There is an example where a small idea can spark a big change. Since industrialization, these ideas are usually introduced to us in the form of some kind of ‘product’, and ironically, most of the so-called hit products often start out as ridiculously easy and simple ideas.
You don’t need a sharp mind or a broad understanding of the market. Literally, a really small idea is enough. However, the difference would be that they did not overlook the extremely minor and insignificant inconveniences that occur in daily life, which were so insignificant that the majority of consumers felt inconvenienced but did not feel the need for improvement.
As the performance of smartphone front cameras improved and SNS became active, a selfie craze spread across the world. However, in the early days of selfies, the pose was almost the same no matter who took the photo. Holding the smartphone with one hand and extending the arm to create the desired composition, this is the posture that everyone will recognize as ‘Ah’ without any further explanation. The ‘Selfie Stick’ was created with the idea of resolving this small inconvenience and is a product that anyone who uses a smartphone would have purchased at least once.
◆ Dark Flash DF5000-BS MESH ARGB Tempered Glass
Supported standards: BTF/ATX/M-ATX/Mini-ITX
Size/Weight: D450
Internal specifications: Air cooler up to 180mm, VGA up to 410mm, 3 rows of radiators supported.
Features: Dust filter (top, bottom, side), 140mm cooling fan (rear x 1, front x 2)
# Add BTF support to the original good product
PCs also have this area. Cable management is something that most hardware hobbyists worry about every time they assemble a PC. Now that wide-view style cases are popular, neatly organizing cables has become more important as more parts are exposed.
However, it feels like both consumers and manufacturers of motherboards were only focused on how to organize cables more neatly. For a long time after ATX was established, there was a change to the extent of moving the connector to a location optimized for organization, but no further improvements were made. It could have been easily solved by just moving the connector where various cables are connected to the back of the motherboard where it is not visible…
It’s like this. It may have a huge impact, but in reality, it is such a small idea. This was a simple way to solve the inconvenience of having to grunt every time you assemble a PC, having to struggle to get the cables over to the side where the motherboard is mounted, and barely able to connect a small header that you couldn’t see properly by shining a light on it.
Although a small number of manufacturers are still releasing several motherboards on an experimental basis, the BTF standard makes the most difficult task of connecting and organizing cables that comes with assembling a PC very easy and convenient. At best, the various connectors of the motherboard are placed on the back.
Using a BTF motherboard makes connecting various connectors and headers, and organizing cables, which were surprisingly time-consuming when assembling a PC, very easy and convenient. Therefore, BTF has the potential to completely overturn the standards for PC motherboards in the near future.
※ More related articles = Bolmae style! Dark Flash DF5000 MESH ARGB Case
Darkflash’s ability to read the market is also evidenced by its ability to quickly release ‘DF5000-BS MESH ARGB tempered glass’ by adding BTF support to the DF5000 series. The BTF market is likely to explode in the near future, and the DF5000 series, released at the end of 2023, is a product that is receiving favorable reviews from almost all users for its luxurious and neat appearance and various user conveniences.
▲ On BTF standard motherboards, the cable connection connector is located on the back. This standard provides excellent cable management convenience.
If consumers are slowly starting to prepare for BTF motherboards, it is wise to help consumers prepare for the future by first applying this to products that have been impressed by consumers with solid design and quality.
As the most recently released case, DF5000-BS is the current form of case evolution. It actively reflects the latest trends, such as meshing the front and applying a cover to the lower part where the power chamber is located. This is a case that lowers the user’s stress index to zero in all aspects, including compatibility issues, as well as assembly and selection. Simple and luxurious, but not flashy. It has a heavy feel and is a style that enthusiasts who are interested in the hardware itself rather than fancy tuning will prefer.
If the entire front, except for the guide at the bottom, is treated with mesh, the disadvantage is that it may look monotonous and unsophisticated. Each brand is preparing various measures to solve this problem, such as adding a strong character line or using a slight curve to give a three-dimensional effect.
Dark flash applied a hexagonal geometric pattern to the front mesh grill. It may have required separate processing using a press, but the feeling of it being subtly revealed or highlighted depending on the angle of the light is fresh and luxurious.
Almost all mid-tower cases are designed with the top as the radiator mounting space. This is an advantageous location to secure enough space to mount a radiator in a mid-tower class case, and it is also the location where heat can be discharged most effectively. Of course, the DF5000-BS can be equipped with a radiator of the same size on the right side.
The radiator installation depth can be selected depending on the height of the motherboard power supply/heatsink, so it can easily accommodate motherboards with slightly wider heatsinks. The dust filter can be easily removed using a magnetic method, making it easy to maintain.
USB Type-C port support was also not overlooked. The small button behind the power button can be used to reset the system, adjust the color effects of the three built-in 140mm RGB fans, or turn off the RGB function. Recently, the frequency of using the reset button has decreased, and this method is commonly used in cases that support RGB cooling fans.
◆ System configuration
① CPU – Intel 14th generation Core 14700F Coit
② M/B – ASUS TUF Gaming B760M BTF WIFI D4 Coit
③ RAM – Micron Ballistic DDR4 3,600MHz 32GB (16GB *2EA) Daewon CTS
④ SSD – Micron Crucial P5 2TB Daewon CTS
⑤ VGA – ASRock Radeon RX 7900 XTX Taichi White OC D6 24GB
⑥ Cooler – Dark Flash Ellsworth D21 White
⑦ Power – Max Elite Maxwell Duke 1000W
⑧ Others – Dark Flash DF5000 VB-F 4.0 Riser Cable Kit
⑨ OS – Windows 11 Pro 22H2
# Excellent work with no worries about compatibility or completeness
The method of fixing the left panel made of tempered glass has also changed to match the trend. In the beginning, the method of machining screw holes in the glass panel was mainly used, but accidents such as damage to the tempered glass due to unexpected impacts occurred frequently, and recently, products using different methods are appearing one after another.
Dark Flash DF5000-BS feels like the latest version of this evolved panel fixing method. A ‘tool-free’ design has been applied that allows the panel to be mounted or removed without any tools. Insert the hook that slightly protrudes at the bottom of the panel into the groove, and simply press down on the top, and the ball head on the panel side will fit into the clamp on the case side and be fixed.
To separate, simply hold the groove on the back and pull. Since both the left and right panels use the same method, it is expected that management will be easier for power users who relatively frequently access the internal hardware.
The graphics card support at the top of the power chamber is also a quite novel idea. Although it has a simple structure and is easy to use, it is surprisingly effective. It is intuitive enough to infer how to use it just from the image, so even beginners have little risk of making a mistake.
What if the height of the support does not match because the graphics card has a unique structure? In this case, you can remove the support and change the width and height. Although it is simple, it is designed to be installed horizontally or vertically, so it can support almost all graphics cards.
Everyone praises the finish of the dark flash case. This brand’s products have a finish that is so close to perfection that it is difficult to find flaws even in the cheapest models. Isn’t this precisely where Dark Flash has been recognized by consumers? If the rigidity of the case was increased by using a steel plate of 0.8T or more like the DF5000-BS, the finishing process would be more difficult, but it is perfect without any flaws.
** Editor’s note
“Time to prepare for the BTF era with DF5000-BS”
After announcing the new form factor BTF, ASUS launched the BTF Alliance with various case industries to make it an industry standard. It is expected that we will soon be able to see more diverse BTF support cases.
In addition, the release of graphics cards that support BTF is expected to accelerate. Graphics cards that support BTF do not have a 12VHPWR or 12V-2×6 connector for power supply. The connector is also mounted on the back of the motherboard, so if you install a BTF graphics card, all cables visible inside the PC disappear.
It is still unknown how many motherboard and graphics card manufacturers will follow this standard, but as we have seen, this new form factor has huge potential. The moment it is applied to entry-level motherboards, it may sweep the market. In that case, how to quickly respond to this market becomes a more important question than whose standards are.
Therefore, now is the time for cases to consider products that support BTF. If possible, a product that is pretty, has a good structure, and has a good finish. If so, this product is also a good option.
By Hyundong Kim Editor Hyundong.kim@weeklypost.kr
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