Lian Li Introduces the PC-Q21 Series PC Chassis

[btarunr]

Lian-Li Industrial Co. Ltd announces the PC-Q21 Mini Tower Chassis for Mini-ITX systems. This compact chassis tucks a full computer into a small box. The slot-load slim ODD bay at the top gives legacy optical drives a cool home or holds a modern SSD. There are two PCI expansion slots and more room under them than in previous models. This lets in more air, and accommodates a very flexible bottom-mounted drive sled. Even the front has space enough for a full 2.5" drive or a 3.5" drive with shorter graphics cards.

The small size of the PC-Q21 is its biggest feature, but that does not mean it compromised on space or its number of mountings. It can be a challenge to fit everything you need into a case this small, but the PC-Q21 still presents many possible configurations. The top ODD bay can hold a slim, slot-load DVD drive or an SSD in addition to the total of three internal drives listed. The bottom rack holds two 2.5" drives or can be removed for three different options: a full 3.5" drive, a 120mm fan, or to provide extra room for an oversized, up to two-slot graphics card. The front wall also has holes drilled with an adjustable brace for hanging a 2.5" or 3.5" drive.



The PC-Q21 is a solidly-built cuboid. Its pop-off doors are secure yet easy to remove when you need access. Drives are secured in several optional places. The ODD bay opening is thin yet comes with a cover for when not in use. The rubber feet and air filter keep it safe from floor or desk dangers. Even the PCI expansion slots come with thick sturdy vent covers for extra protection if you opt not to use one or both.

The PC-Q21 maximizes its available space to fit a full Mini-ATX system. It takes planning and some finger flexibility fit everything inside, but it can store a lot. The key to the PC-Q21 is its modularity - it can be built in layers. There are mountings for drives on the top, front, and bottom. The bottom drive cage can be removed for extra room, or remain for extra storage. It can fit a 120mm fan on the bottom, but most of its cooling comes from the CPU and PSU fans drawing air into the center and exhausting out the back. The case can be picked up easily and it does not take up a lot of room on your desk, saving you more room.

Price and Availability
The PC-Q21 will be available in the USA in early September for the MSRP of USD 74.99.

View at TechPowerUp Main Site

 

[RejZoR]

Aesthetics wise, Lian Li wins it all. You can easily toss this case into a living room and no one will know it's a PC. Maybe they could use USB hatch, but still, it looks really nice. I've ha dmy former Lian Li PC-V354 Black in a living room for a while and despite the size, it basically merged with the living room

 

[Maban]

Why does Lian-Li need 26 different M-ITX cases?

 

[techy1]

this looks actually very compact indeed (by looks). calculating from Lian-li home page - outer dimension data - it says it only takes space of 8.5 liters volume (so - must be a typo - that is like 25% below the very small silvesrstone Sugo SG05 mITX case... or we have something very special here :O). can someone confirm those outer dimesions? (funny that in PR release about one of smallest cases - noone mentions - the dimensions).

 

[PLAfiller]

Why does Lian-Li need 26 different M-ITX cases?

Because at the general meeting each week, the report has to be peppered with the word "innovation", so that investors can feel better that the company is developing And to prove it they need to show how many different cases has been "innovated" in the last fiscal quarter. I am just partly joking/ partly guessing.

 

[MIRTAZAPINE]

this looks actually very compact indeed (by looks). calculating from Lian-li home page - outer dimension data - it says it only takes space of 8.5 liters volume (so - must be a typo - that is like 25% below the very small silvesrstone Sugo SG05 mITX case... or we have something very special here :O). can someone confirm those outer dimesions? (funny that in PR release about one of smallest cases - noone mentions - the dimensions).

This lian li psu use an sfx one rather than the silverstone which is an atx on. You can save a lot of space with an sfx psu! This lian li case is perfect! I was thinking of using jonsbo v2 which is at 6.8 liters but it have no pcie slot and it also uses sfx psu.

This lian li even have a cd drive!

 

[Static~Charge]

Overall, I like the case design, but the lack of cooling concerns me. The only place for a fan is at the bottom of the case. If you put a drive there, then no fan. You can't put a fan on either side panel (if there was a grill for it) because the motherboard blocks the right side and the power supply blocks the left. Plus, there's no way for the power supply to pull cool air from the outside (no grill for it in the side panel).

 

[MIRTAZAPINE]

Overall, I like the case design, but the lack of cooling concerns me. The only place for a fan is at the bottom of the case. If you put a drive there, then no fan. You can't put a fan on either side panel (if there was a grill for it) because the motherboard blocks the right side and the power supply blocks the left. Plus, there's no way for the power supply to pull cool air from the outside (no grill for it in the side panel).

Sad that a nice case like this we have to drill holes to mount a fan. I don't know why it is a shortcoming of a lot of aluminium cases. I guess it is so it would not take the aesthetic away with having many holes on the case.

 

[Disparia]

Why does Lian-Li need 26 different M-ITX cases?

To allow us to choose the right one for the situation/preferences at hand. The new PC-Q21 is nice, however, I prefer the PC-Q01 I bought last week.

 

[lemonadesoda]

Why does Lian-Li need 26 different M-ITX cases?

Simple rule of modern marketing. Each new product gets a press release. Gets column inches and reviews on websites like this, ranks the websearches, promotes the brand, free marketing. Get used to it

 

[Gadgety]

Rare that Lian-Li updates existing chassis. I put together a PC-Q02 for the kids, and it's been great. Both the PC-Q20 and the PC-Q21 build on that design. Both are definite improvements as they open up for a discrete graphics card, and the PC-Q21 having a fan vent with removable dust filter. I might get one for myself this time.