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

So it can be done with a fan other than the Noiseblocker NB-BlackSilentPro PC-P 80mm.... I was just wondering this last night and in fact looked at the bequiet fan you just referenced, curious if it would also work (as it is 25mm and the Noiseblocker is 15mm). What are the requirements other than 80mm for the fanswap in the ss sfx? I am confused as to whether or not it should be a PWM fan, what the rpms should be, and how you are running it at 9v....

It's mounted outside of the PSU housing. It's currently connected to a splitter cable with a resistor in it to lower the voltage and thus slow the fan speed. I will connect it to my z87e-itx for finer grained RPM control when I move the build as it is from it's temporary case in to the M1. I didn't even bother trying the noiseblocker as would've had to import it and from what I read in my research prior to buying the Be Quiet the noise profile would be as good or worse than the Be Quiet 80mm one.

As for cooling capability and RPM's I was confident that I could slow down the Be Quiet enough to be inaudible as I won't be ever be pushing the PSU to anywhere near it's output limit. I tend to stay around the mid-end range of hardware in terms of price and performance as I simply don't need eye candy cranked to the max (I've been gaming since I was a kid in the 80's and to me almost everything looks good graphically these days!) Plus, the added benefit of lower priced, less powerful components is that they use less power and create less heat, and are thus easier to cool quietly.

So I gave myself a power budget of about ~250w max from the wall, which would be ~50% of the capability of the ST45SF-G at its gold rating. I will be using a slightly overclocked 4670k (needed to run my Wii games in HD:)), an asrock z87e-itx, 16gb of crucial LP ram, one SSD and one 1TB 2.5 5400rpm drive, a few fans and a GTX 660. Peak numbers are - CPU ~65w, GPU ~120w, everything else ~40w = ~225w = silent PSU.:D
 
Just found this picture... very happy, that the H220 will fit with no Problems (Ram, Sound...):

http://i.imgur.com/coDQvwkh.jpg

I installed a H220 on a Impact last night. I couldnt get all of the fasteners tight and was running into the problems of the elbow conflicting with the power board. I got it to work but one of the fasteners is wanting to cross thread because it isnt exactly aligned perfectly. I'll take another look at it tonight but it's an incredibly tight fit.
 
Anyone waiting for the Adamantium Res, seems like fronzenQ had an accident at the shop.

"Due to a laser fire that damaged a large portion of our shop, we will be closed until Monday 11/11/13.

If you have any outstanding orders we will be working to get them shipped out as soon as possible.

Thank you,

Alex
--

Alex Quaintance"

I guess it might be delayed for a bit :(
 
So let's get the ball rolling:

This is what I'm using in the build:

● Ncase M1 - N° 0796
● Asrock Z87E-ITX
● Intel Core i5-4670K
● Noctua NH-L12
● 2x 8GB Crucial VLP 1600MHz
● AMD Radeon R9 290X (reference)
● Samsung 830 256GB SSD
● Silverstone ST45SF-G 450W SFX PSU


bFHQIqn.jpg

So the orientation for the NH-L12 on the Z87E-ITX I used for the CM Elite 130 doesn't work, it sticks out at the top (see pic) and towards the I/O ports.

twt2zjq.jpg

So don't install this cooler on this motherboard like this, it won't fit.

e4G5YLc.jpg

But this orientation does !

M6y55Cq.jpg

Although barely spareing a few millimeters on the top. So you're mounting the heatpipes towards the top.

vqiOwo6.jpg

AMD Radeon R9 290X fits, I routed the HD-AUDIO plug over the GPU to not bend it too sharply. You can zip-tie it at the bottom (top of the pic) on the side to secure and hide it.

do1NwAk.jpg

Here you see everything mounted and connected. I like the SSD being tucked away to the right.

2gjHuKi.jpg

Where did the SSD go ? It just vanished.

WIqcjC0.jpg

Top view, here you can see the CPU has about 55-60mm left. So enough for a slim radiator.

93pVO2H.jpg

Although the CPU backplate isn't fully accessible (an issue for later), the mSATA slot is.

plRlanV.jpg

Nothing but cables in the front. I put the T-shape SATA power connector just inside that slot so I don't have to stuff it somewhere else. Zip-tie to keep cables from moving about.

9Za6hXa.png

Top view showing the clearances. I didn't have any cables acting strange.

The assembled computer is quiet, CPU is a little less cool than in the Elite 130 but it also had an extra fan. I might change the fan profile to compensate, I'll need tot test.

All in all I am damn impressed with the work done by Necere and Wahaha360 in designing a brilliant case and delivering it to my door with the best trans-continental shipping experience ever. You guys deserve medals for being pinnacles in the community. Respect and love for the both of you !
 
that could be the reason for higher temps... But nice to see another build going forward!!

In Addtition the very high socket position of the Z87E is not good either...
 
Anyone waiting for the Adamantium Res, seems like fronzenQ had an accident at the shop.

"Due to a laser fire that damaged a large portion of our shop, we will be closed until Monday 11/11/13.

If you have any outstanding orders we will be working to get them shipped out as soon as possible.

Thank you,

Alex
--

Alex Quaintance"

I guess it might be delayed for a bit :(

Where did you see this? I still see the hospitalization message on his web site.
 
Although barely spareing a few millimeters on the top. So you're mounting the heatpipes towards the top.

You do realize that Noctua advises against mounting the heatpipes upwards?
http://noctua.at/pdf/manuals/noctua_nh_l12_manual_en.pdf

If I were you, I'd check temperature, maybe you're fine, but mayhaps you would run into problems.. ;)

Yeah, def keep tabs on your CPU temps with the cooler oriented that way..

nh_c12p_orientation.jpg


And thanks Phuncz for the great pics and fitment info you provided, really appreciate it! ;)

EDIT: And btw, why didn't the L12 fit with heatpipes over RAM?
 
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US shipments will probably be last since they are not shipping in the order Wahaha directed them to and are just slapping them onto ships when space is open. Also they will probably hit the West Coast first and trickle across to the East Coast. I don't mind the wait, gives me more time to watch others fiddle with builds.
 
That's shitty. I'm glad to be American at times. Other times. . . not so much.

Well afaik the original plan was to ship all the cases to the US and then distributed them from there, so it is kinda alright.
I don't mind paying (import) taxes, as long as I can get a college/university degree for free ;)

Anyway .... I still don't have my M1 either :(
 
I'm looking forward to some pictures of some cases with the AD2 in them. Any recent recipients of the M1 working on this yet, little hard to tell from the spreadsheet...? I am so close to buying the AD2 but need to be certain that it will fit- as well as certain that my callous hands can handle such a fine-tuned installation.
 
When my M1 arrives I will test fit the P8Z77I+AD2 from my folding rig and let you know how much radiator+fittings space there will be.
 
Does anyone know how thick the DEMCiflex filters are (with the ferrous tape)? It seems that the space between the left panel and the fan bracket is about 2mm.

Demciflex are not entirely consistent thickness. I have one from a couple of years ago that measures 1.9mm and another I bought earlier this year that's 2.25mm thick. Oh and another one that's more like 1.65mm.
 
Any other swede still waiting for their case? Slightly worried about the fact that every other swede on the status list has gotten theirs..
 
I wouldn't advise to go for an 290 (or X), much less if you plan to overclock it. Why?

...

This is the total power consumption for the whole system, a system that is actually more power hungry than any we will put into a mITX system (Because there is no LGA2011 love for us ).

BUT, the thing to note with Volcanic Islands cards is that...

a) They all throttle with their stock heatsink, unless you run it really really loud.
b) The charts show no overclock.

So, once you remove that limiting factor, which is the temperature, via a decent cooler... the power consumption will increase. Even more so if you plan to overclock.

All in all, the 290s are far too power hungry to be deemed "good" for a 450W psu. If you are not into overclock... then, maybe, but still, the cards are far too loud for me to be any good at all in such a small enclosure.

To each his own, though.

I beg to differ. Sweclockers' power consumption results, using actual games, can be found at the bottom of this page (it's the last graph, "Effektmätning"):

http://www.sweclockers.com/recension/17844-nvidia-geforce-gtx-780-ti/print

That's with an i7-4960X @ 4.4GHz on an Asus Rampage IV Extreme, and don't forget the AC/DC conversion overhead.

The full system with 290X (über mode) maxed out at 405W including AC/DC loss. That's something the Silverstone SFX ST45SF-G should handle with laughter (except maybe the stock fan, it'll be screaming for mercy). :)

290X overclocked (don't remember the numbers though) maxed out at 425W including AC/DC loss. Still nothing to worry about.

Oh, and I'll be popping my 290X into one of my M1's as soon as I've got my build fully figured out. Won't be using the stock cooler though; it's a bit too noisy. :p
 
290X overclocked (don't remember the numbers though) maxed out at 425W including AC/DC loss. Still nothing to worry about.

I'm not super knowledgeable about PSU's, but I believe 80+ Gold means the efficiency is at least ~90%.
This would mean your PSU possibly dies if you try overclocking the 290X. I wouldn't say this is 'nothing to worry about'.
 
I'm not super knowledgeable about PSU's, but I believe 80+ Gold means the efficiency is at least ~90%.
This would mean your PSU possibly dies if you try overclocking the 290X. I wouldn't say this is 'nothing to worry about'.

No, you've got it all backwards. The max power consumption/supply for a PSU is measured at the DC side. The power consumption numbers the test refers to is measured at the AC side.

425W AC at 90% conversion efficiency means ~383W DC. That's nothing to worry about.
 
I'm not super knowledgeable about PSU's, but I believe 80+ Gold means the efficiency is at least ~90%.
This would mean your PSU possibly dies if you try overclocking the 290X. I wouldn't say this is 'nothing to worry about'.

This and also... who would even overclock a 290X in a M1, without it being under water.

95C on air is no joke... :p
 
So let's get the ball rolling:

This is what I'm using in the build:

● Ncase M1 - N° 0796
● Asrock Z87E-ITX
● Intel Core i5-4670K
● Noctua NH-L12
● 2x 8GB Crucial VLP 1600MHz
● AMD Radeon R9 290X (reference)
● Samsung 830 256GB SSD
● Silverstone ST45SF-G 450W SFX PSU


http://i.imgur.com/bFHQIqn.jpg[img]
So the orientation for the NH-L12 on the Z87E-ITX I [url=http://hardforum.com/showpost.php?p=1040271264&postcount=32]used for the CM Elite 130[/url] doesn't work, it sticks out at the top (see pic) and towards the I/O ports.

[img]http://i.imgur.com/twt2zjq.jpg[img]
So don't install this cooler on this motherboard like this, it won't fit.

[img]http://i.imgur.com/e4G5YLc.jpg[img]
But this orientation does !

[img]http://i.imgur.com/M6y55Cq.jpg[img]
Although barely spareing a few millimeters on the top. So you're mounting the heatpipes towards the top.

[img]http://i.imgur.com/vqiOwo6.jpg[img]
AMD Radeon R9 290X fits, I routed the HD-AUDIO plug over the GPU to not bend it too sharply. You can zip-tie it at the bottom (top of the pic) on the side to secure and hide it.

[img]http://i.imgur.com/do1NwAk.jpg[img]
Here you see everything mounted and connected. I like the SSD being tucked away to the right.

[img]http://i.imgur.com/2gjHuKi.jpg
Where did the SSD go ? It just vanished.

http://i.imgur.com/WIqcjC0.jpg[img]
Top view, here you can see the CPU has about 55-60mm left. So enough for a slim radiator.

[img]http://i.imgur.com/93pVO2H.jpg[img]
Although the CPU backplate isn't fully accessible (an issue for later), the mSATA slot is.

[img]http://i.imgur.com/plRlanV.jpg[img]
Nothing but cables in the front. I put the T-shape SATA power connector just inside that slot so I don't have to stuff it somewhere else. Zip-tie to keep cables from moving about.

[img]http://i.imgur.com/9Za6hXa.png[img]
Top view showing the clearances. I didn't have any cables acting strange.

The assembled computer is quiet, CPU is a little less cool than in the Elite 130 but it also had an extra fan. I might change the fan profile to compensate, I'll need tot test.

All in all I am damn impressed with the work done by Necere and Wahaha360 in designing a brilliant case and delivering it to my door with the best trans-continental shipping experience ever. You guys deserve medals for being pinnacles in the community. Respect and love for the both of you ![/QUOTE]

That looks really, really good. I think the Noctua NH-L12 is the ideal air cooler for this build. I'm using the SFX PSU, LVP RAM, and blower GPU. I've got the Asus Impact Motherboard so hopefully there will be a little bit more room around the edges for the cooler.

And also, no case fans? This is going to be awesome!

Hoping to find a 400GB+ M.2 NGFF SSD for the Impact and not have any other internal drives. I've got a 10TB media server for more space if necessary. For now, I may just put a traditional SSD in there.
 
Hoping to find a 400GB+ M.2 NGFF SSD for the Impact and not have any other internal drives. I've got a 10TB media server for more space if necessary. For now, I may just put a traditional SSD in there.
The only M.2 drives I can find are 80 and 128gb. Let me know if you find any larger for sale.
 
I have tried to find every single possible picture of this one, and my SUSPICION is that this one will also allow you to install the side fan, Just maybe. (i.e. less than 115mm tall)

Would Love to have one of those. In my Asrock Z87eITX board, the Noctua U9B in a vertical orientation fits with 1mm to spare between it and the ram sticks. (permitting unlimited ram height)

My hopes with the D type is that it fits both ways, both up and sideways, depending on whether theres a limitation on the efficiency of the cooler in the horizontal orientation (airflow wise)

What I am more worried about though, is if it ever comes to market.... This would be something I would seriously consider instead of my U9B

looks like a mini mini D14... D9? I don't know how it would perform vs the C12/C14 coolers

they're saying Q1 2014 on their website, worth the wait? I'm eyeing the C12 and still maintaining compatibility with the side bracket, but if this new prototype also fits then I must say I prefer the tower style cooler
 
I plan on using the Asus RoG Impact with the NH-C14, it should be able to fit without a problem even with the 2 riser card attached to the motherboard right? 2 riser cards as in the mSATA card, and sound card
 
looks like a mini mini D14... D9? I don't know how it would perform vs the C12/C14 coolers

they're saying Q1 2014 on their website, worth the wait? I'm eyeing the C12 and still maintaining compatibility with the side bracket, but if this new prototype also fits then I must say I prefer the tower style cooler

Hoping the d9 gives me the tower design benefits of the vertical airflow pathway as well as the benefit of a side fan for helping to introduce cool air for the cooler in higher load situations which the u9b could benefit from at this stage. Essentially after a tower with a low enough profile to fit a side fan.

Other than that, I would like to have a top down that sits flush against the side fan, like the c14, but the issue is being able to install this in my motherboard with its heavily top biased CPU location. Until I have the case on hand and confirm that it fits with heat pipes up, and someone confirms that heap pipes facing up works thermally without too much of a performance hit, then the c14 or similar would be my choice.
 
Hoping the d9 gives me the tower design benefits of the vertical airflow pathway as well as the benefit of a side fan for helping to introduce cool air for the cooler in higher load situations which the u9b could benefit from at this stage. Essentially after a tower with a low enough profile to fit a side fan.

I suspect a side fan won't fit with the d9 but you can always use the back fan as intake and let positive pressure do its work for exhaust. Assuming that the back fan fits...
 
That looks really, really good. I think the Noctua NH-L12 is the ideal air cooler for this build.

I'd disagree. The Scythe Big Shuriken fits perfectly on the Asus Z77/Z87 boards, and packs a real punch. I'm going to be using one for my N1 NAS-box build...
 
I suspect a side fan won't fit with the d9 but you can always use the back fan as intake and let positive pressure do its work for exhaust. Assuming that the back fan fits...

With my U9B, the rear fan should be possible. Comfortably with the 14mm slim, and tight, but possible with a 25mm thick. (well, this is with my cardboard build, with which there will be more space than mine in the real M1.

As stated, the real question is, how well does it compare between the C12/C14, vs the D9.

Its so much fun just thinking out the different layouts, cant wait to have the real case on hand! Still none shipped and delivered in Australia yet.
 
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You do realize that Noctua advises against mounting the heatpipes upwards?
http://noctua.at/pdf/manuals/noctua_nh_l12_manual_en.pdf

If I were you, I'd check temperature, maybe you're fine, but mayhaps you would run into problems.. ;)
I had indeed realised this, but the caring factor was almost zero :)

The temps were only a few °C higher than in the CM Elite 130 but that also had two extra fans. It had the 120mm Noctua fan (of the NH-L12) as a casefan (blowing inwards) and the 92mm as the CPU fan mounted underneath it. The 120mm fan of the PSU I had back then was just above the CPU exhausting air out, so it was just a better situation.

The NCASE M1 only has the 120mm fan. To compensate for the lack of fans, I have adjusted the fan profile I had in the Elite 130:
35°C = 33%
40°C = 50%
50°C = 67%
60°C = 80%

To this:

35°C = 40%
40°C = 55%
50°C = 70%
60°C = 80%

Fully loaded with BurnInTest it tops out at about 50°C in the Ncase M1.

BvAmbGt.png


Compare this to the same test in the CM Elite 130 but with the less agressive fan profile:

ShgPvDe.png



that could be the reason for higher temps... But nice to see another build going forward!!

In Addtition the very high socket position of the Z87E is not good either...
While the Asrock Z87E-ITX isn't centered, it's still not as bad as most Z77's are and some Z87's still are. Current Z87 motherboards:

9PZxjwS.png

Gigabyte GA-Z87N-WIFI

tpM3fuT.png

MSI Z87I

usCeRnc.png

EVGA Z87 Stinger

QQAkpIR.png

Asus Z87i-PRO

G8iYOEK.png

Asus Maximus VI Impact

1vcH3Yz.png

Asrock Z87E-ITX

None are centered, just "more or less" or are towards the GPU which I do not prefer.

The Gigabyte and MSI boards are towards the lower-right which is just asking for trouble.
The EVGA has a large shroud close by, the Asus'es have daughterboards around the socket.

In that regard, the Asrock isn't doing so bad. Anandtech recently reviewed it and recommends it, which doesn't happen every day and I consider them to be good motherboard reviewers.

That looks really, really good. I think the Noctua NH-L12 is the ideal air cooler for this build. I'm using the SFX PSU, LVP RAM, and blower GPU. I've got the Asus Impact Motherboard so hopefully there will be a little bit more room around the edges for the cooler.

And also, no case fans? This is going to be awesome!
I wouldn't call the NH-L12 ideal since it's lack in cooling capacity (only an issue with overclocking), but it does allow to use the CPU heatsink on air and a radiator on the side to liquid-cool the GPU, which I'm leaning towards.

The NH-C14 seems to be a better fit when air-cooling everything:

RMgfA99m.jpg
 
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So I just saw checked ncases.com again and found a tracking number :D


AND ... two failed deliveries :(
 
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