Lian Li V1020, V2120 preview

Lian Li PC-V2120 Preview

Manufacturer: Lian Li

Lian Li's new PC-V2120 is its latest monster case designed to fit the new, unofficial ATX specs XL-ATX and the rarer HPTX motherboards. It's a dark, tower block of a case then, with its imposing size and anodised black innards and outer bits.

You get an appreciation for the length given the fact it'll house a triple-120mm radiator (the only Lian case to do so) along the top without even infringing on the optical drive space.


Thankfully, Lian Li brings back the removable motherboard tray, so getting that beast of an EVGA board in is a little easier. Admittedly I didn't measure it, but to me the V-2120 appears no wider than a 'normal' case and certainly thinner than, say, a Cooler Master ATCS 840.

The case has compatibility for elongated PSUs and naturally comes fitted with a filter in the floor so the PSU won't clog with dust; the newly rubber striped wheels keep the whole case a good few inches from the ground. The rubber strips are very welcome because they give a bit more friction on slight inclines and stop the case from marking surfaces like tables or floors.


There are dust filters for the two front 140mm intake fans too, and there's a single exhaust fan, but that's it for cooling. As usual for Lian Li, the side covers are kept smooth and solid - there's no side-panel fan here. Instead, the side panels are covered with sound insulating foam, as is the inside of the front door.

In total there is space for fourteen 3.5in hard disks: eight in the main rack, three in the optical drive rack and three more in the bottom area. All of these caddies are removable. There's also space for two optical drives and a few SSDs as well.


The case has four ports of the latest USB 3 standard in its front-panel connectors, as well as the usual audio ports and power and reset buttons.

We weren't given a price for the V2120, but we expect an all-aluminium case of this size to be expensive. Lian Li admits it's only designed for very high-end systems, and as a more delicate and discrete alternative to a fan-filled angry case.

Remember the the V2120 is also currently the only third-party case with support for EVGA's massive Classified SR-2 motherboard (EVGA has a case of its own for it board) and one of few that conforms to the longer XL-ATX standard.

Whether the substitution of side fan for insulation and space for triple-120mm radiator in the roof is enough to keep cutting-edge kit cool remains to be seen.