Lian Li PC-A7010 All Aluminum Full Tower Case

Conclusion and Final Thoughts

The Lian Li PC-A7010 carries a whopping $295 price tag and is most definitely a high end case. With the time I have spent with the PC-A7010 I now know why some enthusiasts covet the Lian Li cases so much. The build quality is amazing, as it should be for an investment close to $300.

The last case we looked at that is in the same price range was the Antec P190. The P190 is a very nice case, and it even comes with 1200 watts worth of power supply for the same money. Its biggest drawback was its weight. This is where the PC-A7010 pulls ahead — way ahead. The whole test system installed into the PC-7010 weighs less than the P190 does empty, and is just as quiet.

The SATA backplane is a nice feature. It will clean up a lot of cable clutter and make things look very nice, even though it is hidden behind the case side. Speaking of cable clutter, I would also recommend a modular PSU for use in this case. Its not a must-have as there is space to hide cables, but the space that is available is between the case side and the SATA backplane. With a modular PSU you dont have to worry about hiding cables youre not using anyway and it also lessens the chance of snapping a SATA connector.

The PC-A7010 has the ability to house up to 10 hard drives. If you had the cash you could have 10x 1.5 TB hard drives; this should be more than enough for just about anyones home theater setup.

Now those that want water cooling, dont worry there is more than enough room. To make things that much nicer, with the optional pre-cut tops you can purchase from Lain Li you dont have to worry about messing up that beautiful finish for a top mount radiator.

Even with six 120mm fans set to medium, the case was very quiet. The fans also moved a fair amount of air throughout the case; so much that you can feel the exhaust air through the vented expansion slot covers.

The only downside that I can see with the case is its price, $295 + shipping; that is very close to a car payment for most people. Granted some may think its a drop in the bucket compared to some video cards out today and there are more expensive cases out there as well. Either way you look at it, its a significant investment. If youre looking for a classy, sharp looking, light, and quiet case that has loads of room for your components then the Lian Li has you covered with the PC-A7010.

Legit Bottom Line: The PC-A7010 is a very well built case with some very nice features. If you have the means with the economy the way it is, I would highly recommend it for a home theater server or even a workstation.