This gaming PC case layout is truly unique, featuring a front-mounted graphics card and an AIO cooler mount behind the motherboard tray.
Lian Li has just unveiled the Lian Li SUP-01, a new gaming PC case with a completely reworked internal layout that doesn’t even let you mount a graphics card directly to your motherboard. Instead, a PCIe riser cable is used to allow the graphics card to fit in the front of the case.
This peculiar yet potentially ingenious case configuration has the potential to secure the SUP-01 a place in our esteemed PC case guide. Its compact size and optimized airflow design make it highly efficient. What’s more impressive is that Lian Li is offering this new case at a reasonable price, further enhancing its appeal.
The SUP-01 case design may not appear particularly remarkable at first glance, with its single square side window, blanked-off lower section, and perforated front. However, its interior sets it apart from most others, and at the back (or right-hand side, depending on your perspective of case design), it features a fully perforated panel, offering a unique touch.
There are three primary sections within the case, each featuring distinct airflow configurations. The initial section comprises a perforated panel, allowing the graphics card to draw air directly and subsequently expel a portion of the heated air through the perforated back panel.
In the meantime, the remaining portion of the rear panel is specifically designed for the installation of AIO cooler radiators and additional fans. This enables the direct intake of cool air from the external part of the case, while simultaneously expelling hot air. Additionally, cool air is drawn in from the grilles located behind the rear IO section of the case.
1. The motherboard tray section is effectively cooled by a sole 120mm fan situated externally on the case. This fan directs air flow through the PCIe bracket region, ensuring proper cooling for components like M.2 SSDs. It is peculiar to observe the fan attached to the rear of the case, and even more unusual that it is required to circulate air through the detachable PCIe bracket covers.
It is understandable that individuals may wish to install non-graphics card PCIe hardware in this location, hence the necessity for the PCIe bracket functionality. However, the appearance may be considered somewhat unrefined.
Regarding the power supply unit (PSU), it is located in the customary segregated lower compartment, alongside a bracket for a hard drive/SSD and ample space for organizing all your cables.
The case is compatible with the latest back-connect motherboard standards, allowing you to achieve a more streamlined appearance for your PC by reducing the visibility of cables connected to the motherboard. Additionally, it includes a strip of RGB lighting that encircles the top of the enclosed base/PSU section, adding a touch of vibrant color to your setup.
It is regrettable that Lian Li did not take more risks in terms of styling for such a groundbreaking design. Nevertheless, the inclusion of a 510mm PCIe extension cable for the graphics card and three 120mm fans, all at the affordable price of $149.99, showcases Lian Li’s ability to provide a case that offers great value despite its simpler design.
The Lian Li SUP-01 will be available for purchase today, on June 30th, 2024, in both black and white color options.
This new case isn’t the first time Lian Li has excited us with gaming PC innovations this year with its new power supply design also being a welcome twist on that of most boring of PC components.