Review Lian Li Lancool II Mesh Performance Review: What a Winner Looks Like

[Admin]

Lian Li’s Lancool II has been upd with a new mesh version, and we quite like it.

Lian Li Lancool II Mesh Performance Review: What a Winner Looks Like : Read more

 

[Phaaze88]

Magnets, how do they work?

 

[GeekyOne]

No external drive bays for a DVD/CD recorder? That is a big con that rules out the case for me!

 

[dkw7703]

@Admin FYI, Newegg's listing says a limited number include a free USBC cable.

https://www.newegg.com/black-lian-li-lancool-atx-mid-tower/p/2AM-000Z-00063

 

[dkw7703]

Magnets, how do they work?

Magic!
✨

 

[DSzymborski]

The 5.25" bay has largely been phased out on many of the newest and top performers as these are being used less and less often. It may make sense to, at some point, move to an external enclosure with your optical drive. You may find that you really don't use it as often as you think; I moved my BD-R to an external enclosure and I rarely use it, much to my surprise.

I'm a fan of tempered glass on the cable side. At least then you know the case doesn't have one of those horrid cable-side cases that you need to have four arms to align to get on properly. I've been inside computers for 35 of my 42 years and I still hate those types of panels with a passion.

 

[GeekyOne]

I noticed that quite a few cases these days don't have the 5.25" drive bay or any drive bays at all. I understand doing that for a compact case, but not for a regular tower. I burn CDs quite often and would not want the clutter or even finding space and expense of an external drive.
Easy open side panels is a nice feature as I've found myself pulling the left panel quite often to upgrade, swap, or test components quite often - at times even running mine with the cover off for a while.

 

[markbanang]

I noticed that quite a few cases these days don't have the 5.25" drive bay or any drive bays at all.

The problem is that for optimal air flow through the CPU cooler, you want an unobstructed path between a front intake fan and the rear exhaust fan. Even a single drive bay will offset the top front fan from the CPU/rear fan and cause turbulence which reduces the effectiveness of the CPU cooler.

Better flow means more cooling for the same fan speed, or the same cooling with a lower fan speed. In fact, just having an minmally impeded flow can push mesh fronted cases into a region where they are quieter than heavily baffled acoustic 'optimised' cases which have to run their fans faster to for enough air through their more restricted vents. A mesh fronted case means you never have to do the 'take the front off to keep it cool' trick.

One of the things I like about the Lancool 2 mesh is that even though it doesn't have external 5.25" drive bays, it does have three 3.5" (hot swap, if you buy the backplane) drive bays behind a flip down side door. This is a great compromise.

Incidentally, I can't remember the last time I actually needed to use an optical drive. Even if I did, I would be better off with an external drive on my desk, which is easy to get to, than an integrated drive hidden away under my desk.

 

[Coastalhiker]

I just bought this thing based on this review and one other. am Replacing a NZXT H510 because it doesn't have a bay for my 5.25" floppy drive. I figure cutting the mesh with a peanut grinder and printing a bracket should be a cinch!.....

OR,

There isn't enough airflow with 2 graphic cards in the NZXT to keep one card from maxing out. Fingers crossed. ALTHOUGH...

I like the first story better to be honest.