NCASE M1: a crowdfunded Mini-ITX case

[Wreckem]

Personally, I think a summer release is not going to happen. Prototypes will be out for reviews by summer but I think Fall/Winter for finished product delivery is more likely. They still got a long road ahead of them. People wanting something now or soon will be disappointed. Just a guess/opinion I have about final delivery time.

Before the prototype campaign they didnt have any real time frame. Now it is tentatively August. The question before was would there be enough interest to get to units. They obviously don't have to worry about getting enough units to get the cost down to under $200. They just have to hope everything goes smoothly. But yeah The only person thats going to get a case anytime soon is the person who ponied up $2000 for the prototype.

I am okay with August/Fall. Because I am going to do a haswell build and by that time there should be some decent Z87 mitx motherboard options availible.

 

[KentState]

Personally, I think a summer release is not going to happen. Prototypes will be out for reviews by summer but I think Fall/Winter for finished product delivery is more likely. They still got a long road ahead of them. People wanting something now or soon will be disappointed. Just a guess/opinion I have about final delivery time.

I agree also that seeing something within 6 months is highly unlikely. Unit the prototype is released, I don't see this as anything more than charity.

 

[IlllI]

good news is they've already ordered the first prototype!

"Hey everyone! We’re pleased to announce that we’ve ordered the first prototype from Lian Li! And thanks to the generous support from all of our backers, we’ve also gone ahead and paid for the tooling for the front I/O module, which otherwise would have to wait until production"

you can find the comment on their indiegogo page

 

[IlllI]

the prototype has arrived

 

[Wreckem]

The first prototype is almost done.

http://www.indiegogo.com/projects/ncase-m1-prototype-a-mini-itx-case?c=gallery#12

 

[MrX8503]

The case could be smaller. Its trying to do too much. Get rid of the optical drive, RAD, and ATX PSU. I was very interested in this case as well, but I ended up building an FT 03 mini

 

[IlllI]

well thats a curious decision. you mention that it is too big, yet the ft03 mini is 17.6L while this case is 12.6L

 

[Wreckem]

The case could be smaller. Its trying to do too much. Get rid of the optical drive, RAD, and ATX PSU. I was very interested in this case as well, but I ended up building an FT 03 mini

The optical drive isnt taking up space. Originally it was a SSD mount. Now its slim odd or ssd.

The case wasn't about making something as small as possible. It was about making something like the Sugo 05, but slightly bigger to allow for more customization and water cooling.

Getting smaller than the Sugo 05 requires usage of riser cards and much more engineering to make sure everything will fit together while having adequate cooling.

Oh I currently have a Sugo 08, which is slightly bigger than this case but doesn't have as much usable space. The Sugo 08 is relatively tiny(especially compared to those mitx towers like the ft03 mini and the gargantuan prodigy). This case is smaller than that, it could be smaller, but you wouldnt be fitting as much stuff if it were.

 

[MrX8503]

well thats a curious decision. you mention that it is too big, yet the ft03 mini is 17.6L while this case is 12.6L

The footprint is smaller though. That and the M1 wasn't available yet.

 

[IlllI]

The footprint is smaller though. That and the M1 wasn't available yet.

i see. if you are still looking in the future you might consider the M3A2. the guy working on producing themmentioned he could possibly do a 'mini' version upon request. here are some mock-ups of the other two smaller variations http://hardforum.com/showpost.php?p=1039746997&postcount=231http://hardforum.com/showpost.php?p=1039756218&postcount=273

 

[capeconsultant]

I am very interested in the smaller versions. Will they be quiet and cool? I am assuming the tiny one will be for an Intel NUC type of mainboard?

 

[SithSolo1]

I am very interested in the smaller versions. Will they be quiet and cool? I am assuming the tiny one will be for an Intel NUC type of mainboard?

All of the models, standard through ultra-mini, are designed for the mini-ITX form factor.
Even the smallest version is large enough to hold two entire NUCs double-stacked with ample room to spare.

 

[capeconsultant]

All of the models, standard through ultra-mini, are designed for the mini-ITX form factor.
Even the smallest version is large enough to hold two entire NUCs double-stacked with ample room to spare.

Thanks. I get it now. That is good as there are some great mini-ITX boards.

 

[IlllI]

They are in the process of finalizing shipping costs.

They put up a poll to find out which countries their customers reside in (most donors didn’t provide their address and some people missed the prototype campaign).

Please use this link: www.ncases.com/poll

 

[wb182]

Hmm, I think this case might just tempt me away from getting a pre-built X51.

 

[ViviTheMage]

can't wait to snag mine

 

[ElFenix]

i see. if you are still looking in the future you might consider the M3A2. the guy working on producing themmentioned he could possibly do a 'mini' version upon request. here are some mock-ups of the other two smaller variations http://hardforum.com/showpost.php?p=1039746997&postcount=231http://hardforum.com/showpost.php?p=1039756218&postcount=273

loving the m3a2 case

 

[Subyman]

I just did a Case Labs S3, but would love to have one of these in my collection. I love the renders. It amazes me how realistic they can make stuff look.

 

[IlllI]

yeah m3a2 was nice as well, but got discontinued unfortunately. see post http://hardforum.com/showpost.php?p=1039981895&postcount=570

 

[Throckmorton]

Another giant MiniITX case... I don't understand these at all.

 

[Wreckem]

Another giant MiniITX case... I don't understand these at all.

Giant?

At 12.6L of volume it is barely bigger than the Sugo05(10.8) and smaller than the Sugo 07/8(14.8) and less than half of the Prodigy(over 26(. All while being way more efficient in the use of space.

Its anything but giant. Unless you mean the Sugo 05/06/07/08 are giant. Anything smaller than a Sugo05 can't fit a full length graphics card without riser cards/ribbons or fancy custom designs and said cases/pcs have poor thermals.

 

[Throckmorton]

Giant?

At 12.6L of volume it is barely bigger than the Sugo05(10.8) and smaller than the Sugo 07/8(14.8) and less than half of the Prodigy(over 26(. All while being way more efficient in the use of space.

Its anything but giant. Unless you mean the Sugo 05/06/07/08 are giant. Anything smaller than a Sugo05 can't fit a full length graphics card without riser cards/ribbons or fancy custom designs and said cases/pcs have poor thermals.

I don't care about litres. I'm looking at the pictures and that's the size of an mATX case.

 

[Skott]

I don't care about litres. I'm looking at the pictures and that's the size of an mATX case.

Its not giant. And its not matx size either. Stop looking at just the picture and read the dimensions.

 

[Wreckem]

I don't care about litres. I'm looking at the pictures and that's the size of an mATX case.

Umm liters are a result of dimensions. The case is not the size of a matx case. It is in tower instead of shoebox form, meaning it is taller, but not as wide and not as deep.

Lets compare to the Sugo08 and Sugo05.

Sugo 08
190mm height (7.48")
222mm width (8.74")
350mm length (13.78')
14.8 liters

Ncase M1
250mm tall (9.84")
160mm wide (6.3")
328mm long (12.91")
12.6 liters

Sugo 05
176mm height (6.93")
222mm width (8.74")
276mm length (10.87")
10.8 liters

For shits and giggles, the Tiki, and the X51

Tiki(might be off, depends on what measurements these are(ie: with or without the marble slab)
330.2mm height (13")
101.6mm width (4")
345.4mm length (13.6")
11.6 liters

X51
342.9mm height (13.5")
95mm width (3.74")
318mm length (12.52")
10.36 liters

While I am at it, the Prodigy
404mm height (15.9")
250mm width (9.84")
359mm length (14.13")
26.35 liters(based on internal dimensions of 310mm x 250mm x 340mm)

So as you can see, the Ncase M1 is barely bigger than the Sugo 05, Tiki, and X51. While its slightly bigger its way more versatile and requires no ribbon cables/riser cards(like the Tiki and X51) and you have way more options in terms of configurations. And with the ability to use up to 5 fanes(4 120mm and 1 95mm) it should have better thermals.

 

[Throckmorton]

Umm liters are a result of dimensions. The case is not the size of a matx case. It is in tower instead of shoebox form, meaning it is taller, but not as wide and not as deep.

Lets compare to the Sugo08 and Sugo05.

Sugo 08
190mm height (7.48")
222mm width (8.74")
350mm length (13.78')
14.8 liters

Ncase M1
250mm tall (9.84")
160mm wide (6.3")
328mm long (12.91")
12.6 liters

Sugo 05
176mm height (6.93")
222mm width (8.74")
276mm length (10.87")
10.8 liters

For shits and giggles, the Tiki, and the X51

Tiki(might be off, depends on what measurements these are(ie: with or without the marble slab)
330.2mm height (13")
101.6mm width (4")
345.4mm length (13.6")
11.6 liters

X51
342.9mm height (13.5")
95mm width (3.74")
318mm length (12.52")
10.36 liters

While I am at it, the Prodigy
404mm height (15.9")
250mm width (9.84")
359mm length (14.13")
26.35 liters(based on internal dimensions of 310mm x 250mm x 340mm)

So as you can see, the Ncase M1 is barely bigger than the Sugo 05, Tiki, and X51. While its slightly bigger its way more versatile and requires no ribbon cables/riser cards(like the Tiki and X51) and you have way more options in terms of configurations. And with the ability to use up to 5 fanes(4 120mm and 1 95mm) it should have better thermals.

It's 50% wider than a Dell 660S ITX