DAN C4-SFX

[dondan]

Introduction

After a long time of silence I like to introduce the redesigned C4-SFX. The name comes from the German envelope norm for A4 papers so it is the big brother of the A4-SFX.

This case uses a heavly optimized classic hardware layout. The list of features is long – 280mm radiator support, big air cooler up to 145mm in height, indirect GPU cooling, ITX, deep ITX, DTX, 3.9 slot full length GPU, SFX & SFX-L Power Supply support, s.o. All this is packed in an elegant enclosure with 14L made by Lian Li. In terms of hardware support there are nearly no limits.



Possibilities

In this chapter I like to present the main hardware/cooling configurations.

The traditional hardware layouts allows for tower heatsinks with 120mm fan up to an height of 145mm like the Noctua D12L or very big top blow heatsinks like the Noctua C14S. For these configurations it is possible to mount the power supply 90° rotated. With the radiator bracket it is possible to install 120, 140, 240 or 280mm radiators with 25mm thick fans for the best cooling results. For the traditional layout you can install 3.9 slot GPUs with a length up to 336mm. Two 120 or 140mm fan mount points at the top of the case allows for indirect GPU cooling if you remove the preinstalled GPU fans.

The case does come with special air flow brackets and an RTX 40x0 Founders Edition air tunnel to force hot GPU air out of the case. This will result in much better CPU temps.

Specification

Case Dimensions (H x W x D): 253 x 166 x 350.2mm, 14.7L
Overall Dimensions: 273 x 166 x 350.2 (including case feets)
Weight: 3,7 Kg


Hardware Support
Graphic cards support A: 3.9 Slot GPU up to 336mm length & 137mm in height
Graphic cards support B: 3 Slot GPU up to 340mm length & 148mm in height
Motherboard support: Mini-ITX, DTX
Power Supply support: SFX, SFX-L
CPU Heatsink support: Up to 145mm in height.
Case Fans: 1x80/92mm at the back, 2x120/140mm at the top and 2x120/140mm at radiator bracket
Water cooling support: Dual 240 or 280mm radiator with 140x140x25mm fans


Watercooling
Max configuration: 330x140x45 + 140x140x25 fans
Max Pump height: 80mm

Drives: up to 2 x 2.5" HDD/SSD

Power button: Premium-grade button

Material: 1,5mm aluminum (outer panels), 1.5mm aluminum (inner parts & top panel)
Side panels: Easily clipp able with LianLi Push Pin technology
Colors: Anodized black(maybe dark grey) or silver exterior, matte black painted interior
Feets: Made out of two parts so you can have the classic or stealth look.

Price tag: ~200€


GPU Compatibility:

Spoiler

	Dimension	C4-SFX 14.7L
AMD RX 7900 XT	L=276 W=113 2.5 Slot	fit
AMD RX 7900 XTX	L=287 W=123 2.5 Slot	fit
AsRock RX 7900 XTX Taichi 24GB OC	L=345 W=140 3 Slot	not fit
AsRock RX 7900 XTX Phantom Gaming 24GB OC	L=330 W=140 2.8-slot	fit
Asus RX 7900 XTX TUF	L=352.9 W=158.2 3.6 Slot	not fit
Gigabyte AORUS RX 7900 XTX ELITE	L=335 W=137 3.5 Slot	fit
Gigabyte RX 7900 XT GAMING OC	L=331 W=138 2.5 Slot	fit
PowerColor RX 7900 XTX Hellhound	L=320 W=130 3 Slot	fit
PowerColor RX 7900 XTX Red Devil	L=335 W=135 3.5 Slot	fit
Sapphire RX 7900 XTX NITRO	L=320 W=137 3.5 Slot	fit
Sapphire RX 7900 XTX Pulse	L=313 W=134 2,7 Slot	fit
XFX RX 7900 Merc 310	~L=340 W=139 3 Slot	maybe fit

	Dimension	C4-SFX 14.7L
Asus RTX 4080/4090 ROG Strix	L=357 W=150 3,5 Slot	not fit
Asus RTX 4080/4090 TUF	L=348 W=152 3,65 Slot	not fit
ColorFul RTX 4080/4090 BattleAx	L=326 W=140 3 Slot	fit
ColorFul RTX 4080/4090 iGame Vulcan	L=340 W=145 3,25 Slot	not fit
Gainward RTX 4080/4090 Phantom	L=329 W=141,5 3,75 Slot	fit
Gainward RTX 4080/4090 Phoenix	L=329 W=131 3,1 Slot	fit
GIGABYTE RTX 4080/4090 AORUS MASTER	L=358,5 W=162,8 3,75 Slot	not fit
GIGABYTE RTX 4080/4090 GAMING OC	L=340 W=150 3,75 Slot	not fit
GIGABYTE RTX 4080/4090 WINDFORCE	L=331 W=150 3,5 Slot	not fit
GIGABYTE RTX 4080/4090 AORUS XTREME WATERFORCE	L=238 W=1141 2 Slot	not fit
INNO3D RTX 4080/4090 iChill Frostbite	L=336 W=146 2 Slot	not fit
INNO3D RTX 4080/4090 iChill X3	L=200 W=159 3,25 Slot	fit
INNO3D RTX 4080/4090 X3 OC	L=336 W=145 3 Slot	fit
KFA2/Galax RTX 4080/4090 HOF	L=344 W=144 3,8 Slot	not fit
KFA2/Galax RTX 4080/4090 Serious Gaming	L=336 W=138 3,5 Slot	fit
Manli RTX 4080/4090 Gallardo	L=351 W=145 3 Slot	not fit
MSI RTX 4080/4090 Ventus X3	L=322 W=136 3 Slot	fit
MSI RTX 4080/4090 Gaming Trio/ X Trio	L=336 W=140 3,25 Slot	fit
MSI RTX 4080/4090 Suprim	L=336 W=142 3,75 Slot	not fit
MSI RTX 4080/4090 Suprim Liquid	L=280 W=140 2 Slot	not fit
Nvidia 4080/4090 Founders Edition	L=305 W=137 3 Slot	fit
Palit RTX 4080/4090 GameRock	L=329 W=137 3,5 Slot	fit
PNY RTX 4080/4090 Verto	L=336 W=137 3 Slot	fit
PNY RTX 4080/4090 XLR8	L=332 W=137 3.5 Slot	fit
Zotac RTX 4080/4090 Trinity	L=356 W=165 3,5 Slot	not fit
Zotac RTX 4080/4090 AMP Extreme	L=356 W=165 3,5 Slot	not fit

Gallery

Updates:



Next Steps

• Make a Prototype
• Create the manual
• Production Guide
• Cartons and Label
• Test the prototype
• Reviews
• Update media material
• CE-Validation
• Release (no release date)

Special Thanks

This case has a feature (aio bracket) first used and invented by Necere in the Ncase M1. I like to honor him for this idea and like for the A4-SFX he will be also named in the special thanks section in the manual.



Thank you for reading and your support. Please let me know what you think!

 

[dondan]

 

[NotAnAnimal]

I've been waiting for this since forever!!!
Now it's here, and I don't know what to say

 

[Dapoktan]

very interested to see where this goes! Seems to me the default position would be the gpu blowing up instead of down as it would perform better.. but a very cool design either way

 

[Navic]

I love that this project is back on track! The design looks nice, but the power button looks out of place in it's current position. That, and the two different types of perforation (slits and then traditional holes) make it looks different (haven't decided if I like them or not). I think if the holes were all aligned that it might look better, but not sure.
Overall, I think you have a great design here!

 

[NotAnAnimal]

very interested to see where this goes! Seems to me the default position would be the gpu blowing up instead of down as it would perform better.. but a very cool design either way

But the GPU dissipates heat out the sides of the card. Unless you have a blower-style cooler on your GPU.

 

[draic]

this is a slightly smaller NCASE with a Ghost S1 front. Compared to the original C4-SFX I am not really sold on this iteration. I do not see much sense in supporting two GPU orientations. This requires different ways to mount both GPU and PSU, while standard layout will have a lot of limitations on gpu size. Also I think the case has gotten too big to not offer more options for disk storage.

 

[AMv8-1day]

Fresh design man. Loving these modular layout designs.

Good luck!

 

[schn1tt3r]

Well, glad to see you back on track. Good luck with the project, sadly for me, the old C4 is the best looking case I've seen. Sad that it won't be a reality. I don't even care for layout inside, just that the exterior aesthetics of the C4-old was beautiful. Loved the boxy design and minimal (no power button in front).

 

[m-i-c-k-e-y]

FINALLY!!

My thoughts....

1 2.5 HDD might be not enough.

Suggestion:
1. Add an additional PCI-E slot on the vertical position. Instead of only one. (More compatibility)
Why? I'll install a 2 slot GPU on # 2 PCI-E and add this accessory on #1 (more storage)

EDIT: Oh! You have a PCB riser. So it's a bummer then.

2. Can I flip the case? Top mounted radiator/fans have better airflow than bottom mount.

3. Same design for all vents? (side, top, back)

Thank you for time and efforts!

 

[giraffesinmybalcony]

-

 

[Necere]

Looks good man. I see a lot of the M1 in the chassis.

I'll echo @Navic and say that I'm not totally sold on the power button location. I understand you can't move it down or it'll conflict with the 2.5" drive and/or longer GPUs, so maybe on the top panel might be an option?

A heads up on the side panel ventilation: punching that many holes runs the risk of warping the panel, especially on 2mm sheet. This is something LL warned me about when we were looking into it for V6, and one reason we didn't go with it. It can also happen on 1.5mm sheet, but it's less common. Might be worth exploring some alternative vent styles (maybe something to match the top?) to avoid this issue.

 

[Metroversal]

It’s great to finally see the new iteration of C4-SFX!
Seems like it’s going to be a very flexible case but it’s probably not for me, I liked the (very) old one even with its flaws.
Anyhow I wish you the very best @dondan

 

[Vaux]

I don't get it, the regular version is a ncase m1 but with a 2slot gpu, and the sandwich version is a sidearmd t1 but bigger with less gpu length and less practicality

I really don't see the point of having a case convertible between regular and sandwich, making it having bastard dimension and flawed in both configuration

Also since the case is 148mm wide, why no 280mm radiator support?

You need to have things that other cases doesn't have, the previous design of the C4 was way better honestly

 

[Necere]

Also since the case is 148mm wide, why no 280mm radiator support?

The clips that hold the side panels add about 10mm to each side, which is on top of panel thickness. So you're actually looking at 148 - 24mm = 124mm available for width.

140mm fans don't even fit properly on the floor of the M1 for this reason, and it's 12mm wider than the C4.

 

[Vaux]

The clips that hold the side panels add about 10mm to each side, which is on top of panel thickness. So you're actually looking at 148 - 24mm = 124mm available for width.

140mm fans don't even fit properly on the floor of the M1 for this reason, and it's 12mm wider than the C4.

Well why not change the fixation of the side panel then? Like screw in corner, clips on the height instead of the length, magnet, ect...

 

[Necere]

Well why not change the fixation of the side panel then? Like screw in corner, clips on the height instead of the length, magnet, ect...

Speaking for the M1, I didn't want visible screws on the outside. I assume Dan doesn't either, and likewise most people.

There's a couple problems with removing the clips from the bottom flange and putting them on the front/rear flanges instead: 1) limited space on the flanges, and can conflict with taller GPUs/GPU installation (this was a problem in the M1 and why I removed them); 2) a missing clip towards the middle of the bottom flanges could cause the panels to bow out a bit if you've got cables pushing on them, and/or be a little loose; 3) clips behind the motherboard could conflict with surface mount components in the motherboard keepout zone.

As for magnets, consider that the case is all aluminum, so you'd need to incorporate some steel in there for it to work. Also with the side panels being 4mm (2+2) and the chassis being 3mm (1.5+1.5) you're 141mm of clearance on the bottom - barely what would be needed for 140mm fans. Magnets would take up some space, and there's not much available.

Furthermore, even if Dan managed to sort all that out, you run into a problem with the length: 280 rads are 310-320mm long typically, and I'm guessing the internal dimension of the chassis is no more than about 300mm.

 

[VegetableStu]

ooh, the vertical PCI mounting at the vent to avoid having multiple rear plates is pretty smart o_o

 

[Intrepid_Cosmonaut]

Looks really nice, i love the modularity, I would prefer consistent venting design across the top and sides though.

 

[Poblopuablo]

The clips that hold the side panels add about 10mm to each side, which is on top of panel thickness. So you're actually looking at 148 - 24mm = 124mm available for width.

140mm fans don't even fit properly on the floor of the M1 for this reason, and it's 12mm wider than the C4.

Are the middle push pins essential?

I ask because if you remove the middle ones and push the corner ones out to the edges further


Then mount the 140mm fan underneath the radiator I think it might work (granted the internal frame is 140mm wide.) Same argument could be made for your m1.