New SFF gamers case: presentation and advices

PRE orders opened - please check www.lan-gear.com



Good morning everybody,

I’m working with a small team on the conception of a high end, small form factor case (SFF) that will be roughly as big as the Sugo SG01 but will offer much more options in terms of compatibility with high end, “gamers” hardware.
The objective: a clean, silent, sober, ultra compact case, with excellent air flow.
I’m posting the pictures of the first prototype. Keep in minde that we have made quite a few modifications since then, not show in these pictures, but listed in the specifications.

WEBSITE: www.lan-gear.com

SFF case specifications:

Release date: December 2009

- Type: Micro ATX case, desktop, compact
- Weight: 3.17kg
- Material: 100% aluminium (1.5mm & 2mm)
- Power supply: not included
- Motherboard: Micro-ATX
- Side Window: available on some models
- 5”1/4 bay: 1
- 3”1/2 bay: 2
- 2”1/2 bay: 4
- Fans: 140mm: 1, 120mm: 2, 92mm: 2, 60mm: 1
- Dimension: 370mm (L) x 287 mm (l) x 214 mm (h) (23L)
- Ports: 2 USB, 2 Audio
- Compatible water cooling

Advantages of the case:
- Compact, portable (designer bag available in option)
- 100% aluminium Frame , 1.5mm.
- Brushed aluminium finish
- Motherboard tray for easy installs
- Compatible with heatsinks as high as 190 mm
- Compatible with long graphic cards up to 340mm long, thus including HD5870, HD5890, HD5870X2,...
- Compatible with ATX power supply and extra long ones.
- Separation of heat zones
- Hand screws
- Dust filters
- Anti theft system

Configuration of the prototype
• Intel Q9550
• Scythe MUGEN-2 SCMG-2000
• MB: DFI LP JR P45-T2RS LGA 775 Intel P45 Micro ATX Intel
• RAM: G.SKILL 4GB (2 x 2 GO) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 1066 (PC2 8500) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model F2-8500CL5D-4GBPK
• Western Digital Caviar Blue WD1600AAJS 160GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive - OEM
• Arctic Silver 5 Thermal Compound
• Antec TPQ-850 850W Continuous Power ATX12V / EPS12V SLI Certified CrossFire Ready
• 2 GIGABYTE GV-R485OC-1GH Radeon HD 4850 1GB 256-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP -> CrossFire




With a core i5 :







We would REALLY appreciate your feedback.
I will also post the picture (rendering) of the latest revision.

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NEW READERS: today's topic (10/07/09):
!!!VERY IMPORTANT QUESTION!!! LIMITED EDITION?
The way we have it set up now, it's anodized black outside and inside (for the "all black version").
We looked at the possibility of anodizing the inside red. But we can do any color, for the same price as black.
Anybody else interested in a limited edition?
We can also yellow chromate the inside. This special edition would be much cheaper than all black anodize inside.
Please, let me know where you stand so that I can get a line dedicated for the ones of you interested.



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ORDERS - Stores

Feel free to suggest the new case to New Egg so that I can have a nice big fat order, and have it priced right! The more inquiries, the more store who pick DA BOX, the better the price will be. Budget is super tight right now, so I'll take all the help I can get from you guys, and this is the best thing you can do to help make it happen!
This is the link: >>>>https://secure.newegg.com/FeedBack/ShallWeCarry.aspx<<<<
I'm working very hard to keep the cost low right now, but any help from you guys would be really welcome. So go ahead, blast them! Lets get this baby out!!!

If I were to build a MATX Lanbox, it would probably be exactly like this. This case is perfect, excellent job. I'd be SERIOUSLY interested in buying one when it is released.

This is just to show a very small selection of popular heat sinks that can fit in the case.
We picked the biggest one to build this first config. We actually got limited in the layout because of the heatsink on the NB of the DFI Lanparty! Otherwise, the CPU fan would have been placed differently to suck air from the front of the case instead of behind the CG.

Very Sweet! I put together a few SFF; Two Shuttle and one using the Antec NSK 1380. With the shuttles, you pretty much had to use their cpu cooler; On the Antec, it had to be low profile cooler due to the position of the power supply.

In size it looks comparable to the Antec nsk1380.

I really like that you added the holes in the back for water cooling. Great Feature.

Looks like it would be a pretty easy install, being so open......not so on many sff cases........

I like the simple look to the box. Although you have a side window it is optional and I like that. There isn't a lot of crap and it doesn't try to look, .... I can't find the word for it........ Like a robot or something.....

Where the hell did you put all those bays? Optical drive is probably covering them up, however, I would love to see pictures.

I could not see how you put the power supply in the case, however, l am guessing that it vents out the side.

I would like to see two things:

Air Flow Diagram

A few more pictures of the internals

Very Solid! I would definitely consider this for my next SFF Build. (Probably next year sometime) Would be great for a nice HTPC, as well.........

**Edit Just saw the additional pictures..........I FREAKING LOVE THE SLIDE OUT MB TRAY! I have always preferred my cases like that.......sweet.

nice looking case looks similar to ones i built in past. i noticed where hard drives is located and think that is going to get warm being so close to the heatsink and powersupply . maybe a nexus 430 been a better choice to help cool the hard drives while exhausting heat outside the case

Jen

Interesting place for the PSU. I'm guessing you route it to the back panel?

I'm posting some rendered pictures of the latest revision of the case.
Keep in mind we looked at the first prototype and made improvements accordingly.
For the airflow, it goes from front to back. The power supply has it's own heat zone. It takes air from the front of the case and exhaust it on the side, without never interfering with the inside.


There is enough space for 2 3.5" HDD, 4 2.5" SSD.
The optical bay is a 5.25" but has a cover on it for the look. It is supposed to be a monster inside and look very sober on the outside!
The HDD are cooled by a 92mm fan on the right side of the case.
All the air intake is on the right side and the front of the case.
The PSU is indeed routed to the back pannel.

Originally Posted by mattinv

The PSU is indeed routed to the back pannel.

I'd kind of like to see the "external" connector on the back panel relocated then. It just looks... out of place there. Just my opinion though.

Interesting...very interesting. The case looks stunning, I would buy this in a heartbeat.

Originally Posted by xanvincent

I'd kind of like to see the "external" connector on the back panel relocated then. It just looks... out of place there. Just my opinion though.

I'm not sure what you call "external" connector. The only connector on the back (PSU related) is the power plug. You'd like to have your power plug somewhere else than the back?

It's shaping up nicely. The problem with the prototype visually was the almost oval grill in the front. That just looked bad to me. I like the concept, and the latest 3D rendering looks much better to me.

Good luck. I've always thought that the SFF crowd needed an option to run gaming hardware in their smaller cases.

I agree with the unattractive front design. I guess it was inspired by the Zalman GT case? How about some "easy dust-filter" feature that allows the owner to clean up the dust in the filters without actually opening the case.

Originally Posted by mattinv

I'm not sure what you call "external" connector. The only connector on the back (PSU related) is the power plug. You'd like to have your power plug somewhere else than the back?

I think he means an internal extension cable to the back (common on some 1U rackmount designs).

Originally Posted by Jen

nice looking case looks similar to ones i built in past. i noticed where hard drives is located and think that is going to get warm being so close to the heatsink and powersupply . maybe a nexus 430 been a better choice to help cool the hard drives while exhausting heat outside the case
Jen

The hard drives have a nice 92mm fan to cool them. The air is "fresh" and comes directly from the outside of the case.
The RAM has its own 60mm fan (optional).
Both fans at the end of the case are, relatively high flow, low noise, 120mm fans. They both exhaust the warm air from the CPU / GPU out of the case.
I need to post a picture showing the air flow to clarify this part.

Originally Posted by jeremyshaw

I think he means an internal extension cable to the back (common on some 1U rackmount designs).

Yes, there is an internal cable that allows you to plug the case on the back although the PSU is located on the front of the case.
You can see it on the first prototype, second rows of pictures, picture on the right.
Does that answer your question?

What will be the MSRP of this case?

Originally Posted by Danny Bui

What will be the MSRP of this case?

I'd like to know this as well, and perhaps line up an order

Originally Posted by jamesman32

I'd like to know this as well, and perhaps line up an order

Right now, the case is 100% made in USA. MSRP is between $175-$185.
We will release some more information but we are still working the last little issues and some extra upgrade we are trying to integrate. We would like to release it for Thanksgiving.
But in the mean time, let us know what you'd like to have in this case. "Perfect" is probably not possible, but close to your needs would be nice.
So we'll wait to hear from you what you like and don't like!

Originally Posted by jamesman32

I'd like to know this as well, and perhaps line up an order

LOL! My thoughts exactly.

Though I do an aesthetic issue with the case: the round opening at the front of the case makes it look a lot a cheap-o case to me. I would prefer a rectangular opening keeping similar to what Silverstone and Lian-Li cases have. Examples:
$95 - Silverstone SG05B mITX Case with FSP SFX 300W PSU
$86 - Lian Li PC-7B Plus II ATX Case
Lian Li Lancool PC-K7B Case

Do you have any pictures available of the non-windowed models? No offense but those windows remind me of the ugly windows on the Thermaltake cases. For the non-windowed models, is it safe to assume that there will to be perforated holes or slots/vents on the sides of the case for cooling?

Originally Posted by mattinv

Yes, there is an internal cable that allows you to plug the case on the back although the PSU is located on the front of the case.
You can see it on the first prototype, second rows of pictures, picture on the right.
Does that answer your question?

Sorry! I wan't the one who asked the question.

Nice case, though.



I have a slimline case, (external PSU), with a HD4830 in it (90 degree PCIeX16 riser card).
I still like slim cases better then big cubes. (just my opinion)