PC-Q30: A New Curved Mini-ITX Chassis from Lian Li with an Acrylic Window
by Ian Cutress on May 14, 2013 4:19 PM EST- Posted in
- Cases/Cooling/PSUs
- Mini ITX
- Lian Li
For many users who have gone to a large LAN event, taking stock of all the crazy PC builds is part of the experience. Some users modify the case for a particular styling, and then insert a water cooling system with just the right amount of LED lighting. Last year at Computex, Lian Li showed us a mini-ITX chassis in the form of a train, and even put an engine inside it instead of a PC to show it could actually function as a train. This time around, we get a case to show off all the mini-ITX goodness without too much effort.
The PC-Q30 is a little different to say the least. We are dealing with a curved aluminum chassis adorned with an acrylic window. Lian Li believes the styling befits any PC location – as a HTPC in the living room, as a small gaming machine, or just as an under the desk work machine.
Aside from what is visible from the window, the chassis can hold a dual slot GPU up to 7.8 inches (200mm, or just above mini-ITX spec), making it ideal for the ASUS GTX670 Mini as shown above, or something like a stock GTX460. The space below the motherboard is for up to four 2.5” hard drives in a removable cage, but there is no space for any optical drive.
Ventilation comes in the form of a rear 140mm exhaust fan, along with apertures at the top and sides for intake vents. Power supply options are limited to those of 125mm in length, so we are really looking at something like the Silverstone SFX or Seasonic SFX series PSUs.
Other features on board include a power button that lights blue at idle and red while loading, as well as the IO panel to the left hand side. This includes a pair of USB 3.0 and front panel audio, although the motherboards IO does stick out of the top just in case you need any more ports.
Retail price is $149, with expecting shipping in June. The website for the case can be found at this link.
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DanNeely - Tuesday, May 14, 2013 - link
The only role I think something like this this case would suit would be as a kiosk with a display in the place of the window. Even that would be a bit risky since the profile looks vaguely like an old AIO with a CRT and is rather chunky vs the current slap a laptops guts onto the back of the LCD and call it a day style.SilentRunning - Tuesday, May 14, 2013 - link
Put a lcd in it and we have the return of the Macintosh. It seriously looks like they are paying homage to the original Macintosh.EnzoFX - Tuesday, May 14, 2013 - link
Why don't they actually just innovate? Just make something practical. Why do we have to turn to the DIY community to get practical options in ITX. Sure they've finally shifted to SFX PSU's, but Lian Li doesn't couple that with a graphics card slot. Really?bebimbap - Tuesday, May 14, 2013 - link
I've always been interested in ITX form cases.This one has interesting looks but functionality seems questionable.
I'm not sure why that space behind the motherboard was used to suck air through the rest of the case. It wouldn't seem to be a very efficient way of drawing air through as the motherboard is in the way. They could have used a fan near the bottom of the motherboard area and push air through from the bottom of the case with a filter so dust doesn't gather near the top vent holes.
FATCamaro - Tuesday, May 14, 2013 - link
Stupid case is stupidDug - Tuesday, May 14, 2013 - link
I wish they would have made something like this but with the motherboard laying flat instead of up against the back. And then put the fan on top.I don't understand why anyone would want their connections to show at the top of a case.
coolhardware - Tuesday, May 14, 2013 - link
I actually kind of like it. Clean (frontal) lines and a different look than most other cases out there.If I had one I would wall mount it in my office, with the base of the case mounted to the wall. Will probably never happen though b/c I cannot see myself giving up my laptop + dock scenario anytime soon.
Since not many other commenters seem to like this case, any suggestions for other 'different' cases that are popular/better?
piroroadkill - Wednesday, May 15, 2013 - link
Not bad at all, but get rid of that 140mm tumour at the back, simply add a filtered 120mm to the right hand side as an intake. Then it would have decent thermals, and a cleaner look.meacupla - Wednesday, May 15, 2013 - link
A for originality. D- for everything else.It's ugly, it's impractically sized, the side panel ports don't make sense,it doesn't look like it will be particularly quiet or have good airflow and it's expensive.
Why anyone would buy this over a Fractal Node 304 or Bitfenix Prodigy is beyond me.
Rick83 - Wednesday, May 15, 2013 - link
You can probably run it without the rear fan - from the few pics in this article, I still can't make out what it is actually doing.I like the adventurous styling, with some dust filters on the inside it should work quite well. What I'm missing is a slot in optical drive in the base. That would turn it into a funky HTPC. Without, it's really just a small LAN-party portable machine, which isn't bad, just limited. And with the components quite that "in your face" you really do have to take care with the aesthetics of your selection. I prefer a sleep looking closed case instead. This one is for the modders.