Lian Li Strimer Plus V2 in review – The popular RGB cables now even better?
Lian Li has already brought with the Strimer Plus an absolutely unique product on the market. Sure, the illusion of the illuminated cables already exists from competitors, but the Strimer Plus has unique features and works from the principle also quite different from those otherwise available on the market.
Now Lian Li has announced to 06.05.2022 to bring an optimized version of these illuminated power cable extensions on the market. Whether this optimization has its sense and what exactly is included, you will learn in this review.
Technical data
| Model | LIAN LI ADDRESSABLE RGB STRIMER PLUS V2 24PIN |
| Dimensions | 247mm (L) x 56.6mm (D) x 15 mm (H) |
| Material | Silicone, TPE |
| Cable | 200 mm |
| Number of LEDs | 120 |
| Price | $69.99 |
| Model | LIAN LI ADDRESSABLE RGB STRIMER PLUS V2 8–PIN | ||||||||||||
| Dimensions | 345mm (L) x 43.5mm (D) x 15 mm (H) | ||||||||||||
| Material | Silicone, TPE | ||||||||||||
| Cable | 300 mm | ||||||||||||
| Number of LEDs | 108 | ||||||||||||
$49.99
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Packaging
Looking at the packaging for the Strimmer Plus V2, we don’t see much difference from its predecessor. Slightly changed design and holographic font are the main features here. On the side of the box, we see the actual product and can look forward to the inside. The back is completely blank.
Scope of delivery
In this review, we worked with the dual 8-pin and the 24-pin ATX strimmer.
Included in the Dual 8-Pin Strimer is:
-
- Strimmer Plus V2 Extension cable 300 mm
- 5V ARGB adapter cable
- Total 4x white buckle with 2 different designs
Included in the 24-pin ATX Strimer:
- Strimer Plus V2 Extension Cable 220 mm
- Strimer L-Connect 3 Controller
- Micro USB cable
- 5V ARGB cable for controller
- 2x buckle in different design
- Magnetic pad
Also provided for a user manual and a thank you for the purchase. You can only enjoy the new lighting effects by purchasing the controller separately or buying the 24-pin ATX model. That means, if you only buy the PCIe cables, you don’t get one. However, you can also control the Strimer via the motherboard or other controllers.
Design and workmanship
At first glance, there isn’t much of a difference from the previous model. However, if you look at the side of the cables, you can see that the successor will also be illuminated on the side. Lian Li advertises with significantly more flexibility in the strimmers, which should make it possible to install the cables even in somewhat narrower cases without much fear of cable breakage or damage to the LEDs. We have of course tested this and can fully confirm! The cables can be adapted without any problems and can be bent further than would normally be necessary. This is made possible by changing the material from braided, two-row PVC to a single row of high-end silicone. This has also increased the temperature resistance from 105° to 150°.
Mounting
Before assembling the cable extension, you could replace the black handles on both ends with the white ones provided. To do this, simply squeeze the sides together and release. Once this is done, the cables can already be used as an extension for our power supply in the computer. The position of the cables can of course be chosen freely. Some prefer it, if the PCIe strimer overlaps the ATX strimer, others widerrum want to have the graphics card power supply from below to the card.
Once that’s done, it’s on to powering the lights. To do this, we have a cable directly on the strimer that we connect to the controller. We connect this directly to one of the USB headers on the motherboard with the micro USB cable. Now connect the SATA connector to the power supply and you are ready to go. However, if you prefer to use your own controller, you can use the 5V 3-pin ARGB adapter cable and connect it to it.
Feature
After we have installed everything properly, it’s time to take a look at the “L-Connect 3” software. Here we can distinguish between different modes. Lian Li has now built in that you can install up to 6 effects on one cable harness. This lets you implement the most bizarre ideas for designing the lighting on the cables and, although there are actually “only” 24 effects, gives you the opportunity to implement significantly more. Compared to the predecessor, Lian Li has added a total of 9 new lighting modes, which we also like quite a bit. In addition, it is now possible to determine the speed and direction of the lighting effects themselves. One person wants it to flow towards the motherboard, the other likes it the other way around. Some like it to flow slower, others faster. The strimmers can shine very brightly, but you can also make them darker or brighter in the software. With the software it is super easy to set all this and Lian Li gets a big plus point from us for this.
ARGB control via the motherboard or another controller also works flawlessly, so even if the rest of the lighting can’t be connected to the Lian Li controller, it can still glow coherently with the other PC components.
However, what also stands out very positively is the now also laterally recognizable illumination. This was missing in the predecessor and is definitely noticeable.
Summary of Lian Li Strimer V2 review
The Strimer Plus V1 from Lian Li have already built up a large fanbase, as they are not only illuminated from the ends, but through a variety of controllable LEDs that are regularly distributed in the upper layer of the cables and thus capable of implementing completely different effects. The replacement of this strimer brings some very good enhancements and thus provides an absolute transformation of the entire interior of the case.
The upgrade of the material is quite noticeable. The cables can be bent without problems partly very strongly, whereby one should of course exaggerate it too much. The LED lighting, which is now also visible from the side, adds the icing on the cake.