Introduction: Caged Beast

The mini-ITX version of the D Frame enclosure defies convention

The D Frame Mini from In Win is a wild-looking, wildly expensive case that defies convention in many ways.

First of all, calling the In Win D Frame mini an enclosure is a bit of a stretch. The design is part open-air case, part roll cage. Of course open air cases are not a new concept, but this is certainly a striking implementation; a design almost more akin to a testbench in some ways. When installed the components will be more open to the air than otherwise, as only the sides of the frame are covered (with panels made of tempered glass).

The most noticeable design aspect of the D Frame mini are the welded tubes that make up the frame. The tubes are aluminum and resemble the frame of an aluminum bicycle, right down to the carefully welded joints. Around the perimeter of the frame are rather sizable soft plastic/rubber bumpers that protect the enclosure and help eliminate vibrations. Due to the design there is no specific orientation required for the enclosure, and it sits equally well in each direction.

There is support for 240mm radiators, virtually unlimited water cooling support given the mostly open design, and room for extra-long graphics cards and power supplies. The frame looks and feels like it could withstand just about anything, but it should probably be kept away from small children and pets given the ease with which fans and other components could be touched. And the D Frame mini is extremely expensive at $350. Actually, it’s just kind of extreme in general!

Before unboxing the D Frame mini, we’ll take a look at the specs from In Win:


Specifications:

Material:  Aluminum, Tempered Glass
Internal Drive Bays:  3.5” or 2.5” x3 2.5” x2
Motherboard Form Factor:  Mini-ITX
Power Supply Support:  ATX12V, PSII and EPS (Up to 220mm)
Front I/O:  USB 3.0 x 2, HD Audio
Expansion Slots:  PCI-E Slot x 2
*Supports graphic card length up to 340mm, height up to 150mm
Thermal Solution Support:  120mm Bottom Fan x2 (240mm radiator), CPU heatsink up to 165mm
Dimensions (HxWxD):  405 x 230 x 501mm (16” x 9” x 19.7”)
Net Weight:  5.25 kg (11.57 lbs)


In a refreshing change from the usual brown box, the D Frame mini arrives in a colorful package that exudes a premium feel befitting the price of this enclosure.

The case is very well protected with dense foam, and covered with a black cloth to protect it from scratches.

The installation kit is simple and well organized. A colorful setup guide assists with the initial installation, and all hardware is separated into labeled bags. Nice!

Out of the box the D Frame mini is large for a mini-ITX case, but the immediate impression has nothing to do with size. This is a wild-looking enclosure!

A close up look at the front I/O

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