Installation:

As mentioned before, the motherboard is not a full tray in the sense that it doesn't slide out from the back and hold both the motherboard and expansion cards. I was somewhat disappointed by this, since previous Lian-Li cases have had this, so I naturally was holding Lian-Li to a higher standard than most. However, it's not that bad a situation, since the motherboard tray is quite large and installation without removing the tray is still fairly easy provided you remove the expansion card retaining bar, which shouldn't be necessary for most systems.

PSU installation is a no-brainer thanks to the bracket used for installing it. If you do choose to install the PSU in the bottom position, you'll want to make sure you position it so that the vents are on the upside - in most cases this will involve mounting the PSU "upside down". (I didn't do this with the PSU in the picture since it lacked bottom or top vents)

Mobo tray in.

PSU on bracket.

PSU in case.

Also, with the PSU in the bottom position, you'll need to verify that its cables are able to reach all of your devices. With most quality units this shouldn't be a problem, but with some there can be problems, especially with reaching devices in the top of your case. As always, you can swap places with the top HDD cage and put the PSU in the more traditional top position.

PSU and mobo inside.

HDD screws/grommets.

Slide in HDD

HDD installation is via a method I've never seen before. For the front cage HDDs, there are special screws and grommets you use; you attach these to the HDD and they act as pegs. After this, the HDD can be slid into the front cage and pressed down to lock into position. The drive thus rests on grommets to reduce vibration and noise. (This was also the method used in the Lian-Li PC-A10B) The downside to this method is that it's not entirely secure; Lian-Li even recommends that you use a screw to actually secure the HDD to the cage if you will be moving the case around a lot.

Normally this isn't a problem, but the two 120mm fans behind the HDD cage block access to the screw holes. So, you'll have to remove it - which requires taking out six screws. My recommendation is that you simply remove this and the expansion card retaining bar before you install any hardware in this case as I don't believe they're needed and end up just getting in the way. This will make your life easier. Besides, having an extra two internal 120mm fans is a bit of overkill when you already have two 120mm intakes and another two 120mm exhausts.

Then push it down.

Can be secured with a screw in middle.

Fan bracket removed.

The HDDs should be installed with the connectors facing the right side of the case, away from you in the picture below. This is because there's more room on this side and so there's less chance a protruding connector will come into contact with the side panel when everything's put together. Additionally, having connectors on that side will help keep cables looking neater and more organized.

HDDs in the rear cage (which holds 3 drives) are simply screwed in. You must remove the cage before installing a drive, which requires removing four screws at the bottom.

5.25" drive installation is straightforward. Since the drive bay covers are attached to the chassis and not the front panel, lining up drives to be flush with the front is easy and requires no guesswork. Standard screws are used, not rails, so you'll have to remove both side panels to install a drive. The extra length in this case permits longer 5.25" devices so if you have a hot-swappable bay, it'll fit nicely.

HDD connectors face right side.

5.25" drives are screwed in.

Looks sleek when done.

Conclusion:

Lian-Li has a good reputation in the case market, so I had high expectations for the PC-A70. For the most part, this case lived up to those. I was very impressed by the overall construction and quality that this case possessed - it was definitely up to Lian-Li standards, and you can immediately tell that it's a sturdy case that won't fail you. It also had a nice refined look to it.

Other important points are the ability to mount a PSU in the top, or bottom, or both positions for dual PSU action. This modularity comes stock, and is a great boon for enthusiasts who have serious hardware. The extra space on the motherboard tray, coupled with the high number of drive bays make this a serious contender for anyone who cares about their system. It's safe to say that this case will survive many upgrades and will be a suitable container for many a system.

The only complaints I have are minor. Firstly, the lack of an external 3.5" drive bay may annoy some people who still use one for a media card reader or other device. However, it's not completely necessary, so I can see why Lian-Li did away with it to improve other design aspects. Secondly, the HDDs in the front cage area are not that secure using the default mounting method - I'd definitely use a screw to properly secure them in place, if only for peace of mind.

These are minor marks on what is solid case for anyone into building or upgrading their own system. Quality construction, liberal use of thumbscrews, good design and a spacious interior make the PC-A70 a dream to work inside of and make this case worthy of your precious system.

Pros:

• Build quality is excellent; case is sturdy

• Aluminum used throughout; anodized aluminum exterior

• Lightweight

• Plenty of drive bays

• Spacious interior makes it easy to work inside

• Supports dual PSUs

• Excellent cooling with six 120mm fans stock

• Filters on front intake fans

• Thumbscrews used throughout

• Sleek appearance

Cons:

• Retaining bar and internal fan bracket get in the way (but can be removed)

• Front HDD cage mounting method requires screws to be really secure

• No external 3.5" drive bay (might not be an issue for everyone)

Many thanks to Lian-Li for making this review possible. Check out their site if you're interested in the PC-A70 or check out their entire lineup of cases for something that suits you!

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