O11 Air Mini: Hands-on with Lian Li’s new airflow-focused case - foxandef1993

You've probably already seen a Lian Li O11 case earlier. Visit any forum where people show off builds, and the O11 Dynamic comes finished time and time again. But the Ever-changing ISN't the only O11 line that Lian Li produces. IT also has the O11 Air, which focuses more along air flow.

The company is now launch a Mini version of the Air, matchless that sports some key differences from its O11D Mini full cousin. And those features whitethorn be sufficient to lure away builders from the O11D Mini that launched late finally year—after some active time with the case, I think this may be the one I'd commend of the two.

Looking for a direct comparison with the O11D Mini? Check knocked out our broadside-by-side breakdown of each cause's specs.

Design

Compared to the original O11 Air, the Air Mini has much more of the visual aspect (and feel for) of the O11 Dynamic lineage. In fact, information technology resembles the O11D Mini decent that the 2 a great deal wealthy person been compared in the initiate to the Air Mini's launch.

Merely while the two feel similar, the Air Mini comes with more mesh and cooling as the default option default. It has just one curable glass panel—all the other panels are metal with perforated ("engagement") segments—and includes triad PWM fans. (You get two 140mm at the movement, and ace 120mm at the tail end.) And importantly, this fresh causa is also shorter, fatter, and a trifle larger.

Because of its different shape, the O11 Air Mini accommodates larger motherboards and power supplies in its multiple-chamber layout. The underived section on the left side of the case can well EATX mobos busy 280mm in width, while the narrower department on the right side of the case takes ATX power supplies up to 200mm in duration. That last mentioned detail makes building in everyone's thoughts Mini cheaper: You're non forced to pay a premium for Sir Thomas More expensive SFX or SFX-L power supplies.

Willis Lai / IDG

The O11 Air Miniskirt (right) is compatible with ATX great power supplies.

But since the O11 Airwave Mini doesn't run as low-pitched as its O11D counterpart, information technology has only one location where you can install up to three 120mm fans—and it doesn't support 360mm radiators at all. Instead, you get an additional mounting spot for fans (up to 140mm) and a radiator (busy 280mm) at the front, which besides can be easily removed.

That fourth spot allows more flexibility for component positioning within the display case, as the O11 Air adapts a useful feature from the O11 Dynamic seam—modularity. This example rear end equal configured in a "7-slot modality" to fit EATX operating room ATX motherboards or in a "5-expansion slot mode" to present little-ATX and mini-ITX motherboards more board at the tip of the case. It's even harmonious with the O11D Mini's plumb GPU mounting bracket out accoutrement, as fortunate as a new upper side-adorned radiator bracket accessory that enables installation of a 280mm rad in 7-time slot mode.

Of course, thereupon flexibility comes a wealthiness of details to track for component clearances. But since the Bare Miniskirt has only deuce configuration "modes" compared to the High-energy Mini's trine, it's not quite as dizzying.

Building experience

Like the O11D Mini, the O11 Air Miniskirt has a unambiguous easiness that minimizes thwarting during most body-build projects. But because it has more mounting spots for fans and radiators, the O11 Air Mini would be my cream of the two O11 Minis for newer Oregon pragmatic builders. E.g., if you end up purchasing an AIO Central processor cooler with shorter tubes than expected, you ingest more choice locations for installation. No need to think heavy happening how to function around that unexpected cut.

Small touches on the Send Mini also push information technology ahead of the O11D Mini, like the finger grip along the back edge of the right-side impanel. It makes slippery the panel from the subject even simpler.

Willis Lai / IDG

For most DIYers, having the O11 Air Miniskirt's lock front and greater number of fan/radiator mounting spots will simplify how you maintain optimal system temps in your build.

Only two small changes would make this case more ideal. First, Lian Li could have extended its profundity to match the O11D Miniskirt—which candidly isn't that much deeper—to fit 360mm radiators. Or at the very least, the O11 Air Miniskirt could be ready-made deep enough to fit three 120mm fans at the bottom. I likewise would favour to placid take up removable scatter filters paired with the metal mesh panels, since they keister be rinsed subordinate a sink without worry virtually scuffs or rusting. The only removable scatter filter on the O11 Aviation Miniskirt is on the underside of the case.

Pricing and final thoughts

The O11 Air comes in two colours, with the black version priced at $110 USD and the white variance coming in at $120. MSRP is $10 less outside the US. You can find this case on with the unbent mounting bracket ($50 with a PCIe 3.0 cable, $80 with a PCIe 4.0 cable's length) and the radiator bracket out accessory ($9) on Newegg. Orders placed now will ship later in the month.

With a let down starting price than the O11D Mini and three included fans, the O11 Air Miniskirt will offer greater assess and a better balance between hot performance and aesthetics for most Personal computer builders. You tranquillize have a burnt spyglass venire to render off tidy cable management and RGB accessories (heck, the light's still going to come up done the front mesh empanel anyway), but you'll stimulate to worry very much little roughly whether Beaver State non your system is optimally configured to get enough air to your components. It's firm to argue for the O11D Mini unless you're set connected an lucubrate, gorgeous build.

Source: https://www.pcworld.com/article/395124/o11-air-mini-hands-on.html

Posted by: foxandef1993.blogspot.com

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