i am saying is that, considering both stock results and the noctua setup, both cases are within 1-2 Celsius of each other. on the other hand if you wish to keep it stock the noise level + thermals P400a "wins" in my eyes.

[@jeffkuzzen]

they don't smash it though.... the p400a is really good

[@Jsgro69]

1st..great review..I also have this case but I wanted to say that my case has the black rubber grommets for the large cable slots on the mb panel..would it be possible that the case was a return and resold..its not a big deal not having the groms but if you bought the case under the belief it was new and was never used but was a return than that is a bit fraudulent...anyhow i did think I should say something...I do love the case..I have a micro atx build and it looks great and very good thermals using air cooling with 5 120 fans..2 front intake 2 top exhaust and 1 rear exhaust..

[@johnmoody1642]

Damn they showed the release video like less than two seconds ago

[@boesbert]

I am thinking about buying this case, because of this review, but i have one concern. Is the Mesh really enough to filter dust from the air? Other cases have a special Dust filter, which is better to filter out dust, or not?

[@veg]

Nice. I just search for a new case. This video is just in time 😁👍

[@GentlyUsedFrog]

SAUSAGE BODIES

[@smiIingman]

Being a practical person i almost had a practical boner about this case. My only gripe is the lack of a 5.25 bay because i love having a fan controller there.

[@dominic7038]

GN is one of the only reviewers who doesn't judge a case by its look. Thank you gamers nexus for being the basis for my pc builds. You guys are amazing.

[@AbgehaX]

being a big fan of big towers - I'd love to see a review / comparison of big towers. e.g. Corsair Obsidian Series 750D Thermaltake Core X71 be quiet! Dark Base (PRO) etc.

[@BRUXXUS]

You guys should feel proud every time you see a new case come out and top the charts. I'm convinced without your constant focus on performance and being very vocal about it, these changes likely wouldn't be happening right now.

[@WTP_DAVE]

Around how long would you say it takes an asetek CLC to permeate to the point where i would hear the whine (360 tubes up). I have mine mounted as such as, its currently quiet but i am monitoring it.

[@74asianpanda]

What if I installed a custom mesh plate underneath to where the gapping hole is located at? Wouldn't that be a bit helps for dust filter w/ a minor loss of airflow?

[@mattenojd5221]

That is what i plan to do

[@TheGrumbliestPuppy]

I’m going to do the too, because it almost definitely will help. The tests show the additional airflow from the hole helps, so retaining some of that bonus airflow via a mesh has got to be better than just taping it over. Hell I might just stretch some cloth from a pair of tights over the hole.

[@zelkuta]

"...magnets, even though nobody understands how they work" fucking LOL. I love all these sly little references you throw in. Some nice subtle editing as well, love these indepth reviews. Ya'll are awesome.

[@Punky260]

Just bought this case, thanks for the review that helped me chose it.

[@HawkFest]

Thanks for your reviews! QUESTION about this case: with all the mesh, is it hard to "design" an active cooling system with positive pressure? I'm asking because this is of utter importance for me, I don't want to deliver dust traps to my clients. IMHO it shouldn't, although generally speaking too much mesh could leave some areas to become "stagnant" depending on the design (and thus one would have to raise the RPM/db fan levels in order to get a positive pressure _everywhere_ in the case).

[@LinkStorm13]

2 case reviews on the same day, you guys know how to kill my boredom.

[@Micha-cl7mm]

Anyone knows if fan hub have sata/molex power, or does it draw 12V power from motherboard header?

[@arrowdynamlc]

Remember kids, elongated ovals are sausage bodies.

[@solcineroar2059]

Fax

[@randalllawkin]

Machine

[@slantern6229]

Squircles

[@zig131]

I really like cases like this that use modern tooling to allow the PSU shroud to be the entire width of the case. Tempered glass is here to stay but at least this way it isn't pointlessly glazing a blank rectangle and airflow through the PSU shroud is possible. I'd imagine the reduction in glass dimensions and therefore cost really add up so Lian Li's smart investment in new tooling is likely to pay off for them. Unfortunately the Silverstone Alta F1 has glass over the entire side of the case above the air intake including the PSU shroud and the open cable routing area which is just a total waste.

[@JeffSlehofer92690]

I, for one, welcome our sausage body overlords

[@dmagik8]

This reveiw, specifically, got me to buy this case. Filled it with fans, and it has kept my computer extermely managed. I love it. Thanks Steve and team.

[@eugkra33]

Next time on GN: Magnets, how do they work?

[@cartelo86]

Damn it I thought I could mount a arctic 280 on top of a LLii mesh but you cant....

[@jesperchristiansen7481]

A couple of hours ago I saw your P500a review. I was sure that it would be the case for my upcoming Zen3 build. Well, Not so sure anymore. Thanks GN! I am surprised that this case is, pretty much, on the same level as the P500a, when it comes to GPU thermals. I predicted that the P500a would have this beat because of its 3x140mm in the front, but guess I was wrong.

[@mathewmunro3770]

I'd like to see temperature normalised comparisons of all cases, with as many fans as makes any significant improvement to the cooling to noise ratio, as well as taping where it's practical and helps direct airflow.

[@UndefinedKillerOmega]

Lmfao "its so hard to choose so we'll go with sausage body" xD

[@Farre88]

What kind of tape is recommended for closing the gap

[@Sachin1671]

As a new pc enthusiast here, I’ve been sticking to the lian Li for their great reviews on this channel. I’m trying to get a o11d (for water cooling after warranty expires) but can’t find any on the cyberpower websites so now planning to get the lancool mesh. Planning to get my build by Black Friday this yr, but want to get a great case. Do you know if there are any better cases that are going to be launched in the new few months?

[@spartacus987]

Should I get the Phanteks P550A or the Meshify 2?????? Going from an NZXT S340E, so either I'm sure. Have a 240mm AIO CPU cooler rest will be aircoooled.

[@Avorous13]

My dad just did a new build and bought the OG Lancool 2. Can confirm from that the magnets have the foam pads and the sleds are properly hammered at the hinge! Except for the mesh they seemed to have made changes that they could make to make the OG Lancool 2 better based on GN's review.

[@Joe-yz7qx]

It looks like you can buy the front case separately if you want @newegg.

[@javascriptkiddie2718]

This case, along with cleaning the GPU brought temps down almost 25C. My 3 fan config is front middle positive, back negative, and far left bottom positive under the GPU. Is there a better config than that? If not I'll be buying another fan and using the one from my old tower.

[@gerriti]

Whats this, the second positive case review in 24 hours? I cant take much more!

[@corsomike1]

I just now bought a lancool 2 mesh performance on your say so

[@finiteunknowns]

i love these case reviews, they're fun to watch and seeing how pc case companies are focusing more on thermal/airflow performance is definitely good. I also wanted to say I built my first pc after years of wanting to build one. Largely based off of the information you report on this channel. More than happy to support, and picked up a gpu disappointment shirt and both posters. Keep up the awesome work!

[@CallieCEntertainment]

I never thought I would be able to afford a Lian Li case. Turns out, now I can. I'm glad I saw this, it cinched my decision to purchase the mesh model (white, RGB...cause hello!) I am really looking forward to working in it.

[@cesarpalmos8235]

Clarification/follow up review after a few months of the Lancool Mesh II ownership: There is many versions of the Lancool series on the Lian Li official website. They still offer the Lancool II original as well as the Lancool II MESH. They also have different versions of the Lancool II Mesh, the Performance and RGB versions. The one shown in this video is the Lancool II mesh PERFORMANCE. I owned the Performance for a couple months before trading it for the RGB version. The key differences are the fans and controllers on both cases. The performance and RGB versions have basically the same I-O, however the performance has a fan speed controller while the RGB version has two buttons for RGB settings. Unfortunately you cannot control fan speed from the I-O panel like the performance model. I personally liked the fan controller over the RGB buttons. They both have 3 fans, however the performance model has two 140 mm fans on the front panel and one 120 mm fan on the rear. The RBG version has three 120mm fans but they are all on the front panel. Stock Performance vs stock RGB model cooling differences were minimal but noticeable. With the performance version, I found the CPU to be cooler by 3-5 degrees Celsius and the GPU to be cooler by around 1-2 degrees Celsius. I believe this is because the performance has (1) larger front fans and (2) a rear fan. Lian LI sells the RGB fans on their website, they are the basic ST120 fans, however I did not find the non-RGB fans found on the performance model. They claim the font panel on any Lancool can only fit two 140mm fans, but can fit three 120mm fans. When I bought extra ST120 fans and installed a single 120mm fan on the rear panel on the RGB version, I found the RGB model actually matched or beat the performance model by 1-2 degrees on the CPU and 0-1 degrees on the GPU. I also noticed my hard drives to be around 5 degrees cooler on the RGB model because there is a fan that covers the basement area. The performance model cannot cool the basement area because the fans are higher to cool the CPU and GPU, if you lowered the fans to the basement area, the GPU and CPU cooling performance will take a hit. The front fan mounting plate can be adjusted in 4 positions with the mount plate facing the rear or front of case and installed in two positions. I found if you install the plate facing FRONT in the first forward mounting position, the fans will be past the lower "Handle hole" and will be flush with the front panel. In fact the CPU and GPU INCREASED an additional 1-2 degrees vs stock position by blowing air OUT of that "Handle Hole". I installed the mount plate facing FRONT and on the second rear position, this will place the fans directly on top of the "Handle Hole" and DECREASE the CPU and GPU temps by 1 degree vs stock position. I Found this position the be the best for cooling, likely due to less turbulence from the air being sucked into the fans through the front mesh panel. As far as dust management, I rarely have to clean the case with fans in this position, and we have a cat. There is a plate just behind the front fans that can be removed to provide extra space for a thick radiator. With that plate removed, the CPU temperature remains mostly the same, but the GPU temps dropped an additional 1-2 degrees. I think this is because air from the lowest fan can blow more air toward the GPU. I also bought the optional RGB strip, USB type C connector and cable, hard drive hot swappable back panel, RGB cable accessory kit, and vertical GPU mounting kit. I absolutely love these extra accessories. I used the RGB cable kit to clean up wiring, it allows you to connect 3 fans to a single RGB or Fan header on the motherboard/fan hub included with the case. When I installed two fans below the GPU mounted horizontally, the GPU temps dropped by 1-2 degrees while increasing CPU temp by roughly 1 degree, similar to GN results. However with the GPU vertical mounting kit and two 120mm fans on the bottom of the case, the GPU temp INCREASED 1 degree while CPU dropped by roughly 1-2 degrees. I believe this is because the air from the bottom fans is blowing past the GPU and the GPU fans cannot "grab" air, being starved of air. When I removed the bottom fans, and installed them on top of case with the vertical mounting kit, the GPU decreased by 2-3 degrees. The CPU remained the same, loosing 1-2 degrees with fans on bottom or top of case with GPU vertical mounting kit. Note: The vertical GPU kit CAN be adjusted in two positions. Unfortunately the mounting kit is a solid metal piece and not mesh like other kits like the Phanteks universal GPU mounting kit. (PH-VGPUKT_02) If you have Lian Li's vertical kit installed on the lower position, this will allow the GPU and mounting kit to "Rest" on the case cassis. However you will not be able to fit the lower fans below the GPU. This will create a pocket of hot air produced by the GPU that cannot escape, increasing GPU and my VRM chipset temps. You can fit fans below the vertical GPU if you install the kit on the second, Higher position. If you install fans below the GPU, it will decrease the GPU temps as mentioned above. My suggestion is to install the vertical kit on the higher position. This will leave a gap for some air to escape IF you do not install bottom fans. Instead mount fans on top of the case. Also, in the kit, they give you a solid metal case slot cover when you install the vertical kit on the higher position. Use the mesh slot covers that were included with the case. With all of these vertical mount configurations, the GPU temps will decrease by 2-3 degrees as mentioned above. In conclusion, I wish I would've kept the performance version only for the fan controller. I like the ability to control fan speeds without relying on software if needed. For example the fan speeds are generally locked to CPU or System temps, if you have an older GPU that does not have the ability to control case fans, than this is a better option. You cant seem to buy the controller as a separate part from Lian LI and the actual case cut outs are different from the RGB version. Besides the controller, the Performance and RGB versions are identical. Anyways, I would've removed the 140mm fans for three 120mm fans and done the rest of the customization as described in this loooong "Review". This case is by far my favorite case and I plan on keeping it for a long time. I am currently looking into a way to case mod the front panel to house three 140mm fans. They will actually "fit" but the top of the mesh front panel is angled while the original Lancool panel is square. I would need to cut away small chunks of plastic to make it work with the Mesh version. It wont affect the front facial, it is only the plastic "ribs" that make it sturdy and not flex. I don't see it being an issue cutting away the plastic. I can also use Lian Li's AL140 fans that can link together to make a single solid unit. This will simplify wiring and they say it only needs to mount with 4 fan screws. This is important because the outer most holes for the upper and bottom fans will be slightly past the holes on the mounting bracket. The bracket will have to be facing FRONT on the second rear position, just like how I have it now. I will need a couple washers to make the fans flush with the case chassis, but should theoretically work. I'll keep this updated with the cooling results soon.

[@redoxicomanic3676]

I managed to get 3 140 mm fan on the front. But it's junkly mounted on the front. Doubled sided tape and the mounting bracket wedged in place. I also have 2 bottom intake fans and 2 top exhaust fans, all 140 mm. but this was not enough to cool a 3090 to temps below 80c, for that i used a fan that's just sets on the gc exhausting.

[@cesarpalmos8235]

I found removing the lower fans have inproved gpu thermals, also did you leave the front fan bracket? I removed the front fan bracket so it has complete air flow. Also my gpu is vertical mounted

[@Stoddgaming]

Thanks to Gamers Nexus we can build our PCs in mesh cases. Not those stupid, hot, closed ones. Thank you! If they (Lian Li) care about your opinion, please suggest them to make 2nd edition of O11 Air. If they can fix the mistakes of it (better mesh for example) it can be the top chart case for airflow as well. But for the love of god, make the max CPU cooler height bigger! It was not cool to see that If I buy the case, my Dark Rock will not fit. Thanks GN!

[@pmnoxx]

Ideal high flow case: 1) no glass panel -> side mesh panel instead from both sides for extra passive cooling 2) no psu shroud 3) no 2.5 inch rack 4) space for 3 fans at bottom, from, top lian li lancool ii mesh is the closest case to my ideal, but still far away because of side panel, psu shroud

[@2down4up]

Hey Steve I'm starting to think you don't like the standardized fan test. 😉. In all seriousness though, despite the fact that my current PC is an ancient Intel core I7 920 in an Antec case with about 6 fans on it, I love your videos and have immense respect for the work you guys do. Keep up the great work!

[@nrudy]

I clicked for the case review, I stayed for the ICP reference.

[@viodeadinside2938]

Where is that at lmao

[@tuhaggis]

@@viodeadinside2938 kzbin.info/www/bejne/bnjch6tobbdsY9U

[@hambo76]

I have an NZXT H210 which being a negative pressure case, suffers a lot of dust which then settles on components. Would a positive pressure case like this one be a better bet for me? Personally holding out for a review on the O-11 Mini but this one looks excellent too!

[@ouki4925]

It's great to see many case manufacturers returning back to mesh. But boy ol boy is the Lan Cool II fugly lol... Why does the front protrude outwards like that!!?

[@pcnz]

Warning for those looking at getting the Lian Li Lancool II Performance. Brought this case 4 weeks ago and the fans make faint clinking bearing noise. There are posts from others experiencing the same. Lian Li sent replacement fans and they have the same problem.

[@TomAtkinson]

Awesome review man!! Especially the noise bit, where you show max fans is 43.1 dba, and the noise normalisation idea (36 dba) is pure genius, great feature those fan controls.

[@simonmirren1475]

Great, thorough review again GN. How come nearly all reviews I see on renowned channels install the power supplies upside down (to how the manufacturers appear to have intended anyway!). Are the manufacturers inadvertently misleading people who don't know on the best way to install them!?

[@hudbaoir3610]

Thanks for the review. I bought and built in this case my first PC. One and only negative I had while building was the fitment of the USB Type A 3.0 (19-pin) cable into the motherboard. I used a x570 Aorus Elite which has the male connector all the way at the bottom of the MoBo. The USB 3 cable head from the front IO to the motherboard was too long for the cutout in the bottom of the case! The wire is uncomfortably pinched if you try to feed it downwards straight through the cutout. I'd recommend getting a 90 degree 19-pin adapter or feed the cable up and then down through the cutout. Not as aesthetically pleaseing, but it works. Otherwise a great, spacious and heavy case.

[@bretth6393]

The HDD caddy in this case is really bulky and gets in the way of cable management. I found that it's much, much less obtrusive if you take it out and dremel off the top slot. Nobody puts 3 HDDs in their case these days, plus there's tons of other spaces around the case for SSDs, so this is a great modification in my eyes.

[@masterkane5340]

"MUST TAPE THIS HOLE on the Bottom of the case, cuz dust." Proceeds to put TWO massive fans drawing directly from the floor lol

[@3rodox]

I wanna see Steve do some Herbal Essence vs Pantene benchmarks

[@1Ezk]

Staying in the family. Moving from 011 Air to this case. TY gamers Nexus!

[@kyleshays]

Love it when companies actually give a shit. 👍🏻 Why is it so hard for companies to do this? It makes great products.

[@mintydog06]

I lost concentration after "sausage body" So 2 years later, is this still one of the best cases? It seems to be, and I can't see any newer ones on their website, so I might buy this one.

[@RicochetForce]

Yes, this is still one of their best cases.

[@mintydog06]

@@RicochetForce Thanks very much. Do you have one? My current case is Corsair Carbide R200, but I like this one because it's got fans on the side, which you don't really see anymore.

[@RicochetForce]

@@mintydog06 Yes, I’ve got one with 2 front intakes, 2 bottom intakes, and 2 exhaust fans (back and top). What specifics do you want to know about the case?

[@mintydog06]

@@RicochetForce I won't be able to do bottom intakes as the case is on the floor, but I could probably do 3 front intakes with 2 exhausts. I always find it fiddly to get components in and out of cases, especially when screws are involved, is it easy to components in and out of this case? I think from the video is shows you don't need screws to put the hard drives in and out? Just a screw for the caddy?

[@RicochetForce]

@@mintydog06 You do need screws for installing 3.5" HDDs. You use 4 of them to secure them to the sled, and then you slide it in. Then you push a little plastic bar that's part of the sled and it clicks shut. But in general it is very easy to access components in this case. The flip down panels mean you can work in the PSU shroud really easily, the tempered glass doors are easier to open than regular side panels (and can be easily removed if you need them entirely out of the way). This case is going to spoil you rotten with its ease of use. It's one of the most consistently praised parts about the LC2, aside from its excellent thermal performance and value.