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

Herstal said:
Hello there - first post on [H].

I plan to do a minor modification to my upcoming M1 - replacing the front audio in/out with large jack passthroughs straight to the headphone amp and mic in. How is the audio I/O panel made? Is it a single plastic block with USB sockets and the power button, like in Silverstone TJ08E, or can it be separated?
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Can I ask Why? all these jacks do is connect straight to a header, if you want a passthrough so bad, just crimp a mating cable with a male headphone connector on one end and header pins on huge other, and save the resale value. If I remember correctly the USB header ground is isolated from audio ground so that is not a problem. You will get better visual results. Further note that the asus ROG board has the front panel audio connected to a headphone amp that is identical to the rear one.
 
cowsgomoo said:
Let's see who gets the last laugh when I FEND OFF HORDES OF ZOMBIES WITH MY NCASE M1 and open a can of sardines with it later when the coast is clear.
And a massive collection of entertainment and porn is sure to sooth frayed nerves when trapped in a shopping mall.
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I love my PCs but if shit hits the fan for me its, Twinkies, beer, guns, a fast vehicle, and any available good looking women. Not necessarily in that order. But I'm off topic here. Anyway I figure there wont be any electricity to run a pc if armageddon does comes. :D


Edit: Btw, did we determine if a R9 280x will fit or not? I forget.
 
sumludus said:
It's not my image to correct, that's taken right out of an email from HIS Customer Support when I asked them for clarification. So that might mean...HIS measures their graphics cards from the bracket instead of the PCI connector! According to your image that would make the 7870 only 12.5cm wide (an easy fit), and the 7950 would now measure in at 13.98cm. Oh god, I think I can feel the headache coming back. I think I'd rather just assume the customer support people don't know how to measure a graphics card and forget about the 7950.

Thanks's to The_Cheese's Folly I know that NH-C14 isn't compatible with my motherboard choice, as is just about everything that requires a backplate. The Noctua NH-L9a specifically says it doesn't need a backplate to be mounted, as does the Thermalright AXP-100. Between the two, the AXP-100 is a tier above the NH-L9a. But none of the other coolers I've tried looking up mention that they can be installed without using the included backplate. What rules are there for mounting a heatsink without support on the rear of the motherboard? If the NH-L9a is safe to mount without one, and weighs in at 465 grams, is it safe to assume any cooler I find that weighs less doesn't need a backplate? It would explain why Newegg allows you to sort heatsinks as being less than 450g or more than 450g. If it were true, it would open me up to more options like the Cooler Master GeminII M4, which I've yet to research thoroughly. I'd like to find something that preforms close to or better than the AXP-100, since it's currently listed at $70 on Amazon. At that price, I might as well give in and get an AIO, and I'd rather cool on air as long as I can do so cost efficiently.
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If basic modding doesn't scare you, I've dealt with heavy heatsinks that "require a backplate" by drilling and tapping the motherboard tray itself then using longer fasteners. Or just by drilling the motherboard tray (which works fine).

EDIT: Derp! I just realized the M1 has an open back behind the CPU so this mod won't work unless you drill holes in your gorgeous side plate!

In fact this was the recommended/required method for installing certain heatsinks on Intel Xeon's back when core was somewhat new. You could buy "Intel Approved" server cases which has the threaded holes in them.
 
Have there been any updates from wahaha360? I know M4rk's #004 chassis was shipped which is a good sign. Hopefully he's had good luck shipping the rest out as well. And hopefully he didn't get sick from the local food. :D
 
ashaw said:
Can I ask Why? all these jacks do is connect straight to a header, if you want a passthrough so bad, just crimp a mating cable with a male headphone connector on one end and header pins on huge other, and save the resale value. If I remember correctly the USB header ground is isolated from audio ground so that is not a problem. You will get better visual results. Further note that the asus ROG board has the front panel audio connected to a headphone amp that is identical to the rear one.
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I would venture a guess that he wants 1/4" jacks on his front panel. Seems reasonable to me and he can just hide the adapters in the case (or get cables that adapt on their own).
 
Zangmonkey said:
I would venture a guess that he wants 1/4" jacks on his front panel. Seems reasonable to me and he can just hide the adapters in the case (or get cables that adapt on their own).
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Yup, that's exactly what i want - i will install proper 1/4 sockets, so it will look just fine, not some cable dangling from the front. My favourite headphones use large jacks, i dont feel like recabling them, and large to small jack adapters are extremely fragile.

Good to hear that the audio block is separate, thanks.
 
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xp3nd4bl3 said:
Have there been any updates from wahaha360? I know M4rk's #004 chassis was shipped which is a good sign. Hopefully he's had good luck shipping the rest out as well. And hopefully he didn't get sick from the local food. :D
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Yeah, that news about M4rk's #0004 shipping was such a tease...I've been wondering where things are at too. Should we all rally for an update soon? It's not a pressure tactic- more a statement of enthusiasm right? Wahaha360- dude, whats it like in Taiwan?:D
 
slabhatnik said:
Yeah, that news about M4rk's #0004 shipping was such a tease...I've been wondering where things are at too. Should we all rally for an update soon? It's not a pressure tactic- more a statement of enthusiasm right? Wahaha360- dude, whats it like in Taiwan?:D
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Aww, don't put pressure on 'em. They've probably got their buttcheeks stapled together worried about just getting all the cases out to everyone that paid for one! :D

I'll post again when I get something in-hand.
 
M4rk said:
Aww, don't put pressure on 'em. They've probably got their buttcheeks stapled together worried about just getting all the cases out to everyone that paid for one! :D

I'll post again when I get something in-hand.
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it's not pressure- it's excitement.....Seems I've got another configuration in mind by the end of each day with this case! I'm just dying to know when I'll have my hands on the thing just like everybody else, and any morsel of information regarding progress in production or shipping from Taiwan is huge to us all, unless of course you've already got news that yours has shipped, ahemm...M4rk...;)
 
slabhatnik said:
it's not pressure- it's excitement.....Seems I've got another configuration in mind by the end of each day with this case! I'm just dying to know when I'll have my hands on the thing just like everybody else, and any morsel of information regarding progress in production or shipping from Taiwan is huge to us all, unless of course you've already got news that yours has shipped, ahemm...M4rk...;)
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In know that feeling. Right now I'm trying to figure out if I want to delid whatever i7 I buy or play it safe. If I do delid, I'm worried about what pastes to use. It's been a while since I built something new. My current CPU is an i7 920. ;)
 
M4rk said:
In know that feeling. Right now I'm trying to figure out if I want to delid whatever i7 I buy or play it safe. If I do delid, I'm worried about what pastes to use. It's been a while since I built something new. My current CPU is an i7 920. ;)
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Have never done that, but always wondered what the improvement would really be. I'm at 4.6ghz with a 3770k, never goes above 70 with a d14- seems good enough to me.... but I do wonder- same oc, same d14, better tim paste. hmmm.....probably not gonna try!
 
M4rk said:
Earlier in this thread, a couple pages back, W360 mentioned he was taking a trip overseas to help make sure the cases got shipped out quickly and accurately. I'm guessing he's got the ball rolling already. I was on the first early shipment list.

Sorry I can't really clarify anything for you guys, I only write some of the NCASE public relations stuff. :X
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Mark and few others got VIP treatment, ahead of Early Shipment List 1.

Everyone in the VIP group has contributed significant time and $ to get us where we are.

To show my appreciation, the first few M1s were air shipped to them.
 
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wahaha360 said:
Mark and few others got VIP treatment, ahead of Early Shipment List 1.

Everyone in the VIP group has contributed significant time and $ to get us where we are.

To show my appreciation, the first few M1s were air shipped to them.
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Can you provide an update for the rest of us?
 
Hi

Got an early X-mas present today. My M1 got here this morning (Switzerland, Serial 652). I was not on any early shipment list, so I was quite surprised when it arrived.

The build quality of the case is top notch and it looks great. I still can not get over how small it is (which is a good thing of course).

I really need to get going on planning the details of my build, so far I only have the power supply (Silverstone 450 W Gold) and a Swiftech H220.

Thanks Ncere and Wahaha360 for the outstanding work in design and organization.

Faraway
 
faraway said:
Hi

Got an early X-mas present today. My M1 got here this morning (Switzerland, Serial 652). I was not on any early shipment list, so I was quite surprised when it arrived.

The build quality of the case is top notch and it looks great. I still can not get over how small it is (which is a good thing of course).

I really need to get going on planning the details of my build, so far I only have the power supply (Silverstone 450 W Gold) and a Swiftech H220.

Thanks Ncere and Wahaha360 for the outstanding work in design and organization.

Faraway
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Awesome! Congrats! Sounds like maybe they've all shipped and you had the least distance to travel?
 
Not sure about the distance, perhaps it is just efficient customs handling or they had some extra space on the plane to Switzerland. I would assume that the bulk of cases should be arriving soon though.
 
faraway said:
Not sure about the distance, perhaps it is just efficient customs handling or they had some extra space on the plane to Switzerland. I would assume that the bulk of cases should be arriving soon though.
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Right, good call. Pretty damn exciting.
 
Oh man now I'm even more excited.

I think I'll do a little video when it gets here. ;)
 
faraway said:
Not sure about the distance, perhaps it is just efficient customs handling or they had some extra space on the plane to Switzerland. I would assume that the bulk of cases should be arriving soon though.
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Few of you got lucky - there are not a lot of packages going to your country from Taiwan.

The guys in US, Canada, UK, Germany, there is a waiting line. Necere and myself are both last in line to get the production M1.

Germany has strict import rules, Lian Li had to get involved on the custom forms.
 
Thanks for the update W360! I'm getting really excited now! Hopefully us on the west coast will start to see them soon! Again, great job getting the shipping started. What a huge accomplishment!
 
Man, I can hardly wait to see the builds people will be doing.

M4rk said:
Oh man now I'm even more excited.

I think I'll do a little video when it gets here. ;)
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Do an unboxing! And take some nice pics while you're at it (preferably before getting it fingerprinty :p )
 
Thanks for update! Nice too see cases start to arrive. :)

Does this mean that all of the first early shipment list orders are posted? Or are the cases posted depending where we live and how many cases will come to our country? Would like to know too how many cases were ordered per country, if wahaha360 could/would/want reveal that info to us. :)
 
FinBuilder said:
Does this mean that all of the first early shipment list orders is posted? Or are the cases posted depending where we live and how many cases will come to our country? Would like to know too how many cases were ordered per country, if wahaha360 could/would/want reveal that info to us. :)
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There are 1000 units of M1 made. ~90% are in the postal office waiting to be shipped / already shipped. 10% is headed to USA as back up against defects.
 
Where do you keep 100 cases? Is your garage just stuffed to the brim lol?
 
wahaha360 said:
There are 1000 units of M1 made. ~90% are in the postal office waiting to be shipped / already shipped. 10% is headed to USA as back up against defects.
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Oh man, great job! :) That went better than in movies. :D

Edit. Lian Li also did their part of the project very well. Cheers to them too!
 
wahaha360 said:
There are 1000 units of M1 made. ~90% are in the postal office waiting to be shipped / already shipped. 10% is headed to USA as back up against defects.
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Will our ncases.com account be updated w/ tracking #s?
 
adamantium said:
If you are using an existing system like the H220 then all you need are the fittings (barbs or compression) for the reservoir. Of course you will probably also need replacement fluid and if you want some dye. You need to order the correct size based on the size of the H220 tubing. I don't know what that size is. Providing kits when everyone plans to use different parts is impractical, especially when you can easily go to any one of several sights to get your parts of choice. Here are a few stores to look at: FrozenCPU, Performance PCS, Xoxide, NCIX, Amazon, Aqua Tuning, etc.

If Alex gets online, maybe he can respond to your question, or he might reply if you contact him through his web site.
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I've been waiting for the mentioned video or some additional pictures of the black and frosted versions before ordering mine. Will order as soon as I can make a better informed decision between the two
 
drklu said:
Where do you keep 100 cases? Is your garage just stuffed to the brim lol?
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I bribed my roommate with a M1 so that I can use his room + living room + kitchen + bathroom.

My Apt is tiny, it's about to get even smaller.
 
wahaha360 said:
I bribed my roommate with a M1 so that I can use his room + living room + kitchen + bathroom.

My Apt is tiny, it's about to get even smaller.
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Dam, just shows your dedication. Props to you Wahaha360! I would love to see some pictures of that appt. filled to the brim with Ncase M1's :)
 
Siba said:
I've been waiting for the mentioned video or some additional pictures of the black and frosted versions before ordering mine. Will order as soon as I can make a better informed decision between the two
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Me too. Alex has posted that he is in the hospital this week. I don't know what happened, but he sent me a message saying that the video was completed but that he needed to move it to his computer. I assume he was talking about his web server. He also said that he won't have pictures of the white acetal or acrylic until he has built one of them. I don't know anything about the orders or any of that. Wish I could help. If only I had a Tormach PCNC 1100 SERIES 3 with all of the accessories -- $20,000.
 
wahaha360 said:
I bribed my roommate with a M1 so that I can use his room + living room + kitchen + bathroom.
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So the real question is, who gets the bathroom cases? Are they reserved for people who return their cases for exceedingly minor reasons, or just people you don't like?
 
wahaha360 said:
There are 1000 units of M1 made. ~90% are in the postal office waiting to be shipped / already shipped. 10% is headed to USA as back up against defects.
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Does this mean that there will be a few more available after the claimed cases are shipped?
 
Oh man, it seems like we're getting our cases way sooner than I expected. I truly thought January was going to be the soonest priority backers would be getting their cases.

Is it smart to start buying all our components now?
 
Is there a formal exchange policy or will issues be dealt with on a case-by-case (pun not intended) basis?
 
Case arrived just now! Time to take pictures and video. I'll have another post in a couple hours. I have no parts to put inside this thing, so I won't start a log just yet.

EDIT: Oops, I actually have an H220 to put inside it. That's all. Guess that'll have to do for now. :p
 
hmm, living in germany i guess i could still expect the case before the end of november? better start buying parts now :D
 
M4rk said:
Case arrived just now! Time to take pictures and video. I'll have another post in a couple hours. I have no parts to put inside this thing, so I won't start a log just yet.

EDIT: Oops, I actually have an H220 to put inside it. That's all. Guess that'll have to do for now. :p
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oh sweet jesus :drool:
 
Crap, didn't expect shipments so soon, need to order the ST45SF-G PSU ! *scrambling*
 
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