DAN A4-SFX: The smallest gaming case in the world

about 11 years ago the LianLi PC-A05 thread started, it was the most popular case thread in [H] (I'm still using what I call the 2nd version from it)
6-7 years ago (?) then things started to get smaller, lots of threads... Q08, Q25, PC-V354, FT03-Mini, Sugo SG05 , Bitfenix Prodigy, Silverstone SG09/SG06, Cooler Master Elite 130, etc
then we wanted to go smaller but manufacturers didn't offer lots of options so the NCASE M1 thread was created 4 years ago (title was Aluminum SG05 evolution by Lian Li)
then DAN-A4 idea was born 3 years ago
waiting for the next step


the op in the a05 thread:
S4 Mini is as small as you can go with ITX, and that's already out. I imagine the next step after those is likely something involving custom PICMG 1.3 backplane-SBC combos. I imagine something could be done like fitting a GPU blower-style cooler onto a half-length one and putting it and a GPU back-to-back, with an HDPLEX PSU underneath the backplane. Or something like that, I don't know, that's just what I was thinking about this morning.
 
Wow, I'm drooling for the case after seeing them fit the RBG controller /LED lights - it looks amazing.
 
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I just cancelled immediately after watching the video.

Well alright, I watched a couple more of Linus' videos first. THEN I cancelled.

You can even watch it the whole week for free after you cancel.
I have, at the same time, asked them to delete the account.
 
You can even watch it the whole week for free after you cancel.
I have, at the same time, asked them to delete the account.

They actually immediately cancel your free week when you cancel the subscription, so you only have until you decide to cancel that. You don't get the remaining time in the free week
 
They actually immediately cancel your free week when you cancel the subscription, so you only have until you decide to cancel that. You don't get the remaining time in the free week
I kept my first free week even after I cancelled. I cancelled the second free week yesterday, and I can still watch the videos today.
 
Pretty awesome to finally see the case in somebody's hands after all these years. December can't come soon enough.
 
Can someone post a link to the review?

I must be blind, because I can't find it.
you must be blind or didn't look. its one page back and only on a paid/free trial site...
should be on YT next week.

edit: or someone turfed the link... look on LTT 's vessel page.
 
you must be blind or didn't look. its one page back and only on a paid/free trial site...
should be on YT next week.

edit: or someone turfed the link... look on LTT 's vessel page.

Never saw a link myself, just the statement that it was on Vessel… Google to the rescue…

And… Pay To View, or 'free' trial…

I will wait a week…
 
Linus managed to assembly a EVGA GTX 1080 Classfield inside the A4-SFX.

13891887_1044819738947804_2213355204598511952_n.jpg
 
So all I need is to win Lotto and I too can build that machine :D

Seriously impressive specs though, really makes me wish sodimm's were more popular on itx boards.

Also, Linus recommended blower style GPU's, I was under the impression that open fans would perform better given the proximity to the perforated holes?
 
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Nice, seems quite tight. No place to add LED with this one ;)
Dondan, could you provide cable dimension so that we can order customized one ahead of receiving the case?
For SFX and SFX-L PSU.

Also do you think that his customised CPU cooler will show better result than the C7?
 
Linus managed to assembly a EVGA GTX 1080 Classfield inside the A4-SFX.

13891887_1044819738947804_2213355204598511952_n.jpg

The sample You sent to Linus was painted with powder paint or this is anodized aluminium? I'm thinking about those scratches on PSU mounting holes. If it is painted, what kind of RAL color is it (if someone would want to repair those or similar scratches in other places)?
 
Outside parts are anodized and inner parts are painted mate black. So tiny scratches on inner parts are normal if you screw it to tight. I don't know the RAL color.
 
I guess that was not the real review by Linus, but merely a sample build "in small cases"?
 
I guess that was not the real review by Linus, but merely a sample build "in small cases"?

I think I heard somewhere he is also planning a 6700K build in the case, which would make more sense. Perhaps he will detail the case a bit more then.
 
Look what I found..


@6:45 he recommends a blower style cooler for the GPU since there are no case fans. However, I think he is wrong that an open-air would really do better, considering that the fans are directly sucking in air thru the side and the cpu is on the other side of the case doing the same.
 
Luke starts filming the review of the case today. So I think we will see it in 1-2 weeks on Vessel.
 
Look what I found..

Was disappointed with Linus recommending a blower-style GPU. Apparently he doesn't understand that the EVGA open air coolers (dual fan) are quieter and cooler due to more air movement at lower fan speed, shorter fins (aligned perpendicular to the log axis of the card, means that heat transfer from fins to air is more efficient as the difference in temperature between the air and fins should be on average higher) and not having to blow most of the hot air through that tiny restricted exhaust area.
 
Was disappointed with Linus recommending a blower-style GPU. Apparently he doesn't understand that the EVGA open air coolers (dual fan) are quieter and cooler due to more air movement at lower fan speed, shorter fins (aligned perpendicular to the log axis of the card, means that heat transfer from fins to air is more efficient as the difference in temperature between the air and fins should be on average higher) and not having to blow most of the hot air through that tiny restricted exhaust area.

Why would you be disappointed with blower-style gpu? In a case without fans it is the best possible solution.
 
Why would you be disappointed with blower-style gpu? In a case without fans it is the best possible solution.
That's true if the card is placed the way it's exhausting hot air to the inside of the chassis which is not what happens with A4-SFX.

Here card takes fresh air from the outside, heats it up a bit, fraction of a degree and exhausts it through the top of the case.

Using open air coolers is a problem with cases that let the card recycle hot air inside the case.
 
Why would you be disappointed with blower-style gpu? In a case without fans it is the best possible solution.
Nope, an open air cooler gpu can be of benefit in this case due to the proximity of the fans to the vent on the side of the case.
 
That's true if the card is placed the way it's exhausting hot air to the inside of the chassis which is not what happens with A4-SFX.

Here card takes fresh air from the outside, heats it up a bit, fraction of a degree and exhausts it through the top of the case.

Using open air coolers is a problem with cases that let the card recycle hot air inside the case.

Jeeez mother of god. You seem to imply that air magically gets out of the case. Without fans being part of it. Also, you imply that air gets heated up "a fraction of a degree" which couldn't be further from the truth. Heck, have you tested your enclosure at all with open-air coolers? Cases with no fans are forced to recycle hot air all the time because, well, there is nothing making that air get in or out of the case. You only have to test your own case to see what happens when you use non-blower cards inside cases that have no forced airflow inside. Just go and find a 290X non-blower and play for several hours straight. Monitor the temperatures of every single component of your case, and the case itself, then panic.

I'm worried that a case designer and seller is making such statements. Have you done any thorough testing whatsoever? Because I'm starting to think that you haven't. Or else you wouldn't be making such claims.

Nope, an open air cooler gpu can be of benefit in this case due to the proximity of the fans to the vent on the side of the case.

OK.

Put a 250W card, non-blower inside. Play for a few hours while monitoring the temperature of the your components and case itself (ie put a probe on the case itself). Enjoy. So many of you have yet to try high-powered gpu cards in small enclosures. It seems you will find out about the truth the hard way.

What makes it worse is that, somehow, you actually claim that blowers are worse. I have no idea how could you ever get to that conclusion. You couldn't reach it testing, because testing will yield completely different results.. so, how?
 
Jeeez prava, you always can twist someone's words...

I was of course talking about an open air card that has fans so there is airflow induced by those fans. And if this card gets fresh air from the outside all the time and has exhaust pointed straight out of the case vertically then there shouldn't be any problem with that.

We have different scenario though where in horizontal position there's some chance of hot air gathering above the gpu + there's not so much fresh air coming from below of the gpu while in vertical position open air card works whole lot better than all three other configurations (two horizontal and veritcal with blower).

Of course when you get you card to run up to thermal target temp then it's not fraction of degree anymore, and maybe that was an understatement but the core of the problem is that if you let the card exhaust air to the inside of the case without pushing it out with fans then you'll have your card recycle and heat it up.
 
Jeeez prava, you always can twist someone's words...

I was of course talking about an open air card that has fans so there is airflow induced by those fans.

I was talking about the same scenario. Case with no fans, gpu card with fans. How could I talk about a gpu without fans? There aren't any unless you go sub 75W. I'm not talking about that.

You just try your case with a 290X (or 780 TI or 980 TI... or any high-powered card that is over 200W) open-air card. Play several hours. Then tell me how roasty everything is. You just have to test it. Nothing else.
 
Jeeez mother of god. You seem to imply that air magically gets out of the case. Without fans being part of it. Also, you imply that air gets heated up "a fraction of a degree" which couldn't be further from the truth. Heck, have you tested your enclosure at all with open-air coolers? Cases with no fans are forced to recycle hot air all the time because, well, there is nothing making that air get in or out of the case. You only have to test your own case to see what happens when you use non-blower cards inside cases that have no forced airflow inside. Just go and find a 290X non-blower and play for several hours straight. Monitor the temperatures of every single component of your case, and the case itself, then panic.

I'm worried that a case designer and seller is making such statements. Have you done any thorough testing whatsoever? Because I'm starting to think that you haven't. Or else you wouldn't be making such claims.

OK.

Put a 250W card, non-blower inside. Play for a few hours while monitoring the temperature of the your components and case itself (ie put a probe on the case itself). Enjoy. So many of you have yet to try high-powered gpu cards in small enclosures. It seems you will find out about the truth the hard way.

What makes it worse is that, somehow, you actually claim that blowers are worse. I have no idea how could you ever get to that conclusion. You couldn't reach it testing, because testing will yield completely different results.. so, how?

I was talking about the same scenario. Case with no fans, gpu card with fans. How could I talk about a gpu without fans? There aren't any unless you go sub 75W. I'm not talking about that.

You just try your case with a 290X (or 780 TI or 980 TI... or any high-powered card that is over 200W) open-air card. Play several hours. Then tell me how roasty everything is. You just have to test it. Nothing else.

gDs2xqb.png


Asking to put over 200W or 250W TDP card in such small space like SENTRY... really prava?
If You have some more of such ideas about our pc case, please share with us in our topic, or visit our SENTRY website. You don't have to insult other people. We don't share Your frustration about... no one knows about what. Please keep calm.

p.s. This is a DanA4 topic. Please keep with the main subject.
 
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