Lian Li PC-C32 ATX Chassis

Introduction:

Lian-Li is well-known in the hardware community for their well-designed all-aluminum enclosures. Offering plenty of features and quality construction, they have been a favourite of many enthusiasts for years. We've reviewed them in the past and have been impressed - as we should have been, considering the high price that these cases command. While most of Lian-Li's cases are tower models offering substantial space and features, today we'll be looking at a desktop case seemingly aimed at the HTPC and server markets to see if it stacks up to the standards expected from Lian-Li.

Specifications

Despite this being a desktop or HTPC case, the PC-C32 is quite large. This is because it supports a full-size ATX motherboard and standard ATX PSU - no being stuck with a microATX motherboard or weird PSU form factor. The downside to this, is of course that the case isn't as slim as some others out there, and may not blend in with your HT setup. The dimensions of the case are 426 x 167 x 530mm or about 17" x 6.5" x 21" (WxHxD); for rackmount purposes this corresponds to a 4U size. (1U is about 1.75" thick) The depth in particular isn't well-shown on Lian-Li's site; with a depth of 21", you'll want to make sure that this case can fit where you want to put it!

• Full Specifications

The PC-C32 is made entirely out of aluminum, Lian-Li's signature enclosure material. The exterior is made of sleek brushed aluminum, giving the case a sleek and refined look. The use of aluminum helps maintain quality while keeping the weight of the case down; indeed, if you've never handled an aluminum case before, you'll be surprised by the weight. The PC-C32 is also unique in that it is rack-mountable. Removeable rackmount handles can be attached to the sides of the case, transforming it from a HTPC to server enclosure. For its size, you get a decent assortment of drive bays.

On the front, there are two 5.25" bays, one of which can be used for an external 3.5" drive with the use of an included adapter. On the inside, there is room for four internal 3.5" drives. No PSU is included (as is the usual with Lian-Li cases), but as mentioned before, any standard ATX PSU will work with this case.

The PC-C32 came in the usual Lian-Li packaging, complete with a huge photo on the outside, and proper foam protection within. Unpacking it for the first time, you get to witness the sleek exterior for the first time. The brushed anodized-aluminum exterior has a high-quality look to it and this case would be at home as part of a home theatre setup. There's nothing flashy about this case, just a nice professional look, as is usual with Lian-Li cases.

All packaged up.

Well-protected.

Sleek.

The front of the case is very plain. There are two 5.25" drive bays, one of which comes with an adapter so you can use an external 3.5" device. The Power/Reset buttons are complimented with Blue/Red Power/HDD LEDs hidden behind pinpoint windows. The standard front Firewire, USB and audio ports (HD-audio/AC'97 compatible) are also at the front. Like most cases, there is no built-in external SATA port. Unlike most Lian-Li cases, the front cannot be removed, but it need not be removed for installation.

At first, the PC-C32 does not seem that large, since it is in a desktop/rackmount form factor rather than a traditional tower. However, looking at it from a different angle you can see that it some depth to it. Its depth is about 21", more than or equal to most cases, so keep that in mind if you have a specific place you want to put it.

Looking at its side, you can see a bunch of mounting holes that I assume are for use in a rackmount situation. The PC-C32 is a 4U size rackmount case, I believe, but not having any experience with rackmount hardware I can't be for certain. For most home users, this won't matter as unless you are an ubergeek, you aren't running a rackmount setup in your house.

Quite a large depth.

Rackmount holes.

Back.

Looking at the back, we thankfully see a standard ATX layout - this case isn't limited to just MicroATX, and this probably justifies its size. The PSU is mounted to a removable bracket attached with thumbscrews, simplifying installation. Though no exhaust fan is included, there is a place at the back for an 80mm fan. There's no built-in ports for water-cooling, though I suspect that would be totally out of place for a case like this.

Ventilation holes dot both sides of the case near the front. This is where all the drives are mounted, and the ventilation holes are a necessity, especially for this case. There are no intake fan mounts for the PC-C32, though the case does come with two internally-mounted 120mm fans. Thus, the ventilation holes are needed to provide airflow for these fans. There are no vents at the front of the case, due to the limited space, but the back is well ventilated. There are no air filters on the case, so dust may eventually be an issue.

Vent holes on the sides.

It's a long case.

Anodized aluminum.

Taking a look at the top of the case, we can see that it's much longer than it is wide. This makes the case have a large footprint, but also makes it easier to work inside, since the entire top comes off for easy access. Taking a closer look at the front, you can see that the drive bays aren't made of plastic - instead they're made of the same material as the rest of the exterior: brushed aluminum. This makes the front of the case look very nice, and the only thing that sticks out are the front-access ports. (USB, audio, etc.) Lian-Li could have hid these behind a small hinged-door, like they did on other cases such as the PC-A70, which we reviewed earlier. That is the only (minor) complaint I can find about the appearance.

Power, reset, LEDs and front ports.

Bottom.

Feet removeable.

Looking at the bottom, you can see some vent holes up front. The feet are thick enough so that the case is kept off the ground enough to make these vent holes effective. The rubber feet do a great job of keeping the case stable, and they are removeable for rackmount purposes, I assume.

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