A Closer Look - Outside

The case front looks beautiful. It is sleek, features a diamond cut, straight line in the thick aluminum front. The bottom holds the Lian-Li logo, while the power and HDD access LEDs can be found in the top right corner.


Lian-Li has placed the I/O, consisting of an eSATA, a Firewire, four USB 2.0 and the usual pair of audio plugs, on top of the case. While this is no problem at all if you are placing the chassis next to your TV in the living room (it is advertised as a gaming or HTPC case after all), but you will lose access to them, when placing the case under your table in your room. The same goes for the power and reset button. These should have been placed next to the front LEDs instead. The placement of these buttons on such a tall case does not make any sense.


The entire front can be removed with a pull. It is held in place securely by four clips. Behind the long front cover is the dust filter, which covers all three 140 mm fans. Yes, 140 mm and yes, three of them. The filter can be removed for cleaning as well. There are no grills on the intake fans, but they are not needed anyways. There is a small fan controller above the top fan with three settings "L, M, H", which stand for low, medium and high fan speed.


The rear of the case offers everything you would expect from a high-end case and then some. It is black as well, to keep the overall look of the X2000.


Let's start on the bottom here. There are two 80 mm fans, which pull air out of the case. These fans are located by the hard drive bays. Above that are the eight PCI brakets. Count 'em, there is really an additional one, which should come in handy for that extra USB 2.0 expansion bracket, without blocking a mainboard expansion slot. There are also four holes for water cooling tubes. Above that is the 140 mm fan, behind a traditional grill in black. Note the sticker above it. It reads "Hand crafted in Taiwan". This means that this case is put together by hand instead of by an automated machine. The top is occupied by the PSU bay and a large air vent.


Both case sides look identical. The two 5.25 inch drive bays and that single 3.5 inch bay can be accessed from either side. This is certainly a unique location, but should work fine in most cases. Besides these, there are no other openings or air vents on the side panels.