Completed Build, Performance, and Conclusion
The build process was smooth – once I had an appropriately sized power supply, that is – and the finished result looks pretty good without much effort. There ended up being enough room beneath the graphics card for slim 2.5-inch drives, but I still prefer the idea of leaving as much open air around the GPU as possible.
Flat, ribbon-style cables from my power supply made keeping things neat very easy, and there was room for slightly chunkier PSU cabling. There is about an inch of clearance behind the motherboard tray, which also helps accommodate the power extension cable attached at the rear of the enclosure. (As usual, an extension cable for motherboard CPU power is a must unless your PSU cables are very long.)
Temperatures and Noise
Test Platform | |
---|---|
Processor | Intel Core i5-6600K |
Motherboard | EVGA Z170 Stinger (mITX Intel Z170) |
Memory | Crucial Ballistix Sport 8 GB 2400 MHz DDR4 |
Graphics Card | AMD Radeon R9 290X (Reference) |
Storage | OCZ Vertex 460 120GB SSD |
Cooling | Noctua NH-U9S |
Power Supply | SilverStone Strider ST55F-G 550 W Modular PSU |
OS | Windows 8.1 64-bit |
Given the vented design I was expecting pretty good temps from the PC-Q17 WX, though I didn't anticipate low noise levels from this build for the same reason.
No, there is not any comparison to other enclosures in the chart above as I have not tested this exact mix of components before, but the numbers are very good nonetheless. (For a very rough idea of comparable performance you may review the results from a previous mini-ITX case review.) As I suspected, the PC-Q17 WX had sufficient airflow to keep my system nice and cool, though I heard everything while it was running on the desk next to me.
Noise levels are going to be almost entirely dependent on your component selections, as the vented design (especially the top panel) and lack of any insulation won’t dampen the sound from loud fans. For the most part this is a quiet build, with a low-noise Noctua CPU cooler and the larger, slower fan from my SFX-L power supply; but the reference (blower) R9 290X graphics card is only quiet at idle.
Load noise from the CPU was not louder than the 32.1 dBA PSU fan in the front of the case (hence the identical result), but GPU load noise was another matter. The reference blower-style cooler with the Radeon R9 290X is very loud, and my 53.5 dBA (!) reading came with the fan peaking at 68% under load using the Unigine Valley benchmark.
Conclusion
Lian Li makes very high quality cases, and the PC-Q17 WX is no exception. It has interesting styling with its ASUS ROG collaboration, and looks every bit a gaming case. It had no trouble housing a competent gaming system with a full-length GPU, and does so with a compact footprint, and excellent cooling capability from its vented design. This design won't reduce the noise levels of your components, however, so don't expect a quiet build without the right mix of fans and quiet GPU.
The price ($189.99 is the lowest price I can find in the U.S.) reflects the premium - and all-aluminum - nature of the PC-Q17 WX, but I would have liked to see tempered glass for the side panel window at this level. Be sure to use a compact, fixed-cable ATX power supply (or better yet an SFX or SFX-L model) to maximize component space, and the build process will be easy. I really liked the look of the finished build, and the PC-Q17 WX looks really sharp on a desk, and does a nice job of showcasing your build efforts.
Strengths
- Premium all-aluminum construction
- Room for full-sized components
- Excellent cooling from vented design
- Easy component access from push-pin style side panels
- Great attention to detail (cushioned drive mounts, cable routing space, etc.)
Weaknesses
- Limited storage space with some component choices
- Would like to see a tempered glass window at this price
In the end I came away very impressed with Lian Li's PC-Q17 WX enclosure, and with the right mix of components it makes a very attractive home for a mini-ITX system.
I’d compl3etely forgotten
I’d compl3etely forgotten about that bloated Ncase knockoff. That giant plastic wedge on the front containing a large cavity of completely wasted space really is embarrassing.
Lian Li built the NCASE M1.
Lian Li built the NCASE M1. That wedge up front is aluminum, not plastic, and it allows for additional HDD/SSD storage or a slim optical drive's installation.
Have you ever built in an
Have you ever built in an ncase? Especially without custom cables, that area becomes really tight really fast, so no it’s not a waste at all. What’s embarrassing is writing a comment before reading the whole review. Besides plastic and lian-li doesn’t happen often if ever.
thanks sebastian
have been
thanks sebastian
have been bothering you for some time about doing a review of an aluminum case and you have come through
just wish I could find a mini itx am4 board, preferable one that is spec’d similar to the asrock taichi
My next case review is
My next case review is all-aluminum as well, so stay tuned! (And yes, I'm awaiting the mITX AM4 boards as well.)
Is the ROG logo RGB? To me it
Is the ROG logo RGB? To me it seems like a perfect match with one of the new ASUS boards with the RGB header built in.
Sebastian, have you seen any mATX or mITX cases with tempered glass and a vertical GPU mount? I am really liking the vertical GPU mounts and think when I retire my H440 I will find a case with tempered glass and a vertical GPU.
The ROG logo isn’t RGB; uses
The ROG logo isn't RGB; uses a pair of red LED strips for illumination. I have yet to encounter a small form-factor case (mITX or mATX) with both vertical GPU mounting and tempered glass. And now I want to find one!
Do you happen to know if
Do you happen to know if they’ll release a non rog variant
Not sure about the PC-Q17,
Not sure about the PC-Q17, but the PC-Q10 is essentially the non-ROG version of the case.