LanCool PC-K58 ATX Mid Tower Case Review

Cases & PSU/Cases by jmke @ 2009-12-29

Take all the engineering talent of Lian-Li, use it to make an affordable yet feature rich product and you end up with the LanCool PC-K58. We take this budget friendly mid size tower case for a spin and compare its performance to several competitors. Does a 140mm in-take pay off? First tool-less PSU installation worthless? Read more to find out.

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Look inside, Cooling & Installation

Look inside & Cooling

Both side panels feature thumbscrews so they easily come off and placing them back on is a matter of seconds rather than minutes. Without the side panels the interior is revealed, here the case’s metal structure is easily seen. There’s no removable motherboard panel, but in a case in this price range it would have been odd.

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Inside the case there’s a box with screws, a separate microphone, PSU mounting bracket and a picture rich installation manual.

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Let’s discuss the different areas of interest, beginning with the easy stuff first: PSU vibration dampening pads are installed by default:

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Right in front of the PSU we find a collection of cable guiders, which comes in handy in clearing up the mess of loose wires inside your case. There is one separate cable holder which you can plug into a free hole in the motherboard panel to keep cables in place near the top. (check the 2nd photo on this page)

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The PCI slot covers all feature a tool-less installation, it looks like an elaborate system with the metal levers, but it couldn’t be easier in use; they even installed a soft plastic pad at the end of the lever to gentle secure your video card/audio card etc. Dual slot products don’t pose a problem either. A very innovative system and one of the most durable seen yet.

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The HDD bay features individual brackets for each of the 4 slots; they all incorporate vibration reduction rubber mounts and one thumbscrew and sliding metal door mechanism holds them into place.

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Moving to the outside of the case, the plastic front and top panel can be removed by a short tug in the right direction; At the front the 5.25” bay place-holders also feature cutouts for ventilation purposes; the plastic front panel features integrated dust filter; each separate 5.25” bay cover has one, as well as the big area at the bottom.

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To top it off the in-take 140mm fan features another dust filter too, LanCool definitely wants to keep the insides clean.

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The top panel features two cutouts for 140mm fans, you might get away with zip-ties and few 120mm fans, but to install them cleanly you’ll need to buy some extra fan mounting screws from Lian-Li.

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Installation

Motherboard installation in a case without removable back plate is usually nothing to talk about, except for now, LanCool allows you to fasten the motherboard without the need of tools by providing small thumbscrews. They certainly allow for a quick fit in easily accessible places, they included bigger ones for the harder to reach places too!

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The HDD brackets also complete tool-less installation, snapping the plastic clips into place fixes the HDD inside; after you have installed the soft rubber vibration dampening pads:

Madshrimps (c)

Madshrimps (c)


Our sample didn’t include any tool-less feature for the 5.25” bays, normally there are plastic brackets that help you secure your DVD-RW into place; normal screws work fine also though.

The PSU installation is quite unique, the first tool-less PSU installation we have yet discovered inside a case; you put the PSU in its intended location, they use the L form metal bracket to secure it. Too easy!

Madshrimps (c)

Madshrimps (c)


Last interesting feature of the PC-K58 for those swapping CPU coolers, the back plate features a cutout for easy access to the mounting area!

Madshrimps (c)



Test setup details next ->
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Comment from SirMango @ 2009/12/30
I noticed that special Lian Li fan screws have to be purchased if you want to install a 140mm fan on the roof of the case. Do you know if the silicone/rubber standoffs that come with some fans (Noctua, Gelid, Nexus) can be used instead of these Lian Li screws?
Comment from jmke @ 2009/12/30
unfortunately no, those kind of rubber stand offs are completely different



those needed for this case are custom:

Comment from SirMango @ 2009/12/30
That's too bad. Lian Li should of included those fan screws with the PC-K58, because I can't find them sold at any store in Canada.

Then again, some users might not use it and it would be a waste of material.

I guess end users will have to contact Lian Li if they want some, but can't find it at any store. A bit tedious.

Thank for the reply mate

 

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