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

Sebbie said:
Maaan, why is the EVGA 1080ti FTW3 (black) sold out everywhere, f*cking miners :(
Click to expand...
if you can't beat them join them :sneaky:, been mining on my 1080 overnight before the dan case got here and I'm almost half way to making the case back.
 
michel v said:
I have the LP53 + Noctua A9x14, and find the setup actually noisy. It must be how I attached the fan, or how it touches the RAM stick?

Here's a picture of my build, is that how we're supposed to attach the fan?
Click to expand...

I think your fan blades are right up against the fins and its causing turbulence and interference which is probably your primary source of noise.


This is the same reason why the C7 is soo noisy. The fan blades are in close proximity to the side panel holes, and you get the noise from passing the blades past the holes. Removing the side case panel or having a space of at least a couple mm's will greatly reduce such noises.
 
Hi Guys
New here, read nearly all the pages in the post and I appreciate all the good information. Just made the following build:
Dan Case A4 SFX V2
G.Skill Flare X - 2x8GB 3200 MHz
Intel i5-8400
Noctua NH-Li9
Corsair SFX450
ASRock Z370M-ITX/ac
Asus Strix 1080 8GB

I am really satisfied with the case and the setup, only got some questions to optimize the setup. My temperatures is around 38-42 degress (1600-1800 RPM) idle and 72 degress stress test (2100 RPM) the setup is quite noisy 1950rmp +
The first question is regarding the direction of the Noctua NH-Li9 heatsink - right now i mount so that the heatsink is dispersing air vertically instead of horizontally does that have any impact?
Furthermore, would it give an enormous improvement to go with LC545 from asatek with noctua pwm fan? Gonna keep the case for a while so I don't really mind spending the extra money?
What would you suggest as a safe temperature gaming on a i5 8400 CPU, thinking about adjusting fan speed lower than it is set now while gaming (65 degrees around 1950 rpm)
 
Last edited:
Hi All,

I've been reading this thread for quite some time, and eventually purchased the A4-SFX v2 based on the builds I've seen here :)

I'm just planning my build now, so far this is how it's looking:

CPU: Intel - Core i7-8700 3.2GHz
CPU Cooler: ????
Motherboard: Asus Strix Z370-I
Memory: Corsair Vengeance LPX 32GB DDR4-3000
Storage: Samsung 960 EVO 500GB M.2-2280 SSD
Graphics: EVGA GeForce GTX 1080 8GB FTW
PSU: Corsair SF600

I have some questions around the cooler configuration with an Asus Strix motherboard. The LP53 seems to be the leader in terms of cooling, and I understand running an 8700 will need some fairly solid cooling. However, I understand the LP53 won't fit on the Strix without removing the various headsinks? I did consider an ASRock board, but the one that had everything I need has the M.2 socket on the rear, which isn't ideal for managing the heat of the SSD. Would a Noctua NH-Li9 be a good alternative for cooling the 8700? I don't plan on doing any OC'ing, but I do plan to run many of the upcoming VR titles.

Also, I was hoping to make my own PSU cables, but I can't seem to find anywhere to buy the pins & plugs, does anyone know where I can source them? or do people typically trim and resolder the existing cables?
 
Is there room for the evga 1080 ti kingpin in this case? Its the same size as the regular 1080 ti ftw3 tho the pcie connectors are in a different location and im not sure it will fit?

Edit:
Maybe there is, just saw the cutout in the front of the case.
 
Alaberti said:
Corsair SP 600 + Asetek 92mm AIO /w Noctua NF-A9-14

.... realized a problem - the PSU cables were pushing down on the noctua fan just enough to prevent it from spinning, so temps flew out of control. Currently, the PSU is outside the case while I try to figure it out. Anyone have a similar problem?
Click to expand...

Yes, I do.
The cables at the bottom of the Corsair PSU is causing a problem, there are too many, too long cables.
I made it 'work' by flipping the PSU 180° and removing the small bracket where you normally mount the PSU on. That way the PSU is not mounted at all, but it is so tightly packed with all the cables that it does not move anyway. The cables now have to be connected at the 'top' of the PUS instead of bottom. The one main power cable to the PSU can be connected at the bottom of the PSU.
Problem with that solution is that the PSU sucks air and blows it out at the bottom directly where the AIO cooler sits, but temps are ok so far.
I don't think this can be a permanent solution (maybe by drilling some holes into the PSU shell to enable fixing while flipped on the removed bracket and changing the PSU fan, so that its air flow is reversed (fan of PSU has to be flipped).

TO still be able to use the initial 'correct' PSU mount setup am looing into modding the main power cable going to the mainboard and the PCIe power cables to something like this:
http://www.abload.de/image.php?img=p10109842t5h.jpg

source https://www.hardwareluxx.de/communi...-einen-abgewinkelten-pcie-stecker-683614.html
 
cour said:
Yes, I do.
The cables at the bottom of the Corsair PSU is causing a problem, there are too many, too long cables.
I made it 'work' by flipping the PSU 180° and removing the small bracket where you normally mount the PSU on. That way the PSU is not mounted at all, but it is so tightly packed with all the cables that it does not move anyway. The cables now have to be connected at the 'top' of the PUS instead of bottom. The one main power cable to the PSU can be connected at the bottom of the PSU.
Problem with that solution is that the PSU sucks air and blows it out at the bottom directly where the AIO cooler sits, but temps are ok so far.
I don't think this can be a permanent solution (maybe by drilling some holes into the PSU shell to enable fixing while flipped on the removed bracket and changing the PSU fan, so that its air flow is reversed (fan of PSU has to be flipped).

TO still be able to use the initial 'correct' PSU mount setup am looing into modding the main power cable going to the mainboard and the PCIe power cables to something like this:
http://www.abload.de/image.php?img=p10109842t5h.jpg

source https://www.hardwareluxx.de/communi...-einen-abgewinkelten-pcie-stecker-683614.html
Click to expand...

What about using something like this?

https://www.moddiy.com/products/Pre...MIrOPhopv92AIVr73tCh39fgB7EAQYASABEgJrJfD_BwE
 
I‘ve ordered these cables for the psu..

Think, these will be easier to handle
 

Attachments

  • 43E20EA0-73FD-4E7B-937F-3BDAC992E81D.jpeg
    43E20EA0-73FD-4E7B-937F-3BDAC992E81D.jpeg
    254.1 KB · Views: 111
  • Like
Reactions: D10S
like this
I‘m waiting still for these cables. Amazon has been skipped my first order from last week... grrmll
 
Gotsche said:
Corsair CP-8920202 Premium Sleeved SF Netzteil Kabel-Set schwarz https://www.amazon.de/dp/B01MRWN5M2/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_g21BAb81EV1VS
Click to expand...
Those are the cables in my A4-SFX build pics. Cheaper then the alternative, but they're the same lengths as the SF PSU standard cables, i.e still way too big. How that affects you depends on how you're using the case. In the case of me having to stash 98% of the length of a 445mm long SATA power cable above my full size bottom fan among other excess cables, not well.

I made my order on Cablemod yesterday for that matter
 
As an Amazon Associate, HardForum may earn from qualifying purchases.
dondan said:
Here are two pictures of an epic x299 build of an German based A4-SFX customer:

Full-Sys Specs:
AsRock X299E-ITX
Intel i9-7920X, 12 Core,
Asetek 545LC + Noctua NF-A9x14
4x Ballistix Sport LT 16GB DDR4 2666 (64GB)
Samsung 960 Pro 2TB
Corsair SF600
EVGA GTX 1080Ti FTW3 12 Gbps Elite

20171203_112100ffsh3.jpg

20171203_112033x3sne.jpg
Click to expand...


I saw this clean way to use cables... I‘ll try to do it so
 
  • Like
Reactions: D10S
like this
That's some good damn wire work if that's really a Corsair kit. Wouldn't have the patience for that, though he's also not using an SSD in the front like I am which complicated my matters
 
Gotsche said:
I saw this clean way to use cables... I‘ll try to do it so
Click to expand...

Thicker sleeved cables are more difficult for this case to swallow. You're probably better off with the default cables shortened. They're after all very thin dividable individual cables.
In the meantime, I ordered a crimping tool, the pins, and connectors to shorten the cable and they were about 30 dollars in total :)
 
Last edited:
You can also check out Corsair custom cables from AliExpress, lengths as short as 20cm and much cheaper than CableMod. I recently ordered a set for $25 shipped that would have cost me over $100 from CableMod.
 
  • Like
Reactions: dglow
like this
Has anyone here tried the ITX30 cooler versus the LP53? Seems like both do the job of cooling up to a 100W TDP, but the ITX30 would fit in an A4 without removing/replacing the fan. Does it work as advertised and is fairly quiet?
 
AWDSOME said:
Has anyone here tried the ITX30 cooler versus the LP53? Seems like both do the job of cooling up to a 100W TDP, but the ITX30 would fit in an A4 without removing/replacing the fan. Does it work as advertised and is fairly quiet?
Click to expand...
R1920x0

R1920x0

(Load Temp) Reviewer says "ITX30 does MAX speed spinning but LP53 comparatively quiet in Linx"

Thermolab ITX30 QHQG: 1485 RPM (79 W)
Thermolab ITX30 Core i5-6600: 1997 RPM (122 W)
Thermolab ITX30 Core i7-6700: 2472 RPM (142 W)
Thermolab LP53 QHQG: 1281 RPM (79 W)
Thermolab LP53 Core i5-6600: 1608 RPM (122 W)
Thermolab LP53 Core i7-6700: 1762 RPM (142 W)

this is result by thermolab's bundle fan
as you see, lp53 fan is bigger and heat sink also bigger.
so... i think, you better do cable tie !


Reviewer(http://hwtips.tistory.com/1910)
 
Min Ahn said:
Thicker sleeved cables are more difficult for this case to swallow. You're probably better off with the default cables shortened. They're after all very thin dividable individual cables.
In the meantime, I ordered a crimping tool, the pins, and connectors to shorten the cable and they were about 30 dollars in total :)
Click to expand...
Do you mean the cables that originally come with the Corsair PSU? They come glued together in a sort of ribbon so will you just split them up individually? Looking at them you could easily add your own colour sheath to personalise it a bit! How much was the crimping tool?
 
  • Like
Reactions: Jspr
like this
Have now ordered 2 akasa 80mm slim fans for mounting below and above the Mainboard. The cpu will be cooled with an Asetek AIO.

May question is now: how about the air flow?

the AIO blows hot air to the bottom of the case (may be higher Standing feets would be a good suggestion to raise the case a Little bit?). The lower case fan below the Mainboard should blow also down - not to get the hot air from aio back into the case, right?

the fan above the Mainboard could also blow outsde the case.... but is the airflow ideal with this config?

May be the fan above the Mainboard should better bring air from above into the case?

If I note the gpu, it is probably better if both case-fans blows out the case. Then it helps the GPU for their airflow too. But then I do not know if the board has much of the two case fans.

Overall, it is semi-optimal that the AIO and the warm air of the GPU sucked in part with ...
 

Attachments

  • 1C0E501D-04DB-47FC-B340-90DEEC108DFF.jpeg
    1C0E501D-04DB-47FC-B340-90DEEC108DFF.jpeg
    202.9 KB · Views: 160
Last edited:
I've prebuild my PC now since a few weeks into an normal pc case (without case fans). The cpu - a i7-8700k I've had delid with liquid metal. With some situations I'm not sure done this in right way. The idle temps in win10 are around 48-50° with the asetek AIO. Is this to high? With more gaming power the temps reached both 85°C under 35-40% CPU & 80% GPU (@ 210 fps in PCars2). the hole case is reaching more then 40-50° then. The blow out from the aio is very hot. It seems that only 4 of 12 cores here come to the temp Limit. Is there something wrong with the delid ( to less paste?)?

Makes it any sense to delid it one more time, to check it?
 
Last edited:
Gotsche said:
Have now ordered 2 akasa 80mm slim fans for mounting below and above the Mainboard. The cpu will be cooled with an Asetek AIO.

May question is now: how about the air flow?

the AIO blows hot air to the bottom of the case (may be higher Standing feets would be a good suggestion to raise the case a Little bit?). The lower case fan below the Mainboard should blow also down - not to get the hot air from aio back into the case, right?

the fan above the Mainboard could also blow outsde the case.... but is the airflow ideal with this config?

May be the fan above the Mainboard should better bring air from above into the case?

If I note the gpu, it is probably better if both case-fans blows out the case. Then it helps the GPU for their airflow too. But then I do not know if the board has much of the two case fans.

Overall, it is semi-optimal that the AIO and the warm air of the GPU sucked in part with ...
Click to expand...
That's a great solution for extra fans, I would reverse the direction of the bottom one and the aio fan though personally

I'm gonna try to fit in a slim 120 noctua fan infront of my motherboard as an extra intake, its only 150mm deep so there should be 3-4mm between that and my aio block, thinking of using the holes in the case as mounting points for the fan so it'll blow directly onto the motherboard and create positive pressure inside the case . Only concern is if there's enough room for the fan as it'll have to be moved over to the right slightly due to the ram sticking up. Still waiting on parts to arrive so i'm a little way off testing this plan though.
 
The radiator fan as well as the fan under the mobo should intake air, while the upper fan should be used for exhaust.

But does the fan fit under the mobo? A member in this forum put a fan above the pcie riser cable and i had in mind to put in mine too. But below the motherboard i have not seen anyone to have done it.

Actually i plan to install a 92mm fan under the PSU and a 40mm fan above the motherboard. But i'll have to wait Noctua to release a REDUX grey colored 40mm fan, at first....
 

Attachments

  • 3fan.jpg
    3fan.jpg
    353.8 KB · Views: 146
Gotsche said:
Have now ordered 2 akasa 80mm slim fans for mounting below and above the Mainboard. The cpu will be cooled with an Asetek AIO.

May question is now: how about the air flow?

the AIO blows hot air to the bottom of the case (may be higher Standing feets would be a good suggestion to raise the case a Little bit?). The lower case fan below the Mainboard should blow also down - not to get the hot air from aio back into the case, right?

the fan above the Mainboard could also blow outsde the case.... but is the airflow ideal with this config?

May be the fan above the Mainboard should better bring air from above into the case?

If I note the gpu, it is probably better if both case-fans blows out the case. Then it helps the GPU for their airflow too. But then I do not know if the board has much of the two case fans.

Overall, it is semi-optimal that the AIO and the warm air of the GPU sucked in part with ...
Click to expand...

The build now is on bench table, testing components open air (just few test on the fly),
and this mobo is really the hottest part....so some fans up and down should bee a good solution,
by the way, i'm far from this...
...now i'm building an AIO by my self,
i'm not satisfied with asetek solution (but yes, is the best ready to install),
and yes yes yes: Cable Routing should be done very carefully here!
05.jpeg
 
Last edited:
Silencer373 said:
R1920x0

R1920x0

(Load Temp) Reviewer says "ITX30 does MAX speed spinning but LP53 comparatively quiet in Linx"

Thermolab ITX30 QHQG: 1485 RPM (79 W)
Thermolab ITX30 Core i5-6600: 1997 RPM (122 W)
Thermolab ITX30 Core i7-6700: 2472 RPM (142 W)
Thermolab LP53 QHQG: 1281 RPM (79 W)
Thermolab LP53 Core i5-6600: 1608 RPM (122 W)
Thermolab LP53 Core i7-6700: 1762 RPM (142 W)

this is result by thermolab's bundle fan
as you see, lp53 fan is bigger and heat sink also bigger.
so... i think, you better do cable tie !


Reviewer(http://hwtips.tistory.com/1910)
Click to expand...

Awesome. Exactly what I was looking for... it is slightly larger, with lower fan speeds, resulting in a quieter and more efficient solution. Thank you!
 
D10S

the right way of the AOI radiatorfandirection should be allways directly outside the case, right? mounted at the bottom of the case, the hot air (and it is very hot there) would be pressed down outside the case. (But there is a chance to get some of the heat back in case by building a loop of a percentage of the air...).

If the direction should be upwards, you would heat your psu and GPU with the warm air from cpu/AIO. In this case, I had care about the cables of the psu. The heatspot there would be enormously strong!

in case of gffermari - it's a pure aircooled solution. there a airflow from bottom to top should be allways ideal.

the best postition of the aio Radiator would be above the PSU.
 
Last edited:
Gotsche said:
D10S

the right way of the AOI radiatorfandirection should be allways directly outside the case, right? mounted at the bottom of the case, the hot air (and it is very hot there) would be pressed down outside the case. (But there is a chance to get some of the heat back in case by building a loop of a percentage of the air...).

If the direction should be upwards, you would heat your psu and GPU with the warm air from cpu/AIO. In this case, I had care about the cables of the psu. The heatspot there would be enormously strong!

in case of gffermari - it's a pure aircooled solution. there a airflow from bottom to top should be allways ideal.

the best postition of the aio Radiator would be above the PSU.
Click to expand...

Yes, but psu down and aio over...it's a lot of work to do....
...in this case, and with my gpu, i opted for a different solution:
The rad behind psu,
and yes, at this point: "flipped" psu, this is the way i'm going
06.jpeg
 
Last edited:
dondan said:
Why not getting a FSP 500w flex psu and mount it on the position your radiator is. Then you can mount a 120mm radiator instead of a sfx psu.
Click to expand...
Hi Don,
I thought so,
but probably my build needs a 600W:
i9 7920X+1080 TI...plus this and that...
...or not?
(SF600 was just in da house from previous build ;))
 
Beware: wall of pictures. Couldn't help myself.

As a couple of you talked about a few posts ago, I also considered Cablemod for custom length cables. They were however a little expensive (but worth it I am sure) so I also checked with the guys on Aliexpress who I never heard from. So, my solution:

1.jpg

I made my own cables. Was it fun? Yes sir! Would I do it again? Certainly. Would I do it differently? You bet! Anyways due to some slight errors that would be very uninteresting going into, I ended up making just the 24 pin ATX and 8 pin EPS. This is for a Corsair SF450 by the way.

Full.jpg

Anyway, here is the big picture. Is it pretty – eh. But I did make it myself and can enjoy all the A4-SFX has to offer.
(Perhaps somewhat cramped around the RAM.)

ATX.jpg
The ATX was super short and ended covering some of the corner of the case fan. I might have been able to make the wires longer and come in "from the top" instead, but it would still be cramped.

pci.jpg top.jpg
I ended up running the PCIe's up along the side of the PSU.

ssd.jpg
I managed to get a little space in front of the case fan, this served as a reservoir for the wires going to the SSD - lucky.

gpu.jpg clear.jpg
The GPU side looks a lot cleaner and shows the space around the fan case.

And speaking of the fan, it is a little loud - think it must be due to turbulence. Anyway, I run it on 45% until temps ramp up - this keeps the build completely silent until it has to perform
 
Cherry Dude said:
And speaking of the fan, it is a little loud - think it must be due to turbulence. Anyway, I run it on 45% until temps ramp up - this keeps the build completely silent until it has to perform
Click to expand...

Seems we literally have the same build on the fundamental level, but you still have turbulence from the base fan upwards of 40% speed with your wires much tidier above the fan then mine are? That's troublesome. Think it could possibly be the Noctua rubber mounts then?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top