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

dondan said:
Because I don't use a logo at the front, to have a very clean front, I want to ask you what logo on the backside do you like more?

Bottom or Top?
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bottom looks good, as long as everyone understands you won't be able to see it in use. the wires will be blocking it. so as long as it doesn't need to be seen, it's fine to have it in a position you can't see
 
It is a serial number and a brand. A serial number is something that shouldn't be in a visible place. So, I think that's the point.

I still thing the case should have a small logo in the front (and 2 usb ports :rolleyes:)
 
So I've been staring at this case and wondering...

If I was able to modify the outer casing (or make a new one) to lengthen it a bit and extended the power button and relocated the USB Port... is there any reason i couldn't install a 3.5" hard drive on the front instead of a 2.5"? I've currently got a Silverstone RVZ02 case for my setup and am trying to think of how to shrink it further without sacrificing my 3.5" media hard drive.
 
Bottom looks better. Plus, I think the top one might interfere with the " PCI slot" cover if you're still planning on adding that.
 
Knolly said:
So I've been staring at this case and wondering...

If I was able to modify the outer casing (or make a new one) to lengthen it a bit and extended the power button and relocated the USB Port... is there any reason i couldn't install a 3.5" hard drive on the front instead of a 2.5"? I've currently got a Silverstone RVZ02 case for my setup and am trying to think of how to shrink it further without sacrificing my 3.5" media hard drive.
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If you have access to CNC laser/waterjet/punching/bending tools and Lian-Li-levels of experience in using them then why not.

Using a short graphics card might leave room for a 3.5" drive mounted vertically behind the PSU.
 
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Just found out about this case; exactly what I was looking for. I was gonna buy an RVZ02, but this suits my needs much better. As soon as it is released, one for me please!
 
TunnelVision said:
If you have access to CNC laser/waterjet/punching/bending tools and Lian-Li-levels of experience in using them then why not.

Using a short graphics card might leave room for a 3.5" drive mounted vertically behind the PSU.
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Eh, certainly not their level of experience but I know a few talented fabricators that I nag into making one. If I mounted one up front I think the easiest course of action would be to make new holes for the case cover screws on the bottom then just fabricate something to close off the gap left on the rear.

However! I think you're absolutely right. With a sub-7 inch graphics card a 3.5" drive should fit with room to spare, excellent call! Way simpler than custom fabricating a bunch of nonsense. If there were pre-drilled holes to mount a drive there it'd be a pretty great feature, but nothing a little elbow grease can't fix!

EDIT: Just realized that's not how the case cover is held on, so initial idea wouldn't work anyways.
 
Question to designer : Is it possible to transport PC in such case without having to remove graphic card ? Because - when transporting ordinary PC, GPU should be removed otherwise MB or GPU may get damaged (the pcie slot may get broken) Is it possible to have card screwed to case - but not inserted- to riser pcie slot during transportation to avoid damage ?
 
I don't think it's such a huge problem in this case because the GPU doesn't apply horizontal force to the motherboard.
 
Jfk78: There is no need to unscrew the gpu while transport the case.

Barbarian_PT: I don't understand what you mean?
 
dondan said:
Jfk78: There is no need to unscrew the gpu while transport the case.

Barbarian_PT: I don't understand what you mean?
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I think he means that you screw in the PCI bracket instead of having a toolless solution, which in transport might pose a problem.
 
Aircoookie said:
I don't think it's such a huge problem in this case because the GPU doesn't apply horizontal force to the motherboard.
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Oh yes it does.If there is shake of the case horizontally such heavy card like Titan or other with cooler may break off pcie slot, it happens pretty often when whole PC are transported.
From what I seen on photos you can unscrew the PCIE riser and then card will be screwed to case but not slotted in into PCIE but I would like a designer to confirm it.Reason I ask about it is I want to transport whole PC in carry on, having graphic card in case will save place in luggage.
 
JFK78 said:
Oh yes it does.If there is shake of the case horizontally such heavy card like Titan or other with cooler may break off pcie slot, it happens pretty often when whole PC are transported.
From what I seen on photos you can unscrew the PCIE riser and then card will be screwed to case but not slotted in into PCIE but I would like a designer to confirm it.Reason I ask about it is I want to transport whole PC in carry on, having graphic card in case will save place in luggage.
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If I recall correctly, the PCIe riser is screwed to the center wall of the case thus eliminating stress on the PCIe sockets. the PCI IO bracket is also screwed to the case. So it is much more secure then a regular motherboard where the GPU is only secure via the PCI IO bracket.
 
dondan said:
Jfk78: There is no need to unscrew the gpu while transport the case.

Barbarian_PT: I don't understand what you mean?
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I'm sorry. I don't understand either :D

I mean this kind of screws:
remove_back_plate_for_GEforce.jpg
 
This has to be unscrewed while transporting PC to avoid GPU/riser damage from horizontal shake.Looks it is possible to unscrew, so card will hang on PC case but it must be confirmed by case designer.The card, even screwed to case is never 100% stiff, horizontal shake could break pcie riser imo while transportation.

gpT1vxR.jpg
 
Again there is no need to unscrew the riser. The PCIe Slot itself can hold vertical forces because the PCB of the riser is not like a motherboard mount horizontal but rather vertical. It is a very bad idea to unscrew the riser while transport the case with mounted gpu, because than the card will be only hold by the top slot crews, this could damage/bend the backpanel, because the whole weight of the card hang on the backside.


Here is bit of new progress:

For the user manual i worked with the wire routing function of solid works and I like the result so much...

routingsguqa.jpg
 
Oh wow that's a good looking cable harness right there. All the ones I tired to do in inventor look pretty bad and don't terminate properly. :(
 
iFreilicht said:
Oh wow that's a good looking cable harness right there. All the ones I tired to do in inventor look pretty bad and don't terminate properly. :(
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In inventor I always use tube and pipe and use a custom tube for it.
 
I was wondering,is there a CPU Cutout for a m.2 SSD with this case? I couldnt fully tell if the back is closed off after that plastic piece between the Motherboard/GPU.
 
@koolpc IIRC the earliest we'll be able to put money towards it is sometime next month (crowdfunding, I think) and the hope is to get them manufactured and shipped out by around March.

@gymfan
Not that I can see, there's not much reason to have a cutout there since the GPU is behind the mobo, and the usual reason for a cutout is easy access to the CPU backplate from behind the mobo.
Edit: Also because the riser cable.

4pusfx.jpg
 
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gymfan said:
I was wondering,is there a CPU Cutout for a m.2 SSD with this case? I couldnt fully tell if the back is closed off after that plastic piece between the Motherboard/GPU.
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There is no cutout, however even if there was one it wouldn't make sense because the risercable is in the way of the CPU backplate.
 
JFK78 said:
Question to designer : Is it possible to transport PC in such case without having to remove graphic card ? Because - when transporting ordinary PC, GPU should be removed otherwise MB or GPU may get damaged (the pcie slot may get broken) Is it possible to have card screwed to case - but not inserted- to riser pcie slot during transportation to avoid damage ?
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:D:D:D made my day :D:D:D

and allways remember: when transporting ordinary PC, CPU Cooler should be removed otherwise MB may get damaged (the MB may break in 4 pieces, 'cause of the srew holes)
:D:D:D
 
I really like the look of this case, but virtually no storage options and a lack of cooling make me hesitant. Would be interesting to see if it can actually hold up to the x99 itx board with a 5960x.
 
pixelblue said:
I really like the look of this case, but virtually no storage options and a lack of cooling make me hesitant. Would be interesting to see if it can actually hold up to the x99 itx board with a 5960x.
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Have you even read thru this thread or taken a good look at the DAN Case website…?!?

The X99 mini ITX board in the A4-SFX chassis has been covered both in the thread & there is a FAQ on the website specifically covering X99 & the chassis…

There is space for up to three 2.5" HDDs/SSDs, and there is the M.2 on the X99 board, so that is up to FOUR (4) separate storage units in the chassis (M.2 onboard, two drives under PSU, one drive behind front panel)…
 
I'm aware it can support x99, and I've seen the temps. I'm hoping to build a super compact render box, and I'm not sure the Dan A4 could adequately cool a 5960x for 24/7 rendering. Even a Xeon looks like it might reach unstable temps, Prime95 @ 79 C isn't good. Even 67 C is hot.
https://www.dan-cases.com/faq.html
Does make me wonder if it could be possible to hack in a slim radiator.
 
Wow, never seen anything quite like that before. Super cool, I'll have to look into it. I suspect it would provide better cpu temps than the low profile cooler?
 
I'd expect it would, by a decent margin, since you'd probably have more surface area for cooling, and more fan choices.

The issue is having to use a short GPU, but that might not be a bother for you. Also voiding the warranty on the PSU.
 
QinX said:
In inventor I always use tube and pipe and use a custom tube for it.
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Ah thanks I'll have a play with that.

Curiositie said:
I'd expect it would, by a decent margin, since you'd probably have more surface area for cooling, and more fan choices.

The issue is having to use a short GPU, but that might not be a bother for you. Also voiding the warranty on the PSU.
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I'd really like to see someone do this in this case, it would be amazeballs. Even if you didn't want to void the PSU warranty, you could mount the PSU with the fan facing inside so you'd have the whole space between PSU and side panel for a radiator + fan, so about 40mm, which is enough for the Silverstone TD-03 SLIM. Sure you'd exhaust directly into the PSU, but you'd also help the airflow of its fan, so maybe that won't matter.

TunnelVision said:
As well as being shielded I'm pretty sure the riser cable can go either side of the motherboard/graphics card panel.
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Shielding doesn't have anything to do with the concerns raised here. Shielding keeps RF noise out/in, it could still be conductive.
 
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