Lian Li announces crazy PC-888

Love it? Hate it? Either way, you have to admit it's unique.

CES 2009: For those who’re always moaning that every modern case designs are always just another turn on the familiar black/silver box, Lian Li is here to shake things up with its newly announced PC-888 case, set to début at CES this week.

Inspired by the design of the Burj Al Arab hotel in Dubai, it looks set to continue Lian Li’s tradition of occasionally producing off the wall cases unlike anything else on the market. We think you’ll agree that there’s nothing else on the market that looks anything like it.

Some of you may remember Lian Li’s “Snail” case, the PC-777, and the PC-888 is in very much the same vein, chucking traditional case aesthetics in the bin with a unique chassis design that’s pitched firmly at those looking for something a little bit special to house their beloved system in.

However, it’s not just a pretty face, with room for a full ATX motherboard, four hot-swap hard disk drive bays, three 120mm speed controlled cooling fans and pre-stealthed drive bays. In fact the insides are deceptively compact for what is, externally , quite a large chassis.

But the most eye catching thing about the PC-888 must be that ocean blue anodized aluminium used in the construction. It looks absolutely gorgeous and is a great change from the usual sea of black, silver and gun metal grey we would normally see chassis ship in, although we're sure the design itself will a bit like Marmite: you'll either love it or hate it.

We’ll be bringing you a full review of the PC-888 next week, but for now we’ll leave you with a few tasty pics to drool/hiss over.

Got a thought? Share it with us in the forums.

Lian Li announces crazy PC-888 Lian Li announces crazy PC-888 Lian Li announces crazy PC-888
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Lian Li announces crazy PC-888 Lian Li announces crazy PC-888 Lian Li announces crazy PC-888
Quote HugoB 6th January 2009, 12:54
That is so awesome! I want one!
Quote [USRF]Obiwan 6th January 2009, 12:57
Eh.. hmmz...

Reminds me of this tower in Dubai.
Quote Nuffenburger 6th January 2009, 12:59
but theres no tennis court on top what a rip off
Quote liratheal 6th January 2009, 13:01
...

I must have.
Quote ChaosDefinesOrder 6th January 2009, 13:06
Quote:
Originally Posted by [USRF
Obiwan]Eh.. hmmz...

Reminds me of this tower in Dubai.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Article
Inspired by the design of the Burj Al Arab hotel in Dubai
Quote airchie 6th January 2009, 13:06
Its quite groovy but I'm curious to know what the little chimmney thing on top is?
Looks pretty spacious though...
Quote UrbanMarine 6th January 2009, 13:11
Does it come with a bar?
Quote xaser04 6th January 2009, 13:13
That is postively vile. (said in a posh accent :) )
Quote _DTM2000_ 6th January 2009, 13:20
Quote:
Originally Posted by Nuffenburger
but theres no tennis court on top what a rip off


It's got a flag pole though, which is the main thing.

Seriously though, I'm not a big fan of the blue colour and I don't like the bits stuck on top. Other than that it looks like a good design to me.
Quote icutebluezone 6th January 2009, 13:21
Oh :O owwww no what have thay done.

Its a nice blue thats all i really like about it.

Would hate to no the cost of it.
Quote Blademrk 6th January 2009, 13:22
Looks like a case to match the blue Type R PSU you just reviewed :D.
Quote proxess 6th January 2009, 13:22
Will there be a review of this? I'm curious to see the rating of "Ease of Use". Maybe you could also start putting pricing in Euros on the site? Other than that its a rather nice looking case.
Quote Burnout21 6th January 2009, 13:24
is it just me or has lian li kinda lost the plot recently with there designs, i mean really lost the plot!

Armorsuit PC-P60/80B
TYR PC-X500/2000

maddness!

there seriously high end cases would look aweful in are homes, or maybe its my age talking again... :'(


mmmmmmmmmmm PC-A70B now thats pretty!
Quote Paradigm Shifter 6th January 2009, 13:39
I know that there is the whole 'beauty is in the eye of the beholder' thing... but that case looks absolutely horrible. Worse than even some of the 'alien-themed' cases I've seen over the years.

Lian-Li come out with some real stunning cases, though - both the sort of stunning that makes me sit there and go "Oh wow, I want!" and the sort of stunning that makes it sit there and go "I wouldn't want that if it was free!"

This case is most definitely the latter.
Quote severedhead 6th January 2009, 13:51
Thats rank tbh, but I can't deny that its an interesting and unique design.
Quote Delphium 6th January 2009, 14:04
ewwwwwww MY EYES, THEY BLEEED!!!
Thats a pretty nasty case for my likings... however I do like the blue paint job :(

-1 rep for Lian-Li tbh (again, considering some of the other recent monstrosities).


EDIT: anyone got a mini slinkly.. could make this case 'fun'? hehe
Quote Mongoose132 6th January 2009, 14:09
My eyes burn O.o

No accounting for some peoples tastes though :p
Quote samkiller42 6th January 2009, 14:09
wow, looks absolutley stunning, waits patiently for a full indepth review

Sam
Quote DragunovHUN 6th January 2009, 14:10
Uhh that's.... special. They should have at least made it white instead of this terrible blue, that way it would resemble Burge Al Arab.
Quote Aterius Gmork 6th January 2009, 14:12
Interesting how people say how they like this case because it's Lian Li when they would have flamed it if it would be manufactured by any other brand.

Functional or not, do not like.
Quote will. 6th January 2009, 14:19
How... Extravagant...

I don't like it. What happened to Lian Li's clean lines and subtle touches alongside awesome build quality?
Quote perplekks45 6th January 2009, 14:28
I might have liked the case if it had...
  • a different color scheme(Who the hell came up with that color? Who said white? Agreed.)
  • a different design (What's that box on top? Why not just stealth that as well? U-G-L-Y!)

Other than that I like it. The three 'area' design, the space it seems to offer. The way the HDDs are top-mounted in the lower area... All nice little touches. Will have to wait for the final review of course. ;)
Quote Xenith 6th January 2009, 14:37
It is interesting,
but I don't really like it...
Quote overdosedelusion 6th January 2009, 14:43
Jesus Christ that's horrifying. I'm surprised it doesn't have gold curtain rods with red drapes on that window. Utterly atrocious.
Quote Skiddywinks 6th January 2009, 15:30
Narp, don't like.
Quote Delphium 6th January 2009, 15:36
Quote:
Originally Posted by overdosedelusion
I'm surprised it doesn't have gold curtain rods with red drapes on that window.

:)

You never know... if there was one on every side you could at least hide the mess hrhr
Quote icutebluezone 6th January 2009, 16:27
Quote:
Originally Posted by Burnout21
is it just me or has lian li kinda lost the plot recently with there designs, i mean really lost the plot!

Armorsuit PC-P60/80B
TYR PC-X500/2000

maddness!

there seriously high end cases would look aweful in are homes, or maybe its my age talking again... :'(


mmmmmmmmmmm PC-A70B now thats pretty!


Yeh. Love the nice simple old Lian Li pcv1000 style. B)

This thing is like sumthing thermaltake would make but lain li made it a high quality thamaltake design.
Quote salesman 6th January 2009, 17:00
I like it. I don't think I would buy it though.
Quote Xtrafresh 6th January 2009, 17:13
bah. This is supposed to be a radical case, but all they really did was curve the front again, the rest of it is just the same old rectangle-with-a-window that 99% of casemakers sell. And what on earth is on the top?

LiLi has never shied away from making expensive things before, why not spend that little extra and have the case narrow towards the top like the real building? Had they done that, it might have looked acceptable. Now it's just... hideous.

As it is, it's a hybrid design from two things that should never have mixed. It reminds me of the South Park PETA-episode, with the duck-man-baby-atrocity begging: "kiiilll meee".

And the color! argh! LiLi has definately lost the plot here! Give us our sleek lines and sophistication back!
Quote IanW 6th January 2009, 17:58
Just more proof that LiLi have been hiring Thermaltake's designers.
Quote Boddaker 6th January 2009, 18:18
Quote:
Originally Posted by Xtrafresh
bah. This is supposed to be a radical case, but all they really did was curve the front again, the rest of it is just the same old rectangle-with-a-window that 99% of casemakers sell. And what on earth is on the top?

LiLi has never shied away from making expensive things before, why not spend that little extra and have the case narrow towards the top like the real building? Had they done that, it might have looked acceptable.

If Lian LI made it look any more like the hotel, then it would no longer be a computer case. They set out to create a case that features design elements from the hotel. In that regard, the have succeeded. I'm sure it was tempting to take it further, but I'm glad they didn't. That's a job best left to us modders! lol

I'm not sure what inspired that top I/O box with the antenna though. That would be the first thing to go if I were to get one.
Quote Anti-Hero 6th January 2009, 18:42
Ugh.

Looks like Lian-Li fired the designers that made the brand so succesfull and hired new ones that have the age of 12 and are still into making color drawings with crayons.
If they keep going on like this where will all the good modders get their oh-so-beautiful blank canvasses from?
Quote Psytek 6th January 2009, 18:44
Gorgeous? lmao, you should stop drinking on the job.
Quote outlawaol 6th January 2009, 18:53
A curious monstrosity. I dont want to know the price tag, and whats with the dial for that fan doing on the back of it? Thats a stupid place for it.

Other then that, its novelty. Kinda like the people that trick their cars out with spoilers and go the speed limit all the time, whats the point?
Quote mnpctech 6th January 2009, 19:08
Must be the same guy that designed the memorial case that looked like a commerical floor heater.. I'll pass
Quote Cadillac Ferd 6th January 2009, 19:24
Honestly not my favorite design in the world but its not necessarily all that ugly. I do love that they're taking chances (in addition to their usual simpler designs). Does anyone know what the hell that box/pole on the top of the box is? The case looks alright then at the top it just looks all kinds of strange.

On a side note... how hard is it for cases to have the same color throughout? Lian Li has done it a couple times on their cases but they're all just waaaaaaaaaaay too expensive.
Quote Baz 6th January 2009, 19:26
Quote:
Originally Posted by Psytek
Gorgeous? lmao, you should stop drinking on the job.

I was talking about the material, not the design.
Quote tranc3 6th January 2009, 19:41
That's not the lian li, i prefer simplicity, from them at least if this was another company i'd like it.
Quote AFX 6th January 2009, 20:12
Ick.
Quote E.E.L. Ambiense 6th January 2009, 20:55
Quote:
Originally Posted by [USRF]Obiwan
Eh.. hmmz...

Reminds me of this tower in Dubai.

That's not the first time I've seen that response too, lol. Personally, it's not for me. But shouldn't stop anyone from snagging it though!
Quote E.E.L. Ambiense 6th January 2009, 20:57
Quote:
Originally Posted by mnpctech
Must be the same guy that designed the memorial case that looked like a commerical floor heater.. I'll pass

LOL!
Quote s3v3n 6th January 2009, 20:58
the color, the shape, and that weird stick on the top lol
this one isnt for me.
Quote jhanlon303 6th January 2009, 21:37
Quote:
Originally Posted by mnpctech
Must be the same guy that designed the memorial case that looked like a commerical floor heater.. I'll pass

Wow, If Bill can't save it then it is REALLY bad.

I like Lian-Li same as most of us but that submarine looking tower what-is-it on top is nasty ugly.

john
Quote Thatguy119 6th January 2009, 21:49
Not for me at all.
Quote azrael- 6th January 2009, 22:43
I still love the PC-A20 the most, or the PC-A27 if they ever get it out the door.

Truth be told, though, I'm getting a bit disappointed by the apparent slide in quality by Lian Li. Just took my 2002 model PC61 apart the other day and it's *much* more sensibly constructed than their recent cases.

I'm thinking of things like the detachable cable for the front header (power, reset, speaker etc) and also their vastly superior motherboard mounting.

These days they simply drill holes in the aluminium tray. These holes are much too fragile. My friend's B25 was almost ruined that way, because the screws didn't fit properly into the mounting studs which in turn frayed several holes. My old PC61 has precut squares into which you can insert mounting studs (they click into place). Much better solution. I wonder why they abandoned features like that. It's not as if their cases have become that much cheaper.
Quote LordPyrinc 7th January 2009, 01:55
The blue color of the case is good depending on what its applied to, but I don't like the overall style of the case. I would rather buy a plain rectangular box than this case.
Quote Slyporkie 7th January 2009, 11:57
poof!
Quote naokaji 7th January 2009, 12:10
I woudn't mind if Lian Li would offer some of the normal cases in blue, but the Pc-888 is beyond rescue.

I'll take a a77 anyday, or even a tyr 2k, but I wouldn't let a 888 get close to me, it's just too ugly.
Quote Sathy 7th January 2009, 15:46
The case isn't exactly easy on the eye. To me it looks more like a waste of space than a neat design as the Lian-Li's have been for the most part. Loved the 777 model case, but this...not.

I gotta say I'm stunned at how many people fail to read the news properly and ask questions that have already been answered in the original post. Funny in a...odd sort of a way.
Quote LightStar 7th January 2009, 17:28
What a ugly case :S i dont hope lian li is going to use this style. the older cases looking mutch better then this one.
Quote mayakovski 7th January 2009, 19:26
WOW;

That has to be one of the stupidest cases I have ever seen.
Lian Li meets Fisher Price.

YUCK!
Quote Nexxo 7th January 2009, 19:34
juFZh92MUOY
Quote mnpctech 7th January 2009, 19:58
More photos of Lian Li PC-888, with dubai hotel at end

Awb0q4U17V4&feature=channel_page
Quote misterkholl 7th January 2009, 22:56
LOVED!!!! nice to see things like that from the industry!
Quote tominated 7th January 2009, 23:13
http://imageshack.us
Quote Langer 7th January 2009, 23:35
just... ew.

What a monstrosity.
Quote talladega 8th January 2009, 05:51
what is that pole on top for? gotta be for a wifi antenna.

either way. awesome color but puke design.
Quote notatoad 8th January 2009, 06:36
i covered my thoughts on this case yesterday, before i even knew it existed. yes, i really am that good.

http://forums.bit-tech.net/showthread.php?p=1896115#post1896115
Quote SGTDRE 8th January 2009, 23:56
I love Lian Li Cases,,, BUT,,, I would not buy this one even If you gave me the $$$ and as per this other review site I found it on.

here is the link http://www.guru3d.com/news/lian-li-launches-striking-pc888-full-tower-chassis/

Holy mother of god,,, $ 640 USD "sitting here with mouth gaping open as jaw hits Floor Klunk!!!!" What in gods name were they thinking of . Even if It was given to me for FREE, I would just set it up as a high price roach motel :-)) or hide it up in the attic so no one would see it. Im sorry here but I know this a big flame job of this case, good god this was just waste of hard work and man hours to create...

What happened to old beautiful cases they made in the years gone by?
Like the, Lian Li PC-V1000B with window I love the inverted MOBO designe and now can't find not one that is a Full Tower with Inverted MOBO, IMO that is what set Lian Li apart from the rest, High Quality, lean, clean with the Inverted MOBO.

Oh yeah hello all, first time post.

Dre
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