The old school Lian Li appreciation thread

[Shad]

They don't make 'em like they used to, so that's why recently I've been collecting some original Lian Li PC-60-esque cases for retro builds. One thing has led to another and, well... now I have five

The gang's all here!



From left to right that's:

• PC-60 USB (late 2000?)
• PC-60 USB B2 (early 2005?)
• PC-60 Plus (late 2004/early 2005?)
• PC-7 USB (early 2002?)
• PC-7 Plus (2005?)

More pics/details here.

I had a PC-70 in 2001 and now regret selling it on, but that's what you did to move up of course. I'd love to have another but I'm not sure where I'd put it now. Please don your rose tinted spectacles and join me to reminise about the glorious late 90s and early 2000s with these beautiful old cases

[[GSV]Trig]

I had a black Lian-Li base back in the day, was my first proper 'posh' case..
Would have been early 2000's, think it was a PC-60 looking at the pictures, cant remember if it had the button surround or not but remember the little flap at the bottom where the USB ports lived.

[Saracen999]

I never had (or more accurately, never owned but 'had' a few review PCs in them) anything in a Lian Li, but I had, and still have, a somewhat similar Coolermaster. I think it was an ATC-100. or 101, or something. I do remember it being advertised as "first all-aluminium" case, and as far as I remember, it was. At least, was all ally. Not sure about the "first" bit.

It bore a startling resemblance to those Lian Li's, especially in the 3+2 variants, exxcept the front was solid, not a grid. I must di it out and take a pic. But that's the case that twang's my nostalgia bone for old cases.

Nice collection of LL's you have there. Those were the days, though, when men were men, and cases were .... cooling nightmares in most examples. And not a single glowy-colour bit of RGB in sight.

[cptwhite_uk]

I still have fond memories of my NZXT Vulcan, very unique case for the time with tons of mesh for ventilation. No consideration for filtering dust though!

[Shad]

I never had (or more accurately, never owned but 'had' a few review PCs in them) anything in a Lian Li, but I had, and still have, a somewhat similar Coolermaster. I think it was an ATC-100. or 101, or something. I do remember it being advertised as "first all-aluminium" case, and as far as I remember, it was. At least, was all ally. Not sure about the "first" bit.

It bore a startling resemblance to those Lian Li's, especially in the 3+2 variants, exxcept the front was solid, not a grid. I must di it out and take a pic. But that's the case that twang's my nostalgia bone for old cases.

Nice collection of LL's you have there. Those were the days, though, when men were men, and cases were .... cooling nightmares in most examples. And not a single glowy-colour bit of RGB in sight.

The pre-RGB days were a golden time, with only a subtle cold-cathode tube glow to be seen. Well that was the idea anyway, if you could stand the dodgy inverters and fragile tubes. But yes as I've learned from recent research, you're quite right about the Coolermaster being the first all aluminium case, although I think Lian Li still claimed they were first. Maybe in a specific market? Who knows. The cooling benefits were of course greatly over-exagerated but they sure did look pretty!

[[GSV]Trig]

You can keep your RGB to be fair, I like subtle, the only RGB I have on my machine is the AIO which has a ring and logo on it, both relate to temps, one the CPU and the other the GPU.

[Saracen999]

... but they sure did look pretty!

I suppose like RGB it's in the eye of the beholder but, yeah, didn't they just look good. Of course, it's not that hard to look good when, by comparison, everything else was a butt-ugly pale cream blob.

[Shad]

Of course, it's not that hard to look good when, by comparison, everything else was a butt-ugly pale cream blob.

Couldn't agree more. To me though the beige cases have grown in appeal now because they're so unusual to see. I found an Antec SX630 last year and it's so so wonderfully beige and glorious and I love it

[[GSV]Trig]

I remember the first PC that I spray painted, nice metallic purple (think Dairy Milk), non of that beige round my way..
Obviously, the keyboard didn't match, I wasn't that dedicated lol



Ended up electrocuting myself with the PSU in it, PC kept locking up, realised the fan on the PSU didn't work, so I swapped it out while I was sat on my desk, powered it up, fan span, turned it off, dropped the PSU switch (remember those actual big assed physical click switches) which then when I slid off of the desk, either I stood on the switch or it hit the floor and part contacted for a split second, by this time I had my thumb inside the PSU, got a bit of a kick out of it, walked out of the office laughing with pins and needles in my hand, guy I worked with at the time was more concerned than I was..

[jimbouk]

Still rocking a Lian-Li PC-V1100 ATX, was my brother's, must be ~ 20 years old. Only issue is the PSU space is a bit tight, but was fine with a fully cabled one and plenty of room in the HDD area for the spare cables.

[Iota]

I always wanted a Lian Li case for years, but could never justify the cost. Up until I got the PC-X500B, which was in use up until I got my 3090FE (space wise it wouldn't work). Still have it sat up in my loft somewhere.

[jimborae]

My God, how I used to lust after these cases back in my youth but could never afford them. Having tried a couple of expensive non Lian Li cases over the years I'm not certain they build 'em like Lian Li used to build them. Always been disappointed in one way or another.

[Guy]

I'm pretty sure I still have a PC-A05B in the garage! Absolutely loved that case, for a smaller build, perfect size. Clean, simple design. A joy to work on. It did scratch easily though, only thing I'd mark it down for.

[jimborae]

I'm pretty sure I still have a PC-A05B in the garage! Absolutely loved that case, for a smaller build, perfect size. Clean, simple design. A joy to work on. It did scratch easily though, only thing I'd mark it down for.

The best case I ever owned I think I got of you Guy iirc, an OG CoolerMaster Stacker??? If it wasn't you then it was certainly from someone on the Classifieds here. Used that case for probably around 12 years or more and modded the hell out of it to make it a very ghetto watercooling case. It was my substitute Lian Li that I could never afford.

[Guy]

The best case I ever owned I think I got of you Guy iirc, an OG CoolerMaster Stacker??? If it wasn't you then it was certainly from someone on the Classifieds here. Used that case for probably around 12 years or more and modded the hell out of it to make it a very ghetto watercooling case. It was my substitute Lian Li that I could never afford.

I did have such a case, I suspect it may have been me! Glad it saw a very good home.