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Today we are checking out In Win’s latest creation the D-Frame Mini, a Mini-ITX gaming case with a twist. Like the original what we have here is a very fancy open air-chassis unlike no other. The design has been somewhat improved from the original and so too has the price. That said at $350 the D-Frame Mini is still mighty expensive, but is it worth it? Let’s find out...
Last year we reviewed a number of interesting computer cases. Products such as the Cooler Master HAF XB, which was configured much like a test bed, caught our attention. As did Lian-Li’s incredibly massive D8000 full HPTX tower that could handle twenty 3.5” hard drives. At the opposite end of the case spectrum we also enjoyed the Silverstone Sugo SG10, which despite its tiny capacity could handle some very big hardware. Still, of all the weird and wonderful cases we reviewed in 2013, for me the one that stands out the most in my mind is the In Win D-Frame. This case was a master piece and despite being impractical, fairly feature-less and wildly expensive, it was nonetheless my favourite.  The D-Frame was either a case you would love or hate. The design was that radial and unique, it simply wasn’t going to appeal to all. Assuming you loved it like we did, the next hurdle was the price and at $400 it was a rather big one. Anything as unique as the D-Frame tends to carry some kind of premium, so the price tag wasn’t all that surprising. After all these cases are hand crafted, come complete with a durable paint job and sport tempered glass side panels. A lot of time and effort goes into creating the D-Frame cases. The raw aluminium pipes are precisely cut using a CNC machine, then manually bent, checked and then milled to make sure the edges are smooth. Finally the parts are welded together and the final product is meticulously measured for perfection before being either painted or anodized. So with a little over a year having passed since we first got to see the original D-Frame, In Win has now created the second instalment. Known as the D-Frame Mini this latest version takes the original design and shrinks it down to accommodate the now very popular Mini-ITX form factor. As it was the original D-Frame was very limited in terms of space for an ATX case with a massive 98L capacity. So shrinking it down to just 46L doesn’t seem like a move that will make the D-Frame more appealing. However the 53% reduction in size has somehow allowed In Win to do more. The case can now support cooling radiators and models as large as 240mm will fit. The graphics card length has been extended from 330mm to 340mm, and the D-Frame Mini can now rest on one of six sides rather than just two. The power supply is also mounted internally rather than externally and In Win has added an anodized black colour to the mix. |
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