A Closer Look - Outside

The obvious attribute of this chassis is its very compact size coupled with the capability to hold a full size ATX board. This should make the case very interesting for those looking to have something small and powerful in their living room or as a LAN party rig. This means that the case has the height of a mini-tower, but the depth of a normal chassis.


Considering the fact, that this case is an entry level offering from Lian Li, costing around 85 € in retail, they have decided to stay with the trusted and true design found on many of their other enclosures. The PC-A05N features a very clean design without any fan grill or other extras on the front of the chassis, which is constructed of aluminum, just like the rest of the chassis. The only openings have been created on the outer side of the front panel. These give way to a bit of air flow for the front intake fan.

The rear however looks very unique. As you an see, the mainboard has to be mounted upside down. There is no space for a power supply in the rear, so it will be interesting to see how Lian Li has solved that issue. Both side panels can be removed with the use of thumb screws and the top is simply held in place with two screws. This means that you can remove it and exchange it with one holding a dual radiator for example. While there is no official compatibility listed on the CaseKing website or the Lian Li page, the Lian-Li T-60FA seems to fit perfectly, as it has the exact design and length of the top cover used on the PC-A05N. Is there anything better than an ultra compact chassis with a complete internal water cooling rig installed?


Both sides of the enclosure are completely solid, as there are no air vents or openings of any sort. This should be good to keep any noise within the enclosure.


Taking a closer look at the front of the enclosure, there is not really a lot here. The upper half is filled by two external 5.25 inch bays and a single 3.5 inch one, while the Lian Li logo has been placed on the very bottom. You will find the I/O on the top under a little flip-up cover. Lian Li has kept to the bare minimum with the PC-A05N with two USB 2.0 and the pair of audio connectors. It would have been nice to see a Firewire or eSATA port as well.


Focusing on the rear, there are a few pleasant surprises. First, the 120 mm exaust fan is rubber mounted. This should kill any vibrations dead in their tracks. You will also find a power plug on the bottom edge of the chassis. Above these are the seven mainboard expansion slots, each protected by a removable cover, which also act as a large air vent. Lian Li has also included a spot to install a further fan on the side of the expansion slots. This signature feature is available in most of their cases, but the internal fan cage with the cooling units is always sold seperately.