A Closer Look - Outside

Out of the box, the Lancool 3 pushes the envelope when it comes to what is considered a mid-tower case. With its larger dimensions, one could almost classify it as a full-tower. It is hefty and as such rather heavy, so much so we were not sure if Lian Li did not include some additional components inside the box when we first received the sample.


The front consists of a fine mesh panel in the center with two aluminium strips on the sides that have a diamond-cut finish. You may pull the cover off to reveal the three 140 mm retail-grade intake fans. These are all PWM and rated for 200-1800 RPM and 33 dBA maximum noise output while pushing 83.5 CFM. In the rear, the layout reveals a pretty standard approach for a modern chassis, with the PSU on the bottom of the chassis.


Both sides of the Lancool 3 have clear, black-framed, hinged glass panels. There is no visible locking mechanism as Lian Li engineered these to be embedded into the front of the chassis as we will see later on. The bottom metal strip is made out of fine mesh for additional airflow.


In the rear, the PSU bay sports a frame as the unit slides in through the back. Above that are the eight expansion slots with individual, reusable covers. There are no dividing portions between these, so you can install a vertical GPU mounting kit here if you'd like. In the very top, another 140 mm PWM fan is set to push air out the back of the chassis. In the very top is another vent, and it means you have plenty of clearance for liquid-cooling setups in the ceiling.


You will find the I/O on the top edge of the chassis, but Lian Li designed it in a modular way, so you may unscrew it and install it on the bottom of the chassis instead. This is useful if putting the case on the desk instead of beneath it. Alongside the power button in the center are two USB 3.0 ports, a fully fledged USB-C connector, and an audio combo jack.


The top cover of the Lancool 3 is simply one big, fine mesh panel. Held in place by a single thumbs screw, the fan/radiator mounting plate beneath it is removable for easy assembly and access to the top elements of your build.


Tipping the case over, a well-constructed dust filter protects the PSU. You may pull it out through the back without laying the system down on its side.