Lian Li's latest budget ATX PC case is compact and comes with some very interesting features, including a unique power supply position and some smart airflow ideas. It supports ATX motherboards, large graphics cards and 360mm radiators with dimensions close to micro ATX form factor. Add this all together and, on paper at least, the Lancool 207 could be the best budget gaming case of 2024, so let's see if that holds true with some real-world testing.
To simulate thermal demand we run the Cinebench R23 multi-thread benchmark and 3DMark Speed Way stress test simultaneously in a loop for 30 minutes to load the system fully. This gives the CPU and GPU enough time to reach constant steady-state temperature. With this data, we can compare how the system handles the thermal demand and measure peak noise levels.
Thermal performance is measured with the case in various configurations, such as the default, with the tempered glass left-hand side panel removed and with the front panel removed to see how these configurations affect the CPU and GPU temperature. During testing, only stock case fans are used unless otherwise specified. All water pumps are set to maximum RPM and fans are set to a custom RPM curve by the Motherboard software/BIOS.
All temperature measurements are presented as Deltas - meaning the ambient temperature has been deducted from the CPU temperature giving us a Delta. Data shown in the charts represent the average component temperature over the length of the test as measured by HWiNFO and then the last 15 minutes of the data are calculated to get the average. The ambient temperature during thermal tests is between 19-20⁰C.
We tested the case thermals with a 360mm AIO CPU cooler installed in the roof and with the case in several different configurations.
Running the case in various configurations has little effect on the CPU temperature due to how the 7800X3D frequency is adjusted based on a target core temperature, but it's the GPU temperature which is the one to look at in this test. However, the CPU temperature is as we would expect, so there are no worries about poor CPU thermals with the Lancool 207.
In the default configuration, with the glass side or front mesh panels removed there is little change in the GPU temperature. Disabling the bottom-mounted fans has the only significant effect on the GPU temperature, dropping by 4°C. So compared with other cases that we have tested using this graphics card the Lancool 207 keeps the GPU core temperature approximately 6-7°C cooler which isn't huge but it's a worthwhile improvement.
Moving the power supply to the front of the case, then dropping and recessing the motherboard tray is such a good idea - it's a wonder that this isn't more common. Not only does it create more space inside the case for top-mounted fans and radiators while cutting the overall required case dimensions to stick with ATX motherboard support, it also improves airflow to the bottom fans and enhances the cooling of the graphics card.
Because of this, the Lian Li Lancool 207 is a great choice for gamers who want to build a relatively basic - in terms of storage devices and add-in cards - but powerful system. Even if you choose to install storage drives on the floor-mounted brackets there will still be plenty of space down there so as not to hinder airflow to the bottom-mounted fans. The small dimensions of the case also make it reasonably light and portable, but not so much as a true small form factor case.
There have been some compromises though such as the lack of front radiator support and maximum power supply length. But other than that there's very little to complain bout with the Lancool 207, most gamers will find it has all they need for a high-end system. The only other minor complaints are the minimal cable cut-out grommets and the lack of a removable top radiator/fan bracket. The lack of dust filters in certain places is a slight worry too, we'll have to see what effect that has in time
However, if you take into consideration the time spent on the development of such a unique ATX case, the addition of four fans, two of which are 140mm ARGB PWM fans and the exceptional build quality, you soon realise that the price tag of just £74.99 is very reasonable indeed. The Lancool 207 is one of, if not the best budget ATX cases you can buy right now, especially for gamers who want maximum compatibility but compact dimensions.
As far as the cooling goes, this is one of the best airflow cases out there. Lian Li thinking out of the box with the unique power supply position and motherboard tray design is a design win for sure. Not only does it improve cooling but also cable routing, access to the power supply connections, hardware compatibility and reduced chassis dimensions, while the quick-release panels and cable management features make it a simple case to build a system with. It should be loved by professional and novice PC builders alike for sure.