D10S: DAN A4 ★ 7920X ★ 1080TI Mini ★ X299 ITX

[D10S]

A X299 build inside a DAN A4:

- DAN A4 SFX V2
- INTEL i9 7920X
- ASROCK X299 ITX AC
- CORSAIR 64 GB RAM
- D10S AIO
- ZOTAC 1080 TI Mini
- PSU FLEX 600W P

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[D10S]

The first idea for this project was to use Asetek AIO,
but fortunately the length of the GPU allowed me to go beyond this choice,
so I started testing different RAD for different cooling solutions:

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[D10S]

The first step was a ASETEK 454LC, found a used one (HP branded),
absolutely a "ready to go" solution, but it's a pain to fit...
...the aio tubes, the psu cables, eveything is crushed under the SF600

But the miniGPU leave me a lot of space...
...so, started to build a selfmade AIO,
trying this solution:
Flop PSU and 80mm Alphacool Radiator:

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[D10S]

So, moving in this direction, i have a g1/4 rad and I can tell the pipes which way they should go,
with the ASETEK for example are the tubes that tell you where to go and consequently move everything else ...
So now, since I did not want a liquid system with cpu block / pump and tank,
I looked for the best solution CPU BLOCK / PUMP, the first choice had fallen on BeQuiet! Silent Loop,
but it turned out wrong, the attacks placed on the part upper come out of the Dan Case ...


So I opted for the AIO system Fractal Design Kelvin ,
version prior to that now on the market CELSIUS (twin brother of BeQuiet!),
it is only used or some warehouse fund on ebay,
I found it used a few steps from home
( the owner has switched to a complete liquid system,
the rad has been kept and the only cpu block sold out, fantastic !!!)​

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[D10S]

While a quick test told me that the temperatures were decent with this combo,
the first 2 problems came up:
1: To allow the passage of the pipes I would have to give up a ram slot...


2: My test was done with an external fan connected to the mobo,
which then followed the progress of the CPU,
while in the project the fan that should have dissipated was that of SF600,
which as you know is often still, and if it turns,
it does so on the basis of the psu and not the cpu of course ...

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[D10S]

The first problem concerning the motherboard: ASROCK X299 ITX A/C
I did not want to delete a ram,
but between the cpu and the panel of the case I have 4.5 cm (cpu block is 3,8),
and are surrounded above and below by the ram and left from the "Front Board"
(on which we find the connections sata, usb3 and usb2 internal)


This rig will be a machine for diting and color grading,
my previous system was so configured:
- 5960X + AsRock x99 itx + Titan X
and for the disc part:
- SM951> OS
- 3 x SAMSUNG 850 PRO 1TB in RAID 0> Project & Materials
- 1 Samsung 840 Pro 256GB> Cache & Stuffs

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But this new system, and in particular this new motherboard,
gives me a big resource: it can mount as many as 3 m2 ...
... and so, once verified the correct functioning of everything without this "Front Board",
I decided that the new system would have used only 3 m2 and nothing else,
also because put a ssd within this construction however,
provides 2 cables (power & data) that would complicate everything,
...and now I can leave the 4 ram in peace!

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[IceIceBear]

Wow, so much power in there, how does the temp turn out eventually?

 

[D10S]

The temperatures were good with this combo,
I only did some quick tests, but everything seemed ok,
although I never tried the ASETEK 545LC
(which I bought before the case arrived and everything else!)
Theoretically the Kelvin's cpu / pump block is higher than that asetek,
even the rad should be a little better (although smaller is much fatter and dense)
and ventilation inside the case would be better,
no fan that shoots hot air directly on the cables and the psu,
and lots of free space, but ...

... but at this point in the story,
when I was preparing to replace the fan of the psu (to be connected to the mobo),
here there was a SWITCH that totally changed this build ...

The lighting came from @dondan, who wrote me in a post:
"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."

Yes, why don't???

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[D10S]

So starting from Dan's advice,
I started looking in this new direction:

Cool with a 120 Rad:
An excellent space-saving solution,
that I had already used in other builds,
is the 120 mm thin EK CoolStream SE radiator,
so I tried to do a test by mounting a Corsair (which I had at hand...)


Needless to say, the result was excellent,
and obviously higher than the data of the 80 radiator cooled by a Noctua NF-A9x14,
this solution provides excellent cooling for the CPU and if you want it can also cool the GPU.​

 

[D10S]

Finally now I move on a field that I know a bit,
radiators and fans from 80 and 90 were new ground for me,
and sincerely not very satisfactory, but now I can build with a 120!
I then focused on this triad:
- EK CoolStream SE
- NIDEC GT 120
- PHOBYA SHROUD 0.7


I want to connect the radiator to the cpu pump without using pipes,
rigid or soft, but only interconnections,
so as to attract a "Rigid Block AIO" that I can easily put and extract.


Now you just have to understand how this "Rigid Block AIO" should be fixed
can not walk in the houses freely ...

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[D10S]

To create the path of the tubes, I started from the block CPU
and backward I came to the rad where I screwed the last curve.


Once fixed the block CPU I cut a rectangle of plexi that I used as a base for fixing the rad,
I have unscrewed 2 of the 4 screws that assemble the outer covers of the radiator and used them to fix the plexi,
I then drilled the plexi in correspondence of the existing cracks on the bottom of the case
and I used the standoffs as feet to reach the desired fixing height


the D10S AIO is then fixed with four screws on the cpu (of course)
and with 3 screws under the case that block the standoffs,
I finally added two small upper curves,
using the already existing holes (for the reggi psu) to fix the fan also in the upper part

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[rosinbole]

1, 2, 3, jealous me, 4, 5, 6, Gotta love those pics, 7, 8, 9, That level of perfection must be a crime

 

[D10S]

Well, now that the cooling part is done, we need to solve the power supply,
the FPS signaled by DAN unfortunately did not guarantee all the necessary energy,
after some research (thanks to various users of this forum)
i intercepted this fabulous ENHANCE 600W
modified by the guys from GEEEK (ask CIRO, a great guy!)


Unfortunately, it is a little high once the power is attached,
so choice 1: cut the end of the power cord slightly,
or choice 2: open it and change the output,
the 2 was the most sensible solution for me,
also because it has me given the opportunity to change the interior fan
with a fabulous little gem NOCTUA NF A4x10
(...so i modded a modded psu)

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To fix it, I simply screwed 3 small standoffs into its existing holes,
so I still have a minimum height needed for ventilation (the DAN A4 has very low feet)
and also allowed me to hook the side cover bulkhead of the case in his accommodation
... unfortunately I had to make 3 small holes at the base at the standoff,
necessary sacrifice, now it is impossible to move!


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[rosinbole]

Bloody genius! Where did you get get PSU? Might want to look into getting something like that myself!

 

[QuantumBraced]

1080 Ti Mini + Flex PSU seems like it would be very loud. How is the noise under load?

Otherwise, brilliant. I think Dan is incorporating all of your ideas into v3 by including brackets, so anyone can do this build without any modding.

 

[D10S]

1080 Ti Mini + Flex PSU seems like it would be very loud. How is the noise under load?.

PSU solved with Noctua,
Zotac needs a bios mod, it's not loud under load (to me),
but the fan spin a lot in idle too, without any need as the GPU is at 23!
@dondan should give me the opportunity to buy his plexi panels,
I unfortunately took the model without, so everything that is inside ...
...I only know!

 

[D10S]

The work for phase 2 is then completed, rig performs well,
I can go in OC at 4.4 GHz with good temperatures,
everything weighs 5.3 KG, it's great!
It is not very silent when pushed unfortunately,
especially the pump is really annoying,
fortunately Alphacool has resurrected the Kelvin with a version of it,
which will obviously have its small pump,
which I read around is very silent!
Surely for all those who buy the DAN A4 V3 will be very simple to get such a configuration!

But now begins PHASE 3: AIR

For some movements it is much more advantageous,
x-ray does not look like a bomb as it will seem my AIO!
Then it should also be much quieter, and lighter!
I had ordered a DYNATRON R15 at the end of December, arrived yesterday!
(it was stopped in customs for 1 month, but no one had warned me, they realized it because I called them!)
So now I try to understand what can be done in the air on this little joy!

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[Gautam]

Really great project! I'm surprised that the FSP power supply wasn't good enough. What happened that indicated it? Was the system shutting off?

 

[D10S]

Hello @Gautam , thank you very much!
Honestly I've never tried the FSP, the calculation of the wattage says that I am already over 500W,
and then sleeve it would have been a nightmare!

 

[Gautam]

Hello @Gautam , thank you very much!
Honestly I've never tried the FSP, the calculation of the wattage says that I am already over 500W,
and then sleeve it would have been a nightmare!

I see...I'm thinking of trying 7920X + FSP500. I think it should be okay without a big overclock.

In theory, an SFX PSU + Gigabyte GTX1080 should work with a similar layout. I'm not sure if it will in the DAN A4 itself.