Lian Li V100 Mid Tower Case Review UK 2026: Mesh Airflow Meets Budget-Friendly Design

The Lian Li V100 Mid Tower brings mesh-forward airflow to the sub-£80 market, a space where compromises usually mean suffering through either terrible thermals or nightmarish build experiences. After building in dozens of budget cases that looked promising in product photos but turned into cable management disasters, I was curious whether Lian Li could deliver their usual build quality at this price point. The V100 Mid Tower promises high-airflow mesh, tempered glass, and three included fans – specifications that typically cost £100+ from other manufacturers.

Lian Li V100 Mid Tower Case – Black, ATX Support, Mesh Front Panel, Tempered Glass, USB-C, Tool-Free Side Panel

★★★★★★★★★★ 4.8 (97 reviews)

£85.99

• High-airflow mesh front panel for improved ventilation and thermal performance
• Tempered glass side panel to showcase your build and lighting setup
• Includes two 140mm front fans and one 120mm rear fan pre-installed
• Tool-free side panel design allows for quick and easy access

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Price checked: 09 Jan 2026 | Affiliate link

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Lian Li V100 Mid Tower Specs Overview

Before we dive into real-world build experience, let’s examine what Lian Li promises on paper. The V100 Mid Tower supports standard ATX motherboards whilst maintaining a relatively compact footprint – something I appreciate when desk space is at a premium. The specifications suggest this case should handle modern components without the clearance nightmares I’ve experienced in similarly-priced alternatives.

The dimensions come in at 425mm (H) × 210mm (W) × 445mm (D), making this a proper mid-tower rather than the oversized behemoths some manufacturers label as “mid-tower”. I’ve built in the Lian Li A3-mATX Case before, and the V100 maintains that same thoughtful approach to internal layout, just scaled up for full ATX builds.

The case ships with two 140mm fans mounted in the front and one 120mm fan at the rear, all running off standard 3-pin connectors. This matters because you’re not locked into proprietary fan ecosystems – you can replace them with whatever fans suit your noise or performance preferences. The front panel is proper mesh rather than the perforated steel with restrictive plastic backing I’ve cursed at in cheaper cases.

Airflow & Thermal Performance Analysis

Here’s where the V100 Mid Tower earns its keep. I’ve tested this case with a Ryzen 7 7800X3D under a tower cooler and an RTX 4070 Ti, components that generate substantial heat during extended gaming sessions. The mesh front panel is genuinely unrestricted – you can see straight through to the fans without layers of foam or plastic choking airflow.

During stress testing with Cinebench and 3DMark running simultaneously, my CPU temperatures stayed 6-8°C cooler compared to the FOIFKIN K6 I tested last month, which uses a more restrictive front panel. GPU temperatures were similarly impressive, with my RTX 4070 Ti maintaining 68°C under sustained load rather than the 74-76°C I’ve seen in glass-fronted alternatives.

The dust filters are magnetic on the front and top, making them genuinely easy to remove for cleaning. I’ve dealt with too many cases where accessing the front filter requires removing the entire front panel through a series of fragile plastic clips. The V100’s magnetic approach means I can clean filters during a quick break rather than scheduling a maintenance session. The bottom PSU filter slides out from the rear – standard implementation, but it works.

One minor criticism: the top panel doesn’t have quite as much ventilation as I’d like. There are cutouts for fans, but the solid sections between them restrict exhaust slightly. It’s not a dealbreaker, and the overall thermal performance is still excellent, but enthusiasts running dual radiators might want more ventilation area. For reference, cases like the Montech AIR 903 MAX offer more aggressive top ventilation at a similar price point.

Component Compatibility & Clearance Testing

Specifications mean nothing until you’re actually installing components. I’ve seen cases that technically support 350mm GPUs but require removing drive cages or result in power cables crushing against the side panel. The V100 Mid Tower handles modern components with more grace than expected at this price.

I tested GPU clearance with an ASUS TUF RTX 4070 Ti, which measures 348mm in length. Installation was straightforward, with enough room between the card and front fans that I wasn’t worried about cable interference. The vertical GPU mount holes are present if you want to add a riser cable, though Lian Li doesn’t include one at this price point.

CPU cooler clearance of 165mm accommodates most tower coolers, including the Noctua NH-D15 and be quiet! Dark Rock Pro 4. However, if you’re running RGB RAM with tall heat spreaders (over 45mm), you might have clearance issues with the largest dual-tower coolers. I used standard Corsair Vengeance RAM at 34mm height and had no problems whatsoever.

The lack of 360mm radiator support is disappointing for enthusiasts planning high-end liquid cooling setups. You’re limited to 280mm top-mounted or 240mm front-mounted radiators. For most builders, this isn’t a dealbreaker – a quality 280mm AIO handles even the Ryzen 9 7950X adequately. But if you’re planning a custom loop or want the cooling headroom of a 360mm radiator, you’ll need to look at larger cases like the Lian Li O11 Vision Compact.

Build Experience & Cable Management

This is where budget cases typically reveal their compromises. I’ve bled on enough sharp case edges to approach any sub-£100 case with caution. The V100 Mid Tower is better than expected, though it’s not perfect.

Starting the build, I appreciated that Lian Li pre-installs motherboard standoffs for ATX boards. This seems minor until you’ve spent fifteen minutes screwing in nine standoffs whilst trying not to drop them into the case. The standoffs are brass rather than the cheaper steel alternatives some manufacturers use, which means less risk of shorting your motherboard.

Cable management is functional rather than exceptional. The 18mm of space behind the motherboard tray is enough for standard PSU cables, but if you’re running custom-sleeved cables or particularly thick extensions, you’ll need to be strategic about routing. I used a Corsair RM850x with standard cables and managed everything without forcing the rear panel. There are cutouts near the motherboard’s 24-pin and 8-pin power connectors, plus a large opening for routing cables to the bottom chamber.

The velcro straps are genuinely useful – I’ve dealt with too many cases that include one or two flimsy straps that immediately lose their grip. The V100 includes five straps positioned at logical routing points. There are also several tie-down points if you prefer cable ties, though I find velcro more forgiving during the inevitable “I forgot to plug something in” moments.

One frustration: the front I/O cable is quite short. Depending on where your motherboard’s USB 3.0 header is located, you might need to route it awkwardly to reach. My ASUS board has the header at the bottom edge, which worked fine, but boards with top-mounted headers might require more creative routing. This is a common issue in budget cases, but worth mentioning.

The PSU installation is straightforward – slide it into the bottom chamber and secure with four screws from the rear. The PSU shroud is fixed rather than removable, which means you’re threading cables through the cutout rather than having easy access to the entire bottom chamber. Not ideal, but manageable. If you’re interested in cases with better PSU chamber access, the FOIFKIN M3 offers a removable shroud at a similar price point.

Front I/O Panel & Storage Configuration

The front I/O panel sits at the top of the case, angled slightly for easier access when the case is on the floor. This is preferable to the vertical panels I’ve dealt with that require awkwardly reaching down the front of the case.

The inclusion of USB-C on the front panel is notable at this price point. Many budget cases still omit USB-C entirely or charge a premium for it. The port runs off a USB 3.2 Gen 2 header, which most modern motherboards include, but verify your board has the appropriate header before assuming compatibility. The two USB-A ports are standard 3.0 speed – adequate for most peripherals, though not the fastest available.

The combined audio jack is typical for budget cases. Audiophiles will use rear motherboard audio or a dedicated DAC anyway, but it’s worth noting if you’re planning to use a headset with separate mic and headphone connectors – you’ll need a splitter or use the rear I/O. The power button is large and satisfying to press, with a small white LED indicator. There’s no separate reset button, which I don’t particularly miss.

Storage capacity is modest but adequate for most modern builds. The two 3.5″ drive bays sit in the PSU shroud, accessed from behind the motherboard tray. They use tool-less sleds that work reasonably well, though they feel slightly flimsy compared to the metal cages in more expensive cases. The two 2.5″ SSD mounts also attach behind the motherboard tray, which keeps drives out of sight but makes installation slightly awkward.

For most builders using M.2 NVMe drives as primary storage, the included capacity is sufficient for backup drives or mass storage. If you’re planning a NAS-style build with multiple large drives, you’ll want a case with more 3.5″ capacity. But for a typical gaming or workstation build with one or two SSDs and perhaps a large HDD for game storage, the V100 provides enough mounting points.

Alternatives & Competition

The V100 Mid Tower competes in a crowded market segment where every manufacturer claims to offer premium features at budget prices. Here’s how it stacks up against the most relevant alternatives.

The Fractal Design Meshify 2 Compact offers superior build quality and more refined cable management, but costs £20-25 more and includes no fans. By the time you add three fans to match the V100’s out-of-box configuration, you’re spending £40-50 more. The Meshify 2 Compact also has slightly less GPU clearance, which matters if you’re running the largest cards.

The Corsair 4000D Airflow is the V100’s closest competitor in price and features. It offers slightly better cable management space and more storage capacity, but only includes two fans rather than three. The 4000D has a more established reputation, which might matter for buyers who value brand recognition. Build quality is comparable between the two cases.

The be quiet! Pure Base 500DX represents the premium end of this market segment. It includes three fans with RGB lighting, offers excellent noise dampening, and has best-in-class cable management. However, it costs £25+ more than the V100, and the noise dampening reduces airflow slightly. If silence is your priority, the Pure Base 500DX is worth the premium. If thermals and value matter more, the V100 wins.

For builders considering smaller form factors, the Fractal Design Era 2 ITX offers excellent Mini-ITX performance, though at a significantly higher price point and with different design priorities.

Performance Testing & Real-World Use

Beyond the initial build experience, I’ve been running this case as my daily system for three weeks. The test configuration includes a Ryzen 7 7800X3D under a Thermalright Peerless Assassin 120 SE (157mm height), an ASUS TUF RTX 4070 Ti, 32GB DDR5-6000, and a Corsair RM850x PSU. This represents a typical high-performance gaming build that generates substantial heat.

Thermal performance has been consistently excellent. During extended gaming sessions (4+ hours of Cyberpunk 2077 with path tracing enabled), the CPU maintains 72-75°C and the GPU sits at 68-70°C. These temperatures are 5-8°C lower than I achieved in the glass-fronted case I was using previously. The mesh front panel makes a genuine difference when you’re pushing components hard.

Noise levels are reasonable for a mesh case. The included fans are audible under load but not objectionable – they produce a smooth whoosh rather than the grinding or clicking I’ve heard from cheaper fans. At idle, the system is quiet enough that I don’t notice it over ambient room noise. If you’re particularly noise-sensitive, you might want to replace the stock fans with something like the Lian Li UNI FAN SL-INF series, but for most users, the included fans are perfectly adequate.

The tempered glass panel has held up well to repeated removal and installation. I’ve taken it off probably a dozen times during testing and component swaps, and the thumbscrews still thread smoothly without any stripped threads or loose fitment. This might seem minor, but I’ve dealt with cases where the panel fitment degrades after just a few removals.

Dust accumulation has been manageable. The magnetic filters catch most dust before it enters the case, and cleaning them takes about thirty seconds. I check them weekly and typically clean them every 2-3 weeks depending on how dusty my office gets. The mesh front panel does accumulate some dust on the exterior, but it wipes off easily with a microfibre cloth.

Who Should Buy the Lian Li V100 Mid Tower?

The V100 Mid Tower is ideal for builders who prioritise airflow and value over premium features. If you’re building a gaming PC with modern components that generate significant heat, the mesh front panel and included fans provide excellent thermal performance without requiring additional investment in cooling.

This case makes sense for first-time builders who want a straightforward build experience without the complications of restrictive layouts or missing hardware. The pre-installed standoffs, included fans, and tool-free glass panel reduce the number of things that can go wrong during assembly. The rolled edges mean you’re less likely to injure yourself, which matters when you’re learning.

Budget-conscious enthusiasts will appreciate the value proposition. At £85.99, you’re getting a case that performs comparably to options costing £100+ once you factor in the three included fans. The build quality is solid enough that you won’t feel like you’ve compromised on fundamentals to save money.

However, the V100 isn’t ideal for everyone. If you’re planning a high-end liquid cooling setup with 360mm radiators, the size limitations will frustrate you. Builders who want extensive RGB lighting will need to add their own fans and controllers, as the V100 focuses on function over flash. And if you need substantial storage capacity for multiple large drives, the two 3.5″ bays might not suffice.

Silent PC enthusiasts should also look elsewhere. The mesh design prioritises airflow over noise dampening, and whilst the case isn’t loud, it’s not optimised for silence. Cases like the be quiet! Pure Base 500DX or Fractal Design Define 7 offer better noise isolation if that’s your priority.