Lian Li has a reputation for creating some of the most prestigious cases on the market and always employs premium materials. These aluminium creations are very popular with system builders who want the very best money can buy. As you might expect, the attention to detail and thick construction results in a hefty price premium. Cheaper options from other manufacturers tend to use a combination of a steel frame and plastic front. Lian Li hasn’t really attempted to enter the mainstream market until now. The new range includes the PC-K5, PC-K6 and PC-K6S which are three mid-tower cases. These units offer competitive air cooling and water cooling support at an affordable price point.
The Versatile, Cost-Effective PC-K5
The PC-K5 is the first of the new Ebonsteel cases. It’s a mid-tower chassis for ATX or mATX motherboards, including two removable drive cages storing a total of four 3.5″ or four 2.5″ drives. With seven expansion slots, builders can install VGA cards up to 250mm long with the cages installed, or remove one or both cages to install cards as long as 400mm. It accommodates 250mm ATX PSUs and CPU coolers up to 160mm tall. The PC-K5 uses two 120mm intake fans on the front panel and vents through a final 120mm fan in the back. Water cooling enthusiasts can mount a 120mmx240mmx60mm radiator on the top fan mounts, or simply add two additional 120mm fans. The front panel has two 5.25″ bays and the top panel includes one USB 3.0, two USB 2.0, and HD audio inputs.
The Minimalistic PC-K6 Makes Tidy Building Easy
Like the PC-K5, the PC-K6 is also a mid tower chassis for ATX or mATX motherboards. It can mount a total of seven 3.5″ or 2.5″ drives, which face the panel opposite the motherboard. Similar to the new J-series cases, the drives and PSU are covered with steel panels, streamlining the compartment and keeping the motherboard tray and expansion cards in the spotlight. It can mount VGA cards up to 310mm long, PSUs 310mm long, and CPU coolers 170mm tall. Two 120mm intake fans draw air through the chassis and vent out an additional 120mm fan in the back. Builders can elect to instead install 140mm intake fans and add two additional 120mm or 140mm fans on the top panel. For those who insist on water cooling, the PC-K6 can mount a 120mmx240mmx60mm or 140mmx280mmx60mm radiator. The front panel has two 5.25″ bays and the top panel includes two USB 3.0, one USB 2.0, and HD audio inputs.
Silence, Now Available in Steel – The PC-K6S
The “silent” model of the PC-K6 is virtually identical to the standard version, but with a few extra features. The PC-K6S uses sound-dampening foam inserts in the panels to isolate fan noise inside the chassis, mitigating its overall noise. The front panel on this version is hinged to swing open for easier access to the 5.25″ bays and 120mm intake fans. It includes an extra USB 2.0 port, totalling two USB 3.0, two USB 2.0, and HD audio ports protected by a sliding metal cover.
The new Ebonsteel cases will be available in mid-June for the K5, and late June for the K6 and K6S. In terms of pricing, the PC-K5X will retail for $56 while the windowed version costs $60. On another note, the PC-K6X is set to cost $93 and the silent version PC-K6SX will set you back $109.
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