Lian Li Lancool 217 Review: Quietly Cool with Just a Touch of Wood

The Lian Li Lancool 217 is a mid-tower case that doesn’t demand attention — until you start building in it. With subtle wooden accents and a focus on airflow and modularity, this case is a quiet performer that surprises you the more time you spend with it. At a glance, it’s understated. In use? Impressive. 

Design & Aesthetic Details 

The Lancool 217 sets itself apart with minimalist wood inserts that flank the front panel — available in walnut (black version) or oak (white version). Rather than turning the chassis into a full “wooden case,” these trims are tasteful and subtle, giving the case a warm, modern aesthetic without sacrificing neutrality. 

Ventilation is a clear design priority. The top, front, and bottom are all heavily meshed, including a fine bottom dust filter for the PSU. The top mesh isn’t designed to be removed regularly, but it’s still easy to clean. The front panel is held in place with magnets, making access tool-free and smooth — a small, premium-feeling touch. 

Pre-Installed Cooling & Airflow Options 

Where the Lancool 217 really starts to shine is in cooling. Out of the box, you get: 

• 2x 170 mm x 30 mm front intake fans 

• 2x 140 mm inverted-blade bottom intake fans 

• 1x 140 mm rear exhaust fan 

That’s five high-performance fans included, and the two bottom fans are tool-less and repositionable. They mount via rubber grommets and can be moved between two preset positions: above or below the PSU shroud. This is especially handy if you're planning a vertical GPU mount (which is supported with an included bracket, though the riser cable is sold separately). 

Lian Li also includes extra brackets and filters if you prefer to replace the front fans with standard 120 mm or 140 mm models, but honestly, the stock 170 mm units already deliver exceptional airflow with relatively low noise. 

Radiator Support & Component Clearance 

Radiator support is limited to the top of the case, but the clearances are decent: 

• Up to 60 mm total thickness for 280 mm radiators 

• Up to 83 mm total thickness for 360 mm radiators 

For standard component clearances: 

• GPU length: up to 380 mm 

• GPU height: up to 182 mm 

• CPU cooler height: up to 180 mm 

• PSU length: up to 220 mm 

This is more than enough for most enthusiast builds, although users with bulky dual-tower air coolers should double-check headroom if using top-mounted fans. 

Build Experience & Usability 

Building in the Lancool 217 is a genuinely pleasant experience thanks to thoughtful design throughout. The removable bottom fans make connecting front panel headers or USB cables far easier than usual. All I/O cables come pre-grouped into a single block, which simplifies routing. And the fan/RGB hub offers generous cable length, making it easy to reach headers no matter where your motherboard connectors are. 

That said, not everything is perfect. The bottom cable grommet is tight — wide cable bundles won’t fit easily, so you may need to route cables one at a time. The power button is tucked under the mesh and partially obscured by internal cabling, which makes emergency shutdowns less convenient. 

Cable management is generally solid. Three pre-installed Velcro straps behind the motherboard tray help keep things neat, even when mounting the PSU sideways (which can cause the cables to protrude slightly, though the panel still closes without issue). 

Swapping between default and CPU-focused fan layouts takes only a few minutes — and that flexibility is something we appreciate. Just be cautious with the blanking plates; they’re a bit of a pain to remove. Use a flathead screwdriver to avoid sore fingers. 

Performance Testing: Thermals & Acoustics 

To evaluate thermal performance, we ran tests in both default and CPU-focused fan configurations. 

At 100% fan speed, the Lancool 217 became the loudest case we’ve ever tested, hitting over 52 dBA. But it earned that noise level — especially on the GPU side. Even with the fans reconfigured to prioritise CPU cooling, CPU thermals barely improved, while GPU temps spiked by nearly 4 °C. 

In noise-normalised testing at 40 dBA, both fan modes delivered identical CPU results, but the stock fan configuration clearly dominated overall, offering the best thermal balance in our charts. The 170 mm fans at the front — combined with the bottom intakes — provide outstanding airflow across the entire system. 

Pricing & Availability 

The black version of the Lancool 217 (with walnut trim) is priced at $120 USD, while the white version (featuring oak wood accents) comes in at $125 USD. Given the airflow design, flexibility, and bundled fan setup, this is a competitive price point in the mid-tower market. 

Final Verdict 

The Lancool 217 doesn’t shout “premium” at first, but once you start building and testing, it earns your respect. Excellent airflow, smart modularity, and a clean visual design all come together to make a case that feels far more refined than its $120 USD price tag would suggest. 

If you’re after a mid-tower that’s easy to work with, performs well, and ditches the RGB in favour of natural materials and quiet confidence — this one is worth your attention.