Lian Li Lancool 216 RGB

[Darksaber]

The Lancool 216 RGB is the latest Lian Li mainstream enclosure, which comes with a long list of useful and functional features at only $99-$115, depending on the variant. This makes the case one of the best options no matter what kind of system you are building.

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[dirtyferret]

pretty good thermal tests!

 

[AsRock]

Can you remove the rear fan (over the slots ) without removing the graphics card ?, reason i ask is that the DP cable has a latch that needs to be pressed.

GN did a video on it today i believe and yes it seems good over all.

 

[Gmr_Chick]

Nice to see Lian Li shrunk the front fans down to a less comical size of 160mm on this case, compared to the comically large 200mm fans on the 215. The 216 looks far more appealing as a result (at least to me)

 

[Chrispy_]

I like this case simply because the larger fans at the front aren't obstructed by fixed metalwork for smaller fans.
This alone is why I run 3x120 intakes in most cases, even though they usually support larger fans.

 

[Lesha]

@Darksaber It would be great if you could add normalized noise testing, like GN does.

 

[wheresmycar]

holy smack-a-moly... love this case!

performance is great. GPU perf, although great, could easily be further improved with 2 fans mounted on the PSU shroud sucking air in via the side mesh panel + lower portion of the front 160mm fan intake. I've seen some positive results with this type of configuration with the 'Lancool 2 mesh' and hope the same benefits apply here. I agree with #4 i'm liking the smaller 160mm front fans opposed to 200mm units (which look a little toyish the larger they go). Noise testing at load only ~3 points from the best on the chart makes this even more appealing.

Other than "A little loud when idle" which can be easily addressed, IMO finally a mid-sized ATX i fancy getting my hands on (not available in the UK yet - was gonna pull the trigger)

 

[konga]

I like this case simply because the larger fans at the front aren't obstructed by fixed metalwork for smaller fans.
This alone is why I run 3x120 intakes in most cases, even though they usually support larger fans.

It's not highlighted in this review, but you can actually adjust the spacing of the fan mounting rails, which lets you mount 160mm, 140mm, or 120mm fans without having multiple slots worth of mounting locations obstructing airflow. It's an ingenious move from Lian Li, and I hope more companies copy it.

 

[fluxc0d3r]

Debating which to get: this or the newly released Thermaltake View 300 MX...

I think I prefer the overall design of the Thermaltake over the Lian Li, being able to switch between mesh and glass front. And the Thermaltake comes with much quieter and quality fans than Lian Li. Not to mention the Thermaltake is just a better buy with much more features like a front ARGB controller and ability to side mount your GPU easily.

 

[Chrispy_]

It's not highlighted in this review, but you can actually adjust the spacing of the fan mounting rails, which lets you mount 160mm, 140mm, or 120mm fans without having multiple slots worth of mounting locations obstructing airflow. It's an ingenious move from Lian Li, and I hope more companies copy it.

Yup, I saw the GN video review during lunch yesterday. Finally a company understands that large fans are f***ing pointless if half of them just blow into solid metal plate.

Debating which to get: this or the newly released Thermaltake View 300 MX...

I think I prefer the overall design of the Thermaltake over the Lian Li, being able to switch between mesh and glass front. And the Thermaltake comes with much quieter and quality fans than Lian Li. Not to mention the Thermaltake is just a better buy with much more features like a front ARGB controller and ability to side mount your GPU easily.

If in doubt, avoid Thermaltake. As a company, they're evil scumbags who screw over their customers and other companies alike. Don't believe me? Ask Google.

 

[wheresmycar]

Debating which to get: this or the newly released Thermaltake View 300 MX...

I think I prefer the overall design of the Thermaltake over the Lian Li, being able to switch between mesh and glass front. And the Thermaltake comes with much quieter and quality fans than Lian Li. Not to mention the Thermaltake is just a better buy with much more features like a front ARGB controller and ability to side mount your GPU easily.

I had a quick look at the View 300 MX. Not my sort of thing TBH.

The thing that stands out the most: View 300 $200 vs Lancool 216 $100

Other features which would definitely have me buy into the Lancool 216:

- That side mesh panel/dust filter below the tampered glass opens up additional intake for the GPU which is much needed for todays high performance power munching hot cards. This function works best with the PSU shroud's top fan mounts occupied and directing air towards the GPU.

- love those side ports for easy access... exactly where I need them as my box sits to my right at an angle on the desk

- Proven thermal/noise performance track record with previous models

- Subjectively speaking, i don't like those huge 200mm fans on the front... they look distracting and kinda cheap looking. I dunno, maybe its just me. The 160mm fans on the 216 (image observations) seem a little more classy

- Finally a 140mm rear fan (thats progress lol)

- I don't like thermaltakes "take" on the less than clean finished PSU shroud - exposed drive bays should be ditched in 2022. But then again, maybe some people like that sort of thing. Who knows RGB SSDs/HDs... eww

- not a biggie... but the view 300 is larger in size. The smaller the better for me. Yeah yeah i know "mini-iTX"... only ive already got a standard ATX board hence no Micro/Minis for me. Was gonna shift over to mini-itx and swap boards but changed my mind for 360mm rad clearance.

Regardless the view 300 is a nice looking case and I like the fact they add x3 fan/rad support on the back - might kick ass in the performance charts and I can see the RGB appeal with these fan mounts populated. This time round, i'm all for performance in the $100 region and aesthetically the lancool 216 doesn't disappoint (img taken from pcpartpicker)

 

[lepudruk]

There's a typo in "Bottom Fans" section - should be "120/140" (not "120/40").

It's a nice case but isn't 292 mm GPU compatibility a litte bit short these days? I couldn't stuff my 3080 Suprim in there for instance. Pitty

 

[Readlight]

Where silver color, RGB power button, strange headphone placement, front hard drive cage

 

[konga]

There's a typo in "Bottom Fans" section - should be "120/140" (not "120/40").

It's a nice case but isn't 292 mm GPU compatibility a litte bit short these days? I couldn't stuff my 3080 Suprim in there for instance. Pitty

There's a typo. GPU compatibility is 392mm, not 292mm. @Darksaber

Lots of room

https://imgur.com/4ejit3m

 

[lepudruk]

There's a typo. GPU compatibility is 392mm, not 292mm. @Darksaber

Lots of room

Ahh, good to know. Well, now it's tempting..

I'll have to consider it over the FD Torrent I was about to order. Although FD's 180mm fans seems better in terms of quality..

Decisions, decisions..

 

[DrCR]

Debating which to get: this or the newly released Thermaltake View 300 MX...

Friends don’t let friends buy Thermaltake.

(Not to be confused with Thermalright)

 

[Vario]

Nice case. The Lian Li O11 Air Mini is approximately the same price, similar performance, but arguably higher build quality (almost no plastic). However, I think the advantage that the 216 may have over its brand-mate is the more conventional layout and the 216 has two 360 radiator options which is pretty nice, as the best fans are in that size (T30).

 

[Lesha]

Too bad it has only 2 HDD bays.

 

[mahirzukic2]

Too bad it has only 2 HDD bays.

I too was thinking about this. 4 would be ideal, 2 is too few.

 

[Bomby569]

This super airflow cases are nice, but the dust build up is insane. With the components i have i would not go for one of this again.

Does it have that hole in the bottom of the front panel like mine? damn that was absurd design.
Their fans are also not the most quiet

 

[samum]

When is it available?

 

[konga]

This super airflow cases are nice, but the dust build up is insane. With the components i have i would not go for one of this again.

Does it have that hole in the bottom of the front panel like mine? damn that was absurd design.
Their fans are also not the most quiet

They got rid of that hole on the bottom of the front panel for the lancool III and this one. That was really dumb in the Lancool II. GamersNexus suggested you tape over it, which is silly but probably for the best.

Fan noise should always be judged by their performance. I think any PC user that is not using some kind of hardware fan controller or software fan curve is making a mistake, tbh. You should always adjust your fan curve to let your case be quiet at idle and ramp up to acceptable noise levels while under load. The best cases and fans are capable of quiet but effective cooling with a custom curve.

 

[Bomby569]

Fan noise should always be judged by their performance. I think any PC user that is not using some kind of hardware fan controller or software fan curve is making a mistake, tbh. You should always adjust your fan curve to let your case be quiet at idle and ramp up to acceptable noise levels while under load. The best cases and fans are capable of quiet but effective cooling with a custom curve.

they are just simply noisy, at low speeds, at moderate speeds when compared even with "cheap" artic fans. I had experience with other case brands, for the cost theirs are really bad

 

[samum]

When is it available?

Answering my own question: Newegg says 26 Nov for the white & black RGB versions and 5 Dec for black with no RGB.

 

[Gmr_Chick]

This super airflow cases are nice, but the dust build up is insane. With the components i have i would not go for one of this again.

Does it have that hole in the bottom of the front panel like mine? damn that was absurd design.
Their fans are also not the most quiet

Before I moved to North Carolina (been here for 4 months or so) I lived in the Central Valley of California for 4 years. Now, because of all the agriculture there, there are tons of growing fields and the like. It also gets stupid - hot in the summer. Basically, the dust is insane, particularly in the summer. I had to pretty much blow out my rig every other week because of the dust!

Here in NC though, which is a more humid climate, I'm happy to say that I no longer have to give my rig frequent...err...blow jobs... because the air is much cleaner over here. I don't feel like I'm living in a dust bowl anymore