Lian Li O11D EVO Review
Conclusion
So, do we like the Lian Li O11D EVO? We don’t like it, we love it. As mentioned earlier in this review, the O11D EVO is a blank canvas, a canvas that can be used in an infinite number of ways. This case is a modders paradise, and while most users will not need a Dremel or tools to get what they want from the case, it offers all the options needed to get a modder’s fingers to itch.
The only problem that most users will find with its case is that it presents too many options. You will need to buy your own fans for this case, and you will need to decide where your fans and liquid cooling radiators will be oriented. How best to cool your system? Is X orientation better than Y? Should I invest in that add-on? The answer to these questions are not obvious in all cases, and you will need to spend a little time and effort to get the most out of the Lian Li O11D EVO.
The Lian Li O11D EVO is a case that is made with PC lovers in mind. It is versatile enough to give seasoned PC builders everything they need to create a beautiful system. Beyond that, this case’s sheer reconfigurability almost guarantees that no two systems using this case will be the same.
If you build an ugly PC in this case, it’s your fault
When designing the O11D EVO, Lian Li thought of everything that a PC builder could possibly need to create the custom PC of their dreams. Even out-of-the-box, the O11D EVO has a tonne of options, from its inverted/reverse layout option, to its ability to support two power supplies.
Every radiator mount on the O11D EVO is removable, allowing those with liquid cooling ambitions to easily construct their PCs. The number of 360 mm and 280 mm radiators that this case supports is staggering. Beyond that, this case would look phenomenal with a liquid cooling distro plate or other liquid cooling additions.
Users of the O11D EVO also have the option to add more I/O ports to the case, change the location of the case’s I/O, and add a new air intake location by replacing the case’s front windowed side panel with mesh. The case also has two vertical GPU mount optional add-ons, both of which ship with PCIe 4.0 compatible riser cables. Lian Li hasn’t cheaped-out on these add-on items, and the good news for PC builders is that many of these add-ons are very affordable.
Is this the perfect PC case?
The quick answer to that question is no. This is the perfect modders PC case, not the perfect PC case. Why do we say this? We say this because the Lian Li O11D EVO is the perfect starting point for some major PC building creativity, not the perfect starting point for your average PC builder.
If you want a PC case that will “just work” out of the box once you plop your hardware inside, the Lian Li O11D is not the case for you. You want something more mass market, where case designers have already sorted you out with an idealised fan setup, and user configurability is limited.
The Lian Li O11D EVO is a case that you need to give love and attention. It demands that you think long and hard about what hardware you place inside, how it will be configured, and how you will optimally cool that hardware. For that effort, you will be rewarded with a system that’s exactly what you want, and you will be rewarded with a system that is yours.
With no included fans, and so many configurability options, the O11D EVO is a case that is not designed for mainstream adoption. This is a PC case for enthusiasts, for modders, and those who want to spend their time and attention on creating their perfect PC.
The sheer number of options that this case provides us with has us excited. We think that OEM system builders and enthusiasts will use the O11D EVO to create incredible systems. Hell, even we want to spend more time working on this case, it brings us back to the old days of PC modding.
At $159.99/$169.99, this case isn’t cheap. That said, it isn’t hugely expensive either considering the level of hardware that it supports. If you invest in a custom liquid cooling loop, the price of this case will be nothing compared to that. A single GPU water block rivals this case’s pricing.
There is only one award that the Lian Li O11D EVO deserves, and it is the OC3D Enthusiast Grade Award. The reasoning behind this decision should be obvious. This case is creative freedom in a box, a canvas that can be used to turn your PC dreams into a real-life work of art. Lian Li has done the work to make the perfect frame for the PC market’s system building ambitions. We’re looking forward to seeing how PC builders use it.
You can join the discussion on our review of Lian Li’s O11D EVO case on the OC3D Forums.
Video Review
