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

dondan said:
I explaind it so many times why it is costs 230€. We don't produce in mass (5000+). We use high-end server grade components like 3M riser and Lian Li manufactured case. DAN Cases is located in Germany and not in China so we have higher fix costs. We don't have our own production so we have to buy from other manufacturer, for them we are competitor, so we will not get the best price. If my company don't make a little profit I can't provide new innovative ideas in future.

The window side panel is a accessoires so you don't need it, but you can upgrade your product if you like. Like by other case companies you have to pay extra for it.
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I wish some people would get this, but they are too arrogant to research and too ignorant to know. Sigh...
 
crisisv87akd said:
As much as I like the window, I feel like you are trying to squeeze your supporters...
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Don't worry, the basic idea is genius and one of the major box manufacturers will clone it in no time. Indeed I'm surprised that Dan hasn't already sold the design.
 
dondan said:
Today I start my work on an window kit for the A4-SFX. Do you like it? Currently I work on a version without visible screws.

window_preview_12008vsa0.jpg
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Is that acrylic or polycarbonate for the clear window? I hope the final part will look as good as your rendering :)
 
Damn that window looks good, are the sidepanels interchangable to also put a window on the other side?
 
mathijs159 said:
Damn that window looks good, are the sidepanels interchangable to also put a window on the other side?
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Just about to ask that. Is the A4 case design symmetrical? Because you could sell the panels separately, and people can simply invert it for the other side.

Screws give it a nice look, stands out against the otherwise blank case. A bit like how the button accentuates the front panel. If you don't want to screw through the window, though, you can also go for pins, which can keep it against the panel with pressure.
 
The panels aren't symmetrical because of the flanges on the bottom that let you screw the side panels on for extra security.
 
That would be really bad for temps, probably, since whatever was on the side of the window wouldn't have any direct route to fresh air.
 
I love that side panel with the window! I dont mind the screws being there but I still prefer if the screws were not visible. Please make them bi-directional too so they work on both sides of the case! And start selling them ASAP because i MUST have them!!
 
Since I've come to the thread...

I don't like seeing the screws. If it's possible to cover or cap them, please do.

Two areas of improvement on the basic case I'd like to see:

Firstly, the gap above the blanking plates needs filling. Shuttle and others have a folding metal flap which you might consider.
Secondly, I'd like to see a reset button and at least one more (two total) USB port on the front. I'd prefer four USB ports. Wireless devices need their 2.4 GHz USB detectors at the front of the PC, not the back. Keyboard, mouse, game device, BT device for phone.
 
I think the window you have made is the first vented window design that I have seen that isn't just a bunch of holes drilled through. I usually think that holes in windows look awful, but the way you made this, it looks nice! (I agree with the people who think it would be good if the screws were not visible)
 
Quartz-1 said:
Since I've come to the thread...

I don't like seeing the screws. If it's possible to cover or cap them, please do.

Two areas of improvement on the basic case I'd like to see:

Firstly, the gap above the blanking plates needs filling. Shuttle and others have a folding metal flap which you might consider.
Secondly, I'd like to see a reset button and at least one more (two total) USB port on the front. I'd prefer four USB ports. Wireless devices need their 2.4 GHz USB detectors at the front of the PC, not the back. Keyboard, mouse, game device, BT device for phone.
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Sounds awesome. Start your own limited edition production run.

Seriously, the 1 USB port thing was hashed to death ages ago. The gap above the blanking plates is not visible from the front. The window kit is optional (and IMO, superfluous), so I won't ever see the screws on the side.
 
dondan said:
Today I start my work on an window kit for the A4-SFX. Do you like it? Currently I work on a version without visible screws.

window_preview_12008vsa0.jpg
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Personally i would prefer a filter mesh instead of acrylic plates, because my environment does not allow me to live without filters.

Still transparent. Kinda. I think the razer core works this way?
Razer-Core-side.jpg
 
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Curiositie said:
That would be really bad for temps, probably, since whatever was on the side of the window wouldn't have any direct route to fresh air.
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Right, and acrylic plus some holes or ''ventilation stripes''?

Like this:

PICT6354.JPG


But with a nice design, maybe little holes, cool ventilation stripes..
 
Xan-Z said:
Right, and acrylic plus some holes or ''ventilation stripes''?

Like this:

PICT6354.JPG


But with a nice design, maybe little holes, cool ventilation stripes..
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Personally I prefer Dan's stripes to holes, but yeah, so long as there's ventilation in the window it probably won't be too bad for temps.
 
dondan said:
Today I start my work on an window kit for the A4-SFX. Do you like it? Currently I work on a version without visible screws.

window_preview_12008vsa0.jpg
Click to expand...

I like the idea and the design, here are my thoughts:
1. I thing the window should center the GPU, as some video cards are very tall and won't fin the the "window area" but in the same time you will have a big empty space in the bottom. Maybe start from the riser height? i know that won't be the perfect option for the overall symmetry of the case but you will figure it out ;)
2. I like it more without the screws.
3. Can we see more? :D
 
Does anyone have a Tl:dr reason for why Dan went with just one USB port on the front of the case? (No personal issue with it, just curious)

Also dondan could you give us the dimensions of the vent holes on the side panels so I can try and find a dust filter for them? Cheers
 
Blackreplica said:
Does anyone have a Tl:dr reason for why Dan went with just one USB port on the front of the case? (No personal issue with it, just curious)

Also dondan could you give us the dimensions of the vent holes on the side panels so I can try and find a dust filter for them? Cheers
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Aesthetics, and the case is so small that it is not really a hassle to get to the rear USB ports.
 
Curiositie said:
I thought the same thing about the Ncase M1, but the cougar QBX exists.
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But the m1 and the qbx are more versatile than the a4. You can fit more inside with the option of water cooling whereas with the a4 you trade super overclocking for stock everything with a smaller footprint.
 
Lazer1337 said:
But the m1 and the qbx are more versatile than the a4. You can fit more inside with the option of water cooling whereas with the a4 you trade super overclocking for stock everything with a smaller footprint.
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True.

Thinking about it I think the biggest issue with it getting copied by anyone but companies at the level of lian li (Who do have their own M1 style case) is the riser.
That costs more than a lot of people want to spend on a whole case, and for good reason. But that won't stop people from complaining about the cost. (just check the comments on linus' review, haha.)
 
dondan : I think you forgot to move the slider thing on the campaign page. I think you mentioned the riser cables were ordered, while the campaign page still hasn't had that box checked.
 
Curiositie said:
Thinking about it I think the biggest issue with it getting copied by anyone but companies at the level of lian li (Who do have their own M1 style case) is the riser. That costs more than a lot of people want to spend on a whole case, and for good reason.
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One would hope that the price for that would come down once economies of scale kick in.
 
Hi William, as I wrote in the campaign shipment will be between October and December. Currently I waiting for 3M. The cable has a very variable production/delibvery time between 6 and 12 weeks. So in the current situation the best case will be November but I think December is more realistic.
 
What do you think of this version? It is a black tempered glass version with 5mm standoffs between side panel and glass. I think the temps will be a bit higher as with the default panel. But the great thing is, that I can made thins panel for both sides.

window_preview_tempereay7v.png
 
dondan said:
What do you think of this version? It is a black tempered glass version with 5mm standoffs between side panel and glass. I think the temps will be a bit higher as with the default panel. But the great thing is, that I can made thins panel for both sides.

window_preview_tempereay7v.png
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Wicked!!! :woot::woot::woot:
 
Looks amazing and it helps that my Lian Li pc-05s that has a tempered glass side. The look and feel of tempered glass is just something else. Yes it loves finger prints but those come off easy.

My only grip would be all of that extra space under the GPU. Could you mock up a panel to cover up that bottom part? Something that the end user can 3d print or even fabricate using black plexi glass so that the main piece of attention is the GPU and not the power cord and all of that extra space in the bottom?

I would hands down buy that panels for both sides. Dondan...I'm just going to make a joint account so that I can give you money :D
 
dondan said:
What do you think of this version? It is a black tempered glass version with 5mm standoffs between side panel and glass. I think the temps will be a bit higher as with the default panel. But the great thing is, that I can made thins panel for both sides.

window_preview_tempereay7v.png
Click to expand...

SOLD!!! Where do I send the money
 
Nice, but I prefer the case without glass panel, bcs it kills portability unless u can sell it as accessory so users can switch it now and then
But I must say it looks stunning.
 
Looks a lot better than the first one, but not a fan of the corners. All the corners at the front of the case are rounded, then you have sharp angled in the front on the window. Doesn't match that great.
 
Personally I prefer the design with the acrylic panels (or glass) flush against the case. That being said, I'd love to see a window design, so I'm happy to go with which ever you prefer and is feasible to make!
 
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like this
illram said:
"It got hot but it was fine."

??

I don't usually watch Linus tech tips, is this how "in-depth" they get? No numbers, nothing? (People pay for this?)

I guess it's yet another way to get my Dan A4 porn for the day but...not very informative really. I'll take a print review please. /getoffmylawn
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Completely agree. Can't stand the guy, can't stand their reviews and don't understand why anyone would pay for their garbage product when sites like [H] and PcPer exist. I'll also take a print review written by knowledgeable authors over some douche with a camera and an ego any day.


Back to the case, I like the look of some of these windows, but I think I'd just stick with the normal side panel unless there was no thermal/portability tradeoff. The tempered glass looks great, but kind of undermines the purpose of the case for me as it wouldn't be so portable.
 
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