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

Thanks for the pictures. Don't forget to put a bit of electrical tape onto the PCH to correct the emissivity (read for short explanation and good post by FLIR on how to correct it).


About the power design of this motherboard. It is certainly not a usual layout and I don't yet fully understand how exactly it works (I don't see enough MOSFETs for example). I am however pretty sure it is properly cooled and doesn't need a heatsink as long as there is some airflow and the case temperature isn't too high.

usual layout:
View attachment 17729

Asus STRIX Z270I:
View attachment 17727 View attachment 17728

Good call on the electrical tape - I ran into a similar issue measuring a motor the other day.

The part you called out in question has a reference designator of PDQ1321 and a label 'R10 647 CBL'. And yeah, not sure where the last mosfet is for that inductor, although one of the inductors at the other end has three mosfets close to it?
 
So I delided i7 7700 (non-k). I am using cryorig c7 and there is a 10°C difference with side panel unmounted. When is side panel mounted, temps are higher, but noise from c7 is far worst.
But after 15 minutes of full load (side panel open) on cpu, temps are maxed to 80°C. On iddle, 36-40°C.

Bf1 fullhd maxed out - cpu temp is not going over 65°C (room temp: 21°C)
 
So I delided i7 7700 (non-k). I am using cryorig c7 and there is a 10°C difference with side panel unmounted. When is side panel mounted, temps are higher, but noise from c7 is far worst.
But after 15 minutes of full load (side panel open) on cpu, temps are maxed to 80°C. On iddle, 36-40°C.

Bf1 fullhd maxed out - cpu temp is not going over 65°C (room temp: 21°C)

What paste did you use?
 
OK so this post is going to be a long but very interesting one.

All tests are done on my 6700K @ 4.4Ghz with the LP53 and Noctua NF a-9x14 PWM fan

i unplugged the titan x pascal because sometimes it makes a little rumble when idle, and the NF a9x14 PWM is so quiet you can slightly hear the graphics card in the background, we don't want to hear that, we just want to hear the CPU fan.

i applied fresh thermal paste when i changed orientation of the cooler, the thermal paste i use is Thermal Grizzly Kryonaut.

The first test i did was with the LP53 heatpipes in a horizontal orientation. i used the 4mm standoffs and the a9x14 fan:



Idle temps:

lp53 with a9x14 4mm horizontal idle.JPG

Prime 95 temps:

lp53 with a9x14 4mm horizontal stress.JPG

Next test was the LP53 heatpipes in a horizontal orientation. i used the 7mm standoffs (the original ones) and the a9x14 fan:



Idle temps:

lp53 with a9x14 7mm horizontal idle.JPG

Prime 95 temps:

lp53 with a9x14 7mm horizontal stress.JPG

Next test was the LP53 heatpipes in a vertical orientation. i used the 4mm standoffs and the a9x14 fan:



Idle temps:

lp53 with a9x14 4mm virtical idle.JPG

Prime 95 temps:

lp53 with a9x14 4mm virtical stress.JPG

Next test was the LP53 heatpipes in a vertical orientation. i used the 7mm (the original ones) standoffs and the a9x14 fan:



Idle temps:

lp53 with a9x14 7mm virtical idle.JPG

Prime 95 Temps:

lp53 with a9x14 7mm virtical stress.JPG

All fan speeds og the above tests were:

Idle speed: 800 RPM

Full speed: 2200 RPM

As you can see, those temperatures are very very low, but i don't know how, surely they would be higher with a smaller fan than the TY-100?????

Anyway, as you can tell, all noise tests at idle are silent, but i think the 4mm standoff tests are slightly quieter with the side panel on with max fan speed, theres hardly any difference in it, but the 4mm tests have a slightly lower pitch sound.

For fun i did one last test as i was feeling rather confident with those low temps.

I tested the LP53 heatpipes in a vertical orientation. i used the 4mm standoffs and the a9x14 fan AND used the low noise adaptor that came with the fan:



Idle temps:

lp53 with a9x14 4mm virtical idle low noise.JPG

Prime 95 temps:

lp53 with a9x14 4mm virtical idle low noise stress.JPG

Idle speed: 618 RPM

Full speed: 1611 RPM

Not bad! as you can tell from the video it's silent even at full fan speed! this setup is the one to go for if you want a completely silent Dan pc.

if anyone has any questions feel free to ask.
 
Last edited:
Meccabolix: I wonder what impact the 4mm standoffs will have on the C7 noise level, but especially pitch?

Not interested in temps as there will be only small changes, but the noise might change a lot. Interested as I, and I guess many others have the C7 and are wondering what our next move should be.

Cheers!

I second hoodedhusky..am VERY interested to see noise levels on the c7 with the 4mm standoffs..would you be able to indulge us meccabolix? (Am sure many others would find this useful as well)

I tried to install the C7 with the 4mm standoffs but the nuts than come with the c7 are super thick, and the bolt that goes through the 4 holes in the motherboard around the cpu and very long. i would say the bolts are probably 6 or 7mm long after they come through the holes. i couldnt screw the motherboard in as i didn't want it to flex. i can remove the bolts however, so i'll try to mod it right now and i'll get back to you with a video if i can manage it.
 
Has anyone tried mounting a Scythe KAZE JYU on top of their C7 cooler? It's 100mm x 12mm with 92mm mounting holes. Couldn't find anything thinner.

The XT140 is 13mm (2mm thinner than the C7 fan), but it is just as loud. I'm skeptical that 1 extra mm less will make it any quieter, but if bringing the fan further from the case holes doesn't make it quieter, I don't know what the problem is.
 
OK so this post is going to be a long but very interesting one.

All tests are done on my 6700K @ 4.4Ghz with the LP53 and Noctua NF a-9x14 PWM fan

i unplugged the titan x pascal because sometimes it makes a little rumble when idle, and the NF a9x14 PWM is so quiet you can slightly hear the graphics card in the background, we don't want to hear that, we just want to hear the CPU fan.

i applied fresh thermal paste when i changed orientation of the cooler, the thermal paste i use is Thermal Grizzly Kryonaut.

The first test i did was with the LP53 heatpipes in a horizontal orientation. i used the 4mm standoffs and the a9x14 fan:



Idle temps:

View attachment 17799

Prime 95 temps:

View attachment 17800

Next test was the LP53 heatpipes in a horizontal orientation. i used the 7mm standoffs (the original ones) and the a9x14 fan:



Idle temps:

View attachment 17802

Prime 95 temps:

View attachment 17803

Next test was the LP53 heatpipes in a vertical orientation. i used the 4mm standoffs and the a9x14 fan:



Idle temps:

View attachment 17804

Prime 95 temps:

View attachment 17805

Next test was the LP53 heatpipes in a vertical orientation. i used the 7mm (the original ones) standoffs and the a9x14 fan:



Idle temps:

View attachment 17806

Prime 95 Temps:

View attachment 17807

All fan speeds og the above tests were:

Idle speed: 800 RPM

Full speed: 2200 RPM

As you can see, those temperatures are very very low, but i don't know how, surely they would be higher with a smaller fan than the TY-100?????

Anyway, as you can tell, all noise tests at idle are silent, but i think the 4mm standoff tests are slightly quieter with the side panel on with max fan speed, theres hardly any difference in it, but the 4mm tests have a slightly lower pitch sound.

For fun i did one last test as i was feeling rather confident with those low temps.

I tested the LP53 heatpipes in a vertical orientation. i used the 4mm standoffs and the a9x14 fan AND used the low noise adaptor that came with the fan:



Idle temps:

View attachment 17809

Prime 95 temps:

View attachment 17810

Not bad! as you can tell from the video it's silent even at full fan speed! this setup is the one to go for if you want a completely silent Dan pc.

if anyone has any questions feel free to ask.


Thanks for such extensive testing.

I have noticed that you did not have any I/O shield in-place during these testing, which may increase the temps a little.

I'm impressed with the results you got, in my scenario (Node 202 Case + 4770K (delid) + LP53 Noctua combo ) i top out at 85 C.

Looking at ways to mod the I/O shield to have vents.
 
OK so this post is going to be a long but very interesting one.

All tests are done on my 6700K @ 4.4Ghz with the LP53 and Noctua NF a-9x14 PWM fan

i unplugged the titan x pascal because sometimes it makes a little rumble when idle, and the NF a9x14 PWM is so quiet you can slightly hear the graphics card in the background, we don't want to hear that, we just want to hear the CPU fan.

i applied fresh thermal paste when i changed orientation of the cooler, the thermal paste i use is Thermal Grizzly Kryonaut.

The first test i did was with the LP53 heatpipes in a horizontal orientation. i used the 4mm standoffs and the a9x14 fan:



Idle temps:

View attachment 17799

Prime 95 temps:

View attachment 17800

Next test was the LP53 heatpipes in a horizontal orientation. i used the 7mm standoffs (the original ones) and the a9x14 fan:



Idle temps:

View attachment 17802

Prime 95 temps:

View attachment 17803

Next test was the LP53 heatpipes in a vertical orientation. i used the 4mm standoffs and the a9x14 fan:



Idle temps:

View attachment 17804

Prime 95 temps:

View attachment 17805

Next test was the LP53 heatpipes in a vertical orientation. i used the 7mm (the original ones) standoffs and the a9x14 fan:



Idle temps:

View attachment 17806

Prime 95 Temps:

View attachment 17807

All fan speeds og the above tests were:

Idle speed: 800 RPM

Full speed: 2200 RPM

As you can see, those temperatures are very very low, but i don't know how, surely they would be higher with a smaller fan than the TY-100?????

Anyway, as you can tell, all noise tests at idle are silent, but i think the 4mm standoff tests are slightly quieter with the side panel on with max fan speed, theres hardly any difference in it, but the 4mm tests have a slightly lower pitch sound.

For fun i did one last test as i was feeling rather confident with those low temps.

I tested the LP53 heatpipes in a vertical orientation. i used the 4mm standoffs and the a9x14 fan AND used the low noise adaptor that came with the fan:



Idle temps:

View attachment 17809

Prime 95 temps:

View attachment 17810

Not bad! as you can tell from the video it's silent even at full fan speed! this setup is the one to go for if you want a completely silent Dan pc.

if anyone has any questions feel free to ask.

You are doing god's work here :)

With the 4mm standoffs you should have room for a 25mm thick fan. Do you happen to have a 92x25mm fan?
It would also be interesting how a slim and regular 120mm fan would cool and sound on the LP53. I think you don't have LP RAM so you would need to temporarily remove one instead to fit the fan in.
 
Last edited:
Hold your hype, AMD may work some magic with Vega, like they just did with Ryzen. Rumors say that signature Vega will have 12 TFLOPS, which is more than Titan X. Le'ts just wait and see.

The RX 480 is rated for 5.1 TFLOPS and the GTX 1060 is rated for 4.4 TFLOPS. Yet, generally the 1060 is a tad bit faster.

https://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/MSI/GTX_1060_Armor/30.html
http://gamegpu.com/test-video-cards/opredelenie-naibolee-bystrykh-i-optimalnykh-reshenij-2016-goda

If TFLOPS performance of Vega is extrapolated from this comparison, then it will take 16% more theoretical TFLOP performance than Titan X to equal Titan X speed (12.76 TFLOPS). The rumors peg the 1080 TI to be 11.8 TFLOPS, which looks like Nvidia is going to do to AMD exactly what they did last time - and that is force AMD to either release a card that is always slower than 1080 TI OR force AMD to push the GPU well beyond it's perf/w sweet spot and leave very little OC headroom to be equal at stock vs. stock speeds.
 
I'm waiting for my case but I was wondering why not remove the standoffs all together Meccabolix? or mount them behind so we get negative space, -5mm standoffs lol?
 
Hey guys,
Today I tested the LP53 and the TY-100.

results TY-100:
- at full speed it's a tiny bit louder than the NF-A9x14, but mounted on a NH-L9i it cools it a few degrees better.
- at 1900 rpm the NF-A9x14 cools better and both are equally quiet.

results LP53:
- in general identical performence to NH-L9i. Sometimes a few degrees better than NH-L9i.
- I testet both with my i5-3570k@4,3 Ghz, delidded and liquid metal thermal paste. I testet both with the NF-A9x14 at 1850rpm and 2550rpm with and without the I/O shield.

Conclusion:
I use my NH-L9i with the NF-A9x14 @1850rpm until there is a cooler that outperforms it, without being louder. So far, I don't think there is any on the market that could do that. If you think there is one, prove me wrong by submitting your results. I would highly appreciate that. :)

https://do
cs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1aZfTysWc4dtJC33qkLCjLkhPnzVLtbCtjpxoZeT92ZA/edit#gid=0
 
Last edited:
Thanks for such extensive testing.

I have noticed that you did not have any I/O shield in-place during these testing, which may increase the temps a little.

I'm impressed with the results you got, in my scenario (Node 202 Case + 4770K (delid) + LP53 Noctua combo ) i top out at 85 C.

Looking at ways to mod the I/O shield to have vents.

i have the node 202 case, it didn't have very good temps, i think it's because of the dust filters.

You are doing god's work here :)

With the 4mm standoffs you should have room for a 25mm thick fan. Do you happen to have a 92x25mm fan?
It would also be interesting how a slim and regular 120mm fan would cool and sound on the LP53. I think you don't have LP RAM so you would need to temporarily remove one instead to fit the fan in.

If i used a 25mm fan i might get the turbulence problem again, theres not that much point anyway, i think the temps and silence of the a9x14 is good enough, i plan to delid when my delidding tool finally arrives. i think if Dan makes a fully copper cool i will buy that, that'll be the last one lol. im still waiting on a nexus too
 
just bought the lp53 to do some testing on.
couldn't resist considering that there was the $10 off $50 USD ebay coupon code CFEBFLASH10OFF

I got way to many coolers now...

nexus low-7000
cyrorig c7
scythe shuriken big 2
thermalright axp-100h
thermolab's lp53
also another engineering sample beast full copper cooler on the way

plus maybe 3 ty-100 fans, a a9x14 one, a prolimatech 12 slim one...

a rockit delid tool,Coollaboratory Liquid Ultra, and Kryonaut thermal paste....

think I got an addiction. halp! lol
 
just bought the lp53 to do some testing on.
couldn't resist considering that there was the $10 off $50 USD ebay coupon code CFEBFLASH10OFF

I got way to many coolers now...

nexus low-7000
cyrorig c7
scythe shuriken big 2
thermalright axp-100h
thermolab's lp53
also another engineering sample beast full copper cooler on the way

plus maybe 3 ty-100 fans, a a9x14 one, a prolimatech 12 slim one...

a rockit delid tool,Coollaboratory Liquid Ultra, and Kryonaut thermal paste....

think I got an addiction. halp! lol

Don't worry man you aren't the only one lol
 
Just got my LP53, zip-tied the TY-100 fan onto it and ......



Idle temps:

View attachment 17693

Prime 95 temps:

View attachment 17694

Bloody hell ..... looks like the LP53 + TY-100 is in the lead so far in my tests! This is on my 6700K @4.4Ghz as usual.

I didn't even see it hit 86°C, must have only been for a split second, 99% of the time it was hovering between 81 and 83°C

This is with the 4mm standoffs and no I/O shield. i have used the same thermal paste on all of these tests btw, the Thermal Grizzly Kryonaut, i applied it with the included spreader as per the instructions.

It's silent at idle and pretty quiet at full speed. It's actually a lower pitch when the side panel is on, but sounds more or less the same with the side panel both on and off, which is good. the 4mm standoffs may be helping with this as the fan is further away from the side panel than it would be without the shorter standoffs, therefore creating much less air turbulence.



Man i am jealous, seeing how good this tiny little copper cooler performs has me itching for one now lol

I'm wondering if the fins being copper has anything to do with the lower temps, its barely taller than the AR05 and cools much better, and that has copper direct contact heatpipes, the LP53 doesnt have direct contact heatpipes, doesn't look like it even needs them.

I'm hoping Dondan can do a fully copper cooler, the temps show that its far more efficient than aluminium, at least in this super small cooler range.


Just out of curiosity, did you install the TY-100 onto the Cryorig C7 using zip ties as well?
 
Don't worry man you aren't the only one lol
Certainly not, but the problem is somewhere else. After a moment the use of the entire case is heated to 60 ° C and the fan in the power supply and rotated at full speed and roaring like a vacuum cleaner
 
just bought the lp53 to do some testing on.
couldn't resist considering that there was the $10 off $50 USD ebay coupon code CFEBFLASH10OFF

I got way to many coolers now...

nexus low-7000
cyrorig c7
scythe shuriken big 2
thermalright axp-100h
thermolab's lp53
also another engineering sample beast full copper cooler on the way

plus maybe 3 ty-100 fans, a a9x14 one, a prolimatech 12 slim one...

a rockit delid tool,Coollaboratory Liquid Ultra, and Kryonaut thermal paste....

think I got an addiction. halp! lol
54394511.jpg

No but seriously I have these coolers:
Silverstone R05
Cooltek LP53
Thermalright AXP-100RH
Phanteks PH-TC12LS
Cooljag Falcon II
Dynatron K1
Dynatron K129
Noctua NH-L9i
Cryorig C7
Nexus R2 7000 (not yet received)
a secret heatsink
a custom heatsink

Fans:
NF-A9
NF-B9
Prolimatech Ultra Sleek Vortex 12
and all the fans from all the heatsinks

Other stuff:
Thermal Grizzly Hydronaut
Thermal Grizzly Kryonaut
Coollaboratory Liquid Pro
three new thermal probes
A sonometer (which I got for free from work)
A Rockit delid tool (not yet received)
Multiple bags of small heatsinks (from work)


I might have a problem....
 
Some Ryzen 1700 benchmarks are already 'rising' and it's looking very interesting: http://126kr.com/article/5cfgpfkknr6
Article: wccftech

"Ryzen’s instructions per clock are significantly higher than anything AMD ever had before. In fact, according to the latest benchmarks Ryzen offers even better single-threaded performance/clock than Intel’s Kaby Lake."

Userbench single threaded IPC test results (both at 4.5GHz; results are scaled up and do not reflect actual clk of Ryzen):
Ryzen 7 1700X: 147
i7 7700K: 140

That cannot possibly be true can it?
I see that the R7s have more cache and the single threaded advantage probably comes from that extra cache and not actually because of the IPC itself.
Still, this would be huge for AMD. This would mean that an R5 1600X at somewhere around 4.2GHz (OC) on all six cores would be able to outperform the i7 7700K in multithreaded loads. Only difference is that the expected price is only 260$.

If this is actually true Intel will absolutely have to lower their prices significantly or they would have to drop Cannonlake with a huge performance improvement.
 
Certainly not, but the problem is somewhere else. After a moment the use of the entire case is heated to 60 ° C and the fan in the power supply and rotated at full speed and roaring like a vacuum cleaner

My SF450 sounded like a vacuum after 5 mins on full GPU load (mind you it's a 1060). Swapped it for an SF600 and the difference is night and day. Maybe I had a terrible 450 and a great 600, either way, try another PSU if yours is loud. Mine's no longer the loudest component.
 
My SF450 sounded like a vacuum after 5 mins on full GPU load (mind you it's a 1060). Swapped it for an SF600 and the difference is night and day. Maybe I had a terrible 450 and a great 600, either way, try another PSU if yours is loud. Mine's no longer the loudest component.
let me guess .... using GPU with aftermarket cooler ....
 
I have a really really curious question!, how much space in millimeters is there saved between the GPU block and the side OF the case??? I really gotta know the answer!

I'll get you a measurement when I get home tomorrow evening.
 
My SF450 sounded like a vacuum after 5 mins on full GPU load (mind you it's a 1060). Swapped it for an SF600 and the difference is night and day. Maybe I had a terrible 450 and a great 600, either way, try another PSU if yours is loud. Mine's no longer the loudest component.
I've got a SF450 and a EVGA 970 SSC - my PSU does not even spin up during most loads, so you definitely had a faulty SF450 - it's been said many times, it's a very very good PSU - if you don't have a dud that is!
 
Anyone who is concidering putting a Ryzen into the dan a4

Would you go 1700 or 1700x? I know the only difference between the 1700-1800x is binning, the chips are identical.

However the 1700 is 65w and the 1700x is 95w. Due to AMD using soldered chips (Thank god) I would say the temps would be down alot and if the 1700x can manage max 70-80c inside the dan A4 I could see myself getting one without fear of it thermal throttling.
 
Im waiting for AMD Ryzen reviews first as well as YouTube gaming fps scores. That being said, the hexacore is definitely going to be their big seller. I might just go for the 1700X if gaming temperatures are fine.
 
Anyone with the Corsair SF600 having the issue where the fan will not turn off in idle after load?

I just tested mine in an open environment, and the fan only started after 4 minutes of Prime95 (i5-4690K) and Furmark (GTX 970). However, the fan never turns off in idle afterwards.

Am I looking at a replacement, or is this normal behaviour?
 
Between those two I'd go for the 65W part, though personally I'm going to have to try pretty hard to talk myself out of just going for a 6700T + Strix Z270I and instead wait for ryzen ITX and maybe lower TDP parts.
 
My SF450, the fan barely turns on! I finally managed on a hot day (almost 30 degrees C in the house) to get the PSU fan to turn on, and only after half an hour of prime and furmark on an i5 4570 with a 1070 EVGA SC. Even then, it was not even audible with my ear on the PSU, and I am sensitive to fan noise.

Within seconds of turning off prime and furmark, the PSU fan powered down. I almost returned my PSU because the fan didnt come on. Still not sure if mine is abnormally insensitive to heat as the PSU smells warm and feels very warm to touch on the metal case.

(my pc is currently running open on the desk, not in any case)
 
Anyone with the Corsair SF600 having the issue where the fan will not turn off in idle after load?

I just tested mine in an open environment, and the fan only started after 4 minutes of Prime95 (i5-4690K) and Furmark (GTX 970). However, the fan never turns off in idle afterwards.

Am I looking at a replacement, or is this normal behaviour?

In the computerbase.de forum some had the same problem. It looks like the backplate of the GPU is heating up the PSU.
One suggested to put some isolation material (in his case of the PSU packaging) between PSU und GPU, which solved the problem in his case.

Here a link to his post including picture: https://www.computerbase.de/forum/showthread.php?t=1651725&page=18&p=19795435#post19795435
 
With Ryzen looking quite promising: have there been any mITX boards announced for the platform?
 
Thank you for the suggestion. I have just tested it completely outside the case, and the fan now starts after 8 minutes stress test but still does not turn off in idle afterwards.

Probably need to send it back for a replacement and use my old full sized psu externally in the mean time :-/
 
Thank you for the suggestion. I have just tested it completely outside the case, and the fan now starts after 8 minutes stress test but still does not turn off in idle afterwards.

Probably need to send it back for a replacement and use my old full sized psu externally in the mean time :-/

Try to have a fan blowing air towards it. If the psu fan stops with the fan directing airflow, you know that the problem is the temperature and not the load, which would mean that the psu is not defective.

All in all, I am convinced this is a design choice that can't be fixed. The psu needs to be thermally-protected, and that only happens if the fan is temperature-controlled. It happend with a Silverstone unit, If I'm not mistaken, that it was only load-controlled and thus would fail (it would trip) in computers with poor or no airflow.
 
View attachment 17895

No but seriously I have these coolers:
Silverstone R05
Cooltek LP53
Thermalright AXP-100RH
Phanteks PH-TC12LS
Cooljag Falcon II
Dynatron K1
Dynatron K129
Noctua NH-L9i
Cryorig C7
Nexus R2 7000 (not yet received)
a secret heatsink
a custom heatsink

Fans:
NF-A9
NF-B9
Prolimatech Ultra Sleek Vortex 12
and all the fans from all the heatsinks

Other stuff:
Thermal Grizzly Hydronaut
Thermal Grizzly Kryonaut
Coollaboratory Liquid Pro
three new thermal probes
A sonometer (which I got for free from work)
A Rockit delid tool (not yet received)
Multiple bags of small heatsinks (from work)


I might have a problem....

Have you done some tests on temps on all coolers ??
 
Back
Top