Monster Studio A45 Open Frame ITX Case - Silver (A45 ITX-BASE-SLV)

The Monster Studio A45 is an open frame Mini-ITX case machined from solid 10 mm 6061-T6 aluminum. Its open layout makes the motherboard, graphics card and cooling part of the design and keeps every part visible and easy to reach. It takes an ATX or SFX power supply and full-length graphics cards, and an integrated GPU protector comes as standard. This is the silver version.

Properties

Type

Open frame case

Motherboard

Mini-ITX

Power supply

ATX or SFX

Graphics card

Full length, standard or vertical mounting

Radiators

120 / 240 / 360 mm with the included bracket

Material

10 mm CNC-machined 6061-T6 aluminum, sandblasted and anodized

Color

Silver

Built around the hardware

Monster Studio designed the A45 to put the hardware at the center of the build. Instead of hiding parts in a box, the open frame shows the motherboard, graphics card and cooling system, and keeps them accessible.

Solid 10 mm aluminum

Every frame part is CNC machined from 10 mm 6061-T6 aluminum plate, sandblasted with 120 grit and anodized. The thick plate keeps the frame rigid, without the flex of lightweight open frames, and Monster Studio prints the mill certificate of the plate in the manual.

Cooling

Downdraft and tower air coolers fit. Radiators in the 120 mm format (120, 240 or 360 mm) mount on the included radiator brackets with no extra accessories; the brackets slide and use several frame holes to match the radiator, and the radiator can also sit horizontally. For a custom loop or external cooling, a bulkhead bracket and an aviation connector bracket are part of the frame; in an air-cooled build the bulkhead bracket also works as a handle.

Graphics card: direct or vertical

Full-length graphics cards mount directly on the GPU bracket. For vertical mounting the side and base frames slide against each other, and you need a PCIe riser cable with a 90° vertical connector on an acrylic adapter plate (not included). Monster Studio recommends a riser length of 11 to 15 cm with a mounting-hole spacing of 108 mm. Check the height, thickness and power connector clearance of your card before you build.

Storage

In an air-cooled build the drive brackets mount at the top or on the right side of the motherboard frame. At the top they hold three 2.5" drives or two 3.5" drives.

Assembly

The 20-page manual walks through the build: join the base and side frames with five M4 x 12 screws and the 2.5 mm hex key, attach the feet and nameplate, fit the motherboard frame and its standoffs, the GPU bracket and the power button, then install the hardware. A strong tool is recommended for the frame screws. Install the CPU cooler, motherboard and PSU as the manual shows; the PSU fastens with four #6-32 countersunk screws.

Technical data

Notes

• This listing is the silver version, which the Monster Studio manual calls Titanium Gray.
• PCIe riser cables and the cable-hiding panels are optional extras and not included. The computer parts in the pictures are not included.
• Check the dimensions and cable clearance of your power supply, especially if you plan to add the optional cable-hiding panels.
• Monster Studio notes that small color differences between production batches are normal.

In the box

• 1x Monster Studio A45 open frame case, silver (frame parts with integrated GPU protector, GPU brackets, radiator brackets and drive brackets)
• 6x M4 x 10 socket head cap screw
• 15x M4 x 12 socket head cap screw
• 10x M4 x 14 socket head cap screw
• 6x M4 x 16 socket head cap screw
• 6x M4 x 20 socket head cap screw
• 2x M4 x 25 socket head cap screw
• 8x M3 x 5 Phillips screw
• 4x M3 x 6 stainless steel standoff
• 2x M3 x 10 stainless steel standoff
• 4x #6-32 countersunk screw
• 4x M3 x 14 Phillips screw
• 4x #6-32 round-head screw
• 1x Power button
• 1x Hex key, 2.5 mm
• 4x Case foot
• 1x Nameplate

Monster Studio's installation manual is a PDF.