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

backfeed said:
I know. I'm just not convinced that the NH-L9 is all that good, and there is already enough space in this case for a larger cooler, so hopefully something better (noise/efficiency) will come to the market sooner or later. I'd like to see a minimized Scythe Shuriken-like cooler with a larger slower-spinning fan. :)

Oh, and I'm not considering overclocking. I'm not convinced that it's good enough (for me) even for stock clocks, is what I mean. Take note that I hate noise, and am in a minority. :D
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Replace fan with a 25mm thick one and turn down the RPM.
 
cowsgomoo said:
Replace fan with a 25mm thick one and turn down the RPM.
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SPCR tried that (with Noctuas own 92x25), but unfortunately it made very little if any difference.

There's also the Alpenföhn Silvretta, at 45mm height including the fan, but I have no idea if it's any good.
 
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dondan said:
Yes it comes by default with the 3M Riser and it is SFX and SFX-L ready.
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Has SFX-L been tested in the prototype yet? Does SFX-L fit in with same sized gpu (say gtx 980 refe)?

There was also some talk about "maybe second 2,5" disk" - have you had time to check this as well?

Sorry if this was already discussed to death, i couldnt find quite 100% answer one way or the other.
 
I believe only real testing has been done and posted by dondan on a4 sfx default. If you look at the a4 sfx renders, the sfx-l psu should be able to fit albeit a decently tight fit with cables attached.
 
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SFX-L is just 30mm longer so it should work just fine as the SFX. Also, dondan did mention that the psu Bracket could possibly be brought up 10mm, which makes it possible for two ssds on the bottom under the psu. The sfx-l psu has not been tested in the prototype I believe. There will be a third party website to review the final prototype and dondan will be testing it on several hardware configurations.
 
sforma said:
dondan,

Iam very interested in your design, and will be one of first supporters to crow founding campaign.

Currently, as a proud owner of Ncase M1, can you provide us with some renders between the two cases, to allows to visualize the spacial differences? If by any manner you fill not being "ethical" to wahaha360 and Necere, could just pick up their idea to add a coca-cola can.

Regards,
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Here is the picture you mean ;) Sorry case comparison only with cases that not made by the community.

8sau9w.jpg


Because i work the most time in solidworks and this picture is out of Sketchup the case havent the Mic plugin on the picture ;)
 
What's with those coke cans on renders? I demand banana for scale :)

If you're doing this in solidworks, then whats the problem with render? You should be able to render this in photoview or export for sketchup.
 
There is not a problem doing it with solidworks but iam faster with Sketchup ;)
 
But you're using the parts from solidworks in sketchup renders?

Or you made the model in sketchup and now you prepare parts in solidworks?

(still waiting for the banana comparison)
 
I start the project in Sketchup and now i migrate it to solidworks.
XD Banana comparsion will come.
 
Thanks Dondan,


Most of times, one picture is better than 1000 words.





dondan said:
Here is the picture you mean ;) Sorry case comparison only with cases that not made by the community.

8sau9w.jpg


Because i work the most time in solidworks and this picture is out of Sketchup the case havent the Mic plugin on the picture ;)
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I guess the r9 290 saphhire tri-x might need a bit of modding to remove 4mm :)
 
Awesome case, kudos! If I was in the market for an mITX case, this is the one I'd get. Hands down.
 
It's cool that someone is finally realizing this layout, though I'm slightly jealous it wasn't me :p I had this idea at least as far back as 2009. I did many variations, this is one from 2010:



I wasn't thinking a lot about designing for manufacturability back then, so it's very conceptual, but the layout is essentially identical. In this particular concept I had an 80mm fan ducted into a 365W open frame power supply, with a separate board supplying the voltages needed. There's a (windowed!) slim optical drive and even an SD card reader.

Even though I don't get to be first with this idea, I'm still glad someone is doing it. I would't mind exploring it down the line, but we've still got priorities ahead of that.
 
backfeed said:
SPCR tried that (with Noctuas own 92x25), but unfortunately it made very little if any difference.

There's also the Alpenföhn Silvretta, at 45mm height including the fan, but I have no idea if it's any good.
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Old topic, but what about Thermalright AXP100?
Edit. Never mind. It doesn't fit...
On another note Frostytech has Evercool HPL-815 listed as the best cooler under 50mm.
 
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Noctua NHL-9i: FrostyTech Review

Evercool HPL-815: FrostyTech Review

In terms of ease of installation, efficiency, noise, and higher TDP cpus, I would say it goes to Noctua. Also, Evercool's fan is just 80mm and has a bad speed ramp-up profile (1000 rpm - 4000 rpm) and is quite an old design (2011). I still think overall as a package, the Noctua NHL-9I is solid for small cases like this like <50mm height clearance. If Dondan expands the case width to accommodate cpu coolers 60mm, then the best coolers to buy would be the scythe big shuriken rev 2 b (only slim fan), axp-200, and the zalman cnps 8900. There is a good Tom's Hardware Review Lineup of low profile coolers:

Cooling Temps and Fan Speed

Noise

Hopefully by next year with the help of getting word out of Dondan's, SaperPL's, and Necere's small case designs as well as the small steamboxes coming out, there will be new low profile cpu coolers to buy!
 
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Indeed, no need for CPU's being at a "comfy" level, it's not like they like us more or last twice as long.
 
For those that want quieter pcs under gaming or work loads, it would be nice to accommodate 60mm coolers and would allow for slightly higher overclocks. Since the main point of this case Is to make it as small as possible, I'm fine with the current design. The noctua cooler set to 2000-2100 rpm should be quiet and cool enough for gaming loads. I was just wondering what others thought about the limited cpu coolers that do fit in this case. Its good to see that others are fine with this and want the smallest powerful gaming case.
 
The case looks excellent !
Can't wait for it to be on the market.

Also waiting for some CPU temperatures if it can keep an i7 (no oc) at good levels in gaming loads.

That's why i like the Thermalright AXP-100 (in my M1) because i can use any fan i want (the stock 100 mm one wasn't enough - i've put an eLOOP B12P and what a difference - under 60 C on my 2700k in CoD, AC Unity etc)

GPU should be fine if it's not above 80 C.

Maybe new heatsinks will become available to fit the A4.
 
CknSalad said:
For those that want quieter pcs under gaming or work loads, it would be nice to accommodate 60mm coolers and would allow for slightly higher overclocks.
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I think nobody should assume overclocking will be easy with this case, considering the very cramped layout and lack of support for large heatsinks. This is not a flaw but a design choice ofcourse. But overclocking yields so little in a time where many people can easily keep a CPU for 5 years without the need to upgrade. Especially with all the other negatives it brings along like a higher power consumption, higher heat generation and more noise most likely.

I've not even (ever) overclocked my i5-4670K CPU because I never felt I needed more CPU power or didn't feel 10% or so would matter enough anyway. My next CPU will most likely not be a K-series CPU. I'd much rather have a quieter system at 80°C than a 10% OC'ed one at 60°C that's producing 50dB at load.
 
I feel the same way as above. No need to oc the cpu for me they are very powerfull even at stock.
 
I will probably end up just undervolting at stock clocks. Depending on dondans test results, 4.0GHz at stock voltage would be the Max I would push in a small enclosure. It would be nice to also test out quieter 92mm fans on the Noctua NHL-9I cooler. There won't be much difference like the SPCR results but at least the cpu would theoretically run quieter. Fans that come to mind are gentle typhoon and Noiseblocker.
 
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I have always wished around-45mm-tall coolers like Samuel 17 and AXP-100 to have enough space cleared for a fan between the fin stack and the base like Kozuti, Kodati, NH-L12, NT06, etc., and it appears from the photos and the video uploaded by Phanteks that TC12LS (48mm tall) may have just enough space underneath the fins for Noctua A9x14 so I will go for it. Of course the U-shape heatpipes limit fan placement relative to the CPU position so the fan may not be able to sit entirely inside the keep-out zone and get blocked by peripheral components/heatsinks on the motherboard. We'll see.
 
It looks like the noctua could fit under the heatsink (between heatsink and cpu plate)

12_m.jpg
 
MertArm said:
Has anyone said anything about the Prolimatech Samuel 17? It's 45 mm and can fit 120mm fans using a special bracket. It theres a big chance it might not fit with a slim Scythe fan (12.7mm), but it's worth a try.

Here's a review of it on Tom's Hardware: http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/prolimatech-samuel-17-mini-itx-heat-sink,3970.html
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According to the OP, the maximum CPU cooler height is 50 mm. If you were to use the Prolimatech Samuel 17, you would have only 5 mm left to fit a fan.

Might be better off using the Noctua NH-L9i with the NF-A9 PWM, leaving a 3 mm gap.
 
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MertArm said:
Has anyone said anything about the Prolimatech Samuel 17? It's 45 mm and can fit 120mm fans using a special bracket.
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You don't need any special bracket, 120mm is the standard size for this cooler. Source: I have one built right into my rig.
 
Ace of Six said:
According to the OP, the maximum CPU cooler height is 50 mm. If you were to use the Prolimatech Samuel 17, you would have only 5 mm left to fit a fan..
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Woops, I mixed up the CPU clearance height for the A4 with the Lian Li PC TU100. I guess that wouldn't work. :(

Well, I guess I'll just have to stick with my old L9i.
 
As Ace_of_Six mentioned, wouldn't it be impossible to fit the samuel 17 since it already is 45mm in height without a fan? Also as Ace mentioned, the NF-A9 pwm would be a good choice to replace the slim 92mm fan in the Noctua NHL-9I.
 
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