Mach One, a Chimera x NCASE collaboration

wahaha360

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Update 2018-06-20, Harmony. Why choose between PC or Mac when you can have both.

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EDIT: Additional MachOne renderings, including with a bare side panel!
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Enclosure Dimensions: 170x286x380mm, 18.5L (170x286x386mm including feet)
Motherboard Support: Mini-ITX, Micro-ATX
Power Supply: SFX, SFX-L
Cooling: two 140mm or 120mm fans, CPU cooler up to 146mm (Noctua U9S recommended)

Photos
Here's the Chimera MachOne in the flesh! Our Computex 2018 build contains an mITX board, i9 CPU & Titan XP GPU, Elgato 4K 60 capture card, and custom loop with a Nemesis 280GTX radiator!

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Introducing the Chimera MachOne
What is the MachOne? In a sentence: a SFF solution for pros who demand the best.

In a few more sentences?
  • A handsome aluminum tower with a smaller footprint than the NCASE M1, that can support real workstation-class builds in a compact, portable form factor (especially in tandem with the carry-on compliant WALLYE Tactik Duffle, which it is compatible with)
  • An enclosure with remarkable flexibility, that enables both mITX and mATX builds via three different layout schemes
  • A robust platform which supports everything from basic builds, to enthusiast-grade components, to exotic custom loops with thick radiators (like the Nemesis 280-GTX or EK-XLC Predator) and dedicated pumps/reservoirs combos (like the EK D5 and EK DDC). All in 18.5L.
The second bullet is an especially important one, as it is the flexibility of the MachOne that makes it so unique. There are three arrangements that the enclosure supports – Gear One, Two and Three – and each one provides a unique set of benefits and compromises, allowing the user to pick the layout that maximizes what's most useful to them:
  • Gear One ("The Core"): A traditional layout (mITX and mATX) in a vertical orientation, which is easiest to visualize as a "vertical NCASE M1". This arrangement supports air CPU coolers like the NH-U9S, and provides a comfortable amount of space for as many graphics cards and PCI devices as your motherboard supports, with enough room leftover for twin 120mm/140mm intake fans on the front (as well as ample space for power and storage on the bottom)
  • Gear Two ("The Gamer") : The same as Gear One, except that it uses a PCB riser to fold one's graphics card and/or PCI device to be above and parallel to the motherboard, enabling support for substantially wider/bulkier cards. This also opens up the front of the enclosure for use of a radiator or AIO
  • Gear Three ("The YouTuber"): A back-to-back arrangement, using risers to fold up to three PCIe cards and devices behind the motherboard, while providing enough room at the front of the enclosure for an impressively thick and wide radiator. Not to mention windowed panels on both sides, to best show off your hardware
SFF Network has just posted their article on the MachOne, and as you can see, this flexibility allowed us to build a pretty insane demo rig: We've brought with us to Computex an mITX, i9 + Titan Xp workstation, with an additional PCIe card (an Elgato 4K 60 capture card), and a Nemesis 280 GTX radiator cooling it all. This sort of hardware was once unfathomable on mITX, or in an enclosure of this size. With the MachOne, it's now just another possibility. This, too, before we get to what mATX support enables, with the recent Threadripper news allowing us to fit 32-core builds into the same svelte profile, no problem.

It's not just hardware support that we're excited about, either: it's the use cases that the MachOne enables. One of the demos we were able to show the SFFN team was how Dan could hook up his MacBook Pro to our demo rig, and use it as an external display, switching between the two computers dynamically as he works. Both computers, as well as peripherals and a portable display or two, can fit inside the WALLYE Tactik Duffle, meaning that professionals and gamers who need truly no-compromise performance now have a holistic solution with which to bring their full workstation set up with them. We really mean it when we say that the MachOne is for those who demand the best!

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To be sure, we know that everyone will have a lot of questions and even more feedback. So please – bring it on! Although what you'll see in photos is meaningfully representative of the final product, it is a prototype fresh from the factory, and we have already identified some changes we will be making to polish the design and improve the build & use experience. That said, we're really happy with the current spec, and I especially find the aesthetics of what we've made to be wonderful. That front panel in-person is just gorgeous. The MachOne will without doubt be the next enclosure for me!

Finally, do know that we will have information regarding pricing and availability post-Computex, as we finalize the MachOne. We can't provide specific prices yet, but we can share that our goal is to offer a range of options and price points that roughly follow the arrangements we've developed for the enclosure. We want the MachOne to be accessible to as many as possible, while still fulfilling the promise of what some of the more complex arrangements require hardware-wise.

If you're around at Computex and would like to get a closer look at the MachOne, feel free to get in touch! Either way, we can't wait to share more, collect feedback, and get the MachOne made :)

– Joshua

Initial component support specs
Front radiator & fan support:

Gear One ("The Core"):
  • mATX + 2 dual-slot GPUs: 2 x 140mm fans
  • mATX + 1 dual-slot GPU: 2 x 120mm fans + 1 240 x 45mm radiator (EK Predator / MLC Phoenix 240)
  • mITX + 1 dual-slot GPU: 2 x 140mm fans + 1 280 x 45mm radiator (EK Predator / MLC Phoenix 280)
  • mITX + 1 single-slot GPU: 2 x 140mm fans + 280 x 60mm radiator (EK Predator / MLC Phoenix 280 / Hardware Labs Nemesis 280GTX)
Gear Two ("The Gamer") & Gear Three ("The YouTuber"):
  • 2 x 140mm fans + 280 x 60mm radiator (EK Predator / MLC Phoenix 280 / Hardware Labs Nemesis 280GTX)

CPU cooler height support:


Gear One ("The Core"):
  • 143mm (Noctua U9S @ 125mm)
Gear Two ("The Gamer") & Gear Three ("The YouTuber"):
  • 76 / 96 / 116mm, depending on if you populate 3 / 2 / 1 of the PCI slots (there are three expansion slots available above the motherboard)

GPU support:


Gear One ("The Core"):
  • Maximum length of 315mm, maximum height of 148mm (when including the 6+2 pin)
Gear Two ("The Gamer") & Gear Three ("The YouTuber"):
  • Maximum length of 300mm, maximum height of 163mm (when including the 6+2 pin)

Initial layout specs
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Original Teaser Post
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Stay tuned during Computex 2018, as SFFLAB and Chimera Industries reveal the next project to launch on SFFLAB.
 

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Stay tuned during Computex 2018, as SFFLAB and Chimera Industries reveal the next project to launch on SFFLAB.

Man, a new SFF chassis, I am excited...!

So, the image has that cutout between the front & side panels, I am assuming that the front panel lifts up & forward to remove (keyhole slot fasteners)...?
 
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OMG I need to know, NOW. ;) I knew about the new project from Chimera I didn't know it was in collaboration with Ncase, very excited now.
 
Omg I've been so close to pulling the trigger on either an Ncase M1 or a Cerberus. Why can't deciding be easier :cry:. There's so many quality SFF cases now! Can't wait to see this one!
 
OMG I need to know, NOW. ;) I knew about the new project from Chimera I didn't know it was in collaboration with Ncase, very excited now.
To be clear, this is w360's design, not mine. Expect some differences in his approach to design and functionality vs. my work (the M1).

Aibophobia (designer of the original Chimera Cerberus) was also not involved.
 
Good luck duders. Getting kinda hard to keep track of all the projects going on everywhere lol.
 
To be clear, this is w360's design, not mine. Expect some differences in his approach to design and functionality vs. my work (the M1).

Aibophobia (designer of the original Chimera Cerberus) was also not involved.

so is it a w360 take on the chimera cerberus?
 
So, is this going to be revealed tomorrow, or...?

I get confused with the IDL & such; are we a day ahead, a day behind, or...?

Just eager to see the newest take on a fresh boutique SFF chassis...!
 
Omg I've been so close to pulling the trigger on either an Ncase M1 or a Cerberus. Why can't deciding be easier :cry:. There's so many quality SFF cases now! Can't wait to see this one!

Omg I've been so close to pulling the trigger on either an Ncase M1 or a Cerberus. Why can't deciding be easier :cry:. There's so many quality SFF cases now! Can't wait to see this one!

If you want an ITX build with superior quality, lighter materials, get the Ncase. If you want an mATX build with the ability to use full sized PSU, GPU and an AIO, get the Cerberus.

The Ncase has better build quality. Panels fit well and it's got a decent front IO. Has a decent layout even though it's tiny as heck. You do need to play with it a long to get the hang of what can fit and where you can tuck cables and you sure as heck will want braided cables for ease of routing/tucking/connecting.



Cerberus is very solid with steel everything, but the powder coat, on mine at least, didn't get into all the nooks. The panels, though reversable, have some uneven gaps, the depth is slightly lacking. Could have been slightly wider too to allow you to tuck cables on the right side, but eh, get gud and braided cables to make it look good. I can't mount a Corsair 105i with both fan mounts populated by 25mmx120mm fans with my TXp and a Raijintek Morpheus 2. No front audio. I love that I can use a full sized psu, big aio, big card and have silence and the handle makes it really easy to move out of the way without getting it covered in fingerprints, but it could be improved.
 
If you want an ITX build with superior quality, lighter materials, get the Ncase. If you want an mATX build with the ability to use full sized PSU, GPU and an AIO, get the Cerberus.

The Ncase has better build quality. Panels fit well and it's got a decent front IO. Has a decent layout even though it's tiny as heck. You do need to play with it a long to get the hang of what can fit and where you can tuck cables and you sure as heck will want braided cables for ease of routing/tucking/connecting.



Cerberus is very solid with steel everything, but the powder coat, on mine at least, didn't get into all the nooks. The panels, though reversable, have some uneven gaps, the depth is slightly lacking. Could have been slightly wider too to allow you to tuck cables on the right side, but eh, get gud and braided cables to make it look good. I can't mount a Corsair 105i with both fan mounts populated by 25mmx120mm fans with my TXp and a Raijintek Morpheus 2. No front audio. I love that I can use a full sized psu, big aio, big card and have silence and the handle makes it really easy to move out of the way without getting it covered in fingerprints, but it could be improved.

Thanks for the input. Unfortunately there's not a lot of high end matx boards anymore. So Cerberus, while allowing matx in a small package, is less exciting because there's no X370 or x470 matx boards and very few quality Z370 matx boards. It's seems full atx and itx are the only choices these days. I've been building itx systems since the Ivy Bridge days and I'm kind of bored of it and it's eccentricities but full atx is comically large for consumer level hardware these days. No need for all that pcie expansion.

With that said, and to avoid hijacking this thread, I'm really curious about this new case and if it's matx or itx only.
 
Yeah man, this collab should lead to something good and I am looking forward to the reveal.
 
wahaha360

Okay, it is the opening day of Computex, SFFn is already reporting from the show floor...!

But no new news regarding this mystery chassis...!!

Come on guys, inquiring minds NEED to know the details...!!!
 
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As a collaboration between Chimera Industries, NCASE, Wallye and SFFLAB. There is a new Micro-ATX case designed for this bag.

We will be releasing more information in the next few week.

The bag and new case prototype will be shown during Computex for those attending.

So, from a comment regarding the travel bag earlier, I went to that thread...

And now we see that this will be a mATX chassis...!
 
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There, in the background, I believe is the Mach One chassis (with top, front & windowed side panels removed)...!!!

Whatever it is it doesn't look too deep. Just enough to squeeze a gpu in there. Unless it's tilted on its side? Exciting times.

Threadripper 2 has me dreaming of an x399m build in a super compact matx case. :D but then I remember how ridiculously insanely overkill it would be.
 
So, am I the only one sitting here refreshing both this thread & the one over at the SFFn forums, or...?!?
 
Thanks for the input. Unfortunately there's not a lot of high end matx boards anymore. So Cerberus, while allowing matx in a small package, is less exciting because there's no X370 or x470 matx boards and very few quality Z370 matx boards. It's seems full atx and itx are the only choices these days. I've been building itx systems since the Ivy Bridge days and I'm kind of bored of it and it's eccentricities but full atx is comically large for consumer level hardware these days. No need for all that pcie expansion.

With that said, and to avoid hijacking this thread, I'm really curious about this new case and if it's matx or itx only.

Pretty happy with my 8700k in my mATX MSI Z370 Mortar. Settled for a Cooler Master Silencio 352. No, it's not tiny but I'm making no compromises with my Alphacool Eisbaer 240 AIO, BD-R, Seasonic Prime Titanium 750W, and 2x WD Blacks in RAID1. Not to mention it has some measure of sound dampening.
 
Thanks for the input. Unfortunately there's not a lot of high end matx boards anymore. So Cerberus, while allowing matx in a small package, is less exciting because there's no X370 or x470 matx boards and very few quality Z370 matx boards.

With that said, and to avoid hijacking this thread, I'm really curious about this new case and if it's matx or itx only.

Pretty sure it is mATX at this point, mainly off of the comment in the Wallye Tactik Duffle thread...

As for mATX motherboards; NewEgg offers one X399 (Threadripper), four X299 (Skylake-X), & seven Z370 (Coffee Lake) motherboards...
 
As for mATX motherboards; NewEgg offers one X399 (Threadripper), four X299 (Skylake-X), & seven Z370 (Coffee Lake) motherboards...
A grand total of 1 high-end microATX Ryzen board in existence. And it's meant for 180W processors.

What a time to be alive...
 
A grand total of 1 high-end microATX Ryzen board in existence. And it's meant for 180W processors.

Would you rather have zero mATX X399 motherboards...?

Besides, look at it as having dual Ryzen 7 CPUs, but only needing one socket; the wattage is actually lower (10 to 30 watts) with the Threadripper in such a case...!
 
Would you rather have zero mATX X399 motherboards...?
Heh, of course not. I'm just disheartened by the nonexistence of microATX AM4 boards with two PCIe 3.0 slots in ×8 mode (which is supposed to be one of the main features of X370).
Besides, look at it as having dual Ryzen 7 CPUs, but only needing one socket; the wattage is actually lower (10 to 30 watts) with the Threadripper in such a case...!
You see, at some point I decided against cooling my PC with water, so if the upcoming case's dimensions are any similar to those of the Cerberus, Noctua's NH-U9 TR4-SP3 is the only cooler that's going to fit. Needless to say, such PC is bound to be anything but cool and quiet.
 
Heh, of course not. I'm just disheartened by the nonexistence of microATX AM4 boards with two PCIe 3.0 slots in ×8 mode (which is supposed to be one of the main features of X370).

You see, at some point I decided against cooling my PC with water, so if the upcoming case's dimensions are any similar to those of the Cerberus, Noctua's NH-U9 TR4-SP3 is the only cooler that's going to fit. Needless to say, such PC is bound to be anything but cool and quiet.

I am now wondering if a Z470 ITX motherboard & a Vega 56 Nano might allow enough room for an AIO...?

Maybe we will get an AIO version of the Vega Nano, and dual 120mm AIOs might fit into the chassis...?

I dunno, because we have no new info yet...

/sadface
 
A bit more eye candy, but not enough to answer all the questions...!
 

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What I can make out from blowing up an already blurry image...

Size - 1xx x 2xx x 3xx - 18.x liters
Materials - Aluminium & Steel
Color - Silver & Black
Platform - mITX & mATX
PSU - SFX & SFX-L

This is taken from the product card in the SFFn Instagram Story pic...

It could all be wrong...!
 
Guesses & questions...!
 

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Also, it looks like the back panel ( or is that the FRONT panel...?) is NOT in place...

The teaser pic has perforations going 'around the curve', the curved panel we see in the 'blurry pic' does not appear to show any perforations...?
 
Also, it looks like the back panel ( or is that the FRONT panel...?) is NOT in place...

The teaser pic has perforations going 'around the curve', the curved panel we see in the 'blurry pic' does not appear to show any perforations...?
I suspect that its front and rear panels may be interchangeable (hence "let's switch it up").
 
One thing that concerns me, especially if using a mATX motherboard, is the CPU cooler clearance...

With a back-to-back design, there is less room for a taller CPU cooler...

And with a mATX motherboard, there may not be room for a radiator / AIO...?
 
That looks like a full cover water block, no? It looks too big to be a standard asetek aio setup. So maybe there's a lot more room in there than at first glance. Hard to say with such a dark photo.
 
That looks like a full cover water block, no? It looks too big to be a standard asetek aio setup. So maybe there's a lot more room in there than at first glance. Hard to say with such a dark photo.

Bitspower does make a monoblock for the ASRock X299E-ITX/AC motherboard...
 
I'm a little confused by the MicroATX + back-to-back config. How does that work? The riser would have to go to the top slot, blocking the rest. Is there enough clearance (or even PCIe slots) for other cards? Could you install a graphics card normally? How would you do SLI?

Seems like Intel is readying a ginormous TR4-like socket for their 28-core CPU, so for the first time in a while we may not have a Mini ITX option for Intel's HEDT, which may revive interest in mATX for SFF. Honestly, if a case is going to be 18L/mATX, I'd rather just have a larger M1. But the Mach One is interesting, I just need more information.
 
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I'm a little confused by the MicroATX + back-to-back config. How does that work? The riser would have to go to the top slot, blocking the rest. Is there enough clearance (or even PCIe slots) for other cards? Could you install a graphics card normally? How would you do SLI?

Seems like Intel is readying a ginormous TR4-like socket for their 28-core CPU, so for the first time in a while we may not have a Mini ITX option for Intel's HEDT, which may revive interest in mATX for SFF. Honestly, if a case is going to be 18L/mATX, I'd rather just have a larger M1. But the Mach One is interesting, I just need more information.

We will reveal more info post Computex.

The Mach One is really for people looking to overclock HEDT (i9+X299).

The M1 doesn’t support 280x45mm radiator, which is a must for OC on HEDT.
 
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We will reveal more info post Computex.

The Mach One is really for people looking to overclock HEDT (i9+X299/TR+X399).

The M1 doesn’t support 280x45mm radiator, which is a must for OC on HEDT.

I disagree, but I don't want to stray from topic. Either way, mATX may be a requirement for Intel's HEDT going forward, so I do look forward to seeing more.
 
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