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

Spades45 said:
I haven't even logged in since June and I come back to this project entering production?! Awesome. This is sexy as all hell.

I may just have to build a Hackintosh out of this instead of going with the iMac...
Click to expand...

Production? Mmm, I'm afraid you are late. Cases are en route to their final owners. So, unless you already ordered one, or get one of ebay... you are out of luck.
 
The_Gunslinger said:
ooooo, where .... linky, i'd like some of those :)
Click to expand...

I see they didn't manage to get those filters on their site at this week. I was in direct contact with them before and they said that they were trying to get them to the site at friday. Well, I believe that they should show up there next week. Sorry for false information.
 
sry for off-topic, but can someone tell me if the silverstone SFX 450-g had male or female contacts in there cables?
 
Phuncz said:
I have yet to find an issue with the heatsink mounted the "not recommended"-way. It's still pretty cool at 100% load:
Click to expand...

I'm building it at the moment and actually just came back on here to find out if you'd had any issues before I mount the cooler. So thanks for the info! Heatpipes-up it goes... ;)
 
I went and cut up an ATX PSU grommet to fit the Silverstone SFX PSU. They really should start making these, they cost less than a dollar to produce in China.

Cutting and sleeving the ATX main cable today, hopefully eight inches is enough to reach. I don't have a mobo on hand to test measure with. Anyone want to give me an estimate? :)
 
8 inches should be fine.

I'm not understanding what you mean with "grommet"? Isn't that the term for something that protects the edges of a hole?

Cardboard motherboards rule!

cardboard_zps50345fac.jpg
 
WiSK said:
8 inches should be fine.

I'm not understanding what you mean with "grommet"? Isn't that the term for something that protects the edges of a hole?

Cardboard motherboards rule!
Click to expand...
Haha, god these pictures are great.

What I meant by grommet were things like this: http://www.directron.com/tnsypw.html

Took about five minutes to cut one up and punch some holes to fit the SFX screw hole pattern. It might make no difference at all, but it can't hurt to try.
 
FinBuilder said:
I see they didn't manage to get those filters on their site at this week. I was in direct contact with them before and they said that they were trying to get them to the site at friday. Well, I believe that they should show up there next week. Sorry for false information.
Click to expand...
The Demciflex filters will take a little longer. I went back and reworked the side filter so it's one-piece. The bottom filter... well, I'm still working on it. I've really made it difficult for myself with all the holes on the bottom, that's for sure. I also have a design to filter the intake on the ST45SF (both the bronze and gold version), which should fit between the PSU and side panel for those setting it to intake from that side.

M4rk said:
I'm considering switching out the tubing for something with a smaller diameter if that would make any difference with regard to clearances.
Click to expand...
It'll definitely afford you a bit more room. Not only did I size down to 1/2" OD, I also skipped the hose clamps for even more room. The tubing was tight enough to keep a watertight seal on the pump barbs. I did, however, need clamps on the tubing for the radiator barbs -- they seemed fairly loose by comparison.
 
I'm sure there has been a lot of talk about PSU's. Just wondering what is the best regarded PSU for this case? Or any good ones coming out soon?

Specifically the smaller ones, that won't block the fan mount.
 
Necere said:
The Demciflex filters will take a little longer. I went back and reworked the side filter so it's one-piece. The bottom filter... well, I'm still working on it. I've really made it difficult for myself with all the holes on the bottom, that's for sure. I also have a design to filter the intake on the ST45SF (both the bronze and gold version), which should fit between the PSU and side panel for those setting it to intake from that side.

It'll definitely afford you a bit more room. Not only did I size down to 1/2" OD, I also skipped the hose clamps for even more room. The tubing was tight enough to keep a watertight seal on the pump barbs. I did, however, need clamps on the tubing for the radiator barbs -- they seemed fairly loose by comparison.
Click to expand...
Thanks for the tips Necere. I saw a guy use cable ties as extra insurance on the pump barbs, and I think I'll do the same thing alongside your suggestion. Ties are so thin, there's hardly any chance they'll be an issue like the metal fittings are.

Btw, chatted with W360 over Skype a few days ago about some stuff. I'm sure you've seen the encouragement from this thread about continuing computer case design and production. I'll send 'ya a PM.
 
itsskillsmcgee said:
I'm sure there has been a lot of talk about PSU's. Just wondering what is the best regarded PSU for this case? Or any good ones coming out soon?

Specifically the smaller ones, that won't block the fan mount.
Click to expand...
There's really only one SFX PSU worth buying right now: Silverstone's ST45SF-G. It doesn't block the mount and it's strong enough to power almost all high-end graphics cards, except for dual-gpu cards.
 
neocmetal said:
Any thoughts on the Thermalright Apx-200?
Click to expand...
That last pic looks like it won't clear the PSU in the M1, assuming the SFX mount is used. If you're not using the front half of the side bracket for anything, you could use the ATX bracket with an ATX PSU, or with an adapter plate for SFX (the ST45SF-G comes with one), which would give you the extra room past the edge of the board.
 
prava said:
Production? Mmm, I'm afraid you are late. Cases are en route to their final owners. So, unless you already ordered one, or get one of ebay... you are out of luck.
Click to expand...

ah well, you snooze you lose! congrats though this is really cool! and if an M2 ever comes out one of you better PM me!
 
jojo69 said:
I would be very wary of EK anything after their behavior around the plating fiasco
Click to expand...

A lot of EK stuff is really good though. I love the X3 reservoirs, the small 90 degree rotary fittings, and their new Coolstream PE rads. And even though they were rude and unhelpful to many customers initially about the water block plating, they did eventually extend warranty for the affected nickel products to 2 years.
 
How high is the power daughter board on the Asus Maximus VI Impact? Can't find this information anywhere, and I've looked really hard (including several reviews and the user's manual). :(

I need that height measurement to know if a Noctua NH-C12P will fit (in the way I'd be mounting it).
 
 
MiLk said:
Sorry I didn't know what to search for exactly

Thanks for the links..

I am very interested in seeing what everyone is going to do about wire management
Click to expand...

Well, with the ST45SF-G PSU and Maximus 6 Impact motherboard, I'm so far looking at needing every cable except one: the molex & floppy cable.

I should be able to get away with using a single SATA power splitter (for double-stacked SSD's behind the front panel), and a single PWM splitter (for Radiator fans.) This will leave me with two PWM headers; one in case the 14mm thick nocuta 92mm fan can fit in the rear with an H220/Glacer 240 installed, and a PWM header for a single bottom intake. I might need a single SATA power extension if I decide to use a 3.5" HDD in the floor, but with the Seagate 2TB 2.5" 9mm HDD announcement last week (Spinpoint M9T I believe?) I might just grab that instead, in which case I'd use 2x 120mm fans in the floor, and a second PWM splitter.

Long term though, once all my drives are finalized and layout is pretty much set, I'm going to make a set of custom PSU wires, probably sleeved with core-less paracord (I just love the look and feel.) I'm just not going to go to the trouble of making them until after Silverstone releases their new SFX PSU and I decide if it's worth upgrading.
 
MiLk said:
Sorry I didn't know what to search for exactly

Thanks for the links..

This looks nice: http://www.quietpc.com/gel-pwm-1-4-pwmcable

I am very interested in seeing what everyone is going to do about wire management
Click to expand...

I've made all my own splitters. Just used thin black wires, about 1" long, 2" overall with connectors. Have no room to have any loose cables in the case. Fan cables are already too long!

Connectors were tan coloured, but some black heat shrink cleaned them up sufficiently. Simply having the wires black was neat enough for my build. Having less cables to me is aesthetically more important than having them sleeved, especially when its only 2" long and not actually visible because it gets stuffed under the cpu heatsink or against the corner of the case under the GPU.

Not difficult to make these cables, all you need is a soldering iron, solder, self closing tweezers (or pliers and rubber band), small screwdriver and scissors or blade knife. Don't have my comp with me, but will get a photo up later.


This store is local to me, but these are the connectors I used. http://www.altronics.com.au/index.asp?area=item&id=P5494, http://www.altronics.com.au/index.asp?area=item&id=P5474

Modding stores and ebay have these in black for a neater installation, but I find that black heatshrink on these give as neat a job (effectively hides the tan colour) and give me the added protection for preventing shorts (how I killed my fan controller on my new Asrock mobo :() Black connectors are harder for me to source, and I already had these in my parts box :)
 
Last edited:
is any one considering putting a handle on their case?
im considering an options such as
heavy_duty_handle_black_aluminum_mnpctech.com.jpg

im wondering if i could put that somewhere discretly. i have a few cupboard handles and drawer handles which could also do the job. they are smaller and maybe i could attach something at the back and bottom of the case. was also considering underneath, but there is a smaller gap there.
would you consider this against the aesthetic of the case?
its more for function than anything else, im not even sure about drilling into the metal, how safe it would be.
thoughts?
 
Has anyone from the US, besides the VIPs, already received/been notified that their case has shipped?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top