Lian Li Lancool 207 Airflow Case Review - Cable Management, Build Quality, & Benchmarks
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Date: 2024-10-08
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Comments and reviews: 20
SirAndras
I have the Fractal Torrent and love everything about it EXCEPT the damn cable space. Why do these companies not make the case a bit wider to make sure you get like, 2cm depth for cables and not have to strain any panels It's really the only downside of it and seeing this case, the same applies. Both for cable management but also for the drives SATA-cables having to bend as you pointed out. Also limits the PSU depth (considering how thirsty GPUs are getting you might need a beefier PSU).
Is this some kind of default factory machining bs They simply can't change the total width of a case Cause every amazing airflow case I've worked with has had this specific issue. It's like 10/10 but gets dragged down cause cable management space is just nonexistent. (Worst part about Fractal Torrent is they actually went with GLASS on the sidepanel with the cables. Abolutely bonkers decision given you have to strain it and there's nothing to view there anyway. More expensive, more prone to damage, more weight. Rant over.)
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I have the Fractal Torrent and love everything about it EXCEPT the damn cable space. Why do these companies not make the case a bit wider to make sure you get like, 2cm depth for cables and not have to strain any panels It's really the only downside of it and seeing this case, the same applies. Both for cable management but also for the drives SATA-cables having to bend as you pointed out. Also limits the PSU depth (considering how thirsty GPUs are getting you might need a beefier PSU).
Is this some kind of default factory machining bs They simply can't change the total width of a case Cause every amazing airflow case I've worked with has had this specific issue. It's like 10/10 but gets dragged down cause cable management space is just nonexistent. (Worst part about Fractal Torrent is they actually went with GLASS on the sidepanel with the cables. Abolutely bonkers decision given you have to strain it and there's nothing to view there anyway. More expensive, more prone to damage, more weight. Rant over.)
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covante4822
There are lots of good 140mm atx psus, corsair rme, seasonic focus gx, msi mag a___gl pcie 5 (and other models on this platform like montech g5), gigabyte udgm, xpg core reactor ii, etc... So I don't see that as a limiting factor if you're using a normal 650-850W model. And for the 4090 people, like you implied, they've got more than $80 to blow on a case. I'm really impressed by this thing, looks like it can live up to the 216.
Other stuff I'd like to see would be some other montech stuff like the XR, air 1000 premium or their matx air 100, Thermaltake view 170 and 380, Phanteks xt view and xt pro ultra. And I'd like it if you guys covered the corsair 3000d. I see a lot of people thinking it's a 4000d just cheaper but they cut ALL of the premium features from the 4000d and turned it into the sort of thing you'd more expect to see from some place like gamdias or bitfenix. Deepcool has also come out with some interesting stuff but well... I don't think you want to have to smuggle one down from Canada.
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There are lots of good 140mm atx psus, corsair rme, seasonic focus gx, msi mag a___gl pcie 5 (and other models on this platform like montech g5), gigabyte udgm, xpg core reactor ii, etc... So I don't see that as a limiting factor if you're using a normal 650-850W model. And for the 4090 people, like you implied, they've got more than $80 to blow on a case. I'm really impressed by this thing, looks like it can live up to the 216.
Other stuff I'd like to see would be some other montech stuff like the XR, air 1000 premium or their matx air 100, Thermaltake view 170 and 380, Phanteks xt view and xt pro ultra. And I'd like it if you guys covered the corsair 3000d. I see a lot of people thinking it's a 4000d just cheaper but they cut ALL of the premium features from the 4000d and turned it into the sort of thing you'd more expect to see from some place like gamdias or bitfenix. Deepcool has also come out with some interesting stuff but well... I don't think you want to have to smuggle one down from Canada.
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ishaansaral502
This is a really cool case from Lian Li. I think the slight issue is that the 216 is still the better choice overall. With it being older and being on sale during black friday or summer, it's possible to get it for the same price as the 207. I got mine for 75 which was much cheaper than the budget options.
I love my 216, but I definitely dislike the tool less side panel and the lack of space for cable management. I struggled with my 24 pin, and my side panel has a slight bend and gap in the middle. It's a shame they repeated it with the 207. Hope they will improve it for the 217.
I also think Lian Li could work on their internal packaging. Their cases are massive and cool, but their gpu and motherboard clearances are oddly smaller than competitors in the same size class. Phanteks and Montech seem to do this much better.
Lastly, I would love to see you test the Montech Sky Two GX. I've heard it's an amazing performer and competes with the best.
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This is a really cool case from Lian Li. I think the slight issue is that the 216 is still the better choice overall. With it being older and being on sale during black friday or summer, it's possible to get it for the same price as the 207. I got mine for 75 which was much cheaper than the budget options.
I love my 216, but I definitely dislike the tool less side panel and the lack of space for cable management. I struggled with my 24 pin, and my side panel has a slight bend and gap in the middle. It's a shame they repeated it with the 207. Hope they will improve it for the 217.
I also think Lian Li could work on their internal packaging. Their cases are massive and cool, but their gpu and motherboard clearances are oddly smaller than competitors in the same size class. Phanteks and Montech seem to do this much better.
Lastly, I would love to see you test the Montech Sky Two GX. I've heard it's an amazing performer and competes with the best.
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devrandvar
It would have really helped the cable issue in the back if they had went with a back panel more like the old Fractal Meshify C. With it you could just slot the panel in on the back edge then rotate it shut then secure it with thumb screws. So even though there was not much room for cables, similar or even worse then this case I think, it did not seem as bad since if it was at all possible to compress the cables into the available space then you could just force the panel closed and once you put in the thumb screws it stayed in place. These clips are great for the other panels but I would like to see something more robust for the back. Also I do not understand why case manufactures are allergic to feet. For several cases now I have bought little 1 inch rubber feet and epoxied them to the bottom of the case to give them better airflow. Still a very interesting case that I would definitely consider when looking for a decent budget case.
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It would have really helped the cable issue in the back if they had went with a back panel more like the old Fractal Meshify C. With it you could just slot the panel in on the back edge then rotate it shut then secure it with thumb screws. So even though there was not much room for cables, similar or even worse then this case I think, it did not seem as bad since if it was at all possible to compress the cables into the available space then you could just force the panel closed and once you put in the thumb screws it stayed in place. These clips are great for the other panels but I would like to see something more robust for the back. Also I do not understand why case manufactures are allergic to feet. For several cases now I have bought little 1 inch rubber feet and epoxied them to the bottom of the case to give them better airflow. Still a very interesting case that I would definitely consider when looking for a decent budget case.
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familhagaudir8561
I double-checked all the charts and still have a hard time figuring a budget, quiet computer case ( many aren't even avaliable in Canada ).
Edit : so at 21:32 on the left, this would be the maximum noise of each case itself With stock fans only
Checking those with lower noise ( below 40dB ), I can find the Fractal Design Pop Air with a solid panel instead of the glass for CAD$125. It''s to put a Ryzen 7600, and whatever functional GPU won't bankrupt me or be too noisy. I'll live with 8GB VRAM. Haven't found my pick for that yet.
Other cases with low-ish dB on the list are either not avaliable here or much more expensive. ( Antec C8 at lower prices note ''FANS NOT INCLUDED''. )
If anyone has suggestions for budget quiet PC case I'm taking.
I assume something like the Montech 3X Mesh is noisy because the 6 stock fans always run at full speed. Too bad because it's $35 cheaper. But I hate noise.
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I double-checked all the charts and still have a hard time figuring a budget, quiet computer case ( many aren't even avaliable in Canada ).
Edit : so at 21:32 on the left, this would be the maximum noise of each case itself With stock fans only
Checking those with lower noise ( below 40dB ), I can find the Fractal Design Pop Air with a solid panel instead of the glass for CAD$125. It''s to put a Ryzen 7600, and whatever functional GPU won't bankrupt me or be too noisy. I'll live with 8GB VRAM. Haven't found my pick for that yet.
Other cases with low-ish dB on the list are either not avaliable here or much more expensive. ( Antec C8 at lower prices note ''FANS NOT INCLUDED''. )
If anyone has suggestions for budget quiet PC case I'm taking.
I assume something like the Montech 3X Mesh is noisy because the 6 stock fans always run at full speed. Too bad because it's $35 cheaper. But I hate noise.
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steamroll5406
Don't know if you guys are already on top of it but Dell has a new slate of Alienware pre-builts available with some customizable features and a new case. I've glanced through a few and the parts range anywhere from 14700F 4060 to 14900KF 4090 or a 14900KF 7900XTX. The real treat is if you look at the images they show the case does look like something you could buy online to build with on your own BUT you can clearly see the motherboard inside is still proprietary with the weird ass peripherals connected directly to the motherboard engineering they've used in all their other computers. What is even better is some images completely unrelated to each build level showcase the computer potentially coming with the metal slug vertical coolers.
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Don't know if you guys are already on top of it but Dell has a new slate of Alienware pre-builts available with some customizable features and a new case. I've glanced through a few and the parts range anywhere from 14700F 4060 to 14900KF 4090 or a 14900KF 7900XTX. The real treat is if you look at the images they show the case does look like something you could buy online to build with on your own BUT you can clearly see the motherboard inside is still proprietary with the weird ass peripherals connected directly to the motherboard engineering they've used in all their other computers. What is even better is some images completely unrelated to each build level showcase the computer potentially coming with the metal slug vertical coolers.
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kalumander
I agree with everything you've said, beside the cable space at the back of the case.
As you said it, with proper and pedantic management, you can place even sleeved cables behind, which is all that is needed.
You don't need to have a room to just to throw in your tangled cables and call it a day, since it's basically done once every couple of years at the most.
I understand you are a PC tech person who opens, closes cases, and manages cables on a daily basis, so it can seem like a problem to you.
For the rest of us, it's practically not a problem at all.
Cheers and keep up the great reviews!
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I agree with everything you've said, beside the cable space at the back of the case.
As you said it, with proper and pedantic management, you can place even sleeved cables behind, which is all that is needed.
You don't need to have a room to just to throw in your tangled cables and call it a day, since it's basically done once every couple of years at the most.
I understand you are a PC tech person who opens, closes cases, and manages cables on a daily basis, so it can seem like a problem to you.
For the rest of us, it's practically not a problem at all.
Cheers and keep up the great reviews!
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knooters
Sometimes I wonder if there could be shorter PSU cables in exchange for the cases to come with their own cables or other solutions. Had a few cases myself where you just cant get the back to fit if you have alot of cables in it that enter through the back. Especially with SATA power connectors that you cant really flatten because of the extra power connectors. Maybe not for a $80 case, but for something at twice the cost
I guess the PSU manufacturers would have to standardize their connectors, too, then - which it seems like they're not interested in.
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Sometimes I wonder if there could be shorter PSU cables in exchange for the cases to come with their own cables or other solutions. Had a few cases myself where you just cant get the back to fit if you have alot of cables in it that enter through the back. Especially with SATA power connectors that you cant really flatten because of the extra power connectors. Maybe not for a $80 case, but for something at twice the cost
I guess the PSU manufacturers would have to standardize their connectors, too, then - which it seems like they're not interested in.
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ShadowDrakken
I'm using an Antec NX410 currently, it's a bit older and was $85 when it first came out, it's $75 now, but for me it's been pretty solid. Cable routing was nice on it, minimal frills, decent internal layout, and the quality is acceptable for me. I build gamer machines, but I don't invest a ton in the case because there's so little added value when you spend a ton on a case. I'd rather put the money into the internals. So the use case of cheap case with nice modular power supply is VERY valid for me.
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I'm using an Antec NX410 currently, it's a bit older and was $85 when it first came out, it's $75 now, but for me it's been pretty solid. Cable routing was nice on it, minimal frills, decent internal layout, and the quality is acceptable for me. I build gamer machines, but I don't invest a ton in the case because there's so little added value when you spend a ton on a case. I'd rather put the money into the internals. So the use case of cheap case with nice modular power supply is VERY valid for me.
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danm4935
Wasn't sure how to go about messaging you but I guess I will try here. I was wondering if you could review the Thermaltake CTE T500 Air E-ATX Full Tower with Centralized Thermal Efficiency Design. It's an interesting premise, and apparently has a shortfall. Vertical video cards perform poorly due to vapor chambers malfunctioning in the vertical position. I was wondering if you can do an in depth look into all this, as a vertical exhaust computer is something i'm interested in for myself.
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Wasn't sure how to go about messaging you but I guess I will try here. I was wondering if you could review the Thermaltake CTE T500 Air E-ATX Full Tower with Centralized Thermal Efficiency Design. It's an interesting premise, and apparently has a shortfall. Vertical video cards perform poorly due to vapor chambers malfunctioning in the vertical position. I was wondering if you can do an in depth look into all this, as a vertical exhaust computer is something i'm interested in for myself.
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alisg765
would love to see a full review of the TT Tower 300! I know it's M-ATX but would love to see it get some proper thermal testing. I have one and love the color options (pink looks great with my Yeston Sakura 7900 XTX), 140mm fan support, and 420mm rad support (managed to fit an Arctic LF III 420 by swapping the stock fans for standard 25mm thick fans), but it definitely has some overkill dust filters imo and I wonder how much airflow is restricted by all the filters/covers included.
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would love to see a full review of the TT Tower 300! I know it's M-ATX but would love to see it get some proper thermal testing. I have one and love the color options (pink looks great with my Yeston Sakura 7900 XTX), 140mm fan support, and 420mm rad support (managed to fit an Arctic LF III 420 by swapping the stock fans for standard 25mm thick fans), but it definitely has some overkill dust filters imo and I wonder how much airflow is restricted by all the filters/covers included.
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Enakaji
I absolutely love the detailed case reviews you guys do and the extend the reviews go to. I bought the Fractal Pop Air because of the review you guys did for it a while ago when those came down in price to around 70 Euros. I actually bought two of them, a Pop Air Magenta for my main system and the Pop Air Cyan for my second system and both run color matching RGB settings and I'm currently in the process of fitting a custom watercooling loop to the Pop Air with my main system.
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I absolutely love the detailed case reviews you guys do and the extend the reviews go to. I bought the Fractal Pop Air because of the review you guys did for it a while ago when those came down in price to around 70 Euros. I actually bought two of them, a Pop Air Magenta for my main system and the Pop Air Cyan for my second system and both run color matching RGB settings and I'm currently in the process of fitting a custom watercooling loop to the Pop Air with my main system.
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Skobeloff...
24:55 This is why I believe all reviews should be carried out with all storage options filled. There is no point in a case offering storage options, if they do not leave enough room for cables. My own case, the Be Quiet Silent Base 802 was reviewed fairly favourable by GN, but I had to scrape off the silly sound dampening foam off of the side cover, just to be able to put the side cover on. The issue was cables (3 HDDs, 2 SSDs, front fans/rgb).
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24:55 This is why I believe all reviews should be carried out with all storage options filled. There is no point in a case offering storage options, if they do not leave enough room for cables. My own case, the Be Quiet Silent Base 802 was reviewed fairly favourable by GN, but I had to scrape off the silly sound dampening foam off of the side cover, just to be able to put the side cover on. The issue was cables (3 HDDs, 2 SSDs, front fans/rgb).
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pritch2002
Enjoyed the breakdown. I like the front PSU as a concept, but I don't like the caveats it comes with here. I'd feel compelled to add a filter to the bottom rear as well otherwise I know where my machine sits, it would become a major source of dust ingress. I do also regret the lack of a hard reset button here. It's a frustrating one because I like the concept but there's enough issues to put me off it for my next build.
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Enjoyed the breakdown. I like the front PSU as a concept, but I don't like the caveats it comes with here. I'd feel compelled to add a filter to the bottom rear as well otherwise I know where my machine sits, it would become a major source of dust ingress. I do also regret the lack of a hard reset button here. It's a frustrating one because I like the concept but there's enough issues to put me off it for my next build.
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ShroudedWolf51
I use the cyan variant of the Fractal Pop Air. And while I did end up replacing the fans, it performed more than well enough in the stock configuration, with the Arctic P14 as intake and P12 as exhaust, it performs like a dream with a 5800X3D and 6800XT. Hell, it runs so well that even having fallen asleep while that PC was doing VR things, it was quiet enough to not be enough to disturb me.
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I use the cyan variant of the Fractal Pop Air. And while I did end up replacing the fans, it performed more than well enough in the stock configuration, with the Arctic P14 as intake and P12 as exhaust, it performs like a dream with a 5800X3D and 6800XT. Hell, it runs so well that even having fallen asleep while that PC was doing VR things, it was quiet enough to not be enough to disturb me.
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BrandonMeyer1641
Honestly, for a fresh build, that lian li edge power supply matched with this case is not that hard of a sell in my eyes. The cost of the psu is offset by the price of the case so you end up spending about the same amount if you bought a more expensive case with comparable and a traditional psu. Seems like a worthy trade off especially since you’ll probably keep both around for a while.
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Honestly, for a fresh build, that lian li edge power supply matched with this case is not that hard of a sell in my eyes. The cost of the psu is offset by the price of the case so you end up spending about the same amount if you bought a more expensive case with comparable and a traditional psu. Seems like a worthy trade off especially since you’ll probably keep both around for a while.
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zarwolfwood
Enjoying these case reviews as this really helps in making correct decisions for anyone that builds a pc. Purchased the Torrent Compact because of your review of it along with the original Torrent. Still cooling my pc these past few years. Been one of the best decisions I’ve made in PC building because of your in-depth reviews. Continue being awesome Steve and the whole GN crew.
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Enjoying these case reviews as this really helps in making correct decisions for anyone that builds a pc. Purchased the Torrent Compact because of your review of it along with the original Torrent. Still cooling my pc these past few years. Been one of the best decisions I’ve made in PC building because of your in-depth reviews. Continue being awesome Steve and the whole GN crew.
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letsrock9209
Steve always has the same complaints about cases. He might as well be Henry Ford in the early 1900's, you can have any color car you want, as long as it is black. Point being, Steve lacks creativity when it comes to case design. If he could control the market, I think he would have only 3 case designs for the world to use. Hey Steve, if you can do better design your own case!
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Steve always has the same complaints about cases. He might as well be Henry Ford in the early 1900's, you can have any color car you want, as long as it is black. Point being, Steve lacks creativity when it comes to case design. If he could control the market, I think he would have only 3 case designs for the world to use. Hey Steve, if you can do better design your own case!
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cbabbx
The fans up front with the proprietary connector are not that big of a deal in my opinion should they die. If you want to retain the same setup, Noctua makes fans that come with very short cables right off the frame. You can easily recreate what Lian Li has done here. This is what I have done with my build. Noctua provides all the cables required with the purchase of fans.
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The fans up front with the proprietary connector are not that big of a deal in my opinion should they die. If you want to retain the same setup, Noctua makes fans that come with very short cables right off the frame. You can easily recreate what Lian Li has done here. This is what I have done with my build. Noctua provides all the cables required with the purchase of fans.
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scottheighton5971
I just want to say that for as good as most of Lian Li's cases and case accessories usually are, that vertical mount adapter is pure garbage. I've used it before on a client build and would 100% recommend going with almost any other option. Cooler Master, in particular, makes an incredible, highly adjustable one that probably would work in a case like this.
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I just want to say that for as good as most of Lian Li's cases and case accessories usually are, that vertical mount adapter is pure garbage. I've used it before on a client build and would 100% recommend going with almost any other option. Cooler Master, in particular, makes an incredible, highly adjustable one that probably would work in a case like this.
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