Lian Li Tyr PC-X1000 Case Review

Lian Li Tyr PC-X1000

Manufacturer: Lian Li
UK Price (as reviewed): MSRP £300.00 (inc. VAT)
US Price (as reviewed): MSRP $420.00 (ex. Tax)

As the saying goes, it’s lonely at the top, and a fine example of this is the super premium chassis market. It’s rare we see a new case targetting the very top end of the market and while the rewards are great when a manufacturer gets it right - think Coolermaster ATCS 840 or Silverstone TJ07 - a case has to work hard to justify a price tag in excess of £200, especially as at £100, the market is already so competitive.

Taiwanese chassis maker Lian Li is certainly keen to taken the challenge however and after impressing us in the past with excellent and sometimes bizarre new cases, is now ready to unleash the Tyr PC-X1000. This isn’t the first time we’ve looked at a Lian Li Tyr case though, with the PC-X2000 last year let down by some build quality problems and numerous minor oversights. We first spotted the X1000 at Computex this year and after chatting with Lian Li most of the problems (we could remember) had been rectified. In all honesty, this is a case we've been wanting to see for a while!


While we’re not usually ones too gush over a product, we have to admit that the X1000 makes a terrific first impression. Made entirely from brushed aluminium panelling the case’s exterior combines clean lines with rounded curves to produce a design that’s unlike almost anything else on the market and which exudes class and style from every rivet and drive bay.

Much taller and shallower than a standard PC case at 680mm high and just 430mm deep, especially in comparison to squat, deep examples such as the Antec P193, the X1000 takes a very different approach to case cooling by moving front mounted intake fans closer to the core components to maximise airflow and cooler and displacing the drive bays vertically.

The entire front fascia is made from a single curved piece of aluminium which also forms most of the roof panel, resulting in a design that is extremely strong and sturdy. However, because this design is integral to the case’s strength, this means that the fascia and roof panels are riveted into place and aren’t removable. The front fascia itself is home to a large ventilated section allowing airflow for the case’s three front mounted 140mm intake fans, as well twin stealthed 5.25in drive bays and a 5.25in/3.5in exterior drive bay. While fewer large drive bays than competing chassis, the X1000 makes up for this with an extensive array of internal drive bays, as we’ll see on page 2.


Mounted into the case’s roof are a selection of ports - USB 2.0, eSATA, headphone and microphone - hidden beneath a hinged hatch, along with power and reset buttons. The reset button is a bit of a downer though, as you’ll need either skeletal fingers or a pen to press the button within its rounded housing.

Looking to the X1000’s rear gives plenty away in regards to the case’s interior, with two large 140mm exhaust fans in the top of the case and a fan speed switch, which gives you the choice to run all five 140mm cooling fans at either 1,200, 980 or 800RPM. This is a big improvement over the X2000, which inexplicably mounted its fan switch behind the front fascia, so kudos to Lian Li for listening to feedback and putting it in a much more easily accessed location.

Lian Li hasn’t just paid attention where it’s immediately visible either, with the underside of the X1000 finished in the same black anodised aluminium, fitted with four rubber bottomed feet to keep the case stable and a large externally mounted removable dust filter for the underside power supply ventilation.

All in all it’s an impeccable showing on the outside for the X1000, with plenty of signs that the interior could be just as good. Let’s peel off those side panels and find out!