Fractal Design Terra vs Lian Li LANCOOL 217

Researched, not hands-on tested.How we review ›

all judged against PC cases at a similar price

The Lian Li LANCOOL 217 scores 7.4/10 overall, ahead of the Fractal Design Terra at 5.6/10.

The Lian Li LANCOOL 217 leads on airflow and cooling, space and compatibility and value.

They score the same on build and ease of building and noise.

The biggest difference is airflow and cooling, where the Lian Li LANCOOL 217 scores 8/10 to the Fractal Design Terra's 5/10.

Fractal Design Terra

5.6/10verdict: good, not the best

The Fractal Design Terra is for builders who want a compact, well-finished Mini-ITX system and are happy to choose their own cooling. It suits people planning a full-size graphics card in a 10.4-litre case with an SFX or SFX-L power supply. It is a poorer fit for anyone who wants a big radiator, lots of storage or a roomy, forgiving build.

Typically about £174.95 in the UK when we researched itSearch Amazon UK

Affiliate link. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Details

Lian Li LANCOOL 217

7.4/10verdict: good, not the best

The Lian Li LANCOOL 217 is for builders who want a mesh-front mid-tower with plenty of fans already fitted. It suits people fitting a long graphics card, a large air cooler or a 360 mm radiator in the top. It also suits anyone planning a vertical GPU mount, since Lian Li lists the case as supported by its VG4 kit.

Typically about £109.99 in the UK when we researched itSearch Amazon UK

Affiliate link. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Details

Scores, criterion by criterion

Criterion	Weight	Fractal Design Terra	Lian Li LANCOOL 217
Airflow and cooling	30%	5/10	8/10
Build and ease of building	20%	7/10	7/10
Space and compatibility	20%	6/10	8/10
Noise	15%	5/10	5/10
Value	15%	5/10	8/10
Overall		5.6/10	7.4/10

Specifications

Spec	Fractal Design Terra	Lian Li LANCOOL 217
Case type (mid tower, Micro-ATX, small form factor…)	Small form factor case, 10.4 L (343 x 153 x 218 mm)	Mid-tower
Motherboard sizes supported (E-ATX, ATX, Micro-ATX, Mini-ITX)	Mini-ITX	E-ATX, EEB (back-connect compatible)
Maximum graphics card length (mm)	322 mm maximum (drops to 200 mm if a 120 mm radiator is installed)	380 mm (max)
Maximum CPU cooler height (mm)	77 mm maximum with spine set for CPU clearance; 48 mm when configured for maximum GPU length	180 mm (max)
Power supply type supported (ATX or SFX) and maximum PSU length (mm)	SFX and SFX-L, maximum length 130 mm	ATX; max length 220 mm in standard mode, 180 mm when rotated
Radiator support (e.g. 360mm top, 280mm front)	One 120 mm side radiator slot	Top: 360 / 280 / 240 mm
Fans included and fan mounts	None included; one 120 mm bottom fan mount	5 pre-installed, including two 170 mm front fans
Drive bays (3.5 and 2.5 inch)	Two 2.5-inch mounts included; no 3.5-inch or 5.25-inch bays	not listed

Strengths and weaknesses

Fractal Design Terra

+ Premium anodised aluminium build, with a solid walnut front option
+ Room for graphics cards up to 322 mm
+ Owners describe the build as easy
− No fans or dust filters included
− Weak AIO support and tight clearance for CPU cooling
− Two 2.5-inch mounts and no 3.5-inch bays

Skip it if:

Buyers who want a 240 mm or larger radiator for liquid cooling
Anyone needing 3.5-inch drive bays or lots of internal storage
Builders who want a cooler and fans included, or a roomy, forgiving case

Read the full Fractal Design Terra review ›

Lian Li LANCOOL 217

+ Five fans pre-installed, including two 170 mm front fans
+ 380 mm GPU room with anti-sag bracket included
+ Takes E-ATX and EEB boards plus 360 mm top radiator
− PSU length limit drops to 180 mm when rotated
− CPU cooler height is capped at 180 mm

Skip it if:

Buyers with a CPU cooler taller than 180 mm
Buyers with a power supply longer than 220 mm
Anyone who wants a solid-panel case chosen for quiet running

Read the full Lian Li LANCOOL 217 review ›

More comparisons

Compare all PC cases · Best PC cases