DAN C4-SFX: The smallest water cooling case in the world

dondan, for the top panel place the front screws in the corners just like the rear ones. This way they'll align with the side panels' fasteners as well as the side-mounted ports.
 
The C4-SFX samples will arrive in the next days. Maybe tomorrow. I will be sponsored by Alphacool for wster cooling test hardware and maybe will work on a custom reservoir for custom loops with them. I also made the decision to test a slide in mounting system so you will not have visible screws on the mounting system.
 
I believe you’re asking for the case height to increase by at least 50mm for the 92mm tower... the resulting overall case height will be much taller than your current M1.
 
Necere said:
I can tell you that what you propose isn't even close to being feasible.
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I think you talk about the slide in system? You already mentioned it in the SFFLab thread. I will give it a try if it will not work then i will use screws or try something else.
 
dondan said:
I think you talk about the slide in system? You already mentioned it in the SFFLab thread. I will give it a try if it will not work then i will use screws or try something else.
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Sorry, mine and Nanook's posts were in response to Krakyn's post which he deleted.
 
Necere said:
Sorry, mine and Nanook's posts were in response to Krakyn's post which he deleted.
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We should have quoted. :p
Krakyn Stacking both the motherboard and graphics card vertically was technically feasible, you will ultimately end up with a case configured like the Silverstone ML08 / Fractal Design Node202. I believe this deviates from the original scope of the C4-SFX.
 
So guys the first day testing the C4-SFX samples is over. The quality is very good and the samples looks so good. I made the decission to go with the side i/o version because it looks awesome.

Here and there are tiny things that need to optimized on the metal parts and cable lengths but nothing critical. Furthermore i used the day to make some first testing with my Ryzen, Titan X Pascal and a single 120mm AIO for the CPU.
I tested all possible configuration ( fan suck in, fan suck out, differences between no panel, vented panel and window panel and difference with radiator on bottom or on top).
The resuls are very great and in the expected range. I will post the results and some pictures tomorrow. Keep in mind this is only a preview test because my i7 8700 and more AIOs will arrive next week.

What i can say that cable management is a bit more tricky on the C4 but if you don't hurry and think about what you do it is very doable. I use the default Corsair cables and it looks very clean.
 
Awesome news dondan looking forward to the tests on the i7 8700.
Also a picture with the C4 next to the A4 would be welcomed! :)
 
dondan i have one question about the top grill: if I will rotate the case, fans on the top side, will they have enough space and holes to properly exhaust the hot air?

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I'm talking about the yellow area.
 
Here are the preview results of the first test with the C4-SFX.


Testsetup:

  • Ryzen 7 1700 @ default clock
  • Asus Strix B350-I
  • Nvidia Titan X (Pascal)
  • 32GB DDR4
  • Corsair 450 SFX
  • Asetek 120mm AIO (27mm Radiator)
  • 2x Noctua NF-A12x25


I used Prime95 (26.6) 8K run for max CPU load and Valley Benchmark 2.5K simultaneous. The case fans spin at 100%.


Radiator on Top

---------------------------------------CPU--------GPU Clock----GPU FAN----GPU temp-----Room
FAN push out - open------------50 °C------max 1800------2350 rpm------82 °C------25 °C
FAN push out - vented----------50 °C------max 1780------2380 rpm------82 °C------25 °C
FAN push out - Window--------52 °C------max 1780------2410 rpm------83 °C------25 °C
FAN suck in - open--------------50 °C------max 1800------2350 rpm------81 °C------25 °C
FAN suck in - vented------------50 °C------max 1780------2380 rpm------82 °C------25 °C
FAN suck in - Window----------52 °C------max 1780------2410 rpm------82 °C------25 °C


Radiator on Bottom

----------------------------------------CPU--------GPU Clock----GPU FAN----GPU temp-----Room
FAN push out - open-------------54 °C------max 1780------2380 rpm------82 °C------25 °C
FAN push out - vented-----------56 °C------max 1780------2400 rpm------82 °C------25 °C
FAN push out - Window---------57 °C------max 1780------2430 rpm------83 °C------25 °C
FAN suck in - open---------------52 °C------max 1780------2380 rpm------82 °C------25 °C
FAN suck in - vented-------------56 °C------max 1780------2410 rpm------83 °C------25 °C
FAN suck in - Window-----------56 °C------max 1780------2410 rpm------83 °C------25 °C



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Could you test raising the case a bit more off the surface and see if the temps drop? (And maybe redesign the feet with a reassessed temp/looks consideration)
The only reason why bottom rad pull in is worse than top rad pull in that I can think of is restricted airflow because of low ground clearance.

Also I think it's weird that for the top rad config, push out seems to have worse GPU temps. I mean the air inside the case should be cooler since it's still "in front of" the radiator...
But I guess that's still in the margin of error.

Are you going to test 240 rad for the CPU? I'm curious if the GPU will throttle when both bottom intakes are heated by a radiator...
The reason we need this info is: Problem with bottom rad exhaust is that the hot air will rise outside the case and get recirculated on the vented side and top.
So for now the bottom rad intake is the better option for CPU temps, but with both intakes being covered by CPU radiator, the GPU temps will definitely rise.
 
Can't believe Dondan builds PCs without installing motherboard I/O shields. Shame, shame. ;)
 
ScarletStar
Yes I will test if increasing the case stand will improve temps.
On all configuration the GPU temp was nearly the same (jumping between 81-83°C) modern cards are designed to ajust fan speed and clock to be under a specific temp cap.
Yes I will test 240mm on my big cooling review staring this week.

M4rk: Quick and dirty XD

FossilX: Yes I will do it tomorrow for you :)

Yoshikan: I can make a before and after for you ;)
 
Wow that silver version looks absolute amazing. To the point where I might even consider buying one. Will you sell outer panel kits separate like NCase?

This is how I want to layout my computer. I can see the great big hole in the bottom for air to come in. Will we be able to buy a filter kit that will be properly installed there?
 
dondan said:
ScarletStar
Yes I will test if increasing the case stand will improve temps.
On all configuration the GPU temp was nearly the same (jumping between 81-83°C) modern cards are designed to ajust fan speed and clock to be under a specific temp cap.
Yes I will test 240mm on my big cooling review staring this week.

M4rk: Quick and dirty XD

FossilX: Yes I will do it tomorrow for you :)

Yoshikan: I can make a before and after for you ;)
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Thank you!!!!
 
dondan the silver variant looks great, maybe the glass side panel is a bit too dark, I hope the final version will be less tinted. :)
 
Lazer1337 said:
The tinted looks awesome!!
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Yea I have not said that it looks bad, actually on the black variant looks really great, but for the silver one a slightly less tinted glass panel would be even better (imho).
No big deal. We are talking about little details :)
 
Are there plans to close up the open space on the panel where the case feet are or will they be left open? I can’t help but feel that it should be closed off for aesthetic purposes even though i guess no one will look under the case itself
 
Blackreplica said:
Are there plans to close up the open space on the panel where the case feet are or will they be left open? I can’t help but feel that it should be closed off for aesthetic purposes even though i guess no one will look under the case itself
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Afaik you should be able to buy a dust filter specifically made for this case. That should be installed in the gaping hole. That is my plan anyways, although I would like a sturdy one, as picking up the case could make your fingers go through it.
 
Blackreplica said:
Are there plans to close up the open space on the panel where the case feet are or will they be left open? I can’t help but feel that it should be closed off for aesthetic purposes even though i guess no one will look under the case itself
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I think it is better to be closed dondan what do you think ?
 
Blackreplica said:
Are there plans to close up the open space on the panel where the case feet are or will they be left open? I can’t help but feel that it should be closed off for aesthetic purposes even though i guess no one will look under the case itself
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Where you see the foot when looking at the front of the case?
 
But why would you close up airflow where the aesthetic does not matter? An air filter is more than enough for the bottom, don't close it up.
Also darker tint window is awesome.
 
dondan the front panel looks really nice. Is it a thicker cut of aluminum than the top and sides, or just an illusion of the photograph?
 
And a thought: for the metal side panels, would it make sense to expand the vents / perforations, extending them further toward the top and bottom?

Looking at the GPU in the pics above, a portion of the fan sits below the perforations. This will be even more pronounced with two or three larger fans on a non-blower GPU.
 
Today I played with the i7 8700 and I must say what a bad piece of hardware.

>> intel please start soldering your dies with the heatspreader <<.

At first please keep in mind, that I allways test the CPU temp in Prime95 v26.6 because this tool generates crazy loads and temps on the CPU. In games the temps will be 20-25°C lower.

I tested the i7 8700 with turbo activated (max clock on all cores = 6x 4300Mhz). Room temp = 26°C

Noctua L9i = impossible to cool with turbo activated (with turbo off = 70°C)
Zalman CNPS8900 = very close to max temp = 96°
Asetek 240mm AIO fans @2000rpm = 69°C
Asetek 240mm AIO fans @1200rpm = 76°C
Asetek 240mm AIO fans @700rpm = 83°C

Very funny is that after starting prime the temp hits immediately 69°C on every heatsink so I think this is my lowest cap I can get with this CPU. Lower is only possible with delidding the CPU.

So my first conclusion for the i7 8700 is that if you like to use this CPU with turbo on you can't cool it with default ITX heatsinks. You have to use a 120mm or 240mm AIO for it.

This is only a short intermediate result.

Currently I can continue deeper testing because my GPU fan dies yesterday so I have to RMA the card.
Btw: Here are some shots of the case without installed GPU:

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With best regards
Daniel
 
I found this with my 8700k dondan unless you are using at least a 240mm AIO or a very large cooler like the Noctua NH-D15 you will not get decent temps. After delidding things get much better. I am cooling my 8700k with only a Scythe Big Shuriken 2 and max single core temps running Prime95 26.6 is 74C after 30 minutes with a 22C ambient.

I agree that this is a bit mistake on Intels fault, they should never have stopped soldering the IHS.
 
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