DAN A4-SFX v4.1

[MarcParis]

As it's becoming real, I'm starting thinking about components I'll put inside.

My main issue is related to GPU. Currently I'm expecting to get a HBM2 memory GPU. However current release on air cooling with HBM GPU are pretty big GPU (R9 Fury).

Gigabyte R9 Fury : 278(L)*115(W)*52(H)mm, seems to be too thick for A4-SFX
MSI R9 Fury : does not exist..
Asus Strix R9 Fury : 300 x 137 x 40mm, seems too tight. A4 sfx is stated 295mm max length w/o bracket or 306mm with bracket...what bracket is it?
Sapphire R9 Fury : 300x110x40, too thick...it's stated 2.5 pci slot..with 40mm thickness...mistake from Sapphire specs..
XFX R9 Fury : 315 x 112 x 51 seems too long and too thick



MSI GTX1080 Twin Frozr VI : 279 x 140 x 42 mm, MSI new twin Frozr seems compatible...and one GTX1080 in A4 SFX could be a real good choice also..my last Nvidia was Msi Twin Frozr II GTX570...I must admit that current Nvidia air cooled cards are better than AMD ones..

What will be your gpu inside this A4-SFX?

 

[iFreilicht]

what bracket is it?

The bracket at the rear of the GPU. Some manufacturers include the length of the flange in the measurement, some don't.

 

[MarcParis]

Gotcha for the bracket. As far as I have one GPU compatible, I'm fine with it..

Another question came to my mind : how is handle orientation of AC plug of SFX power supply with AC extension inside A4 sfx.
I've read the 2 reviews of A4 SFX, and it's not clearly illsutrated.
I've looked at A4 SFX handling manual (page 18), it's not really well explained, especially when AC plug is not coming in the optimal orientation.
I've looked at SX-500LG orientation (as it was used on both reviews) to see if I can notice a proper way, by it's far from being cristal clear.
At the end I'm planning to go with SF600, but I'm not sure it will fit (even it's listed on compatibility list on Dan case website)

 

[iFreilicht]

Look at the pages 12, 13 and 16. You can see the plug there.

 

[MarcParis]

Look at the pages 12, 13 and 16. You can see the plug there.

Yes I saw that..I guess you can easily reorientate the AC plug..

1009 Backers already!
Kickstarter campaign is a full success in less than 24h...GG!

PS : France entered top 10 with 23 backers..

 

[dondan]

Thank you for all the congratulations.

 

[MarcParis]

It's deserved..

 

[K888D]

An article has been written about the case and Kickstarter success on Hexus.

 

[MarcParis]

Once again, it's deserved!

 

[BottleNext]

Congratulations, I also loved the case as soon as I discovered it here.

 

[Pat-Roner]

@dondan

If the card is 144mm tall, how much space is there for power connectors?

 

[MarcParis]

Look at example of mis twin frozr v gtx 970 shwon on video on kickstarter, no issue to connect power connector

 

[MarcParis]

Well I've continued reviewing my components for my A4 SFX, here is my BOM :

• Cpu cooler : Id cooling IS-VC45 (vapor chamber) + Noctua NF-A9x14 (same setup as my S4 mini, proved to be far enough to handle core i7 6700k stock or even better when cpu is undervolted, not underclocked (see my NFC S4 review for more details). Cryorig C7 could be also a good contender, but you cannot replace fan.
  
• Motherboard : Like NFC S4 mini, you have to take a motherboard that let CPU cooler breath...that means, overcrowded motherboard (like Asus impact or evga stinger) are clearly not recommended. Asrock Fatality or Gigabyte Z170n gaming 5 represents enthousiast choice...but keep in mind constraint of cpu cooler exhaust)
• RAM : As you won't be able to OC cpu, it's clearly adviced to used high speed ram (ie 3200mhz) in order to provide maximum boost to your cpu (even in game, faster ram is helping to increase minimum framerate). Height constraint : 52mm. Corsair Vengeance LPX or Gskill Ripjaws V will fit perfectly
• GPU :
  • Nvidia : Easy to find any GTX 1080 that can easily fit (MSI Twin Frozr VI, Zotac AMP edition, etc..)
    
  • AMD : Currently R9 Nano is the most most powerful choice. R9 Fury card seem too long, too thick to fit easily
  • HBM/HBM 2 : my concern is next gen high end GPU. They will all use HBM2 for sure, and it will change heatsink design. Current revision applied on R9 Fury are just oversized, cumbersome solutions (17cm long PCB with 30cm cooler...just crasy). I hope next gen AMD vega or Nvidia GP102 will have dual fan cooler.
• Power supply : Why using SFX-L power supply, when you can have Corsair standard SFX, Gold certification (just missing platinum in specific cases),fully modular, using 92mm slim fan, 7 years warranty, semi passive (on my S4 mini, my SF600 is not spinning while playing.... Average power consumption is around 250W). Short (and quite stiff) cables will fit perfectly in A4 SFX (just need to smooth them by bending them again and again..) SF600 is clearly a very good contender. However, AC extension orientation need to be checked.. Daniel will order SF450 to try/confirm integration in A4 SFX...
• Storage : I'm not convinced that M.2 located on back on MB could be good choice in terms of thermal. Samsung 950 pro could suffer some thermal throttling if it's too hot. Anyway based on my experience, between very good sata SSD 2.5" (Samsung 850 pro or Sandisk exterme pro) and Samsung 950 pro, performance difference is clearly not obvious, except in benchmarks... I guess best choice will be raid 0 of 3 SSD 850/extreme pro lol.. Only constraint is cable management (not blocking cpu cooler exhaust)...but A4 SFX seems pretty easy on this point

For my personal means, I'm planning to put my Core i7 4770K slightly overclocked to 4.0Ghz (almost free as very low voltage increase), with GSkill Trident X (heatsink removed), dual SSD, with id cooling ID-VC45+Noctua. Big question will be GPU.. We will see in December..

 

[Pat-Roner]

Look at example of mis twin frozr v gtx 970 shwon on video on kickstarter, no issue to connect power connector

That's the 770 and it's only 13cm. The 1080 is 14cm. But I can see that Dan has listed it as compatible on HardForum

 

[MarcParis]

Dan has written gpu height compatibility of 144mm from bottom of pci-e port to top.
Personnally I wonder also if any Asus strix version (around 300mm length) can be put in A4-SFX..

 

[Pat-Roner]

Nvidia GTX 1080 Founders Edition = compatible
Asus ROG Strix GTX 1080 OC = compatible
Asus ROG Strix GTX 1080 = compatible
Colorful iGame GTX 1080 X-Top = no data
EVGA GTX 1080 SC ACX 3.0 = compatible
EVGA GTX 1080 Classified = no data - Doubt it since it's usually 15cm tall
EVGA GTX 1080 FTW = no data - High change. Usually same as SC
EVGA GTX 1080 Hybrid = no data - Where to put the rad?
EVGA GTX 1080 KINGPIN = no data - Same as with classy
Inno3D GTX 1080 iChill X3 = incompatible
Inno3D GTX 1080 iChill X4 = incompatible
Inno3D GTX 1080 iChill Black Edition = incompatible
Gainward GTX 1080 Phoenix = high chance - Doubt since 2,5 slot
Gainward GTX 1080 Phoenix GS = high chance - Doubt since 2,5 slot
Gainward GTX 1080 Phoenix GLH = high chance - Doubt since 2,5 slot
Gigabyte GTX 1080 G1 Gaming = high chance
Gigabyte GTX 1080 Xtreme Gaming = no data - Doubt since 2,5 slot
KFA² GTX 1080 EX OC Edition = compatible
MSI GeForce GTX 1080 Gaming X = compatible
MSI GTX 1080 Sea Hawk = incompatible
MSI GTX 1080 Armor OC = compatible
MSI GTX 1080 Armor = compatible
MSI GTX 1080 Aero = compatible
MSI GTX 1080 Aero OC = compatible
Palit GTX 1080 GameRock = incompatible
Palit GTX 1080 JetStream = incompatible
Palit GTX 1080 Super JetStream = incompatible
Zotac GTX 1080 AMP! = no data
[Zotac GTX 1080 AMP! Extreme = incompatible


this is the list he posted on HardForum. I added my own thoughs in italic and blue.

 

[MarcParis]

Big thanks!
it's simple perfect..Asus strix seems ok..that means Asus is measuring length, including bracket..good to know..

I agree with your blue comments about thickness...it's compatible if you don't put side panel lol..

 

[Pat-Roner]

Yeah, all cards can be compatible if you are mad enoug!

Contemplating the Asus strix and msi gaming.

I heard that the strix was bad at overclocking (but just one review) and I really don't like the look of the Msi.

Would prefer the Evga Classy, but I think it's too tall, and this years design makes my eyes bleed.

 

[danielbatmanj]

y so expensive, otherwise i would highly consider getting this case.

 

[MarcParis]

Yeah, all cards can be compatible if you are mad enoug!

Contemplating the Asus strix and msi gaming.

I heard that the strix was bad at overclocking (but just one review) and I really don't like the look of the Msi.

Would prefer the Evga Classy, but I think it's too tall, and this years design makes my eyes bleed.

I'm mad enough to put an asus strix in a4 sfx...I've been mad enough tonput core i7 6700k + r9 nano...so an asus strix in an a4 should be piece of cake lol

True evga ecx cards are too tall for a4

y so expensive, otherwise i would highly consider getting this case.

Just consider a worth investment amortised on several years!