Assembly

Installing the mainboard is done with the use of the included spacers. There is a lot of space above and below the board, more than you would find in some mid tower cases. This means that you may not only install a large CPU cooler, but it also gives you enough space for a radiator above the flipped mainboard.


Installing the hard drive is very simple as well and does not require any tools. Just use the rubber rings and screw on the special thumb screws. Then, slide the drive in place and push it down to lock it into position. At this point, the drive is held quite securely, but you may use a single screw to make absolutely sure, that nothing can happen during transport.


The optical drive is installed by simply sliding it into place until the plastic lock snaps into place. The system - while very simple - does not seem to hold the drive all too well, so you should use a screw or two to pin the drive down. Otherwise, there is quite a bit of play which may cause some annoying vibrations during operation.


The power supply can be installed from the outside of the case, due to the frame. We went straight for it and simply pushed the PSU in place and secured it with normal screws. There is actually plenty of space for a longer unit, so even if you stuff multiple GPUs into this case, you can also install the needed power to go with the rig.


As you can see, installing everything in the PC-A05N is pretty straight forward and simple, even though Lian Li has created a very unique interior layout. It should be noted, that turning the mainboard upside down is very similar to the BTX standard from Intel. Doing so, places the CPU at the very bottom, which is the coolest area within a chassis. Another aspect is the fact, that the GPU cooler is now facing upward, which should also help, as hot air rises. The only limitation are heatpipe based cooling solutions, which may not work properly when turned upside down.

Finished Looks

Upon plugging in the PC-A05N, there is not much to say, besides the fact, that the case is very quiet. Lian Li is known for installing very quiet chassis fans and this is also the case with the PC-A05N. Taking a quick look at the rear, everything is where you would expect to see it, just upside down.