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

Hello,

My NCASE arrives tomorrow! Should be a busy weekend :)

I have the following parts on hand, apart from the NH-C14, which is in transit, its been a pain to get hold of one having done the usual AIO, air dance in my head:

PCPartPicker part list

CPU: Intel Core i7-7700K 4.2GHz Quad-Core Processor
CPU Cooler: Noctua NH-C14 CPU Cooler
Thermal Compound: Thermal Grizzly Kryonaut 11.1g Thermal Paste
Motherboard: Asus ROG STRIX Z270i GAMING Mini ITX LGA1151 Motherboard
Memory: G.Skill TridentZ Series 32GB (2 x 16GB) DDR4-3200 Memory
Storage: Samsung 960 Pro 2.0TB M.2-2280 Solid State Drive
Storage: Samsung 960 Pro 2.0TB M.2-2280 Solid State Drive
Video Card: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1080 8GB Founders Edition Video Card
Power Supply: Corsair SF 600W 80+ Gold Certified Fully-Modular SFX Power Supply
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 10 Pro Full 32/64-bit
Case Fan: Akasa AK-FN059 83.6 CFM 120mm Fan
Case Fan: Akasa AK-FN059 83.6 CFM 120mm Fan
Other: MDPC-X - Yellow Sleeving
Other: NCASE M1
Other: Corsair SF600 SF450 SF Series Modular Connector (Full Set 7pcs)
Other: ATX / PCI / EPS Connector Pins (Female)
Other: MDPC-X - Black Sleeving
Other: Black Stealth Cable Combs


All pretty standard apart from the overkill nvme storage capacity, these will be set up as raid 0 to really saturate those pcie lanes.

I'm going for a really clean black/yellow theme, (though this may get sacrificed if those akasas prove to be loud), even though side panels will be on.... It makes me happier to know the insides of my machines are as neat as I can make them.

Primary goals are low temps, low noise and living room friendly... this is primarily a VR machine sat with my TV.. the wife is getting annoyed with my Corsair air 540 in the living room :)
 
Hello,

My NCASE arrives tomorrow! Should be a busy weekend :)

I have the following parts on hand, apart from the NH-C14, which is in transit, its been a pain to get hold of one having done the usual AIO, air dance in my head:

PCPartPicker part list

CPU: Intel Core i7-7700K 4.2GHz Quad-Core Processor
CPU Cooler: Noctua NH-C14 CPU Cooler
Thermal Compound: Thermal Grizzly Kryonaut 11.1g Thermal Paste
Motherboard: Asus ROG STRIX Z270i GAMING Mini ITX LGA1151 Motherboard
Memory: G.Skill TridentZ Series 32GB (2 x 16GB) DDR4-3200 Memory
Storage: Samsung 960 Pro 2.0TB M.2-2280 Solid State Drive
Storage: Samsung 960 Pro 2.0TB M.2-2280 Solid State Drive
Video Card: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1080 8GB Founders Edition Video Card
Power Supply: Corsair SF 600W 80+ Gold Certified Fully-Modular SFX Power Supply
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 10 Pro Full 32/64-bit
Case Fan: Akasa AK-FN059 83.6 CFM 120mm Fan
Case Fan: Akasa AK-FN059 83.6 CFM 120mm Fan
Other: MDPC-X - Yellow Sleeving
Other: NCASE M1
Other: Corsair SF600 SF450 SF Series Modular Connector (Full Set 7pcs)
Other: ATX / PCI / EPS Connector Pins (Female)
Other: MDPC-X - Black Sleeving
Other: Black Stealth Cable Combs


All pretty standard apart from the overkill nvme storage capacity, these will be set up as raid 0 to really saturate those pcie lanes.

I'm going for a really clean black/yellow theme, (though this may get sacrificed if those akasas prove to be loud), even though side panels will be on.... It makes me happier to know the insides of my machines are as neat as I can make them.

Primary goals are low temps, low noise and living room friendly... this is primarily a VR machine sat with my TV.. the wife is getting annoyed with my Corsair air 540 in the living room :)

Looks like a really cool build, I look forward to seeing it. Wish I had the money for one, let alone two 2TB 960s.

https://www.chiphell.com/thread-1175913-1-1.html Have you seen this build? Can't read it but the guy used a C14 with yellow Akasa Viper fans and yellow sleeving, very cool looking build.
 
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This might be an option for those wanting to use an AIO in the ncase, Cooler Master MasterLiquid Maker 92 is only 118mm high when turned horizontally. Performance looks very decent if not stellar. Here is a link to the review. https://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/CoolerMaster/Masterliquid_Maker_92/5.html
 
Looks like a really cool build, I look forward to seeing it. Wish I had the money for one, let alone two 2TB 960s.

https://www.chiphell.com/thread-1175913-1-1.html Have you seen this build? Can't read it but the guy used a C14 with yellow Akasa Viper fans and yellow sleeving, very cool looking build.

And here's me thinking I was being unique :)

Ha, thats a nice build but my cable management will be better, got plenty of time whilst I wait for the damn elusive heatsink to arrive ;)
 
And here's me thinking I was being unique :)

Ha, thats a nice build but my cable management will be better, got plenty of time whilst I wait for the damn elusive heatsink to arrive ;)

I remember seeing that build in the user picture gallery and it was one that really stood out, the yellow looks good. I know all about waiting, I ordered my ncase last spring in between production runs and had to wait nearly 2 months. :(

Oh well, gave me plenty of time to browse all the different ncase builds.
 
Lurker for some time here (have 1 post but doesn't really count) but finally I can start to really make progress with the transition as I have received the silver version today - shown bellow next to the Logitech G502 and Fractal R5 for size comparison.


My plan with the system is this:
PSU: Corsair SF600 (still to buy)
Board: ASRock X99E-ITX/ac (will buy used from a fellow portuguese)
CPU: i7 5820K
CPU cooler: Noctua NH-U9DX i4 (wanted the NH-C14 but I can't find where to buy it in europe from a reputable seller)
RAM: I think I can use 2 of the 4 sticks I'm using now (check signature). My plan is to sell that and then get 2x8GB sticks. Still to decide on frequency and timings
GPU: EVGA GTX 980 Ti SC (reference design)
Boot drive: Samsung 850 EVO 500GB (planning to buy a NVME or M.2 SSD when they are affordable or, at least, return to the price they were last year)
Storage: Seagate Expansion 2TB & WD 500GB (planning to replace with the boot drive)

Once I have the system built, I will be taking measurements to get custom cables. The goal is to achieve something like this. I just want something simple and that's easier to route. I thought to make them myself but since I don't have the tools to do that the cost ends up being higher than if I buy them from a portuguese modder (he does custom orders).
Other thing is experimenting with 1 or 2 fans to see if the temps get better under load. One will be directing air to the gpu fan and the other to the cpu and psu fan. That way I will also have positive pressure when in load. When in idle, as I want a quiet system, I plan to stop the 2 case fans and reduce the cpu fans to the minimum.
 
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Lurker for some time here (have 1 post but doesn't really count) but finally I can start to really make progress with the transition as I have received the silver version today - shown bellow next to the Logitech G502 and Fractal R5 for size comparison.


My plan with the system is this:
PSU: Corsair SF600 (still to buy)
Board: ASRock X99E-ITX/ac (will buy used from a fellow portuguese)
CPU: i7 5820K
CPU cooler: Noctua NH-U9DX i4 (wanted the NH-C14 but I can't find where to buy it in europe from a reputable seller)
RAM: I think I can use 2 of the 4 sticks I'm using now (check signature). My plan is to sell that and then get 2x8GB sticks. Still to decide on frequency and timings
GPU: EVGA GTX 980 Ti SC (reference design)
Boot drive: Samsung 850 EVO 500GB (planning to buy a NVME or M.2 SSD when they are affordable or, at least, return to the price they were last year)
Storage: Seagate Expansion 2TB & WD 500GB (planning to replace with the boot drive)

Once I have the system built, I will be taking measurements to get custom cables. The goal is to achieve something like this. I just want something simple and that's easier to route. I thought to make them myself but since I don't have the tools to do that the cost ends up being higher than if I buy them from a portuguese modder (he does custom orders).
Other thing is experimenting with 1 or 2 fans to see if the temps get better under load. One will be directing air to the gpu fan and the other to the cpu and psu fan. That way I will also have positive pressure when in load. When in idle, as I want a quiet system, I plan to stop the 2 case fans and reduce the cpu fans to the minimum.

I think your choice of CPU cooler is very smart. That model comes with the narrow ILM mounting kit that you will need wtih that motherboard. I recall that other owners found it difficult to tighten one (or more?) of the fastening screws unless you have a low profile screwdriver or use a short screwdriver bit in a small hand wrench. Cooling results with the cooler on the 5820K were good. I will try to find the posts that I am thinking of.

Note that if you stack drives together with the stacking brackets, the front of case (when an optical drive could go) only has clearance for two 7 mm tall drives. This may determine where you place your drives.

Good luck and posts some photos and temperature results of you build!
 
Just got my new M1 few days ago. What a huge difference in size compared with my other pc cases. While not as beautiful as my Obsidian 250D it's still a nice looking case & it's also very small & compact. I'll be using old components from my previous build on this one. Also going on the cheapest & easiest route water cooling both GPU & CPU on this one using Corsair H55 AIO cooler.

reEzKwv.jpg


WiDto5b.jpg

Looks like a nice build! Where are the cables?

Please post details about your components and more photos as the build progresses.
 
I recall that other owners found it difficult to tighten one (or more?) of the fastening screws unless you have a low profile screwdriver or use a short screwdriver bit in a small hand wrench. Cooling results with the cooler on the 5820K were good. I will try to find the posts that I am thinking of.
Yeah, I have researched a lot this thread and the Asrock's board and I found the post you mention. That's I have the U9DX i4 as the cooler.
I was trying to get the C14 because of better temps and possible noise (120 or 140mm fans vs 92mm). But the U9 has the advantage of having the mounting hardware required to the narrow ILM.

The place of the drives is something that I will see once I'm in the process of putting all in the case. Only concern is to make somewhat easier on the cables.

Good luck and posts some photos and temperature results of you build!
I will, it's always good to see other builds. Thanks :)
 
So, playing it all casual like...

My M1 came in today! :D

I have looked at A LOT of pictures, but nothing prepared me for the initial feeling having cracked it out of the box of how small & awesomely well built & designed this thing is. WOW!

I mean, how small?

28HNODp.jpg


Can't wait to give this the quality build it deserves.
 
but nothing prepared me for the initial feeling having cracked it out of the box of how small & awesomely well built & designed this thing is. WOW!
Same thing with me. I knew it was smaller but that small, light and well built. Like you said, WOW :p
 
Nice cases you got there, really shows how small the Ncase is... but

Just got my new M1 few days ago. While not as beautiful as my Obsidian 250D

Nooooooooooo way! I was considering the obsidian 250D for a small build but i couldn't get over the shape of it! But to each his own :)
 
Nice cases you got there, really shows how small the Ncase is... but



Nooooooooooo way! I was considering the obsidian 250D for a small build but i couldn't get over the shape of it! But to each his own :)

Yeah I was thinking the same thing, but didn't want to say anything. ;)
 
Anyone who recently bought an Intel CPU will be mad and anyone getting ready to buy one needs to wait until all retailers cut their prices too. Microcenter has just done some deep price reductions on their entire line of Intel processors in response to Ryzen. https://www.overclock3d.net/news/cp...s_entire_range_of_cpus_in_response_to_ryzen/1

This will be good for builders, giving us some lower prices. Goes to show how bad Intel has been price gouging us not having any competition.
 
Recently got a new PSU and decided to take the opportunity to clean up the interior a bit.



 
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Looks really good.

(Can anyone spot the 2 features that prove this is a Rev.1 case?)

Thanks.

The only change from V1 visible in the photos that I know off the top of my head is the additional cutouts on the mobo tray. Have to look up the changelist for the rest:


  • Enlarged CPU cutout upward on motherboard tray
  • Additional cutouts at bottom of motherboard tray
  • Move rear 92mm fan and tubing holes down 2mm
  • Additional 3.5" HDD mounting location at forward bottom of chassis
  • Cable tie holes on chassis bottom reduced from 10 to 5 *visible from the shadow cast in the first photo*
  • SSD stacking brackets modified to allow stacked 7mm thick SDDs closer
  • ATX PSU bracket moved back to allow more clearance behind chassis front
  • 3.5" HDD cage fixed to work in upper fan bracket position
  • ODD bracket screw holes reduced for better M2 screw fit
  • No top panel screw
  • More SSD mounting screws
  • Extra side panel clips
  • Dome head M5 screws changed to flat head M5
  • Shortened internal AC cable, changed to left angle
  • Threaded inserts at side bracket mounting points *only visible if you compare the screw location at the front of the bracket*
  • Sub-millimeter increases to exterior panel dimensions to mitigate panel warping
  • Feet color changed to black for silver cases
 
Thanks.

The only change from V1 visible in the photos that I know off the top of my head is the additional cutouts on the mobo tray. Have to look up the changelist for the rest:


  • Enlarged CPU cutout upward on motherboard tray
  • Additional cutouts at bottom of motherboard tray
  • Move rear 92mm fan and tubing holes down 2mm
  • Additional 3.5" HDD mounting location at forward bottom of chassis
  • Cable tie holes on chassis bottom reduced from 10 to 5 *visible from the shadow cast in the first photo*
  • SSD stacking brackets modified to allow stacked 7mm thick SDDs closer
  • ATX PSU bracket moved back to allow more clearance behind chassis front
  • 3.5" HDD cage fixed to work in upper fan bracket position
  • ODD bracket screw holes reduced for better M2 screw fit
  • No top panel screw
  • More SSD mounting screws
  • Extra side panel clips
  • Dome head M5 screws changed to flat head M5
  • Shortened internal AC cable, changed to left angle
  • Threaded inserts at side bracket mounting points *only visible if you compare the screw location at the front of the bracket*
  • Sub-millimeter increases to exterior panel dimensions to mitigate panel warping
  • Feet color changed to black for silver cases

I had forgotten there were so many changes. what I saw were the long internal AC cable and the threaded hole at the center of the top-rear edge of the chassis frame.
 
I had forgotten there were so many changes. what I saw were the long internal AC cable and the threaded hole at the center of the top-rear edge of the chassis frame.
I'm pretty sure the top rear screw hole is still present in the newest revision, I guess it's just no longer worn/shiny as the exterior panel no longer has the corresponding hole.
 
I'm pretty sure the top rear screw hole is still present in the newest revision, I guess it's just no longer worn/shiny as the exterior panel no longer has the corresponding hole.

OMG, you're right. I'll stop trying to be smart and just focus on being helpful.
 
OMG, you're right. I'll stop trying to be smart and just focus on being helpful.

Actually the only one I saw that I could remember was the SFX bracket was raised 2 mm. In the pic there is a slight gap between the PSU and top bracket, there is no gap with mine. I knew they had changed the side fan bracket to steel for the magnetic filter, didn't think you could tell that from the pic. Forgot about the enlarged motherboard cutout.
 
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Recently got a new PSU and decided to take the opportunity to clean up the interior a bit.




I just took another look at your photos and noticed 2 things.
  1. You have twisted the motherboard's power cables. It really helps to keep them from sagging below the power supply.
  2. You have an Arctic Xtreme III (or maybe a IV) heatsink on your graphics card. Are the bottom fans set as intake or exhaust?
All in all, it's a very clean build.
 
I just took another look at your photos and noticed 2 things.
  1. You have twisted the motherboard's power cables. It really helps to keep them from sagging below the power supply.
  2. You have an Arctic Xtreme III (or maybe a IV) heatsink on your graphics card. Are the bottom fans set as intake or exhaust?
All in all, it's a very clean build.

Thanks! Bottom fans are exhaust and it's the III.
 
Anyone who recently bought an Intel CPU will be mad and anyone getting ready to buy one needs to wait until all retailers cut their prices too. Microcenter has just done some deep price reductions on their entire line of Intel processors in response to Ryzen. https://www.overclock3d.net/news/cp...s_entire_range_of_cpus_in_response_to_ryzen/1

This will be good for builders, giving us some lower prices. Goes to show how bad Intel has been price gouging us not having any competition.
Did that article get pulled?

Microcenter has almost always had the weirdest pricing discounts on processors and if you get a motherboard at the same time it's usually another $30 off. Surprisingly it does beat out other retailers even when you factor in sales tax - it's not just the Ryzen announcements, in general: check out Microcenter if you're near one.
 
Did that article get pulled?

Microcenter has almost always had the weirdest pricing discounts on processors and if you get a motherboard at the same time it's usually another $30 off. Surprisingly it does beat out other retailers even when you factor in sales tax - it's not just the Ryzen announcements, in general: check out Microcenter if you're near one.

Yeah I just checked, the article is no longer there. Instead they have one showing price reduction on i7 7700k CPUs. The previous article showed Micro Center had reduced prices on all Xeon, Kaby Lake and Skylake. I could have picked up a i7 6700k for $250 which is only $10 more than I paid for my 6600k.

Might not see this good of deals in the future, but I think we will see some reductions by Intel.
 
Did that article get pulled?

Microcenter has almost always had the weirdest pricing discounts on processors and if you get a motherboard at the same time it's usually another $30 off. Surprisingly it does beat out other retailers even when you factor in sales tax - it's not just the Ryzen announcements, in general: check out Microcenter if you're near one.
I've never seen Microcenter make these big cuts before a new chip drops.. usually its after a few months. Ryzen is really changing the whole game. Now if DDR4 prices would go back down.
 
I didn't put any on. The VRM heatsink came stock with the card and RAM modules don't have any.

FYI for anyone thinking of going this route the Arctic Xtreme III comes with an assortment of small heatsinks, whereas the IV does not. The IV has a backplate with substantial cooling fins that may or may not fit depending on your other components, such as the CPU cooler. With either model, I would recommend using your card's VRM heatsink if it fits with the Arctic heatsink.
 
Well, the build has begun..

7FolSBeb.jpg



djDzo5cb.jpg


I'm waiting on my noctua C14 coming in... I've tested the cabling & it should just fit, squished down a bit. Also need to sleeve the gfx card power, a job for tomorrow.

I have a reeven brontes cooler on hand that I may shove in as a temporary measure & see how it gets on.
 
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can anyone tell me the name of the external back mounted res being used in the user build gallery https://imgur.com/a/zOoA2 IE the one with with the blue coolant.

http://www.frozenqshop.com/m1-ncase-reservoir/ FrozenQ. I have one and they work really well. Only problem is the company is slow to ship so make sure you order early.

http://www.performance-pcs.com/ncase-m1-reservoir-black.html If you are in the US Performance PC has them in stock. They didn't have any when I was building mine which would have been really nice since I got all my other WC parts from them.
 
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Just got my Ncase today. Looks stellar. Just waiting on my rog strix board now to start the build.

The header cables seems a bit long. How do you route the usb cable the best way?
 
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