Lian-Li is something of an icon when it
comes to computer cases and it was one of the first, if not the first case
manufacturer to make computer cases out of aluminium. Lian-Li cases have
improved vastly over the years thanks to improved manufacturing processes and
thanks to Lian-Li’s modular production system; the company can offer a wide
range of aluminium cases at a reasonable price.
The most expensive part of
making a case is the tooling and this is why many case manufacturers have very
similar internal structure in their cases. Lian-Li’s manufacturing process
avoids this to a degree, especially as many of the parts are used in more than
one model, something that isn’t the case with say regular steel cases.
But enough of the history and technology
lesson, let’s take a closer look at the PC-B25F which is the latest addition to
Lian-Li’s range of cases. Starting with the packaging, the case comes in an
easily recognizable box with clear model name branding and information about
the various features of the case. The case is packaged with the usual Styrofoam
protection and it comes with a quick setup guide that takes you through the
assembly steps. As the PC-B25FB has some unusual features, it helps having a
look through this before you start building your system.
Lian-Li supplies a selection of
accessories with the PC-B25F that you don’t normally get and apart from a bag
of mixed screws, you get a bag of small thumb screws, a bag of larger thumb
screws, a bag of rubber grommets, two different size cable management clips, a
power supply clamp, a speaker and an extra Molex to fan adapter. The first bag
of thumb screws is used for installing the motherboard, while a second bag of
thumb screws are combined with the rubber grommets and then attached to the
hard drives before sliding them into place in the hard drive bays.
All the mounts for the motherboard are
pre-fitted in the case, although there are spare locations for more mounts in
case you have a motherboard with a different layout of the holes. Fitting the motherboard is just a matter of
fitting it in the case and screwing in the thumb screws. There are three
slightly longer thumb screws supplied for hard to reach places. The thumb
screws can also be fitted with a Philips head screw drives if preferred.
