Reviews - Lian Li PC-Q27

[HEXUS]

Aluminium mini-ITX chassis under the spotlight.

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[THESPECIAL1]

PSU size is definitely an issue as is cable length, currently only Silverstone offer short PSU cables. Would love to see Corsair offering a smaller PSU with shorter cabling.

[Biscuit]

single expansion slot is somewhat retarded, whats the best single slot card you can get at the moment?

[cjs150]

Biscuit: This is a mini-itx case. Mini itx boards only come with a single expansion slot. stick a decent GPU in the expansion slot, I think ASUS are doing a short 670 specifically for mini-itx boards.

Lian Li have been running with variants of this design for a while and they all have the same flaws: cable clutter and lack of air flow

[Willzzz]

Single width expansion slot he means.

[scaryjim]

... whats the best single slot card you can get at the moment?

There's plenty of cards - right up to 7970s - with all the display outputs on a single row, which is technically all you need to fit the card into a single expansion slot, although given the position of the vents on the case an open frame cooler would be a lot better than a blower design.

If you're looking for an actual single slot card with a single slot cooler though, you're limited to 7750/GTX650 kind of performance. Acceptable but not earth-shattering.

[CAT-THE-FIFTH]

There's plenty of cards - right up to 7970s - with all the display outputs on a single row, which is technically all you need to fit the card into a single expansion slot, although given the position of the vents on the case an open frame cooler would be a lot better than a blower design.

If you're looking for an actual single slot card with a single slot cooler though, you're limited to 7750/GTX650 kind of performance. Acceptable but not earth-shattering.

There is an HD7850 single slot although length might be an issue in the Q27.

[crossy]

Lian Li have been running with variants of this design for a while and they all have the same flaws: cable clutter and lack of air flow

If this is such a bad case, then are there any recommendations out there?

Reason I ask is that I've got to replace an aging Shuttle SFF (Pentium 4!) for a relative with something more capable and quieter. This case (and coincidentally the h/w config that Hexus used - although I fancy a modular PSU) looked like it could be a useful basis.

[Biscuit]

Biscuit: This is a mini-itx case. Mini itx boards only come with a single expansion slot. stick a decent GPU in the expansion slot, I think ASUS are doing a short 670 specifically for mini-itx boards.

Lian Li have been running with variants of this design for a while and they all have the same flaws: cable clutter and lack of air flow

As Willz said, it's only a single width so the vast majority of cards are instantly ruled out. Most decent itx cases have dual slots at the back regardless of what the motherboard has.

[CAT-THE-FIFTH]

If this is such a bad case, then are there any recommendations out there?

Reason I ask is that I've got to replace an aging Shuttle SFF (Pentium 4!) for a relative with something more capable and quieter. This case (and coincidentally the h/w config that Hexus used - although I fancy a modular PSU) looked like it could be a useful basis.

The CM Elite 120 should do the job.

[Domestic_Ginger]

The CM Elite 120 should do the job.

£35 at Maplins http://www.maplin.co.uk/coolermaster...tx-case-685647

[crossy]

The CM Elite 120 should do the job.

Yep, sure would - and to my eyes it looks a bit nicer than the Lian Li.

[The Hand]

I wish there was a smaller PSU standard available for cases like this. Just imagine how much space would be saved and if there was a silent/power efficient variant, I would be first in line for it.

[crossy]

I wish there was a smaller PSU standard available for cases like this. Just imagine how much space would be saved and if there was a silent/power efficient variant, I would be first in line for it.

There is - it's called "SFX", try googling for "SFX power supply" and you'll see that there's a lot available. There's a couple of reviews available, like hardware.info and the info given at Toms Hardware is pretty comprehensive.
Not sure about the "silent" bit - because of the size of these PSU's they have to use smaller (and therefore faster spinning to move the same CFM) 80mm fans. Even so, it's possible to get sub 30dB units - which I know isn't strictly speaking silent, but it ain't no jumbo jet either! . As to "efficient", 80PlusGold units are available - e.g. Silverstone ST45SF-G, and that one's modular to boot - so efficient AND tidy too. Only downside of that particular unit is that it's a bit "rock 'n' roll" on the noise side - the fact that the spec page only quotes minimum noise level is always worrying. The Hardware.Info article quotes that supply with a tested noise level of 45dB ... time to reach for the ear protection?!

£35 at Maplins http://www.maplin.co.uk/coolermaster...tx-case-685647

Aria have currently (although not sure for how much longer) got the Elite 120 on special offer - £29.99 inc VAT. At least according to this

[cjs150]

If this is such a bad case, then are there any recommendations out there?

Reason I ask is that I've got to replace an aging Shuttle SFF (Pentium 4!) for a relative with something more capable and quieter. This case (and coincidentally the h/w config that Hexus used - although I fancy a modular PSU) looked like it could be a useful basis.

If you do not mind paying a bit extra then Silverstone do some nice mini-itx case with good airflow. My favourite would be the SG05 but FT3 is interesting as well

[martian_aphid]

Nice case, lian li have so many options in this form factor too. Would like to see some review of their other mitx cases