NCASE M1: a crowdfunded Mini-ITX case (updates in first post)

All this talk about 600W PSU's makes me curious... Aren't we overestimating our needs for a PSU ?

http://www.extreme.outervision.com/psucalculatorlite.jsp


So basically a 450W PSU would be enough for an already high-end system with a fast GPU. It seems to me the Silverstone SST-ST45SF is a good fit for € 70,- or $ 80,- (depending on where you live).

If we downgrade the system a little we even need 50W less:


I myself am considering this last rig with the Silverstone PSU.
I'm going with the Silverstone ST45SF-G 450W myself. Modular, gold certified and SFX. Good enough for what I'm putting in the box.
 
450W seems to be fine. I just picked up a ST45SF-G and it came last night. I tested it out, fully loading my i5 2500K @ 4.2GHz w/ OCCT, and fully loading my GPU (HIS 7950 IceQ X² Boost) w/ Furmark at the same time. The GPU is basically a 7970, it uses 7970 PCB, and a 7950 core overclocked stock. There were no issues other then the PSU's fan getting pretty loud under full load... I might just replace its fan w/ a quieter one. Under gaming, or real conditions, it will never be loaded like that, so maybe the PSU fan noise won't be an issue.
 
450W seems to be fine. I just picked up a ST45SF-G and it came last night. I tested it out, fully loading my i5 2500K @ 4.2GHz w/ OCCT, and fully loading my GPU (HIS 7950 IceQ X² Boost) w/ Furmark at the same time. The GPU is basically a 7970, it uses 7970 PCB, and a 7950 core overclocked stock. There were no issues other then the PSU's fan getting pretty loud under full load... I might just replace its fan w/ a quieter one. Under gaming, or real conditions, it will never be loaded like that, so maybe the PSU fan noise won't be an issue.
How big is the fan? It's not 120mm, right?
 
How big is the fan? It's not 120mm, right?

It has a 80mm fan in it. I have a 92mm Scythe Gentle Typhoon fan that might fit in it with some work (the case of the PSU is 101.6mm on the shortest side). Right now the ST45SF-G PSU is the loudest fan in my system at idle.

edit: I could probably just mount it on the outside of the PSU if it doesn't fit in the case. I think I even have one of these laying around if need be http://www.jab-tech.com/80mm-to-92mm-Fan-Adapter-Kit-pr-2639.html . It would help with the deadspot of the fan, and probably make it even more quiet.
 
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I've been running the Noiseblocker 80x15mm fan in my ST45SF-G for a while with great results :)
 
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lmfao @ that idiot who said that 'enthusiast' bullshit.

Being the "idiot" in question, ill clarify my statement. Partly it was a mb with as little compromises as possible. I understand space is limited. Also, is x79 mITX a possibility? My dream build would be a 3970k with a gtx 690, all watercooled...and it will stay a dream.

I did not mean to be a naysayer, just not informed about mITX.
 
Being the "idiot" in question, ill clarify my statement. Partly it was a mb with as little compromises as possible. I understand space is limited. Also, is x79 mITX a possibility? My dream build would be a 3970k with a gtx 690, all watercooled...and it will stay a dream.

I did not mean to be a naysayer, just not informed about mITX.

Almost impossible to go x79 in the ITX form factor. There's no way to fit 4 sticks of DDR3 unless you go SO-DIMM on a daughter board. And if you did that, they you would start giving up things like the number of USB ports, or on-board Wi-Fi and stuff. There's honestly just not enough room.
 
Being the "idiot" in question, ill clarify my statement. Partly it was a mb with as little compromises as possible. I understand space is limited. Also, is x79 mITX a possibility? My dream build would be a 3970k with a gtx 690, all watercooled...and it will stay a dream.

The closest you can get to ITX in case of X79 is the motherboard from Shuttle barebone :
500x1000px-LL-eb6513fe_SZ77R5.jpeg


Of course, that won't fit to the case because it is way too long. It would fit in Bitfenix Prodigy (with no support for the overhanging part, which is where most of the weight is), but of course that is a completely different category.

Forget X79 ITX, forget ROG Z77 ITX. Closest you can get to highend is ASUS P8Z77-I Deluxe/WD.
 
Any idea if the 80x25mm will fit in there? Also, how many RPM and CFM does the one you're running have?

edit: I found a datasheet for the stock fan:
80x15.5mm, 3000RPM

I tried an 80x25 and it won't fit, a 80x20 might do.

As well as Machupo, I also recently installed a Noiseblocker PC-P in one of my ST45SF-G units and the difference is very clear to hear. I tried to make some videos (before and after) but I forgot that the air blowing across the camera mic would be overloud. Basically the NB PC-P is entirely silent, and reaches almost the same airflow at load with 2500rpm as the Young Lin fan manages with 3000rpm.
 
That shuttle board will support little to no overclock, so yeah, who really wants to fork out the money for x79 just to run it at stock?
 
Not me. This case will house my portable gaming rig, not my video editing/encoding and Photoshop rig.
 
That shuttle board will support little to no overclock, so yeah, who really wants to fork out the money for x79 just to run it at stock?

Considering most chips are fast enough these days for any gaming, I think the point of the mod would be dual graphics.

Also, at the point that most people get spending the kind of cash someone would on an extreme build, do you think "forking out the money for x79" is really going to bother them?

Putting the shuttle board in the Prodigy is a much easier mod than doing mATX conversion and you could still throw a couple of watercooled GTX 690's in there, would be totally bad@$$.
 
Putting the shuttle board in the Prodigy is a much easier mod than doing mATX conversion and you could still throw a couple of watercooled GTX 690's in there, would be totally bad@$$.

The slots are right next to eachother on the Shuttle board though, and the GTX690 has stacked DVI ports, so you'd have to desolder and/or cut them off. That's assuming you can even find a single-slot waterblock for the cards (most blocks these days are a bit too thick), plus the fittings to connect them.

I would like to see some MDTX/DTX boards in the style of the Shuttle boards though. I think X79 would fit on DTX (200x244mm) without much problem.
 
Considering most chips are fast enough these days for any gaming, I think the point of the mod would be dual graphics.

Also, at the point that most people get spending the kind of cash someone would on an extreme build, do you think "forking out the money for x79" is really going to bother them?

Putting the shuttle board in the Prodigy is a much easier mod than doing mATX conversion and you could still throw a couple of watercooled GTX 690's in there, would be totally bad@$$.

Start becoming a moot point when the best single slot card you can get is a 7950. Throwing 2 of them in crossfire would require at least a 600w PSU, and by that point you're already beyond the scope of this case.

The absolute best you're going to get out of this case is going to be a GTX 680. Maaaaybe a 690 if you're willing to live with power figures that will outclass an SFX PSU.

Personally, I may just go balls out and wait for the GTX Titan. Something like 80-90% of the GTX690 using 1 chip and should stay around 350w. It may cost as much as $1k, but you gotta pay to play, right? Most likely though, I'll just pick up a used 680 since I only game at 2560x1600.
 
As of right now, the best we can put into a mITX is an i7 3770k and a gtx 690/ati 7990? Is a 240 rad going to be able to handle an aggressive overclock?
 
As of right now, the best we can put into a mITX is an i7 3770k and a gtx 690/ati 7990? Is a 240 rad going to be able to handle an aggressive overclock?

A 240 rad should be just fine. Unless you're trying to break OC records and be dead silent, a 240 is plenty. Just look at the Ares 2, and when you realize it's two 7970s that are overclocked and cooled by ONLY a 120mm radiator, a 240 for CPU + 680 is easily enough.
 
Temps won't be low delta T like a normal loop, but they'll be far below stock coolers, which is all that matters.
 
I tried to make some videos (before and after) but I forgot that the air blowing across the camera mic would be overloud.
Most consumer digital cameras use dynamic mic input so it will just adjust gain anyway according to what it hears. An easier way would be to record (Audacity) the sound with a headset and disable any form of auto-volume or auto-gain.
 
Most consumer digital cameras use dynamic mic input so it will just adjust gain anyway according to what it hears. An easier way would be to record (Audacity) the sound with a headset and disable any form of auto-volume or auto-gain.

Thanks for the tip, I'll see if I can redo the videos when I install the other Noiseblocker.
 
Saw the project over @ Anandtech, donated $10, spread the word to a danish overclocking news site. Keep up the good work :)
 
Not sure if it's too late to change now, but would it be feasible to flip the ODD drive so that the label side of the media would face the front of the case instead?
 
Not sure if it's too late to change now, but would it be feasible to flip the ODD drive so that the label side of the media would face the front of the case instead?
Is this due to heat concerns or just looks?
 
Not sure if it's too late to change now, but would it be feasible to flip the ODD drive so that the label side of the media would face the front of the case instead?

There's actually a good reason it's facing this way: if it's turned the other way, it requires getting a tiny M2 screw into a very narrow area to secure the ODD.
 
Hmm, I'm gettin more interested in this case, especially if its sub $200.
 
Is this due to heat concerns or just looks?
Just looks.

There's actually a good reason it's facing this way: if it's turned the other way, it requires getting a tiny M2 screw into a very narrow area to secure the ODD.
I see. What about making the ODD bracket detachable? Or, instead of screws, using just pins to secure the drive on that side? The InWin Dragon Slayer's SSD mount works that way, and the pins are just bent from the bracket.
 
Has anyone Googled NCASE M1 yet?

Seems it's getting quite the attention from some tech sites.

Surprised HardOCP hasn't mentioned it yet.
 
Has anyone Googled NCASE M1 yet?

Seems it's getting quite the attention from some tech sites.

Surprised HardOCP hasn't mentioned it yet.
From what I understand, they don't want to publish anything based on a product that may or may not actually become a reality. I think once the prototypes are built we can count on more sites taking the M1 seriously.
 
From what I understand, they don't want to publish anything based on a product that may or may not actually become a reality. I think once the prototypes are built we can count on more sites taking the M1 seriously.

I guess that makes sense, but a good bit of sites are already writing articles about it. I would think HardOCP, being an enthusiasts site would provide a little more support in getting the name out there. Especially since all the tech sites I've seen the story mentioned on, it's mentioned HardOCP forums as the birthplace.
 
this has fan filters it says, but what locations will actually have the filters? (ex. Top, bottom, side, back?)
 
I threw in some cash. Hopefully you guys get it off the ground. I would love to have this case (I'm currently back to using mATX)
 
I'm quite impressed at the outcome of this adventure. It really is quite something. Well done. Put $10 in the bucket.
 
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