Streacom DA2: Small Form Factor, Big Possibilities
by Joe Shields on May 25, 2018 12:00 PM EST- Posted in
- Cases/Cooling/PSUs
- Mini ITX
- AIO
- SFF
- Streacom
Streacom has announced a new Small Form Factor (SFF) PC chassis named the DA2. In their own words, the DA2 is a 'compact ITX case designed to strike a balance between size and compatibility, allowing high-performance components to fit comfortably in a small form factor space'. The DA2 doesn’t claim to be the smallest case, but one whose focus is on cooling performance and compatibility while still sticking with the size principles of a small form factor design. In other words, design and cooling are more important than size and RGB LED lighting.
The DA2 measures in at 13.3” x 7” x 11.2” (LxWxH) and from the outside and has a very unassuming aesthetic with its aluminum alloy (6063) chassis. The case comes in two colors, silver or black, with a sandblasted finish. The two side panels and back panels are vented using over 2000 holes while the top and bottom panels feature mesh grills. The power button is made from glass and uses a tiny pinpoint of white light at the center for the only integrated LED on the chassis. The front IO is milled for a solid block of aluminum and includes a single USB Type-C connector. Notable about this front panel is its ability to be replaced. Streacom says they can simply fabricate an updated panel if there is a demand for it.
Internally, the DA2 is where it really sets itself apart from other cases. While the vast majority of cases have dedicated bays for components which makes builds fast and easy, it tends to limit the usable space and limit flexibility. The DA2 uses what they call a ‘universal bracket’ with a track that is integrated into the frame. This design allows the brackets to fit anywhere along the sides of the frame. Other than the motherboard and expansion card (able to be flipped) components are able to be repositioned anywhere along the tracks improving customization and flexibility. Streacom says if it physically fits inside the case, there is going to be a way to mount it.
So what can fit inside of it? We know a Mini-ITX sized motherboard is the only option on that front. As far as cooling support, the DA2 is able to fit a CPU cooler with a maximum height of 145mm. Video card support is up to a dual slot cooling solution measuring in at 12.9” x 5.9” x 1.9” (LxWxH) which should fit most full-length GPUs. Water cooling support ranges from 120mm to 280mm sized radiators with some flexibility in mounting locations. Fan support ranges from 40 to 180mm, and a 92mm mount on the rear (no fans are included). The DA2 will hold up to three 3.5-inch drives or eight 2.5-inch drives for storage needs while power supply support ranges from SFX to ATX.
| Streacom DA2 | ||
| Model | DA2 | |
| Case Type | SFF Mini Tower | |
| Dimensions (LxWxH) | 13.3" x 7" x 11.2" | |
| Color | Silver or Black | |
| Material | Aluminum | |
| Net Weight | 3.9kg | |
| External Drive Bays | None | |
| HDD/SSD Bays | 3 x 3.5" or 8 x 2.5" | |
| Expansion Slots | 2 (for GPU) | |
| Motherboard Type | Mini-ITX | |
| System Fan | Front: 8x 120mm Top: 3x 140mm Rear: 2x 120/140mm |
|
| I/O Ports | 1x USB Type-C | |
| VGA Card Support | (L)330mm | |
| CPU Cooling Support | (H)145mm | |
| PSU Support | SFX, SFX-L, and ATX | |
| Radiator Support | 120 to 280mm | |
The DA2 will officially launch at Computex 2018 on June 5th where it will be displayed in public for the first time. It is expected to be available in retail stores by mid-August. Pricing was not announced.
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Source: Streacom
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HardwareDufus - Friday, May 25, 2018 - link
excuse the typos... honestly.. i'm literate.Lord of the Bored - Saturday, May 26, 2018 - link
I still like optical drives too.grant3 - Monday, June 11, 2018 - link
Sorry but optical drives are on the sunset stage of their lives. If you want an optical drive you'll need another case.I don't know what your use case is for them, probably you have a collection of BR movies you'd like to play from a media server? That would make you part of a rare & shrinking group, as online streaming is relegating physical movie collections to cinephiles only.
Basically every other purpose for optical media has been surpassed by online downloads & USB sticks. If discs are your preference, good for you, but most people don't need them any more.
GreenMeters - Friday, May 25, 2018 - link
Attention ITX case manufacturers!If you're designing cube/breadbox cases that are supposed to support high-end/gaming components, please recognize that lots of GPUs have moved to 2.5-slot (or wider) coolers, and more are coming. Please widen the cases a little to support these cards.
Especially looking at you, Fractal Designs. An extra inch width on a Node 304 and/or Core 500 would be awesome for a powerful but still quiet high-end machine.
GreenMeters - Friday, May 25, 2018 - link
Edit: Or, for orientations like this case, an extra inch height.On the plus side, huge kudos to Streacom for ignoring the fad for RGB and window tackiness.
jwcalla - Friday, May 25, 2018 - link
And here I was going to say that this case is too big. The SG07 is 7-8 years old now and it was smaller than this. And in the meantime most components have gotten smaller.mammothboy - Friday, May 25, 2018 - link
Reminds me of the Ncase M1. I own that one, and it's a PITA to build, but a marvel when done. Not sure I see anything here (other than perhaps availability) that beats the Ncase.grant3 - Monday, June 11, 2018 - link
The advantage would be aesthetics, and that's a matter of taste.(Also, perhaps, the novel component mounting system, but I think it would require an esoteric selection of components for that to really matter)
sheltem - Wednesday, June 13, 2018 - link
There's more room for an air cooler. I believe the Noctua NH-C14s will fit in the DA2 without any issues/modifications. The older C14 cooler was slightly shorter and is widely regarded as the best cooler for the M1.My biggest M1 complaint is the not so great GPU cooling. The DA2 looks like it has a disadvantage with only 2 slots but it does have more space at the bottom for airflow.
jtd871 - Friday, May 25, 2018 - link
Volume is a hair over 17 liters. It might look small, but there's still alot of wasted or unusable space compared to say a DAN A4 or even a NCase M1.IIRC the SG09/10 fits mATX in a similar volume to this case.