Looking to build a Mini-ITX system? Lian Li may have the building block you’ll need with the launch of the PC-Q04, a chassis that promises enough breathing room for your hardware while keeping a compact form factor. The company admits that the PC-Q04 isn’t the smallest case it offers, measuring 194(W)x294(H)x210(D)-mm. But thats OK, its still small enough to tuck away in your office or living room.
According to the company, the chassis does not ship with fans. Instead, it relies on a number of vents to cool the components, helping to create a silent PC build. You can mount a system fan (120mm or 140mm) on the bottom, or use that space to mount a 2.5-inch or 3.5-inch HDD or SSD instead. There’s also space provided at the top for mounting two 2.5-inch drives, or a 3.5-inch and 2.5-inch drive side by side.
The specs show that the case can handle an ATX power supply unit of up to 160mm, a VGA card of up to 190mm long, and a CPU cooler of up to 70mm in height. There are also two expansion slots that can handle thick cards, tall rubber stands mounted on the bottom, two USB ports on the front, as well as HD audio jacks and the power button. The case is made entirely out of aluminum and comes in either black or silver.
Lian Li indicates that the big selling point is in the “enhanced” vents. There’s a large vent on the side so that the power supply can draw in and vent out its own air. There are also vents on the bottom right and left as well as a huge vent on the bottom of the case so that the GPU can draw in air when needed. The back of the case is also one big vent so that the warm air can be ejected away from the hardware naturally.
“The PSU cycles its own airflow without affecting other components,” Lian Li explains. “The GPU similarly can pull air directly from the bottom and side intakes and vent directly from its fan. The CPU is more sheltered and requires a smaller cooler. It vents through the oversized back panel as air will naturally flow that way.”
The company says these vents are designed to help reduce vibration and noise that can come from installed fans. Naturally, system builders will want to choose components that emit very little noise to make an awesome little Mini-ITX powerhouse. However, the drawback to having no intake fans is that you won’t have any filters, so expect the system to get a little dirty.
Lian Li’s PC-Q04 is available for $60 at participating online and offline retailers.
From maximumpc
