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

CorvaBlack said:
Just looked at my motherboard and I hope I’m wrong but I’m really not seeing how it would work with the dark rock. Space between the ram and a heat sink is a bit tight but the real problem seems to be how low the cpu is mounted on the board. It’s right above the pci express slot. <50mm from the centre of the cpu socket to the pci express slot. Even the u9s seems like it would just barely fit. I’m having trouble visualising things based on BeQuiet’s measurements but I’m not seeing how the Dark Rock won’t interfere with the GPU. If anyone can correct me I’d appreciate it, but I may have just answered my own question.
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I believe your motherboard is the Asrock Z77E-ITX. A mini-ITX motherboard is 170 mm x 170 mm. Counting pixels on the large image of this model at the Asrock website, I calculate that the distance from the center of the PCI-E slot to the center of the CPU socket is 54 mm. The thickness of a graphics card will reduce the distance to the center of the CPU by several millimeters.

On the be quiet! website their Motherboard Check tool indicates that the PCI-E slot will be blocked by the Dark Rock TF. The website for the cooler lists its dimensions as 162.6 mm x 140 mm x 130.8 mm (L x W x H). on the Technical data tab. So it's 70 mm from the center of the heatsink to the outside edge of the fins, confirming the compatibility result. There's a technical drawing if you want to check more of the dimensions.
 
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Thank you so much Qrash. Measuring with a ruler I get 54mm centre to centre as well. I guess I’ll have to settle for the u9s but it’s not like that’s a bad option. Edit: u9s is on it’s way. For the side panel I’ll wait a bit to see if the Noctua Sterrox comes out soon, then likely decide it’s too expensive and get the nf-a15.
 
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I ordered a black NCASE M1 on saturday, gonna move my system over from a Fractal Design Node 304 when it arrives.

Current specs: ASRock Z370 Gaming-ITX/ac, Intel Core i7-8700K, Corsair Vengeance LPX DDR4 16GB 2666Mhz, Samsung 960 EVO 500GB, Corsair Force LF200 480GB and Corsair SF600, I'll replace my Noctua NH-U12S with a Noctua NH-U9S when moving everything over!

I'm exited to move over to a more high quality case, I have been looking at this for some years, but never been able to see it in real life until this easter, something that made me pull the trigger to order.
 
The M1 is a fantastic case, you will be very pleased with your purchase. Prepare to grin like an idiot when you take the case out of the box and marvel at how little it weighs :D
 
rfarmer said:
I never got updated tracking info after it hit customs, but I got the case in only a few days.
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Tracking link that I got from SFFLAB worked all the way from Taiwan to showing delivered to me here in Iowa. Pretty slick.

Buttoneer said:
Good for you. Mine is now through Customs and I have paid necessary taxes and fees - should be with me on Monday. Gives me the weekend to play with my delid...
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US Postal Service left a delivery attempt note last Friday. The note gave a link to setup redelivery online so I asked for delivery next day. Got a confirmation email saying that it would be delivered. Saturday (next day) no delivery. Monday no delivery. I called the local post office - they claim they never got the redelivery request? I went and picked it up instead.

Even with the minor hiccup with my local mail delivery I'm amazed at the speed and near flawless delivery all the way from Taiwan to my house in Iowa. It was delivered in basically two weeks! It's incredible that shipping only cost $25.

While I am still weeks away from my build, I've test fitted some drives and fans etc and I'm totally blown away by the quality of the case as many others have mentioned.
 
Bawjaws said:
The M1 is a fantastic case, you will be very pleased with your purchase. Prepare to grin like an idiot when you take the case out of the box and marvel at how little it weighs :D
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You just reminded me of that moment.. :cat::woot:

Thanks!
 
zdeco said:
Hey guys. I did it. Just another Ncase M1 with some overclock.
8700k / z370i / 2x16 Trident z RGB / SF450 / Celsius s24/ 1070Ti Strix / 950 Pro 512gb

Future: SF600 / NF-F12 Chromax x2
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Hi zdeco
Do you have v5 of the M1 case? I've got a celsius 24 at home right now along with some other intestants, but the case will arrive later this week. Just want to make sure the thing fits without too much hassle.
 
Picked mine up at the local Post office first thing this morning and planning on leaving work early today to go and play with my new toy!

M.2 drive already fitted, CPU cooler already assembled, CPU delidded, so there should be nothing stopping me putting together a preliminary build this evening. I'll be going for custom cables but need to wait until I can measure properly and since the motherboard is good for it I may even get some RGB strips to generate a glow from inside the case - I fancy a 'breathing' red light glow and white cables for that cyborg body parts and sinew look.
 
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First run through to build and it’s completely dead - just a quick led flash on the back of the motherboard and a glow from the power button but otherwise no CPU fans or vision.

It’s a very tough build so quite a frustrating result.

I may just take it all out and try to run it on the bench - nude, so to speak - and make sure everything is good that way.

I found the whole thing a very tight fit - the power cable snares against the CPU cooler and the motherboard doesn’t like to sit against the IO plate very nicely.
 
Buttoneer said:
First run through to build and it’s completely dead - just a quick led flash on the back of the motherboard and a glow from the power button but otherwise no CPU fans or vision.

It’s a very tough build so quite a frustrating result.

I may just take it all out and try to run it on the bench - nude, so to speak - and make sure everything is good that way.

I found the whole thing a very tight fit - the power cable snares against the CPU cooler and the motherboard doesn’t like to sit against the IO plate very nicely.
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Sorry to read about your difficulties. Let us know if running everything outside of the case works. Start with the bare minimum of components. Good luck!
 
Necere said:
Geforce GTX 1080 compatibility list


Might fit:
  • ASUS ROG STRIX GeForce GTX 1080 (confirmed fit, but difficult install)
  • Colorful iGame GTX 1080 X-TOP-8G
  • Inno3D GTX 1080 iChill X3 and X4
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I can confirm that the iChill X3 does fit - just. I wouldn't even say it's a difficult install - fairly straightforward I fact.

Using a Gigabyte Z97n mobo the power cables are fine as the board isn't very tall and the cooling solution is not quite 2.5 but not 2.0 width either. The shroud over the heatsink and fans just touches the hole in the front panel when fully seated.

It's an absolute beast of a card.

However, no chance of putting full sized fans in below it, I think. I did a dummy run with a couple of 120mm noiseblockers and it's far too uncomfortable for me to commit to. I may have another go later since I need to take the whole thing apart again anyway.

My whole build feels like it's a spring coiled tight. The Dark Rock TF pulls hard on the mobo PCB when done up to what I would consider are normal tensions. The mobo needed forcing into place against the I/O plate. The power cable extension results in bent fins on the CPU cooler, and I can't take out the GPU without busting the retaining clip of the PCIe slot because it's impossible to reach and press when you wish to remove the card. I imagine that touching any part of the setup will result in it flying apart.

As for my current problems, I assume that when you initially switch the PC on I should expect the fans on the GPU/CPU/PSU (or at least of one these) to roar into life initially. The fact that it doesn't means I possibly have an issue with the switch/mobo jumper and PSU. perhaps cables not sitting fully in place. I'm going to have a play later - always start with the cables, right?
 
Yes, start with the cables. Use a minimum number of components. Swap components where you can and only swap one at a time.

A 2-slot graphics card has just enough space below it for 25 mm thick fans, so any card that is thicker restricts you to slim fans. My son's M1 has two of the slim Noctua fans (as intakes) under his 1070 and they helped lower his GPU temps. He didn't need to use slim fans, but I like that there's a small gap between the fans and the graphics card cooler.
 
I think you benefit from a bit of space between the fans and the GPU, in terms of better airflow and less turbulence (thus lower noise). If there was a bit more room then that would be even better, imho, but slim fans are preferable to full depth ones.
 
My worry is turbulence ruining the operation of what is clearly a very well designed cooling setup on this GPU. If the fans suck air in which flushes through out either end then I need the fans below to be intake which doesn't seem right to me.

What are currently the slim fans of choice for the discerning PC builder?
 
Bawjaws said:
The M1 is a fantastic case, you will be very pleased with your purchase. Prepare to grin like an idiot when you take the case out of the box and marvel at how little it weighs :D
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Yeah, I'm exited to get it in my own hands now! :D It is shipped but I dont have my tracking number yet, waiting for that to come. CPU cooler and extra fan is supposed to arrive within next week, so I should have everything ready for the build when the case arrives.

Going to order the WALLYE Tactik Duffle in early/mid May aswell, gonna be the perfect system to travel with when going on events!
 
Look at that, it boots! A few scraped knuckles, but I got it together. The power plug wouldn’t fit with the psu facing out so I had to flip it around. Need to do better with cable management and I’m looking forward to upgrading to a modular psu but it’ll do for now. Core i5 3570k on a asrock z77e-itx board. 3tb 3.5” on the floor, 1.5 tb 2.5” behind the front panel and a 1tb SSD up front. Blower style gtx 970 and a Noctua u9s for cpu cooling.
Still need to buy a fan for the side panel. I’ll upgrade the psu at some point. Waiting for Silverstone’s passive psu to come out and see how it compares to the alternatives. Pretty happy with it all for now.
 

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Spoke too soon. Fans spin up, it stays on for a few seconds then fans turn off for a few and then the cycle repeats. Took off the side panels, the low noise adapter, unplugged the gpu and a hard drive, no change. I think that’s all I have energy for rn. May just wait for my next day off to really troubleshoot. Darn it.
 
CorvaBlack said:
Spoke too soon. Fans spin up, it stays on for a few seconds then fans turn off for a few and then the cycle repeats. Took off the side panels, the low noise adapter, unplugged the gpu and a hard drive, no change. I think that’s all I have energy for rn. May just wait for my next day off to really troubleshoot. Darn it.
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did you not test outside the case first? tear it apart, put the mobo on its box, and use just the board, chip and 1 ram. get it posting then re-add things one at a time starting with the second ram stick.
 
I didn’t, everything worked fine for the last five years in my FT-03 mini so I assumed it would be fine. I’ll give that a try next week when I have the time. Really hoping I don’t need a new motherboard.
Edit: It works! Tried unplugging most everything, one stick of ram, cpu fans, nothing worked except unplugging the 8pin power connector. Just about to write off my motherboard as a loss when I realised I hadn’t tried unplugging the second stick of ram. Unplugged it, no cycling. Yes! Just have to replace a stick of ddr3. Plugged first one then the other stick of ram back in and...no cycling. I’m assuming that one stick just wasn’t seated properly.
PPS: Gtx 970 isn’t displaying anything so currently running off the oh so powerful Intel HD4000. Also can’t connect to WiFi. Kind of frustrating but my headphone amp is plugged in and my headphones are playing Carly Rae Jepsen so it’s hard to feel too bad.
 
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CorvaBlack said:
I didn’t, everything worked fine for the last five years in my FT-03 mini so I assumed it would be fine. I’ll give that a try next week when I have the time. Really hoping I don’t need a new motherboard.
Edit: It works! Tried unplugging most everything, one stick of ram, cpu fans, nothing worked except unplugging the 8pin power connector. Just about to write off my motherboard as a loss when I realised I hadn’t tried unplugging the second stick of ram. Unplugged it, no cycling. Yes! Just have to replace a stick of ddr3. Plugged first one then the other stick of ram back in and...no cycling. I’m assuming that one stick just wasn’t seated properly.
PPS: Gtx 970 isn’t displaying anything so currently running off the oh so powerful Intel HD4000. Also can’t connect to WiFi. Kind of frustrating but my headphone amp is plugged in and my headphones are playing Carly Rae Jepsen so it’s hard to feel too bad.
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I had similar symptoms with the power supply coming on for only a second and then shutting off. It ended up being the motherboard so I had to RMA it.

Some people said the cause could have been a bent CPU socket pin. Did you take your CPU out of the socket when you moved everything into the M1?
 
Mine is much worse, unfortunately.

I had power cycling on off and tried everything above, went barebones and used a screwdriver to short the switch pins, swapped ram in and out, moved and removed ram but it just went on/off etc.

Just taken the whole thing apart to RMA the motherboard and it looks like the cpu had slipped while I was fixing the cooler on top. It was obviously square on when I started but it's a big cooler so when I lifted the whole assembly to finish the cpu must have shifted and now I have some bent pins on the socket.

Retailer obviously telling me it's not covered so my choice is to buy another anyway or try to fix. The retailer has offered to try and fix it but that will be a three/four day turnaround at best plus weekend and no guarantees it will work. I'm going to try and pick up some 'helping hands' and precision tweezers today and do it myself - the internet tells me it's easy to do and if that doesn't work I can (reluctantly) throw more money at it and have a new mobo tomorrow if necessary.
 
Buttoneer said:
Mine is much worse, unfortunately.

I had power cycling on off and tried everything above, went barebones and used a screwdriver to short the switch pins, swapped ram in and out, moved and removed ram but it just went on/off etc.

Just taken the whole thing apart to RMA the motherboard and it looks like the cpu had slipped while I was fixing the cooler on top. It was obviously square on when I started but it's a big cooler so when I lifted the whole assembly to finish the cpu must have shifted and now I have some bent pins on the socket.

Retailer obviously telling me it's not covered so my choice is to buy another anyway or try to fix. The retailer has offered to try and fix it but that will be a three/four day turnaround at best plus weekend and no guarantees it will work. I'm going to try and pick up some 'helping hands' and precision tweezers today and do it myself - the internet tells me it's easy to do and if that doesn't work I can (reluctantly) throw more money at it and have a new mobo tomorrow if necessary.
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Sorry to hear that but it does happen. I have never fixed bent pins myself but I have seen people have success with it, good luck.
 
A mechanical pencil can be good for straightening bent pins. Just be very, very slow and gentle and bend the absolute minimum amount possible, because the pins snap really easily.
 
Buttoneer said:
Mine is much worse, unfortunately.

I had power cycling on off and tried everything above, went barebones and used a screwdriver to short the switch pins, swapped ram in and out, moved and removed ram but it just went on/off etc.

Just taken the whole thing apart to RMA the motherboard and it looks like the cpu had slipped while I was fixing the cooler on top. It was obviously square on when I started but it's a big cooler so when I lifted the whole assembly to finish the cpu must have shifted and now I have some bent pins on the socket.

Retailer obviously telling me it's not covered so my choice is to buy another anyway or try to fix. The retailer has offered to try and fix it but that will be a three/four day turnaround at best plus weekend and no guarantees it will work. I'm going to try and pick up some 'helping hands' and precision tweezers today and do it myself - the internet tells me it's easy to do and if that doesn't work I can (reluctantly) throw more money at it and have a new mobo tomorrow if necessary.
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Sorry to read about the bent pins. I think the keys to a successful repair are to straighten the pins so they are as high as possible and in line with the other pins around them.

That might be obvious, but the pins are thin and it's easy to add a new bend instead of straightening the existing one. This would combine to lower the height of the tip of the pin. You can shine a light at various angles to check that the straightened pin is aligned to its neighbours.

A lighted magnifying glass or lamp is very helpful.

Good luck!
 
I got an email that said my case were shipped three days ago, but still dont have any tracking number, how long have it been before you have gotten your tracking numbers after it being shipped?
 
rfarmer said:
Sorry to hear that but it does happen. I have never fixed bent pins myself but I have seen people have success with it, good luck.
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Qrash said:
Sorry to read about the bent pins. I think the keys to a successful repair are to straighten the pins so they are as high as possible and in line with the other pins around them.

That might be obvious, but the pins are thin and it's easy to add a new bend instead of straightening the existing one. This would combine to lower the height of the tip of the pin. You can shine a light at various angles to check that the straightened pin is aligned to its neighbours.

A lighted magnifying glass or lamp is very helpful.

Good luck!
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Thanks both. It's my own stupidity/carelessness but it could be massively expensive. It's already cost me £5 for a set of 'helping hands' (a magnifying glass with crocodile clips attached) and £20 for some extra fine tweezers which are useful enough for me to use again one day. I could order a replacement board and send it back if I do a good job but I think I'm going to have a try first and then just send it back for them to have a go second. So stupid, so frustrating. Why can't these coolers just use the mechanism which is already in place in some way?!
 
OfficialMorten said:
I got an email that said my case were shipped three days ago, but still dont have any tracking number, how long have it been before you have gotten your tracking numbers after it being shipped?
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Should be on the website. You get the 'order confirmed' email and then get an 'a shipment from order #xxxxx is on its way'. This second one has a link to the website where you'll see the tracking number.
 
Buttoneer said:
Should be on the website. You get the 'order confirmed' email and then get an 'a shipment from order #xxxxx is on its way'. This second one has a link to the website where you'll see the tracking number.
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I contacted SFFLAB about it and they havent recived the shipping numbers at that point and were in contact with Taiwan Postal Service to get them, I just recently got an email with my tracking number, so it's all good now!
 
For anyone interested, I am typing this message from my new Ncase based 8700K/1080 Ti/z370N system! I'll share some photo's later but I grabbed the tweezers and magnifying glass and fixed my bent pins, polished what looked like some charred bits on the processor plate and here we are. Password manager installed, Steam busy loading, and everything looking rosy. I'll try some benchmarks and stresss test shortly and if that works then I can think about some cable management and putting the sides on the case.
 
Buttoneer said:
For anyone interested, I am typing this message from my new Ncase based 8700K/1080 Ti/z370N system! I'll share some photo's later but I grabbed the tweezers and magnifying glass and fixed my bent pins, polished what looked like some charred bits on the processor plate and here we are. Password manager installed, Steam busy loading, and everything looking rosy. I'll try some benchmarks and stresss test shortly and if that works then I can think about some cable management and putting the sides on the case.
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Good to hear, always nice when some good luck comes your way. Enjoy your Ncase. ;)
 
Kinda frustrated with this whole build. Still haven’t got the WiFi working unless I bring my PC downstairs and set it right next to the router. Spent a good bit today trying and failing to get the Gpu working. So I have an expensive pc that can’t connect to the internet and runs Witcher 2 at like 4 FPS (torchlight 2 does actually runs p well though)
It’s also still noisier than I’d like. Can hear it clearly across the room in between songs when listening to music. Probably mostly the power supply, I don’t think the fans of the u9s at 900rpm are making that much noise.
I was considering Silverstone’s upcoming passive psu depending on it’s price and a Noctua Sterrox fan. Might be better just to get a Corsair sf450 and an a15 fan then I can put the money I saved into building a silent little music server.
 
Are there any updates planned for the case in any foreseeable future? I'm thinking I might buy one, but if there were improvements to come, I'd wait.
 
Octopuss said:
Are there any updates planned for the case in any foreseeable future? I'm thinking I might buy one, but if there were improvements to come, I'd wait.
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Far as I am aware, V5 is the final version. It's got all the little minor improvements over V1 (which I proudly own! XD). I don't think they're doing anymore iterations but maybe wait for one of the creators to chime in to confirm.. (Though I vaguely remember this being the case answered by them a while back.)
 
CorvaBlack said:
Kinda frustrated with this whole build. Still haven’t got the WiFi working unless I bring my PC downstairs and set it right next to the router. Spent a good bit today trying and failing to get the Gpu working. So I have an expensive pc that can’t connect to the internet and runs Witcher 2 at like 4 FPS (torchlight 2 does actually runs p well though)
It’s also still noisier than I’d like. Can hear it clearly across the room in between songs when listening to music. Probably mostly the power supply, I don’t think the fans of the u9s at 900rpm are making that much noise.
I was considering Silverstone’s upcoming passive psu depending on it’s price and a Noctua Sterrox fan. Might be better just to get a Corsair sf450 and an a15 fan then I can put the money I saved into building a silent little music server.
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To me, your WiFi problem sounds like the antenna are faulty or (more likely) somehow are not connected well to the WiFi device on your motherboard. This forces the WiFi device itself to be the antenna and is why it can only connect when it's right beside the router.
 
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