DAN Cases A4-SFX V4.1 Mini-ITX case - silver [A4SFXV4-S]

The hype surrounding the unique aluminum case is also easy to explain, after all, it is nothing less than the smallest gaming case in the world! With the A4-SFX V4.1 the fourth edition has now been published.

The DAN Cases A4-SFX V4.1 mini case at a glance
- Extremely compact dimensions with a volume of only 7.25 liters
- High-quality aluminum with a brushed surface
- Excellent workmanship thanks to production by Lian Li
- Space for two 92mm fans and even a 120mm AiO
- Supports full-fledged gaming graphics cards (e.g. NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080)
- 3M riser module with full PCI Express 4.0 speed
- Accepts Mini-ITX format motherboards (all AMD and Intel sockets)
- Space for powerful SFX or SFX-L power supplies and two to three 2.5-inch data drives
- The new features of version 4 (4.1) briefly summarized:
- New front USB slot Type C (USB 3.1 or USB 3.2 Gen2)
- 3M riser cable certified for PCIe 4.0 (version 4.1)
- New slot for 92 mm fan under the mainboard (version 4)
- The bracket for a 120mm AiO is optional (version 4)

Perfect use of space and consistently well thought-out concept
With extremely compact dimensions of just 115 x 200 x 317 millimeters (W x H x D) of the chassis, the housing has a volume of just 7.25 liters - which is roughly the size of a shoebox or toaster. The fact that a complete gaming PC can be installed in it despite this size format is achieved through a well thought-out concept and a trick: the graphics card is housed in parallel behind the Mini-ITX mainboard in a separate chamber and in total almost every square centimeter is used inside the DAN Cases A4-SFX V4.1 are used sensibly, while in normal tower cases there is usually an unnecessarily large amount of free space. A gaming PC cannot be built any smaller!

High-quality aluminum housing from Lian Li production
Externally, the innovative tiny model impresses with its ascetic design combined with the flawless workmanship of the brushed aluminum. The metal, which is 1.5 millimeters thick, is produced in cooperation with housing specialist Lian Li and, with its chic hairline finish, contributes significantly to the unmistakable look. Accordingly, on the puritanical front of the A4-SFX V4.1, in addition to the revised power button, there is only an unaccompanied USB 3.1 port (10 GBit/s) with an internal mainboard connection and the interior itself is also conveniently limited to space , which is necessary for truly essential hardware. Due to the meticulously planned dimensions of the housing, the maximum permissible dimensions of all components must be observed exactly.

A detailed operating manual in German and English clearly illustrates the order and procedure for assembly. The mini gaming system is powered by a power supply in the compact SFX or slightly longer SFX-L standard, which sucks in cold air from the right side and directs waste heat upwards. A 9 millimeter high 2.5-inch drive can be accommodated behind the front, while under the power supply one (with PSU in SFX-L format) to two (with PSU in SFX format) further 2.5-inch drives can be accommodated. SSDs/HDDs can be mounted decoupled in a drive frame. Motherboards with M.2 slots expand the drive capacities accordingly.

Extended by two radiator spaces
The clever cooling concept is similarly spartan, as it does not require a case fan at all and makes use of the integrated cooling of the built-in hardware, which also saves valuable space here. So that all components can breathe enough fresh air at all times and their waste heat can be easily transported away, the two side panels and the top of the A4-SFX V4.1 have been provided with large round air holes and elongated holes on the bottom also ensure optimal fresh air supply.

Since V2 there are holes for a 92 mm fan on the bottom, which can be installed instead of one of the three SSDs. In the new version V4.1 there is an additional slot for a 92 mm fan that can be placed under the mainboard - without sacrificing a drive. The V3 additionally integrated holder for a 120 mm radiator, which is located vertically either on the left, i.e. on the side where the graphics card is installed, or opposite on the side where the mainboard tray is attached, is now available as an option . The latter option requires the fanless power supply 400W Hi-Fi DC ATX from HDPLEX, which is attached to the GPU side. Then the AiO including the fan can be up to 52 millimeters deep, which is possible with slimline variants (15 mm) of fans, such as those available from Akasa (LUAK-040) or Scythe (LUSY-066). And the graphics card can also be 273 mm long.

In the reverse setup, the AiO comes on the GPU side next to a conventional SFX power supply. The length of the graphics card is then reduced to 173 mm and the height of the AiO including the fan to 42 millimeters. If you can do without two SSDs, there is space for 92 mm AiOs on the floor, such as the 545LC from Asetek. To effectively protect all ventilation openings from dust, DEMCiflex provides optional DAN Cases A4-SFX Dust Filters DAN Cases A4-SFX dust filters.

Supports full-fledged high-end graphics cards thanks to the riser module from 3M
Inside, a motherboard in Mini-ITX format can be accommodated on the right side, on which a CPU with a maximum 48 mm high processor cooler can be kept at temperature. Flat top blower coolers are completely sufficient for cooling due to the ever decreasing TDP of modern processors. Using a riser adapter, the motherboard's PCI Express x16 slot is redirected to the left side of the case, where gaming pixel accelerators up to 295 millimeters long can be installed. The riser adapter now comes from 3M again.

As big as a games console, but massively more powerful
PCI Express lanes are usually sensitive to the signal loss associated with extension, but the riser card from 3M is a quality product that even supports the significantly higher data rates of the new PCI Express 4.0 standard, so there is no reduction in speed here is to be feared. Since the graphics card and Mini-ITX mainboard are installed back to back and could possibly come into contact, there is an insulating plastic film as a protective shield between both components and effectively protects them from short circuits. Daniel Hansen also put some thought into the assembly and, unlike many other mini cases, made the installation of the hardware surprisingly convenient, of course when selecting the appropriate hardware.

Technical details:
- Dimensions: 115 x 205 x 327 mm (W x H x D - with feet and overhang)
- Dimensions: 112 x 200 x 317 mm (W x H x D - chassis only)
- Material: aluminum (anodized, brushed)
- Material thickness: 1.5mm
- Weight: 1.25kg
- Volume: 7.25 l
- silver
- Form factor: Mini-ITX
- Total fans possible:
- 1x 92mm fan
- 1x 92mm fan instead of a drive
- Radiators possible:
- 1x 92 mm (bottom) 1x 120 mm (side vertically behind the power supply)
- Drive bays:
- 2x 2.5 inches (drive frame, max. 15 mm height, only possible 1x with SFX-L power supply)
- 1x 2.5 inches (behind the front, max. 9 mm height)
- Power supply: SFX or SFX-L (optional)
- Expansion slots: 2 (dual slot)
- I/O panel:
- 1x USB 3.1 10 GBit/s (USB 3.2 Gen2) Type C (internal connection)
- Special feature: 3M 8KC3-0726-0300 PCIe 4.0 riser module for GPU mounting (180 mm)
- Maximum CPU cooler height: 48 mm
- Maximum graphics card length: 295 / 306 mm (without/incl. slot bezel)
- Maximum graphics card height: 144mm (from bottom of PCIe slot)
- Maximum graphics card width: 40 / 45 mm (without/with backplate)
- Maximum memory module height: 52 mm
- Maximum power supply length: 130 mm

Note:Any PCIe power connections on the back or top of the graphics card must also be taken into account!