Final Words & Conclusion
Final Words & Conclusion
It’s time for the conclusion. Lian Li has succeeded in further improving its successful O11 Dynamic. The Lian Li O11 Dynamic EVO is a beautiful and excellent chassis. In addition to the numerous spaces for HDD storage and cooling components, the simple inversion and the many options (sold separately) for customizing the housing stand out.
The build quality is excellent. The internal layout is typical, as it’s an (E-)ATX chassis (although it’s better to stick to the ATX). You don’t get any fan controller; it would come in handy (due to the available fans space). You get no fans here, so it’s up to you what you choose. The Lian Li O11 Dynamic EVO is a case that is not designed for mainstream adoption. It is a PC chassis for enthusiasts, modders, and those who want to spend their time and attention creating their perfect PC.
Features
There’s enough space for up to 422 mm long GPUs, 167 mm tall CPU coolers, and 220 mm long PSUs. You can install up to six 3.5” or eleven 2.5” drives. The liquid cooling capacity is more than enough, and you can install a 360 mm rad on the side of the case, a 360 mm one at the top, and a 3600 mm one at the bottom. The I/O panel has a standard set of two USB 3.0 ports, USB 3.1 Type-C, and an audio jack. The power and LED buttons are placed separately. You get only one typical magnetic dust filter set at the bottom. The mainboard connections for the power, reset buttons, and lighting have been combined into one connector. It is practical for all owners of modern mainboards, as only one plug is plugged in, and there is no need to search in the manual to find out which of the nine pins is available for which function. For experienced users, it is also possible to switch to “Reverse Mode,” where the same features and installation options are available, but the side window is on the right-hand side.
Aesthetics
Looks are always a subjective matter. The new O11 Dynamic EVO design is tremendous and leaves nothing to be desired. Visually, it remains very similar to its predecessor but still looks much more modern due to many smaller further developments. The quality is excellent; there’s no reason for complaints.
Performance
The temperatures are average, but mainly due to the lack of bundled fans. The noise levels are about average. With a front mesh and three 120 mm fans – it dramatically improves. If you slow them down, they still should give a decent airflow and bring the temperatures (and noise) to a comfortable area.
The Verdict
The Lian Li O11 Dynamic EVO is an (E-)ATX compatible mid-tower chassis 465 × 285 × 459 (L×W×H). The build quality is excellent. It looks excellent also, thanks to two-glass panels. You get no fans; it’s up to you to choose/buy them. There’s an option to install a combo of 360+360+360 mm water radiators. If you prefer air cooling – even the 167 mm products will fit (and that’s a significant improvement vs. 155 in the predecessor). As for the power supply – theoretically, it’s 220 mm (so I think all used PSUs would work). Speaking of the storage options – you can mount up to six 3.5” or eleven 2.5” drives. Lian Li O11 Dynamic EVO has a flexible design that allows users to flip the top and bottom panels for upside-down or traditional orientation is just the beginning of the options this unique chassis supports. There is an option of changing the position of the I/O panel, adding another one, placing the GPU vertically or upright, or adding a front mesh panel. It’s a good pick if you’re looking for maximum visibility for your system innards; modest builds may want a model that allows for more cover-up.
From a less optimistic side – regarding the side mount, if you were to put an RGB-lit cooler or fan set there, using it will likely create a dust problem. Even those who mount their filter internally between the side panel and radiator bracket may notice dust collecting around the vent holes in short order. Also, only one fan filter at the bottom is not we thing we’d adore. The default I/O port at the bottom is quite weird (suitable only for the people who keep the chassis on the desk, not under it). The chassis costs 169 USD (which is not cheap). But is it worth it? Overall - yes, because you get great quality, nice features, and excellent looks. Still, it would help if you remembered that you wouldn’t get fans here (and two basic ones would be a good starting point for some of the buyers). Additionally – the front mesh should have been in the bundle, same as the Top I/O kit, especially in this budget. There’s a tight cable-routing between side grommets and side fan/radiator mount, and the E-ATX support is not practical (but that’s not a major drawback).
The final result looks very clean. Water cooling enthusiasts should love it because the features provided here would be more than enough for a typical AMD/Intel system with a single GPU. On the other side –air cooling is also possible and should work fine. If you want a PC case that will “just work” out of the box once you put your hardware inside, the Lian Li O11 Dynamic Evo is not the case for you. You want something more mass market, where case designers have already sorted you out with an idealized fan setup, and user configurability is limited. Summing it up – it deserves a “Top Pick” award. Still, some minor things could’ve been improved (maybe O11 Dynamic Evo^2 would address it?).
- Sign up to receive a notification when we publish a new article
- Or go back to Guru3D's front page
