Lian Li PC-V880 HTPC Case

The panel and access port wires were of expected Lian Li standards.  The USB, Firewire and Audio front access lines all had block type mainboard plugs to keep you from monkeying around with tweezers.  Just below this you can see the vent area we showed you from the outside earlier.  Fresh air intake for your PSU.

     

Finishing up our dissection are the final internal racks within the Lian Li PC-880.  The larger is the 5.25" rack that can accommodate three drives.  Remember that the top and bottom most of these are externally accessible.  Optical drives here are held in via standard screws.  Just to the left of this rack you will see a second tool free HDD rack identical to the one in the rear of the case. 

Lian Li always includes necessary hardware for the end user.  This includes HDD tool free rack screws, PSU mounting plate, a two pronged three pin power adapter, motherboard standoff screwdriver as well as assorted screws to mount your board and components within the PC-V880.

Conclusion

Lian Li's PC-V880 will find a huge following in the HTPC crowd.  It has a features and flash to please the most discriminating of users.  Some of the most notable of its features is the value of two externally accessible bays which cannot be overstated.  When you need to do disc to disc burning a single bay case won't do and will have you fussing in no time.  The smart and compact layout as well as the high level of construction quality show you that this case is a Lian Li and worthy of all you have heard before.

HTPC don't all live life with a small television or a computer monitor sitting on top - but some do.  The structure felt sturdy but not enough to handle a 19" or 21" CRT monitor without damage.  This limits the end user to placing a HTPC in this case in a rack or in a stand alone setting.  However, this is tempered by the choice of a Lian Li case in the first place.  Sure I think, steel would be better but seeing a steel case made by Lian Li would be on par with seeing a passenger bus made by Ferrari.  People buy Lian Li because of the high quality aluminum construction.  The notion of sitting a TV or monitor on top also addresses the top mounted blowholes.  For these to be put into use the area must remain clear which reinforces the idea of putting the PC-V880 in a theater rack of sorts. 

At the end of the day, the only real cons I had with the Lian Li PC-V880 were its mainboard and dust issues.  The first being possible crowding full size ATX mainboard owners may experience with the power supply and the panel connection area of any large mainboard.  The other issue was dust.  While the PC-V880 has fantastic ventilation it also will be pulling in lots of dust so pick up a few cans of compressed air with this case.

The Lian Li PC-V880 has a few issues but many many more positive qualities that make it an easy case to love.  It is because of this that I think the PC-V880 should be on any HTPC shoppers list this holiday season and would be a purchase or a gift that would be thoroughly enjoyed.  Thanks go to JCL Company Ltd and Silver PCs for making this review possible.

Pros

• Fantastic looks!

• Super light

• Two external 5.25" drive bays with stealth covers

• Tool free HDD racks

• Excellent ventilation

• Very smart layout

• Block style access port connectors

• Excellent fit and finish

Cons

• Steel may be a better choice for HTPC case

• PSU may crowd panel connector area of larger mainboards

• Lots of air exchange means lots of dust

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