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

Some Updates for you:

-I got a PCIe 3.0 ready CPU (Xeon E3-1230 v2) 4Cores / 8 Threads @ 3,5Ghz, IvyBridge today.
The CPU is running very well with the Noctua cooler and my actual shielded riser can handle PCIe 3.0

- On weekend i will get different shielded risers in different length (up to 250mm) that i will test with PCIe 3.0 Speed and review it.

- I finalized the SFX-Version. It will look like the A4 default, but mounting and bending is a bit different, so that the case become cheaper in production, so that everybody is able to afford it.
This means the side-panel will now fit like the most LianLi Cases (1. picture.) The A4-Default will be a bit more premium with the look of the Cooltek sidepanel style. (2. picture)
dondan said:
Some pictures to make it clear:
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1127651-2ooja5.jpg
Click to expand...
The biggest improvement is the possebility to mount the gpu in two ways. Face to motherboard or face to sidepanel. The SFX-Version is now SFX-L ready and can take 2x2,5" drives. I reduced the volume from 6,77L to 6,55L
 
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This sound really great. Can we have some new renders of the updated STX version, so we can start drooling :)
 
dondan said:
The biggest improvement is the possebility to mount the gpu in two ways. Face to motherboard or face to sidepanel.
Click to expand...

If we can face the GPU against the side panel, does this mean you'll add ventilation holes to the side panel?
 
Cool, thanks!

So I guess this means that it's okay to use aftermarket GPU coolers now?
 
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Just something interesting I saw; on OCUK you can preorder an NVTTM GTX 970.

It's at a slight price premium and I'm not really sure who's manufacturing them but still a nice choice!

EDIT: Just noticed that the last picture has a Manli logo. What a coincidence!
 
Hey Dondan, not trying to rush you or anything, but is there anything new? The suspense is killing me.
 
@Rawrr: It is the Manli version. I will get a GTX 980 and GTX 780 this week. I will test both in the A4.
@MetArm: Yesterday i finalized the SFX in 2D mode. Today i will convert it to 3D and maybe i can mangage to make some rendered pictures. On weekend i will test some cheap risers in different length from tainwan that are PCIe 3.0 ready. The default version will come with such a riser but the SFX version will come with the 250mm 3M premium riser because of the better bend characteristics and the point that the outside of the cable is not conductive to route the cable between backside of the motherboard and backside of the graphiccard.
 
Hey guys i got two very fast toys today:

A GTX780 and GTX 980 in the reference design.

img_1293dfois.jpg


Here are two pictures of the assembling:

img_1301onpv8.jpg

img_1311nvq4a.jpg



And finally i did some temperature test with the new hardware. Values are made with closed sidepanel.
results26qjo.jpg
 
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Nice! Looks really great. Those power consumption numbers are nice, really shows how efficient Maxwell is!

Also, how loud is the whole thing?
 
Damn, 288W for a 980 on load! I already knew the Maxwell series would be power efficient, but this is quite impressive. Thank you for recording all of this. This will definitely make SFX-PSU lovers consider the dc-dc adapter, it has definitely changed my mind.

It's great to see the original A4 with its new goodies, but there's a lot more to be expected in the future. Is there any way you could create a roadmap? We might annoy you in future by asking for updates, so a roadmap could ease this problem.
 
MertArm said:
Damn, 288W for a 980 on load! I already knew the Maxwell series would be power efficient, but this is quite impressive.
Click to expand...
Really - I was thinking the opposite, given the quoted TDP of ~145W, which no review shows it as being as low as. I was disappointed how much power they used.
 
Well, given that this is probably his whole system that's not too bad.

GTX 980 is rated at about 165w by Nvidia, and if you add on the consumption of a cpu, motherboard and extras, 288w is pretty accurate.
 
I don't actually know the average wattage for a 980 at load, but any low number still makes me amazed. :)
 
rawrr said:
GTX 980 is rated at about 165w by Nvidia, and if you add on the consumption of a cpu, motherboard and extras, 288w is pretty accurate.
Click to expand...
That's a fair point, and I don't have any data for the GTX 980. What I have seen for the GTX 970 (source, source) is that the current cards on the market appear to draw more power - sometimes considerably more - than the quoted Nvidia reference design.

I guess what I'm trying to say is that the actual TDP is different from the quoted one, and that TDP != max power draw - which is important when choosing a PSU as it can be considerably higher over short periods of time (nice graphs here demonstrating that)
 
The most review sides test only the max Power consumption in 3D Mark but if you run 3D Mark + Prime 95 the Load at the cpu is higher what result in an higher consumption. ;)

288W - ca. 65w (cpu undervolted) - ca. 25w (motherboard, ram, ssd) - 30w ( convert from ac to dc) = 168w for the gtx 980. Nvidia said 165w.

Thanks to everybody we reached 50.000 hits :D:D
 
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Whoa, those are some nice photos! Been lurking around for awhile now and i must say this case is looking better and better :)
 
Side one is prepared to get a big update in the next 48 hours. Stay tuned for it.
 
Haven't you heard ? Dondan is making vinyl records now, who cares about SFF cases... :cool:
 
first side = 1. post ; )

I think stay tuned has a different meaning :D
 
So guys, you get the next big update. Maybe i will shock somebody of you, but i think is the better way. I make the decision to go with the new A4-SFX. To get all information and new pictures look at post one.
I think the last weeks about this step and here are some reasons why i made it:

- Now you have the whole powersolution inside the case
- The external Dell PSU and HDPlex board is very expansiv and not available all over the world. I try to get it directly of Delta but this will reduce not enough.
- The case is 1cm wider so you can use fliped GPUs
- I can sell the case together with the 3M 250mm PCIe Gen3/4 Extender, which is too long for the default version.
- You can use silent SFX-L PSUs
- The case itself is easier to manufracture

I can imagine that i made a small series of the default version later.

So check my first post in this thread for nice pictures.

 
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Excellent choice. Although I can see where the idea to use the HDPlex board would have been a good idea, I like it that no expensive and bulky power brick is needed. You made this case a whole lot more accessible for a minimal size increase.
 
Ehh, I can see why you went with the SFX version.

I still want the Default version though... How long later will do you think the default run will be?
 
No thanks for that info, but to less power on the 12v rail and as i know Streacom very expansiv.

By the way all new pictures of the A4-SFX:

5_1250oyzd2.jpg


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7_1250iyl7y.jpg
 
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Good decision, and nice improvements!

Especially liking the looks of the black + silver variant. :)

Still hoping for the most important change though: power button on the front! :mad: :p :D

Also, that vertical "stripe" in the mesh area on the left panel looks off, but I guess it's for stability reasons.
 
Great news! Can't wait to get my hands on this beauty :)
I have a question: I'm planning on buying a GTX 970, and i want one with a custom cooler instead of the reference, the problem with these is that they are wider than the reference (reference is around 110mm, custom coolers can get up to 140mm), and i don't know if there is enough place for them. I'm talking about these:

http://www.techpowerup.com/gpudb/b3077/msi-gtx-970-gaming.html
http://www.techpowerup.com/gpudb/b3049/asus-strix-gtx-970-directcu-ii-oc.html

My other question is: is there any info on how much heat these PCIe extenders can withstand? Because the temperature at the back of these high end cards can go up to 80°C, and I'm worried that maybe that's too much in long term.

Thanks for the answer in advance, and keep up the good work!
 
What are the dimensions of the new version? I must say with the design now using SFX PSUs this case is looking like something I would definitely be interested in.
 
dondan said:
No thanks for that info, but to less power on the 12v rail and as i know Streacom very expansiv.
Click to expand...

Good call on changing to the A4 SFX. Bigger market there. Right move.

For the world's smallest gaming rig, you'd now need..

original A4 + mITX GPU + DC Power board.

:D Size would be < 4L!!
 
pgabor said:
Great news! Can't wait to get my hands on this beauty :)
I have a question: I'm planning on buying a GTX 970, and i want one with a custom cooler instead of the reference, the problem with these is that they are wider than the reference (reference is around 110mm, custom coolers can get up to 140mm), and i don't know if there is enough place for them. I'm talking about these:

http://www.techpowerup.com/gpudb/b3077/msi-gtx-970-gaming.html
http://www.techpowerup.com/gpudb/b3049/asus-strix-gtx-970-directcu-ii-oc.html

My other question is: is there any info on how much heat these PCIe extenders can withstand? Because the temperature at the back of these high end cards can go up to 80°C, and I'm worried that maybe that's too much in long term.

Thanks for the answer in advance, and keep up the good work!
Click to expand...

GPU:
The card pcb shouldn't be higher as 120mm if you use only a m2 or msata ssd on the board you can remove the 2,5 drive and the psb yould be 130mm. If you buy a bigger card you have less then 30mm for the pcie power conectors.

Riser:
There is a alu wall between riser and gpu. So the temperatures well be arround 40-50°C for the cabke and this is ok.
 
pgabor said:
Great news! Can't wait to get my hands on this beauty :)
I have a question: I'm planning on buying a GTX 970, and i want one with a custom cooler instead of the reference, the problem with these is that they are wider than the reference (reference is around 110mm, custom coolers can get up to 140mm), and i don't know if there is enough place for them. I'm talking about these:

http://www.techpowerup.com/gpudb/b3077/msi-gtx-970-gaming.html
http://www.techpowerup.com/gpudb/b3049/asus-strix-gtx-970-directcu-ii-oc.html

My other question is: is there any info on how much heat these PCIe extenders can withstand? Because the temperature at the back of these high end cards can go up to 80°C, and I'm worried that maybe that's too much in long term.

Thanks for the answer in advance, and keep up the good work!
Click to expand...

GPU:
The card pcb shouldn't be higher as 120mm if you use only a m2 or msata ssd on the board you can remove the 2,5 drive and the pcb could be 130mm. If you buy a bigger card then 130mm you have less then 30mm for the pcie power conectors.

Riser:
There is a alu wall between riser and gpu. So the temperatures well be arround 40-50°C for the cabke and this is ok.
 
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