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

If you view the video you can see that the metal sheet + 3M tape + tempered glass sandwitch is very thick. You need 6.5mm for it. Take a look on your ruler and you will see how thick this is. On a 40L case this doesn't matter but on the C4-SFX the case will bee much wider 127.3mm vs 137.5mm.

Maybe it will be possible if Lian Li could get 4mm tempered glass from china and i will glue the glass from the inside on the panel like the new panels for the M1.
 
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dondan said:
If you view the video you can see that the metal sheet + 3M tape + tempered glass sandwitch is very thick. You need 6.5mm for it. Take a look on your ruler and you will see how thick this is. On a 40L case this doesn't matter but on the C4-SFX the case will bee much wider 127.3mm vs 137.5mm.

Maybe it will be possible if Lian Li could get 4mm tempered glass from china and i will glue the glass from the inside on the panel like the new panels for the M1.
Click to expand...

The metal strip is super thin. No more than 1mm I'd guess. The glass itself is thick, but also quite large. With a smaller piece, you could keep it at a solid 3mm, but 4 is also fine. The window kit really just needs to be 1 side on the GPU side. No reason to have a glass panel on the backside, as it will suffocate the PSU, and maybe an M.2 SSD on the back of the motherboard.

A glass panel will add thickness to the side, but that is also the case, if you go with an acrylic panel. To me, having the case be 2-5mm thicker on the side to have tempered glass compared to acrylic is well worth it.

Anyways, it's just an idea, and I'm very much looking forward to seeing the prototypes when you get them. Keep up the good work :)
 
Here are two versions that shows how it will look like with tempered glass.

The first version will be compatible to the side I/O concept and top I/O conecpt. The glass panel will be glued from the inside.

The second version will be only compatible to the top I/O conect. The glass panel will be glues from the outside. Now you can see how much thickness this will add.


temperedglasss9u81.jpg


It is only a example to show you what options we have with tempered glass.
 
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dondan said:
Here are two versions that shows how it will look like with tempered glass.

The first version will be compatible to the side I/O concept and top I/O conecpt. The glass panel will be glued from the inside.

The second version will be only compatible to the top I/O conect. The glass panel will be glues from the outside. Now you can see how much thickness this will add.


View attachment 67669

It is only a example to show you what options we have with tempered glass.
Click to expand...
What happened to the full sized glass side panels from the renderings?

edit: ah nvm, those were acrylic instead of glass, right?
 
If I purchase this case its with the intention of carrying it around with me. So I feel like an acrylic side panel would me more suitable.
 
I prefer the unibody version at post #525 anyway. It's a good look - a 'Dancase' look - so IMO you should stick with it. An alternative might be to tweak the design of the A4 at the same time as you do this one to bring it in line.
 
Here is an interesting documentation how to easy install an Asetek AIO on a GTX Founders Edition card without disassembly the complete card.
Keep in mind you need a special Asetek GPU AIO for this! The tubes are straight out and you need a NVIDIA, AMD retention plate.

The following sets are suitable and have all the necessary parts included:
  • Arctic Accelero Hybrid II
  • Arctic Accelero Hybrid III
  • EVGA GeForce GTX 1080/1070 Hybrid
  • Asetek 740GN

https://forums.anandtech.com/threads/gtx-1080-fe-gtx-980ti-hybrid-radiator-oc-temp-results.2479044/


jgjjv70esn7.jpg

(Credits to "Annisman*" from AnandTech)
 
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i kinda of did that with a asetek 92mm aio rad. i didnt have a fe card or a blower style card and it was cooking my case. so what i did was get a kraken g12, cut off the name plate,couldnt put the g12 fan on but i could still mount the aio, put the psu outside the case and put the aio rad in its place. its funny the side panel holes almost line up with 92mm aio rad holes. so right now i have 2 92mm rads inside the case, one for the gpu and on for the cpu. if would think you could kinda just make the case a little bigger and be able to put in 120 mm rads? and maybe a way for me to put back in the psu lol
 
dondan i know this might sound a bit crazy for a small case like the C4 but do you think a push-pull config is even possible? Look at the example below.

The only problem I see is the C14 Power Connector. Correct me if I'm wrong :)

c4-pushpull4pooj.png
 
Under the PSU it will fit but next to the motherboard there is not enough space to fit a 120mm fan.
 
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Today I ordered 2x the brand new NF A12x25 PWM fans:

noctua_nf_a12x25_2_1.jpg


They were in development for many years. It will be tested against Scythe Gentle Typhoons in the C4-SFX.
 
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Probably from Ebay: Noctua NF-A12x25 PWM Sterrox LCP fan

Interview with Lars Strömbäck (Noctua CTO) about the development of the NF-A12x25 fan:
"Nidec Gentle Typhoon proved to be the hardest competition, but we’re confident that our design is slightly superior. In our tests on a typical 2 inch all-in-one water cooler at 200W heatload with both fans adjusted to the same noise level, the NF-A12x25 with the supplied radiator gasket provided about 0.3 to 0.6°C lower temperatures than the Nidec depending on the speed settings. At the same time, our premium grade SSO2 bearing runs virtually inaudibly whereas the Nidec’s ball bearing produces an unpleasant tone that becomes clearly audible at lower fan speeds. Last but not least, unlike the NF-A12x25 with its integrated silicone pads and gasket, the Nidec doesn’t have an anti-vibration mounting and thus transmits vibrations and resonances to the radiator and case. All things considered, we’re confident that the NF-A12x25 is the best 120mm fan currently available."
Click to expand...
 
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dondan said:
Hi everyone,

I like to start a discussion about cooling configurations you plan to use inside the C4-SFX. Air cooling, AIOs, fan's and custom water loops everything is allowed.

Maybe we can find some best practice configuration that will help everyone to find suitable cooling solutions for the C4-SFX. Furthermore I hope to see uniq ideas that I not thought about.

With best regards
Daniel Hansen
Click to expand...

I'm thinking of a custom CPU loop with an aircooled GPU. I'm hoping that a small pump like this will fit under the PSU. And a custom sandwich style acrylic res to fill the space between the GPU and radiator.
But I'll have to await final measurements to make sure of the clearances first.
 
Here are some first shots of the C4-SFX made by Lian Li. I will get more the next days. Keep in mind, that the Window panel screws are not the correct one. Currently you see a acrylic sample of the Window Kit because the tempered glass version isn't done:

_dsc250506row.jpg

_dsc2527ajpwf.jpg

_dsc2513lyrte.jpg


With best regards
Daniel Hansen
 
View attachment 71138

Personally I see a lot of lines, and in particular, exposed seams. The lack of these seams is exactly what made the A4 so beautiful, IMO of course.

I'll ask this once and then let it go. But, dondan, is there any chance of:

1. Bringing the window panels edge-to-edge on the top and bottom
2. Making the top and front panel a single, folded piece again

This would mean removing the side fold-overs currently present on the top and foot panels. There don't appear to be any screws on the thin side portions, so one might suspect they're largely aesthetic.

And I agree with everyone above: the receding foot design does look fantastic. Better than in the renders, even – nice work.
 
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