Lian-Li A4-H2O Black SPCC/Aluminum Mini-ITX Computer Case, PCI4.0 Riser Card Cable Included - A4-H2O X4 BLACK

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With 100% of the case’s airflow coming from radiator fans, the dual-fan CPU cooler even dropped graphics card temperature by around 8 degrees...

Now for the part that really blew me away was the temps. This shouldn't be surprising because the NZXT H210 is notorious for being an oven, but somehow I was expecting such a small case like this one to run hot as well. GPU temps dropped by more than 10 degrees across the board. Full load previously was 84C but has been reduced to 72C now. For my normal usage (60-75%) the GPU stays around 64C. Compared to the H210, the noise level is much quieter and the GPU is no longer screaming for its life. Another thing I like is how the GPU is on the right side of the case. Most other sandwich layouts I've seen have it on the left, but since I put my PC on the right of my desk this means the loudest part will be facing away from me. Motherboard tray is slightly misaligned with rear opening no matter what I did. Not a big deal, but it won't be quite as clean looking as it should be.Based on the design of the A4-SFX, the A4-H2O keeps the same clean aesthetic and minimalistic concept but increases GPU size compatibility and AIO water cooling support. At only 11 liters, the A4-H2O truly encompasses the small form factor spirit with a clever new design by Daniel Hasen from DAN Cases, while being produced through the experienced manufacturing hands of LIAN LI. There is ample ventilation throughout the Lian Li x DAN Case A4-H2O thanks to the fine mesh featured on the side and top panels. Promoting outstanding natural airflow, this will work perfectly with the AiO cooler to keep your gaming PC at optimum temperature. Choices

Realistically, every major OEM makes a 3060Ti, 3070, 3080, and 3090 that won't fit in an M1, mostly because of the depth of the card rather than the length of the card. The A4-H20 can handle deep cards because it's using a riser cable, so that's at least an option for people when the M1 won't fit. 13" triple-slot cards that protrude 2" above the expansion slot cover are ridiculously common and popular, which is irritating as most of that extra height is typically just decorative shroud for the sake of making the card physically bigger and not actually extra cooling surface.

MORE POSTS BY Emily Haylock

If so, wouldn't this case air be already be quite warm, thus (significantly) diminishing the AIO's cooling of the CPU? All of the above make me wonder if and how an AIO is actually better than a decent aircooled solution like in the A4-SFX...

For some perspective, this case is 244mm tall, 140mm wide, and 326mm deep. Comparatively, it is about two-thirds the height of a PlayStation 5. Yet it can fit all that juicy hardware, and more that I have yet to mention! Sandwich Layout Impact is the manifestation of "sounds great, doesn't work". Both B550 ITX boards I've used OC better, on CPU and mem, at half the price. Memory latency performance is all over the place like no other. The Strix/Impact VRM is supposed to be the best, but not actually because the "heatsink" is so sad. The 5 fan headers are great but two are on the SO-DIMM. The SO-DIMM is good for SSD cooling but only with active airflow, and flops around (which isnt a problem for DIMM.2 due to orientation). SO-DIMM is well-known for causing severe bowing on SSDs. SO-DIMM and fan headers are a pest for loop planning if you want aesthetics. etc etc This case is an excellent competitor for the NR200, because it's 8 liters smaller, and has nearly all-metal construction. To me this one is the obvious choice. Also in this form factor I would avoid i9 CPUs entirely. They eat up too much power, and make too much heat. In terms of pricing, it feels a bit expensive considering something like the Lian Li Q58 with PCIe 4.0 actually has a lower MSRP than the A4-H2O with the same interface standard. That seems odd, as the Q58 offers a slew of more functional features and a more interesting material mix.Celebrate the small form factor PC with the Lian Li x DAN Case A4-H2O Mini-ITX Case. With just 11L capacity, this PC case has an incredibly small footprint but an intelligent design, maximising hardware capacity. With three expansion slots, this case can accommodate a triple slot GPU, up to 322mm long, which connects to a Mini-ITX motherboard via the included PCIe 4.0 riser cable. Every panel is removable for ease of access, with many sporting a fine mesh for excellent ventilation. Additionally, improving the design of the previous A4-SFX, this model can accommodate a 240 AiO with the radiator in a dedicated chamber. Big power in a small chassis. Lian Li x DAN Case A4-H2O Mini-ITX PC Case at a Glance:

I don't get an explanation that someone doesn't have enough space for a larger PC case. The foot is almost as large as that of small ATX towers. Small ATX towers cost less, can install cheaper ATX motherboard, can install cheaper ATX PSU, can install more standard CPU cooler, and the PC runs cooler without additional noise. So I see it like all these expensive ITX builds are for enthusiasts who like to "compress" stuff for fun. I won't deny, I like to build small PCs but the marketing around it is ridiculous. Of course, as in all things hardware cooling, there is no free benefit: Corsair’s fans are a bit noisy at max RPM, and even more noise piles into the mix as we add another one. My experience with this case has been fantastic, but it did leave me wanting more. Having a liquid-cooled, 11.24-liter PC means it's going to be a tad heavy. It's also too big to fit into my DSLR camera bag. I also think this case's width dimension would be a tight fit in a carry on-size tough case like one from Pelican. Finally, where an aircooled solution also cools down the VRM/m2, this will not be the case with an AIO. This case is absolutely amazing, punching well above its weight class. Let's start off with what I have inside mine -- an i7 12700K and am RTX 3090 TUF, powered by a Cooler Master V850 SFX PSU. Man, does this case make it happen.Standoff extensions for the riser to allow 2-slot nvidia FE cards to have room to breath (necessary since they have a fan on the top not just bottom of the card) Being so small with a structured layout, ease of access is a must. Lian Li and DAN Cases have you covered. Every panel is easily removed, including the bottom where you can find a 2.5” SSD mount. Cutaways in the steel frame make installing hardware incredibly simple, and even the dividers come out. There’ll be no squeezing hands into tight spaces during this build! Plus, being able to strip down to the bare frame makes cable management a breeze, too. Available Models To sum things up, the Lian Li x DAN A4-H2O is a compact, simple SFF chassis that will work well with run-of the mill AIOs. It doesn't offer the flexibility we have recently seen from other SFF units, but manages to drive home the understated and functional minimalist focus quite nicely. Overall, a great experience as a first time builder in a case this small. Lian Li has proven to be extremely high quality especially for this price point, and I like having the option to go liquid cooling later down the line next time I upgrade my PC again. I'm glad to be a member of the SFF PC community now with this case. All images and descriptions are for illustrative purposes only. Visual representation of the products may not be perfectly accurate. All specifications are subject to change without notice. Although we endeavor to present the most precise and comprehensive information at the time of publication, a small number of items may contain typography or photography errors