Note...the Arctic Liquid Freezer III 280mm will not quite fit in the top of the A3 case with the Gigabyte B650M Aorus Elite AX. It is not the VRM heat sinks, but the the RAM. The rad+fan depth is about 1mm too large. So close, but could not get it to work. However, it goes nicely when mounted on the left side panel.
@@noobster9212 The problem is the width, not the length. It won't fit on top, but the 360 should fit in the left side, but it will be tight and you MUST use an SFX PSU mounted on the right side (not the front).
Build my first PC 2 years ago with a mATX Mobo in the NZT 510 and been looking for a smaller case with better airflow without having to replace a bunch of parts. The price point just beat out the SSUPD Meshroom S
Gear Seeker's test showed that with the TG side panel, almost made no difference with thermals if you are NOT vertically mounting your GPU. He used a 360mm AIO for the CPU.
One build I've seen is and SFX PSU on the side instead of the front and moved down a notch or two, which allows for the 360mm radiator. While the GPU is using the vertical mount. In this configuration you can fit some of the largest 4090's in the case while still having a 360mm radiator. This will, of course, block the view of a good chunk of the motherboard so if you like your RGB, probably not the build for you. And of course, tempered glass side panel not recommended, you'll want the mesh so the GPU has a straight line to pull air in. No idea what the compatibility would be with the side fan mount. The caveat with the VGPU kit is that it's entirely internal, it does slot in where the horizontal brackets are. Instead a rear piece is replaced with one that has a rubber opening on it and you pass the video cables through that into the case and connect them.
I just finished my first PC build a few weeks ago but man, it would've been great to go smaller. Maybe something to aspire to in a couple of years when it's time to upgrade.
Would love a smaller footprint for my current case (Montech King 95) which sits under the desk. Like the idea of being able to put so much in such a small frame. However, I don’t know if having to buy a new mobo is worth the small price of the case. I’d also like to reuse nearly everything I use now. 7800x3d, 360 rad, 4070 ti super, atx PSU, and hopefully 3+ more fans and the hub to control it all.
Using an ATX power supply in the A3 is going to create problems. Technically it'll fit, but it's going to really limit you on the GPU you use and will probably prevent you from mounting a radiator on the left side if that's what you wanted to do.
@robeytech, @5:00-5:20 Lain Li page specs say 2x/3x 120mm at the bottom, you say a pair of 140mm will fit. Is there actually native fan screw slots for 140/280mm on the bottom or am I missing someting? Understand there is a big * but plan would be bottom mount rad in custom loop Thanks in advance if you see this and reply
this case is sick! its same high a my itx case but deeper so for me "the best gaming itx (and matx) case for long gpus with much fan support" the best is i need then in this case no expensive itx board with limited functions anymore and no expensive aio anymore, and my sfx psu fits easy in it :)
Hi, is it advisable to use for an matx pc without gpu. 1x BeQuiet Dark Rock 5 as CPU Air cooler 3x inhale from the bottom 3x top exhaust 1x rear exhaust Or would it be more advisable to go for an AIO like arctic liquid freezer iii 360mm mounted top exhaust 2x 120 side fan inhale 3x 120 bottom fan inhale 1x rear fan exhaust
Wish you showed the case with ak620 digital, how it looks like. I'm planning to change from lian li 216 to this or ch160. With the ak620, can i put 3 fans on top as exhaust? What I have in mind is 3 intake bottom, rear intake then 3 top exhaust
Cases like these make little sense. It intakes air from the bottom but due to minimal space, those intake fans can cause problems with GPU heat dissipation. That gap really should be made a tad wider. You then become reliant on a mesh side panel making the glass panel useless. At this point, you might as well just go with an itx build.
Im curious if its possible to install the AIO on the side bracket (left side of the case) and move the PSU right beside the mobo (right side of the case) by removing the SSD bracket.
Wish there was a CH160 style case that can hold a mATX motherboard. I don't use AIO so I like the deleting of that top space in the CH160. The next size up CH360 has space for top AIO, so it's not the same style. Maybe they can make a CH260 ??
You'd be better checking out the user manual of the case and with Noctua's website which has a compatibility section where you select the case and they tell you which coolers are compatible.
I got the D30 and I can see both cons and pros comparing these. I’ve been looking for a case with the front panel looking like the one in the A3 but with the D30 form factor for a while, so this got me interested, but I still need to watch a couple more builds to feel like it’ll be worth the trouble.
Note...the Arctic Liquid Freezer III 280mm will not quite fit in the top of the A3 case with the Gigabyte B650M Aorus Elite AX. It is not the VRM heat sinks, but the the RAM. The rad+fan depth is about 1mm too large. So close, but could not get it to work. However, it goes nicely when mounted on the left side panel.
Thanks for the save
@@lysergicaciddiethylamide6127 just about any other 280 rad would fit, but the Arctic radiator is much thicker.
@@TheBigBlueMarble I’m wondering if the Msi project zero would fit for the arctic 360
@@TheBigBlueMarblehow bout the Arctic Liquid Freezer III 360? will it fit?
@@noobster9212 The problem is the width, not the length. It won't fit on top, but the 360 should fit in the left side, but it will be tight and you MUST use an SFX PSU mounted on the right side (not the front).
Build my first PC 2 years ago with a mATX Mobo in the NZT 510 and been looking for a smaller case with better airflow without having to replace a bunch of parts. The price point just beat out the SSUPD Meshroom S
Gear Seeker's test showed that with the TG side panel, almost made no difference with thermals if you are NOT vertically mounting your GPU. He used a 360mm AIO for the CPU.
One build I've seen is and SFX PSU on the side instead of the front and moved down a notch or two, which allows for the 360mm radiator. While the GPU is using the vertical mount. In this configuration you can fit some of the largest 4090's in the case while still having a 360mm radiator. This will, of course, block the view of a good chunk of the motherboard so if you like your RGB, probably not the build for you. And of course, tempered glass side panel not recommended, you'll want the mesh so the GPU has a straight line to pull air in. No idea what the compatibility would be with the side fan mount. The caveat with the VGPU kit is that it's entirely internal, it does slot in where the horizontal brackets are. Instead a rear piece is replaced with one that has a rubber opening on it and you pass the video cables through that into the case and connect them.
Lian Li has been around ever since I have been building in the early 2000's. I have owned a few over the years, very different well thought out cases.
i appreciate the metric measurements! thanks! :D
I just finished my first PC build a few weeks ago but man, it would've been great to go smaller. Maybe something to aspire to in a couple of years when it's time to upgrade.
Would love a smaller footprint for my current case (Montech King 95) which sits under the desk. Like the idea of being able to put so much in such a small frame. However, I don’t know if having to buy a new mobo is worth the small price of the case. I’d also like to reuse nearly everything I use now. 7800x3d, 360 rad, 4070 ti super, atx PSU, and hopefully 3+ more fans and the hub to control it all.
Using an ATX power supply in the A3 is going to create problems. Technically it'll fit, but it's going to really limit you on the GPU you use and will probably prevent you from mounting a radiator on the left side if that's what you wanted to do.
As long as your PSU is under 140mm you won't have any issues with GPU clearance.
Can you still use side fan while using air cooler at the same time? or are you forced to use AIO when you want to use side fans?
@robeytech, @5:00-5:20
Lain Li page specs say 2x/3x 120mm at the bottom, you say a pair of 140mm will fit.
Is there actually native fan screw slots for 140/280mm on the bottom or am I missing someting?
Understand there is a big * but plan would be bottom mount rad in custom loop
Thanks in advance if you see this and reply
You can NOT mount 140mm on the bottom. He said it wrong. Check the pdf manual on their web site, and you will see.
this case is sick! its same high a my itx case but deeper so for me "the best gaming itx (and matx) case for long gpus with much fan support"
the best is i need then in this case no expensive itx board with limited functions anymore and no expensive aio anymore, and my sfx psu fits easy in it :)
Hi, is it advisable to use for an matx pc without gpu.
1x BeQuiet Dark Rock 5 as CPU Air cooler
3x inhale from the bottom
3x top exhaust
1x rear exhaust
Or would it be more advisable to go for an AIO like
arctic liquid freezer iii 360mm mounted top exhaust
2x 120 side fan inhale
3x 120 bottom fan inhale
1x rear fan exhaust
The GPU bracket is the only benefit over Asus AP201. That is the gold standard of this particular form factor and orientation.
Is this case beginner-friendly to build in for a first time build?
Yep 👍🏻
Wish you showed the case with ak620 digital, how it looks like. I'm planning to change from lian li 216 to this or ch160. With the ak620, can i put 3 fans on top as exhaust? What I have in mind is 3 intake bottom, rear intake then 3 top exhaust
Cases like these make little sense. It intakes air from the bottom but due to minimal space, those intake fans can cause problems with GPU heat dissipation. That gap really should be made a tad wider. You then become reliant on a mesh side panel making the glass panel useless. At this point, you might as well just go with an itx build.
This case seems to be possible to have cpu and gpu 360aio
What is the maximum gpu height clearance for a 3.5inch hdd to fit at the bottom?
Asus Prime AP102 is only 2.5 cms larger and can support more fans
Does the 443mm length include the thumbscrews at the back?
Im curious if its possible to install the AIO on the side bracket (left side of the case) and move the PSU right beside the mobo (right side of the case) by removing the SSD bracket.
Nevermind. I rewatched and looks like I missed the Top/Side 360MM part of the video.
Da(m)n good case! Bought it
fits in the case noctua nh-d15 g2 ?
Wish there was a CH160 style case that can hold a mATX motherboard. I don't use AIO so I like the deleting of that top space in the CH160. The next size up CH360 has space for top AIO, so it's not the same style. Maybe they can make a CH260 ??
I’m interested to see if you can travel with this case.
We are doing it right now 😀
@@RobeytechLive anyway you could show us in the future how much space is left in the case while using a mini itx board and add psu?
why does it cost $150+ in amazon???🙃
It's definitely a Dan-good case! I'm about to order this little fella for my gaming/workstation project!
Dan, right!!!!
could i use a nh-u12a with glass side panel ?
You'd be better checking out the user manual of the case and with Noctua's website which has a compatibility section where you select the case and they tell you which coolers are compatible.
can it do no cables at front?
Sorry what do you mean?
@RobeytechLive I guess he wants to talk about cable management and not seeing any apparent cable
@@RobeytechLive yes at the back sorry english not my first language, is it compatible to btf or project zero?
I'm waiting for the c4 v2 to come out. This case is too large to be considered sff.
Sfx-L
Direct competitor to this would be the Jonsbo Z20
I believe the Jonsbo D30 is better quality than this.
The Johnsbo is $30 more so there’s that
The A3 seems to use the space inside almost perfectly for how I want my pc. I have a jonsplus i100 pro, and will swap to the A3.
I got the D30 and I can see both cons and pros comparing these. I’ve been looking for a case with the front panel looking like the one in the A3 but with the D30 form factor for a while, so this got me interested, but I still need to watch a couple more builds to feel like it’ll be worth the trouble.
@@VCA12 d3 front is worst its plastic and fully covered not vented
It has a mesh front pannel @@dasani383
Anything LIAN LI is too Dan expensive, i prefer the CH160 to this
Ummm.. they are the same price. 69.99.
Watch more reviews, u will be better informed
the case isnt even available
It's available for pre-order.
Can i fit a noctua NH D15 with single fan in this case?