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Opinions on Lian-Li's PC-Q27 case for new HTPC build?

Schadenfreude

Schadenfreude

Lifer
I'm looking to put together a HTPC build for my wife, and looking to use the Lian Li PC-Q27 MITX case:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16811112399

I can only find 1 review of the case and while it's positive, I want the AT forum member's take on the case.

We're going to use the PC, using a 42" 720p TV as a monitor - I want the case to be low-profile as much as possible, but as she does game (Guild Wars 2, but she did express an interest in Skyrim - did I mention my wife is awesome?), a flat-box HTPC case isn't an option as it doesn't have room for discrete GPUs - the above case supports a single-slot GPU; so it does limit my options but it's there at least.

So far I've purchased an Ivy Bridge I3-3245 CPU w/ a ASROCK MITX mobo - I think H77-MITX, and looking at getting 8(2x4) gigs RAM + a single slot Radeon 7770 GPU and a DVD drive. I already have a 256Gig Samsung 830 SSD and a copy of Win8 I'm going to install in hand. I know that the case takes a full sized PSU, so I'm looking at options for a modular PSU (as recommended).

With the build I've gathered together, I should be able to put the things together for about $600~650 total, and I am hoping to stay around that range.

I can get other component recommendations, but I'm looking at the case specifically - if anything, I was considering a moew profile CPU cooler but I'm not sure if there's a preferred model/make. I'm looking for a small case that can let me install a discrete GPU, and it should run quiet/cool as much as possible since we're going to use it as a HTPC. I know that you can possibly game on lower resolutions using an AMD APU and therefore on a flat box HTPC case; but I'm not competant enough to OC (and mainly the following headaches associated with maintaining an OC - and the heat/noise issues that arise from doing so) and will hopefully upgrade to a 1080p+ display sometime in the next 3~5 years so I want to be able to just plop in a new (low profile) GPU and call it a day if that happens.

My last build was using the Silverstone FT03 Mini and while I think that case is awesome, finding an appropriate SFX PSU was a PITA (and the Lian-Li is cheaper) so I'm looking for cases that would let me install full ATX PSUs if possible - which the Lian-Li does.

I am open to other options (the Bitfenix is nice, but a bit too big sitting next to our TV) but I want to get your take on the Lian-Li.
 
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I don't have any experience with the PC-Q27. However, it would be a good ideal to know what dimensions you are working with are. Some others might know of different/better cases for those dimensions.
 
mfenn said:
I don't have any experience with the PC-Q27. However, it would be a good ideal to know what dimensions you are working with are. Some others might know of different/better cases for those dimensions.
Click to expand...

Blain said:
Many have slots for expansion cards.
Just how "flat" a flat-box case were you thinking?
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I think both questions can be answered simultaneously;

- I wasn't really thinking of a specific form factor because, well, I didn't know what was in the market.

I do think "smaller is better" but with a few caveats:
- My wife and I game, and I want to be able to upgrade - at the very least install a new GPU every few years or so (so that leaves out bootcamping a Mac Mini, a NUC or anything of that sort)
- Aesthetically I really do like the "standing smokepipe" design of the FT04 Mini and - to a lesser extent - the design of the PC-Q27

So what I did was to read up on the PC-Q27 (as much as what was available, which is limited) and put together a budget gaming system around what the system allows. I really do like the fact that it allows a full sized PSU and ODD in the build.

As far as other flat breadbox type HTPC cases, I do prefer the ones that more resemble the flat VCR-looking cases over the 2 shoebox type deals, as it would not look all that fitting in our entertainment center IMO.

So I guess what I'm ultimately asking is:
- If any of you guys have used this build before, what was your experience like?
- In you guys' experince, are their other similar cases (no hard requirements other than "it should be small", and "I want to to be classy looking[knowing my mentioned preference]") that you'd recommend over this one?
 
This case looks like the successor to the Q07: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16811112227

I would guess it will have many of the same strengths and weaknesses.

The main weakness is the very thing you like about it - the ability to take an ATX power supply. It really is a tight fit, and it causes serious CPU fan clearance and cooling issues.

If you look carefully at the pictures, you'll see the PSU can only be mounted so that the fan is inside the case - there is no external grill to allow for fresh air intake. Thus, it will compete directly with the CPU for air, with both fans spinning right next to each other trying to draw on the same sliver of air (as in a few centimeters, I'd guess). I think it would be almost impossible to find any fan that will fit other than the stock Intel fan. Someone above posted a build with an Antec water cooler, but I'd bet he hasn't actually built it - there's no way to mount the radiator in this case....

My advice, just skip the case. Go for the Silverstone SG-05. You know from your experience with the Fortress Mini that Silverstone makes well-engineered cases that actually place function over form, unlike Lian Li.

And while the Lian Li seems cheaper, it's not - you can get the SG-05 with a SFX power supply for just over $100 (tip: it's actually cheaper to buy the SG-05 without the PSU and then buy the Silverstone SFX PSU separately).

Here they are at Amazon:
PSU: http://www.amazon.com/Silverstone-ST45SF-watts-factor-supply/dp/B003H4QPDC/ref=pd_bxgy_pc_img_y
Case: http://www.amazon.com/Silverstone-T...d=1373320263&sr=8-2&keywords=silverstone+sg05
 
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Yes, there is. The radiator is mounted on the bottom blowing down. With the SFX power supply there is plenty of room. The GPU is optional. Tight fit. Only using an SSD on the front plate. The bottom HDD carriage is removable, giving you a lot more room. Never say never...
 
tech4u said:
Yes, there is. The radiator is mounted on the bottom blowing down. With the SFX power supply there is plenty of room. The GPU is optional. Tight fit. Only using an SSD on the front plate. The bottom HDD carriage is removable, giving you a lot more room. Never say never...
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Wow, I'm impressed. But can you actually mount a video card with the radiator and fan installed in the bottom of the case?

Also, the OP wanted to use this case specifically because of its compatibility with ATX power supplies, but you are using an SFX model, so again, I'd suggest it's not a compelling reason to pick the case.
 
Why standard ATX when the SFX is perfect and quality as well? As far as the GPU is concerned I haven't installed it yet. I ordered it only if I needed it. So far I don't. But I will try and let you know. Unfortunately I am away for three weeks, so I will let you know then. If anything for the entertainment value, I will also upload some photo's.
 
As far as gaming I only play Fifa 13, so not to GPU intensive. I do some video editing at times with Sony Vegas 10 and it works fine. It's definitely not a hard core gamer case. I bought it because I was tired of having big ugly cases on my desk. Now I have a piece of art. (PC-Q27). Silverstone FT03 is a piece of art as well, but I hate slot load drives. Always had problems with them and I need a Blu-ray. Slot loaders seem to break in a short time and are expensive. I love that I can use a regular optical drive.
 
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I know I like to have room to work in my cases. I've worked in a Micro-ATX Lian-Li before, and I have to say I'm really not in love with Lian-Li after the fact. The case is well built and looks great, but building in it and swapping parts is a hassle...
 
tech4u said:
Why standard ATX when the SFX is perfect and quality as well?
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I think you're missing Termie's point entirely. He's not contesting that a SFX power supply is better for the Q27, it clearly is.

He's saying that if you're willing to go SFX, you should consider other options that are SFX only. In other words, you can't effectively use an ATX PSU in the Q27, so don't make it out to be a reason to buy the case.
 
Dangit - I've already ordered a modular PSU because it was on sale . . . I'm going to be the typical (stupid) advice-asker person and go with the PC-Q27 against everyone's advice, and potentially do a report - I'll most likely get a low profile CPU cooler and pair that up w/ a 120mm fan on the bottom so there's a bit more airflow (and change out the PSU down the road too).
 
Not sure how much space you have to work with, if possible I'd go with a ATX htpc case such as the SilverStone GD07/08. It gives you a lot of flexibility and allows for pretty much any video card in the market. If you upgrade to a 1080p tv you might want a bigger and better video card for better gaming experience. Plus it looks just like a big amp/receiver sitting there which blends in the entertainment center very well.
 
Schadenfreude said:
Dangit - I've already ordered a modular PSU because it was on sale . . . I'm going to be the typical (stupid) advice-asker person and go with the PC-Q27 against everyone's advice, and potentially do a report - I'll most likely get a low profile CPU cooler and pair that up w/ a 120mm fan on the bottom so there's a bit more airflow (and change out the PSU down the road too).
Click to expand...

Don't worry, we love it when somebody takes one for the team. :twisted:
 
I missed this thread for some reason. I've done two builds with this Lian Li case. The first was an office computer for my wife and the second an HTPC which I just finished up yesterday. You can see a picture of the office build here: http://forums.anandtech.com/showpost.php?p=35158259&postcount=399 with the specs (I did have to eliminate the Silverston CPU cooler as it had a faulty bearing and went back to the Intel stock cooler). The HTPC is pretty much the same except RAM drops to 4GB and there is no HD only an SSD along with a Blu-Ray optical drive (we will only use this for watching streaming video and DVDs). I stuck with the on-board Ivy Bridge i3 graphics for both computers (for the office computer it really doesn't make much of a difference). The HTPC unit works fine with my 32 inch Sony so I'm not going to try to fit a GPU into the case.

If you do put a GPU in it's going to make the space even more cramped so you have to use a modular power supply. Also be advised that if you put a fan in the bottom you lose 2 drive bays and with an optical drive you can only put either an SSD or HD in, not both. I think you also need to stick with an ATX PSU which will have a bigger fan since the case relies on passive cooling. Additionally, you are really limited in terms of CPU coolers as the clearance is only 70mm. The Intel stock cooler is perfectly acceptable and I couldn't find many other options besides the Silverstone (Scythe do not market their coolers in the US at the moment and the Noctua low profile won't fit on the Gigabyte MoBo that I used in these builds).

You also need to be really careful with the wiring before you put the PSU in. It's really easy to knock SATA data and power cables loose (I learned this pretty quickly) so don't put the side panels back on until you have everything running and Windows installed.

Let me know if you have any other questions.
 
Liquid Cooled Lian Li PC-Q27. Antec 640. 35C max temp on i5 4670k. Powerful little beast. https://www.dropbox.com/s/9llnlnplzr3n50t/LianLiPCq27LiquidCooled.jpg
C:\Users\Troy\Desktop\LianLiPCq27
 
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