Lian Li PC-8

[Jeffrey]

Introduction

Lian Li has more than 20 years experience, and continued to develop the new technology, the product quality and design is outstanding.Lian Li put a lot of effect on the external finishing, all the external parts in hair-line brush anodized aluminum to keep the metallic look, all chassis with no sharp edges. PC-8 is the updated vision from PC-7 and it is simple, elegant, easy to use, and modify. The PC-8 is the new entry level housing for Lian Li, it therefore the torch for the series 7 with design changes, including the facade.

Protocol tests

Platform:
Processor: Intel Core 2 Quad Q9550
Heatsink: Cooler Master Hyper Z600 with 2 fans
Motherboard: MSI X38 Diamond
Memory: 2 x 1GB OCZ 1600 DDR3
Graphics Card: ZOTAC GeForce GTX 250
HDD: Maxtor DiamondMax Plus 10, 160GB SATA, 7200 rpm
Power: Antec Signature 850 Watts
Operating system: Windows XP SP3

For this experiment we will use the following configuration:
The processor is clocked at 3744 MHz

Under this test, the fans will be fed next 3 tensions, 12, 7 and 5 volts, all measures will be done under these values.



Test Cooling:
The warm-up will be done with CPU Burner on each processor core and jointly AtiTools Scan Mode for artifact. The test time is 30 minutes, the highest values will be retained.

Noise:
2 measures will be made on the front of the box 15 cm and 1 meter, under different configurations.

[Jeffrey]

Overview

Specifications:

Color: Black
Format: Mini-ITX, ATX, Micro ATX
Crane Materials: Aluminum 15/10e
Chassis Materials: Aluminum 12/10e
Materials panels: Aluminum 10/10e
Power Supply: Format ATX.en option
Location fan front: 120 mm
Location fan rear: 120 mm
5.25 inches Location: 4 external
3.5 inches Location: 3 external and 1 internal
PCI card slot: 7
Ports Front: 2 x USB 2.0, 1x IEE 1394et 2 input / output audio
Dimensions, height: 450, width: 210, Depth: 490 mm
Weight: 4.92 kg empty 11.10 kg mounted equipment



Characteristics of fans:
2 x LI121225BL-4, 120 x 25 mm. Speed of 1000 rpm: one dedicated to the aspiration and the other to extract.

Composition of the bundle:
The cabinet
Screws, mounting grommet
Necklaces, key assembly

The PC-8 is aluminum medium round 450 mm, 210 mm wide by 490 mm deep. The facade is a model of simplicity, black brushed aluminum. It is rounded on the sides giving it a less massive, lighter. Four 5.25-inch bays hold up the facade, close witnesses of operation. In the middle, the 3.5-inch external location and the power button and reset button.
The lower part houses the suction fan housing is mounted behind, protected by a perforated grill. The connectors are front location at the bottom, they are concealed by a small hinged door, we count 2 x USB 2.0, 1 x IEEE1394 and audio ports. The left panel is completely obscured, it receives the same finish as the front, it is maintained on the chassis with screws knurled.



The rear has a very traditional setting, power supply is up. 2 allows a platinum mounting sense based on what we want. To their right, the location for the blower additional reference BS-03 or SB-06, it provides another point of extraction flow.



This allows us to deal with products from Lian Li, which is difficult to list them all as they are numerous and varied. We quote quick side panels with window tops housing pre-equipped with ventilation and hard drive cages, as well as wheels, fans and card readers.The right panel is similar to that left fixed by screws and knurled completely united.

[Jeffrey]

The interior

The manipulation of PC-8 leads to some observations, the first, the extreme lightness. Quickly confirmed by a passage on our balance, he accuses 4.9 kg, is whether we have already tested such a lightweight.
Look more closely at the chassis of the Lian Li, 3 layers of aluminum are used in facade 15/10e, chassis and panels 12/10e (blanks and above) in 10/10e. This is very logically by flexibility of the chassis 2 when the panels are removed.

To compensate, reinforcements have been laid, the first is a piece from a single source used to support the 5.25-inch devices, it is fixed on the front and the rear panel as well. As against it is not attached to the top of the tower which is removable, 4 screws fixing the panel on the back and forward. The front has 3 cages, we have seen that of 5.25 inches just below a site for 2 x 3.5 inches including one externally.



Finally, the hard disk cage, they are transversely mounted, 3 locations are planned. It is referenced LI121225BL-4, as his colleague in extracting high on the rear panel, it is for 1000 rpm engine speed. The faceplate is removable, for that it includes 4 clips that fit into just the frame. Very easy to remove.



The rear is very classic, very top food see its location surrounded by the reinforcement / support 5.25 inches. The fan has a 120 mm grid, within a housing that is not current, below the card slot girls who adopt a fixation screw. Finally the location for additional blowers, 2 formats can be accepted, 120 or 140 mm.

A wide internal outside, a very sober, it consists of only the essentials. No additional sites for potential fans, and even less dust filters. Any part can be installed with a screwdriver not quick but an assembly therefore all that is more traditional. This is less common nowadays. The chassis is fairly common in Lian Li, we find on the PC-A07, PC-7A Plus, among others.

[Jeffrey]

Integration

Power Supply:

The block is mounted on a turntable allowing two-way mounting. As against the 2 cheeks of reinforcing cords make inaccessible. To remedy this, you must remove the top, then access is complete.



Motherboard:

The cabinet is spacious, not very difficult to mount.No openings for the passage of cords at the top of housing, we must rely on the passage to the front. Almost all the cables can pass.

The ventilator processor:
It must not exceed 170 mm under penalty of contact with the left panel. If the power supply has a fan, it contributes to its cooling as the 120 mm placed on the rear panel.



Graphics card:

The GTX 250 comes with a small set of 8 mm, a total of 278 mm. No possibility to mount the longer cage without removing the hard drives.

Hard disks:

It is a fairly new system with Lian Li, it consists of 2 eyelets flexible plastic fasteners positioned on the original disc. To prevent the disc from coming out of its housing, a knurled screw ships to lock on the cage. Installation is fast.



5.25 Inches devices:

To your screwdriver, a good old assembly to the former. The absence of the top of the box greatly facilitates its connection with the reinforcement because access is difficult.

Cooling:

Two 120 mm fans are delivered, a low vacuum in front and another in extracting high on the rear panel. The pattern is very classic, the hard disk cage has openings larger than what we usually encounter. This should reduce the loss of load and allow better cooling of the discs and to a lesser extent the case.
Power supply placed on top of box is also a point of extraction, it complements the work of 120 mm delivered. In short, a traffic flow of more conventional location no additional fan.



The internal layout of the case:

It is deeper than the top, there is some amplitude for different components but also the passage of cables. No passage of cables above the housing, however, a simple opening in the reinforcing plate would at best router certain strings such as 8 or 20/24 pin.
It will use the space between the support of the motherboard, this opening position location 15 mm, but almost the entire height of the box, 340 mm. For power supply, it is much easier to disassemble the top of the housing, access to cables is being facilitated. In addition it can take advantage of the area, above the optical drive ideal for storing excess cord.
A word on the wires from the front, they are a little short. They start from the bottom of the front, go around the cage for hard disks and lead on the motherboard. Generally, IEE1394 and USB connectors are located towards the bottom of the motherboard that has been assembled, in this case no problems. As against the audio connectors are sometimes positioned in the card to the back panel I / O, and with its length of 300 mm effective in the motherboard is the cord a little short.

Conclusion:

Design wise than the Lian Li PC-8, fans will appreciate discretion. Its finishes are high-level models like the more upmarket of the manufacturer, it enjoys the same attention or almost. First on the thickness of materials, a few tenths of a millimeter have been scrounge on the chassis and panels. This results in a record weight of less than 5 kg load and a little flexibility in the chassis when it is rid of some of its panels. Its dissipation performance is good, for it is heard against 1 m, a sort of roar that disappears from the reduction in voltage for the fans.
In terms of accessories, calm, no air filters, no pre-Watercooling equipment or other discipline. Difficult for this type of case because at this level of price competition is fierce, especially from steel casings. The fact remains that the aluminum is good, it is undeniable, lightness, dissipation by convection, aspect.