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

mwayne5 said:
Very long time lurker on the M1, but now I need to ask a question since I'm beginning to get my parts together.

Has anyone thought of a way to use two ALO coolers in the build? With the introduction of NZXT's Kraken G10, I've been trying to figure out a way to use a closed loop cooler on both the CPU and the GPU. Will the rads from the cooler be able to be mounted upwards on the M1's side bracket with the tubes coming out of the top/bottom? It would be nice to have a cooler with both the CPU and the GPU.

http://www.nzxt.com/product/detail/138-kraken-g10-gpu-bracket.html
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Pelinox said:
You haven't lurked enough, then. That's where the Swiftech H220 comes in, since it's expandable, you can simply add the GPU with a normal waterblock.

And at best, you could add a 2nd 240mm ram in the bottom.
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mwayne5 said:
I would run into the same type of problems that people are having the the Asrock z77e M-ITX board with clearance with the dimm slots :(

Edit: lol I may just buy a new board
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When I get mine, I'll let you know. I'm planning on attempting to run dual AIOs. As of right now, most probably with two Corsair H75's. Sure, it may be a tubing nightmare, but I say screw the naysayers and try it anyway. If it doesn't work, I'll just keep one and leave my CPU air cooled. Either way, I'll post pics and whatnot in this thread.
 
crazjayz said:
When I get mine, I'll let you know. I'm planning on attempting to run dual AIOs. As of right now, most probably with two Corsair H75's. Sure, it may be a tubing nightmare, but I say screw the naysayers and try it anyway. If it doesn't work, I'll just keep one and leave my CPU air cooled. Either way, I'll post pics and whatnot in this thread.
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Corsair H75 is not on the list. don't know if it will work ...

'Corsair : H110, H90 , H55 , H50 '
 
Ace of Six said:
I'm not bothering with the Asus Impact anymore. I'm returning it back to newegg and buying the Asus z87i-Deluxe or Pro. Still deciding on the two; I think the only difference between the two is that the Deluxe has ac wifi and the Pro doesn't?
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Haven't bought the impact but my feelings are the same. I going to wait a bit longer to see if the MSI itx gaming mobo is decent.
 
Ace of Six said:
I'm not bothering with the Asus Impact anymore. I'm returning it back to newegg and buying the Asus z87i-Deluxe or Pro. Still deciding on the two; I think the only difference between the two is that the Deluxe has ac wifi and the Pro doesn't?
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Yup, Deluxe has AC, Pro is N-only.. couldn't find any other differences. Not sure of other regions, but only the Deluxe is available in the US.. and Pro for Europe.

Maybe use the money you saved from returning the Impact to get a decent outboard DAC. If the Z87i-Deluxe onboard audio isn't up to snuff, I'm gonna try a small inline USB DAC like the AudioQuest DragonFly, or something similar..

82212dragonfly4.jpg
 
I am using the HRT Microstreamer, and the audio interference that comes about with GPU load is also transmitted through the audio output.

For this reason, I feel that it might be related to the PSU side?. This happens on both my seasonic M620, and my Silverstone SF45G


On another note, I have my photos of the PSU intake duct!

PSU intake has been de-grilled. Note the M3 bolts sticking up from the PSU box. This is what the PSU duct bolts to. Note the GROSS scratching of the paint for the side panel fan screw. Came that way.... Luckily it will mostly be hidden most of the time.


Design made by tracing an 80mm fan, and taking a ruler to the case to get approximate dimensions. I don't have the numbers, as it was all just made on the spot.


Staples to hold the folded parts together. Mounting holes matching the 80mm fan mounting holes. Made these holes with a screwdriver ;)


Note the flap that goes into the PSU, this is to help force the air over the components that matter, rather than simply though the gap in the PSU which was occupied by the slim fan.


Installed into the case.


The PSU baffle can be seen in this view, and the next.




Top view, showing the placement of the PSU duct, and the side panel fan. The 3mm gap between the duct and the fan has been filled with tape, tape that is folded over on itself to form a flexible self adjusting seal against the fan. The gap between the HDD and the duct at the front side of the case focuses the airflow over the HDDs. The excess air from the case bottom fans give a relatively cool air supply over the HDDs, so the HDDs are never more than warm.

Nice tight fit for the C14 cooler, giving it totally fresh air supply, and ensuring no recirculation of air. Plenty of room underneath for GPU hot air to escape too, although the positive pressure design and the free flowing rear exhaust means most of the hot air leaves by the rear panel.
 
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My case arrived today in Brisbane, Australia! Number 561.
I was literally on hold with Aus Post at work trying to find out where it was when it got delivered.

Now to get the bits to fill it...
 
okwchin said:
On another note, I have my photos of the PSU intake duct!
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Very nice work! Do you plan on keeping the duct as cardboard, or is it just testing for another material?

Exposed PSU + CPU heatsink + tinder would have me worried that the duct would eventually smolder and start an M1 inferno. I'm sure it's incredibly unlikely, but I'd still be more comfortable using plastic or metals for something long-term.
 
okwchin said:
I am using the HRT Microstreamer, and the audio interference that comes about with GPU load is also transmitted through the audio output.

For this reason, I feel that it might be related to the PSU side?. This happens on both my seasonic M620, and my Silverstone SF45G
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Something, somewhere, is VERY VERY wrong then. The point in having usb audio is, PRECISELY, to avoid interferences with your main computer. I know because before going mITX I had to go USB audio route simply because I had this damn issue with interferences (caused, I believe, by my very shitty crappy electrical servicing, or whatever the name in english might be, my house has).

To this day I had no problems with any USB related audio. No hiss, no noise, no nothing, and I tried 3 different USB products: a HRT Microstreamer II+, a Fiio E7 and, nowadays, an ODAC + Objective 2.

So, is there any chance at all the problem might be your usb cable? Does the problem get worse once you upper the volume? Have you tried different usb connectors on your computer?
 
AFD said:
Very nice work! Do you plan on keeping the duct as cardboard, or is it just testing for another material?

Exposed PSU + CPU heatsink + tinder would have me worried that the duct would eventually smolder and start an M1 inferno. I'm sure it's incredibly unlikely, but I'd still be more comfortable using plastic or metals for something long-term.
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Cardboard only burns at 400C, PSU components don't reach even 80C.
 
Just finished my build changed my H100i for a H60 SE and im getting really bad idle temps any ideas i used the thermal paste that was on the waterblock i think it mite have to much on there or its crap paste?

Ambient temp is 28c load temps get up to around 80c in under 5 minutes this is on only 1.2v 4.4Ghz.

Untitled_1.jpg

20131210_224132.jpg
 
Gah, seeing all these pictures of completed builds make me want the case even more lol. All my new parts are waiting on their home.
 
Is there a way for me to get the case even though I am not part of the initial crowd-funding participants?
 
OverRated said:
Just finished my build changed my H100i for a H60 SE and im getting really bad idle temps any ideas i used the thermal paste that was on the waterblock i think it mite have to much on there or its crap paste?

Ambient temp is 28c load temps get up to around 80c in under 5 minutes this is on only 1.2v 4.4Ghz.
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Sounds about right. Haswell just runs hot due to the cheap TIM that Intel uses. I've seen people getting BSOD at 4.3GHz/~1.2v with better cooling solutions. Unless you are using a 240 rad or a large heatsink the goal of achieving +4.3GHz OC on Haswell is unreasonable.
 
The H60 paste isnt the super duper best but its not bad either. I have you tried a second seating or are you just on the first attempt? What are your idle temps?
 
Andorski said:
Sounds about right. Haswell just runs hot due to the cheap TIM that Intel uses. I've seen people getting BSOD at 4.3GHz/~1.2v with better cooling solutions. Unless you are using a 240 rad or a large heatsink the goal of achieving +4.3GHz OC on Haswell is unreasonable.
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I'm using liquid pro for TIM my idle temp on my h100i where around 25c with a load of 75c on 1.275v 4.6ghz, on this h60 im getting temps of 45c on idle and temps of 100c on load, ill try re sitting it when I get home.
 
OverRated said:
20131210_224132.jpg
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Those tubes are curled up pretty badly. According to my experimentations the best position is with the tubes at the radiator facing downwards towards the GPU, tubes at the CPU in the same position as yours, with the tubes coiling clockwise. I don't mean temperature-wise but less crazy curls like that.
 
well i just reapplied the H60 and temps are the same no change and this is when the rad is out side the case for testing.
 
I have removed the feet from my case. Friday heralds a day of making a mold of the feet and turning out some test feet. I'm thinking opaque red (can do transparent but I think that'd look silly.

Ultimate plan is brass feet for my black m1.
 
is there any information on where i can get the black feet when i ordered a silver case? i think they would look much nicer
 
cowsgomoo said:
Those tubes are curled up pretty badly. According to my experimentations the best position is with the tubes at the radiator facing downwards towards the GPU, tubes at the CPU in the same position as yours, with the tubes coiling clockwise. I don't mean temperature-wise but less crazy curls like that.
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I tired that it kinks the hose because of my ram the way i have it is the only way i can for my build.
 
Folks, it looks like the boat has arrived to the Netherlands!!!!! :D

This means nothing though... It's probably gonna cost us all another month of bickering with PostNL anyways...

EDIT: Might have misread tracking, though it has been updated. Please tell me that the boat did not only just leave Taiwan
 
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I may sell my M1 if any one looking at getting one here in AU for what its worth my GPU temps are to high so ill probably just go back to my larger case i was using which cooled things better.
 
xbeater said:
Folks, it looks like the boat has arrived to the Netherlands!!!!! :D

This means nothing though... It's probably gonna cost us all another month of bickering with PostNL anyways...

EDIT: Might have misread tracking, though it has been updated. Please tell me that the boat did not only just leave Taiwan
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The tracking information isn't very clear. I hope it's seriously out of date, because it does not provide:
  • Flight/Ship No
  • Flight/Ship date
(yet)

I couldn't stand the waiting anymore and ordered all the parts, gone build it in a randomn atx case tomorrow and transfer when the M1 arrives. This way I can already start testing/gaming etc.

Needed the system upgrade, the cool/portable/sleek casing will come later! All planned watercooling parts will be ordered later also!
 
jadatmag said:
I couldn't stand the waiting anymore and ordered all the parts, gone build it in a randomn atx case tomorrow and transfer when the M1 arrives. This way I can already start testing/gaming etc.
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Just what I already did. I've now got my M6I, 240mm CLC, 2.5" 1TB, 2.5" SSD, and 450 SFX unit in a big 'ol Antec P280... looks real funny :p

I don't have a graphics card yet, but that'll come when we see how well Mantle works, and when the custom R9-290's come out, whenever that is.
 
Temps are high. It's louder than my old case. But it's so widdle and cute! And pretty! :p.

That said; I've managed a pretty decent 4ghz OC with a lower-than-stock voltage. Maxing out at 75 degrees under Prime95 + Kombuster. This is only with a Noctua U9B SE2 mind you. With one fan, the second fan is the rear exhaust.

I ended up moving my Noise Blocker 800rpm intake to just above the PSU/before the CPU cooler. Hoping to intake cool air. The GPU fends for itself.

The SFX 450W PSU is EASILY the loudest thing under load. It's got a very high pitch compared to the others. It's rather annoying. But oh well. Will replace it one day with either the 550w model (better fan?) or some Seasonic SFX model if those rumours are true...

Til then I love the new build. Though I had some minor issues to start; they seem to be well ironed out. =)
 
jadatmag said:
The tracking information isn't very clear. I hope it's seriously out of date, because it does not provide:
  • Flight/Ship No
  • Flight/Ship date
(yet)

I couldn't stand the waiting anymore and ordered all the parts, gone build it in a randomn atx case tomorrow and transfer when the M1 arrives. This way I can already start testing/gaming etc.

Needed the system upgrade, the cool/portable/sleek casing will come later! All planned watercooling parts will be ordered later also!
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I also hope that we are reading this wrong. Dispatched today with destination Amsterdam.

Acceptance Oct/30/2013 10:47
Dispatch from originating country's exchange office Dec/11/2013 18:11
Office of destination AMSTERDAM NETHERLANDS
Despatch No. 0010

So no arrival in the Netherlands, but the case is on its way from office Taiwan to a ship. :rolleyes:
 
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ReaperX22 said:
Temps are high. It's louder than my old case. But it's so widdle and cute! And pretty! :p.

That said; I've managed a pretty decent 4ghz OC with a lower-than-stock voltage. Maxing out at 75 degrees under Prime95 + Kombuster. This is only with a Noctua U9B SE2 mind you. With one fan, the second fan is the rear exhaust.

I ended up moving my Noise Blocker 800rpm intake to just above the PSU/before the CPU cooler. Hoping to intake cool air. The GPU fends for itself.

The SFX 450W PSU is EASILY the loudest thing under load. It's got a very high pitch compared to the others. It's rather annoying. But oh well. Will replace it one day with either the 550w model (better fan?) or some Seasonic SFX model if those rumours are true...

Til then I love the new build. Though I had some minor issues to start; they seem to be well ironed out. =)
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Prime95 doesn't support ivy or haswell or any 1050 chip it will put your chip under 100% load but wont test the FPU try intel burn test, Is your SFX 450W the version 2 ?
 
OverRated said:
Prime95 doesn't support ivy or haswell or any 1050 chip it will put your chip under 100% load but wont test the FPU try intel burn test, Is your SFX 450W the version 2 ?
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Ah I see. Will use ibt when I get a chance. And yeah its version 2. With prime95 and MSI kombuster I was pulling 270 from the wall. With a 4770k and GTX 670. Which isn't too shabby at all. But even in idle the SFX psu has a notable slightly higher pitch fan noise... I'll get used to it eventually but in the meantime it will bother me I'm sure. Haha.

Hope my temps don't shoot up any higher... If they do I'll be very tempted to just grab a h100i and throw that in there. With my 800rpm noise blockers it'll still perform well better than a tiny heatsink drawing half cool air half hot air Haha. I shall continue testing when I get time! Will also try to lower the voltage again...
 
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