Lian Li PC-V360 Review

Performance Analysis

With our mini-ITX rather than micro-ATX test gear installed due to the fact the CPU cooler on the latter won't fit in the PC-V360, we set about seeing how the case did compared to its cube-like sibling, the PC-V358 and our range of mini-ITX cases. It's CPU delta T of 53°C was fairly respectable, bettering the PC-V358 by a fraction although with the fans making quite a din, it's clear that the front fan in particular struggles to pull the air in at 90 degrees through the side vent.

In addition, the roof fan being the only included exhaust apart from the PSU means the air has to bend round 90 degrees again instead of going straight through the case. Not a massively efficient setup and it shows in the graphs, but thankfully there is the option of using a rear 80mm fan and maybe even using one or both of the side 120mm fan mounts as an exhaust to create some negative air pressure and get that heat out of the case.


The GPU delta T was much more competitive, and at 53°C (yes that's the same as the CPU delta T - not a typo), it was well above average although again, the top runners such as the Prodigy and Obsidian 250D were some way ahead. This is due to the simple fact that the side vents don't line up with the GPU as they do in the Obsidian 250D, for example, so again, while the vent is nearby, it's not close enough to provide a massive benefit.

Conclusion

With a £100 price, tag, excellent build quality and a flexible interior, the PC-V360 is a very interesting case indeed. It's certainly not run-of-the-mill and it's actually quite refreshing to find ourselves working out what might be possible in terms of cooling for a change, rather than just staring at the usual dual 120mm-fan radiator-compatible roof mounts and generic interior.

The lack of CPU cooler clearance is certainly something to be aware of, although we're reluctant to say it's a problem because that's how the case has been designed. Given its dimensions, it's possible Lian Li isn't aiming at super high-end system owners here anyway. However, tower coolers are out of the question - even the Arctic Freezer 7 Pro is too tall, but with many low-profile coolers offering good cooling and all-in-one liquid coolers not costing the earth, you're certainly not stuck as far as cooling goes.

The only real issue is cable routeing and looking back at our photos, a longer motherboard tray would have been useful and the modder in us would seriously consider some kind of extension plate to bridge the gap between the motherboard tray and hard disk cages and maybe go even further and blank the areas behind these off too to hide the cables. Perhaps the PC-V360's main competitor is the Fractal Design Arc Mini R2. The PC-V360 is smaller, edgier, better-made and generally more interesting but the Arc Mini R2 is £30 cheaper, offers even better water-cooling support and fan control as standard. It's by far a better choice if you're on a budget or want to maximise your water-cooling potential, although we'd completely sympathise if you went for the PC-V360 instead.