Review: Lian Li PC-Q27

Conclusion

There's never been a better time to downsize your rig. The modern-day CPU's agglomeration of previously on-board components has allowed motherboard manufacturers to create mini-ITX platforms that are nearly as potent as their ATX counterparts.

Factor in the reduced TDP of today's CPUs and GPUs, along with small, silent SSDs, and there's every reason for system builders to create high-performance PCs that are both quiet and compact.

HEXUS believes that mini-ITX will become increasingly popular among performance users looking to trade-in their traditional towers in favour of something more refined, and Lian Li's PC-Q27 is certainly that. The petite aluminium frame shows quality workmanship throughout, and the logical layout allows builders to keep using most of their full-size components.

However it's this devotion to legacy components that is holding the PC-Q27 back. Mini-ITX holds more promise than ever before, but if the form factor is to realise its full potential, chassis manufacturers may need to look past redundant optical drives and large ATX power supplies in favour of solutions that are smaller still.

The Good

Sleek, attractive exterior
Solid aluminium construction
Anti-vibration hard-disk mounts
Three storage bays

The Bad

Single expansion slot
Front I/O lacks headphone port
Optical bay redundant for some

HEXUS Where2Buy

TBC.

HEXUS Right2Reply

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