By the way! Just got the full ATX testing methodology redeveloped and deployed! That's the first time in 8 years we've done a complete and total rework of our ATX testing procedure and it was about 1 year in the making. We're running cases through testing now and will have a methodology piece soon, followed by a return of our ATX case reviews! Super excited for that. Lots of new types of data with the new approach also. As for ITX -- which ITX case is next? Watch our NCORE 100 Max ITX tower review: th-cam.com/video/xR1JIzdcVV4/w-d-xo.html Watch our Fractal Terra ITX case review (and for testing methodology information): th-cam.com/video/pKiFk7tBTLg/w-d-xo.html Or watch our Dan Case x Lian Li A4-H2O review: th-cam.com/video/6LdxMEP65h4/w-d-xo.html
30:17 - I'm going to recommend the ZS Case A4S V3, one of the easier to acquire cases from the Chinese market since they have their own international store. Uses a flex PSU
Your review release came at a very unfortunate time for NCASE. I believe the 2.0 version will be released this month and will remedy some of the problems expressed in the review. Maybe buy the 2.0 version for an update video?
I totally would like a murder-mystery-not-really tracking of that ITX design mastermind. As bonus, sneak those details of that lawsuit, or maybe not because it is so intricate to that web of industry connections. Just need to the full tack board full of photos, string and pins to connect everything.
Hey hey it’s my case! Glad you guys could check it out since I couldn’t swing a new build by the time it showed up. The 15 SSDs are nuts… who… asked for that? My 7 year old is going to be stoked when I show this to him. We watch GN together and he told me “your computer is going to be a star dad!” When I said I was sending it to you guys. Thanks for being so easy to work with.
M.2A has one NVME drive. So... 4x drives from mobo SATA ports 6x drives from M.2 6x SATA card 4-5x drives thru internal USB header with USB hu to SATA adapter. There are also dedicated USB3 SATA adapters if you want to use PSU SATA power instead of USB power (which also means being able to use 3.5in HDDs thru the USB headers Currently have an SG05 with 2x3.5in HDDs, 2x2.5in SSDs, 2xM.2 drives, 120mm AIO in push-pull, 2x 70mm exhausts, an RX570, Aorus B550i, 5800X, Corsair SF650 Gold. Its pretty packed and heavy. And I can still put in one 2.5in SSD below the AIO pushpull. Bitfenix prodigy has 6 SATA drives now but I think I can put in more drives with a top-mounted HDD cage, and custom HDD cage for the front mount. Thinking of adding more SATA using the internal USB headers. Some of us just dont wanna NAS or holding off as much as possible =)))))
my guess would be for an easy closet server or even plex/jellyfish server. my plex server uses 12 8TB SSD's that i got for dirt cheap from a data center whole seller. but i'm cheap and lazy so they're just taped together laying on the bottom of the case.
I definitely want to hear about the designer's backstory. 'All ITX cases that people like' being tied to a single person while also having a minimalistic non-gamery design says a lot. The only reason my new system is not SFF is due to the insane price of decent small mobos where I live.
mine your own silicone and coltan from war torn Africa and smelt your own motherboard materials. very cheap. you only pay a flat $200 fee to be interred in a forced labor camp and compelled to work 15 hour days in a dark mineshaft slightly wider than your shoulder width. free room and board when we remember to feed you.
I love Mini-ITX content, these small/compact cases add many complexities to a build - but to me that makes it that much more satisfying to plan and complete. Throwing parts in an ATX tower is just not fun anymore, too easy and too much wasted space. As for the M1EVO specifically, it is not for the faint of heart. A very complex build, with terrible documentation as you mentioned. Someone new to Small Form Factor builds should definitely look into something more basic, like the CoolerMaster NR200.
Glad you like it! We're having fun with these and ramping our abilities for the reviews! Agreed on the complexity being part of the fun. This one could do a lot to smooth over some of the usability, but for mini-ITX in general (or mATX), a lot of the fun is the challenge of making the best possible things fit in the space available!
Space means room to breathe and to upgrade. Components keep getting bigger and output more and more thermal energy. I'd rather not limit myself this much.
Go play Tetris or something. I have to question the wisdom in not only purposely forcing yourself to battle thermals, but paying _more_ to do it. Just buy a masterbox or CoreV1 and save 80% off these overpriced fad cases.
@@FINNIUSORION That really depends tbh. In a flipped layout, you have the GPU sucking fresh air from the top, and on the vertical layout, its intaking from the side mesh. So it should be good. CPU will depend on the configuration as well but it should also be decent.
Regarding a statement in the video about the M1 Classic and EVO sharing the same designer -- Necere designed the original M1, and shares the NCASE brand with W360 who designed the M1EVO, T1, Meshilicious, etc. but did not have a hand in the OG M1 design. Necere is also not involved in the M1EVO, in his own words on Discord: "it's the people who work on the products that matters, and in that respect there is no commonality betweeen the M1 and M1 evo"
I'd really like to hear the about the history and politics of these companies. A couple months ago things got really complicated and I dont even know whats happening.
So glad that you guys have broken into reviewing ITX gear. My last build was my first mini ITX and it took a lot of research and a little bit of guesswork to be confident that the build I wanted would fit in my case. I was lucky that someone tore into that one pretty thoroughly but the kind of information GN provides would have been invaluable. Particularly with the fitment considerations in such small cases, it's incredible to see gear put through it's paces and not just parrot incorrect or misleading information from the manufacturer. ATX cases feel like mounting computer hardware in a studio apartment by comparison.
I built my first and current PC in the original NCASE M1 and I'm still rocking it to this day. Between Nvidia's 10 series GPUs, an NZXT CLC, and a Samsung NVMe that I probably way overpaid for, I was absolutely jazzed to have a PC I could pack up and travel with. The PC landscape has changed drastically since 2017 and it's now quite long in the tooth, so I was psyched to see GN's review of the M1 EVO pop up on my feed today. The expansive compatibility of the original has persisted to the EVO but some of the other design elements feel unrecognizable. For as loved as the original M1 was, I think this review has helped steer my search in another direction. Thank you Steve and the GN Team for sticking with the ITX case reviews!
If you're satisfied with a modern video card that fits you could still use the original M1. I refreshed mine about a year ago with a 13600k and 7900xt.
Ncase have prioritised flexibility and customisability over everything else. I think there is definitely value in this approach, however comes at significant cost (and not just $$$). I have been eye'ing this case for my own build, but am waiting for the next iteration which should clean up a few of the core issues. I think a key factor in someones decision is "do I want my own adventure", or do I just want to get my PC up and running ASAP... I think most people in the SFF community are of the DIY mindset, and as such this case fits its user-base pretty well.
This mirrors my build experience from my M1EVO build as a batch 1 delivery group. I threw the manual out once I got the basic structure complete and just winged the rest of build and seeing where there were countersunk screw holes. The manual had so many missing steps and conflicting information and wrong screws used in different locations. This release felt so unrefined and pushed out in a rushed manner. The build was frustrating and thats coming from an experienced SFF builder; built M1 classic, NR200, A4-H2O, S610, and FORMD T1. The few it good things about it is the aesthetics and amazing cooling performance like the FORMD T1 but accommodating larger GPUs and CPU coolers.
I have an dan case a4 v1 atm and I’m thinking about upgrading to a bigger case. Seeing that you used so many Sff cases I just thought that maybe you could tell me which one you would recommend. Thank you
@@channelURL If you are ok with the predetermined layout of the A4-H2O then I would recommend that since it can still fit FE RTX 4080 and 4090 paired with a low wattage 7800X3D. Otherwise I would consider waiting on the Dan C4 V2 case (Q2-Q3 2024). I had wanted the original C4, but missed out because he posted that he would sell them in the US under his own Newegg account. No one knew that only planned 1 batch of shipment and only for the EU. There is also a bigger case, at 25L the Lian Li A3 designed by Dan that is going to be announce on Feb 15th.
The versatility can also probably carry it forward well for reuse for upgrades, able to adapt to changing dimensions. For my money, the flipped layout is what I like, omitting my irritation with riser cables, and not having the feet problem. The C4-SFX being more specifically built to that layout.
I just gave up on my ITX adventures. I currently have the Corsair 2000D which is getting way too hot and noisy, due to lack of airflow. Then I ordered the Fractal Ridge to discover that my GPU would not fit. I am back to a good and performing ATX build, using the NZXT H6 Flow case. I don't have the patience and money (200-300 euros for a good ITX case) to continue on the ITX road.
I used an NCASE M1 for many years, it still does server duty in the closet serving Plex and Palworld. Now I use a Dan C4-SFX V1 and that was an absolute joy to build, especially with a Founders Edition 4090. I hope you guys do a review of the C4-SFX V2 when it is released. I think Steve will like it, its so elegant and intuitive.
As mentioned in a few other comments if you're looking for the fastest way to get a SFF build up and running this isn't the case. But if you've been building PC's for years and have grown bored of cookie cutter systems, this case opens the door to some interesting Configs and builds. Personally i have been wanting to do a custom loop SFF build for awhile and this is a serious contender for the case to do it in. The fact you can rearrange the layout so much and convert it to match multiple system layouts, makes the upfront cost some what justifiable.
Nice work GN! Thanks for putting this together. Only review I seen someone explain the different configuration. I’m just hoping now you will review the T1!
For that last part. I think it's good that you say this. You didn't recommend the Scythe Ninja 5 at all, yet I saw it, looked at it and found that it works perfectly for what I'm doing with it. So even after your review I bought it anyway and it performs great for how it sits in my case and how I use it. Surrounded on three sides with fans with the fourth side obstructed using the two fans it comes with in push configuration (something you didn't even test) it works silently even while gaming on a 5800X3D. But I knew what I was getting into and had a plan on how to use it and your review helped tremendously with that! So I'm really glad and I'm also talking to viewers in that regard, if your favorite TH-camr makes a negative review of something but you figure out a way you do like or can just totally live with the negatives they present, then don't tie yourself down to their final views. We'd all be the same person otherwise.
As a frequent traveler who’s out for months at a time, I love this form factor and am looking to build one for myself. I would add a thin “Fan-Box” on the bottom to blow air in from the bottom. BTW, another great job.
As I understand it, the original M1 Classic was a partnership between W360 and Necere with the former taking lead on manufacturing and the latter doing most of the design work. Hopefully any investigation into the origins of these boutique ITX cases at least reaches out to Necere for comment.
That's awesome that it has so much storage! I ended up going with the Silverstone CS-382 to build an mATX server/workstation. Now if I can just get a decent mATX AM5 board with two x16 slots for transcoding and HBA compatibility...
Excellent review! Love the high customization on some of these smaller cases. However, you're literally screwed if you're changing up your build often. Unfortunately it reminds me of my Fractal tower which is a PITA when swapping configurations because I have to dismantle half the case. Kudos to the guy who loaned this out for review. 👍
As a current user of the NCASE M1 v6.1, I've been super excited to see an in depth review of the M1 EVO. This definitely didn't disappoint! Personally while I love the upgrades made with the EVO especially with the GPU compatibility and configurations, the ease of build and performance per volume is really what drew me to the original. I'll have to keep searching for the best case that can fit in my bookbag and accommodate a 4090 sized GPU with a 240mm AIO. On another note I'm really interested in the backstory behind the Meshilicious lawsuit as I've seen snippets of it on and off in the sff forums after the original M1 was discontinued and the EVO was in development. Keep up the great work Steve!
I got this case and I was definitely challenged lol. I like the way it turned out. I like your take/review on it. I pretty much rebuilt it in twice so I felt your pain at 9:03 lmao “Jesus, that’s good enough.” This is my 3rd itx/sff build (I built 2 NR200Ps before), and got the gist from SFFGurus that I was gonna struggle, which I did, but everything worked out 😉 Keep the itx/sff related stuff coming.
As an owner of a NCase M1 "Classic" as it's called now: I am super happy with it and glad I snagged that over the Evo :) Cooling is quite a challenge though, I tore off the 3080ti cooler shroud and put some P12s there instead. CPU is on an EK240 as well. Undervolting was needed, because those 3080tis are such hotheads! Bottom Line though, it's been super satisfying ever since and I can easily take it along (for work reasons I do so quite often)
I have one configured with an Arctic Liquid Freezer II 240, i9-13900k, and a Pro Art 4080. I love it, it works great and keeps cool in combo with cabinet fans blowing cool air up from below in the cabinet where it lives. It cools much more effectively then my m1 did. The config/install was a real pain - the manual had errors and I had to get onto their Discord in the end, which went about as well as Discord based support ever goes (high on condescension, low on information users are the first to chime in, but you eventually do get help). Fortunately you only have to go through initial setup once and it's a great case. Definitely worth it if you're good at problem solving/figuring things out. You'll likely need to spend time on their Discord for anything but basic configs. Hopefully documentation improves.
I moved from a p600s to M1 Evo. Did some research on which case i should get and i considered a few but the m1evo stood up to me because of gpu support. As i keep my builds for 4-5 years i wanted a generous gpu support and i think for the size m1evo offers it. Yes, the screws situation could be improved and the gpu mounting need a rework but the front AIO feels like an alpha stage product. I was shocked how unstable it is. I tough i was missing something to put it in place but lots of people complained about it. On the bottom you can install 2x slim noctuas or p12,one 92mm on the back , i went for a 280mm nzxt aio with 140mm noctuas in normal config with aio on the side and with a little bit undervolt for the 7950 x3d and 3090 they are quite cool. cpu temps around 40-45 idle and 60-65 playing ac Valhalla gpu idling 30-40(no fan spinning but bottom one intake helps a lot) and 60-72C gaming. This was my first sff build and I loved it. It took me around 3 hours to get it done properly but in the end it all came together fine. If you are the kind of pc user that swaps components every 3-6 months get ready to waste some time into assembly and disassembly , if you are like me to build it and leave it until the next major upgrade the case won't disappoint you.
Nice review, and I like that you tested the case for acoustics. However I've got a nitpick : at the end, when comparing the M1 Evo to other cases, you didn't insist enough on its mATX capabilities. E.g. if someone want to make an ITX build, then yes, the A4-H2O would be a strong contender. But for an mATX build, at this volume, there aren't many contenders.
I have the case and completely agree. The customizabilty of it is through the roof. I view it like building a technic Lego set with horrible instructions. You will have some fun doing it, and there will be a lot of frustration along the way. But in the end It will end up looking like a computer but it will take some inginuity to get there.
It wasn't mentioned, but this case is also able to support 2x 120mm fans between the PSU and mobo (SFX/ITX mobo), behind the SSDs in the shown configuration. It's actually insane how versatile this case is, even if it's not user friendly and caters more towards SFF and/or custom watercooling users. Triple 240/280 rads are possible to fit in this case, although I'd rather use an external MORA at that point.
Seeing all the thermal comparisons reminded me of a video I've wanted to see for a while now. I'd be cool to see how pre-pasted AIO's compare vs re-pasting with various other thermal pastes. I've always trusted that the packaged paste was fine; I wholly expect repasting to be a waste of time and expect all results to fall within the margin of error, but if anyone is going to be pedantic enough to find out for sure I fully expect it to be you guys.
The fact that an m-ATX motherboard can legitimately fit here, as an actual intended configuration of the design (not merely some janky home-brew hack-mod possibility), puts this one in a class of its own vs. the existing ITX case "competitors", as far as I'm concerned. I feel like the value/importance of this option wan't emphasized or "weighted" heavily enough in your conclusion. I am willing to overlook or accommodate a LOT of other shortcomings in the "user-friendliness" aspects, AND overall "cost-competitiveness", just based on that one feature alone. Because this thing will allow me to re-use my existing older AM4 m-ATX motherboard (originally bought with a 3700X) for an upgrade to a 5800x3D, rather than having to start from scratch on a whole new parts list with a new mini-ITX board for my desired build in this SFF size-class. So for me, this effectively takes ~$150+ off the price of the case.
Yes, more compact size ITX cases please. Lets see them how they compare to ATX towers. A friend of mine is saying they suck because no space inside and no airflow and bad thermals. I want to build in the future an ITX system (gpu at the top to breathe air) and replace my gaming laptop and never look back at a gaming laptop ever again.
It depends a lot on the case. More fans doesn't equate to better temperatures. Sometimes, letting the hot air of the GPU mix with the CPU can be detrimental to the CPU performance. Some of the ITX builds can avoid this situation.
@@yensteel hence why i'm happy for this case test and hope for more...so people can see which to buy, as the prices on these cases is unjustifibly high, consumers need to get one that is good and not being scammed with a bad product
You should definitely check out the Thor Zone NanoQ S/R next! Super high quality ITX case with also a good amount of flexibility in how you want to setup your PC on the inside. It’s also able to house high end components including the biggest GPU’s that are currently available
The first NCASE M1 is what got my interested in itx builds. I was bummed when I found out it had been discontinued but super excited when I saw the EVO coming out. Unfortunately, by the time I wanted to build a new PC, the EVO wasn't available and the color/front panel configuration I wanted wouldn't be coming out until much later. I ended up going with a Terra and I'm content.
GN, Thanks for a characteristically very detailed review. But as an M1 Classic owner I would advise you to include the version number in the review, because things change very rapidly as versions come by (and the cadence on the M1 Classic was relatively swift).
Oh nice! I just got this case not too long ago. Can definitely say I would‘ve been better off not reading the manual. Definitely struggling to get a 2x 240mm AIO setup going. I just hang one radiator outside the case on my desk while I wait for more parts lol. The extra side brackets have been constantly sold out and weren’t available with my Interest Check order. Been debating on trying to get a 3d print of it instead. The patience part has definitely been a fun part for me to try to get it all fit in. Glad to see such detailed review! You gave me some ideas or ways to try to get this fully up and going. I went with this case as I started taking my PC in my carry on luggage as I travel as I got tired of laptops long ago. Been through a few different cases trying to find ones that give me flexibility to upgrade as well as stay small enough to fit in my roll aboard bag for the smaller regional airlines.
Thank you Steve for reviewing this and yes please dive deeper into this matter.. I have this case.. be sure comment on that cheap power button and the janky graphics card holder and slot rest area
Thermalright Peerless Assassin 120 Mini review when? MANY ITX cases have a 135mm CPU cooler limit, it would be great to have a series of cooler reviews which revolve around this height limit.
@@GamersNexus I would love to see it but I'd really want a bit of background and comparison between all of the versions going around. I have a v2 but I have a hard time knowing what's changed in the v2.1 v2.5 and the upcoming(?) v3. I doubt it'll be worth it for me to upgrade but I have a few small gripes with the v2 that I believe have been fixed since then and I'd like to see what the key differences are - even if it's only a brief explanation without any builds/testing. That video would definitely benefit from some digging into the drama going on between the creators of the T1. I only know it's happening (and potentially going legal again) but no idea what the details are beyond that there now seems to be at least 2 websites.
This is perfect for building a NAS. I would probably go with mechanical drives instead of SSDs (and only fill every other slot for cooling) but it is compact and will happily take one of my 10 year old mATX desktop boards. Drives are expensive enough. Why buy a new platform for a NAS when any one of several old potatoes will do the job? I have low power CPUs - If you consider 35W low power. It is compared to an old Xeon, which is the first thing most budget builders will think of when they want to build a server. But a 3rd gen i5 is perfectly fine for a NAS. There are people using Pis with a quarter of the processing power. The DIY nature gives options when building to make it as easy as possible for your particular use case. For example, you could assemble the drives in the drive cage before bolting it in as an assembly. You can essentially build the case around the PC rather than trying to cram a MB into a tiny case. You can put some stub legs on the bottom of the case for better airflow. Literally just get a piece of 1.5" diameter round aluminum bar stock, cut some 2" lengths and drill and tap holes for standard PC case screws, put a bevel on the other end and some stick on pads and bolt them in. It is the only way you're getting such a big GPU to run anything approaching cool. I would be putting a Noctua Industrial PPM fan in the rear exhaust position. The 2000RPM would probably be sufficient. It would increase flow by around 33% over the one you have in there. The 3000 RPM fan would double your exhaust airflow but they're quite noisy.
I had a lot of the same gripes about mine that Steve pointed out. The one I also found out is that the power supply mount doesn't like EVGA power supply because their on/off switch is too close to the rail so the screws don't sinch down properly. Also if the PSU is just over the front panel and not sideways, the mounting basically flips back and forth on it. Also building MATX in it is a complete PITA. I had high hopes for it, but it was a bit of a letdown. I'm hoping the Thor Zone I've got coming will be better.
Would definitely love the low down on the design history and lawsuits as I've been following the drama via sffnet and r/sffpc and Im thoroughly lost to this day! Great to see the itx series of videos as its my size of choice.... Phenomenal power in an itty bitty space!
I was eyeing the M1 Evo, coming from the original M1, but have a T1 sitting on the bench now. Just waiting for parts to get started. Funny that the parting between NCase and Lian Li was bad, too. Because the parting between W360 and F3C for the T1 was bad, too. Guess who is the culprit in these cases...
It's a clearly a case for experts, especially when using custom water cooling: Like the first NCASE M1 it needs still some revision to be really good, like my V6.1.
I also have a custom loop in the original M1 and regret not having gone with the iceman pump / res that attaches outside to the back. The Barrow pump/res/cpu block is not well decoupled and there are constantly new air pockets in the loop, a proper reservoir would really be necessary. Anyways, I will build a virtualization server in the old case soon and move the itx gaming system to a different case.
@@BonusCrooksorry to say I disagree with you on this as I am running triple 280 radiator with 4 different profile and the gaming profile I set my fan at 70% is running pretty quiet at night gaming while is sufficient to cool my 4090 and 13900ks.
I was looking at the M1 for my itx build and it is so customizable and expensive that i decided to simply design my own case. I think my case performs even better because its made to only fit my hardware so i have made some fresh air intakes that only work with my cooler and gpu. The M1 was a great inspiration on the layout though.
I actually don't mind the screws. Personally I think is it a pro for customization. Hoping the price comes down a bit. Worth is for MATX if if around $175. Like to see top mount GPU Thermals.
I'm curious if you guys have any plans to review the NZXT H6 Flow. After your HYTE Y60 review, I loved the "fish tank" style cases with the side intake and have been looking them up and first thought about getting the Montech King 95 since it's cheaper than the Y60, but then also learned about the H6 Flow and it being even cheaper and am deeply thinking about getting it for my next PC build this year, but would also just love to see what yall think about it.
I love the ITX/MATX case reviews! Was following this case along with DAN C4v2. Why do the acustic/thermal testing in standard layout when you specifically said it's likely to hurt thick gpu temps? The flipped version is supposed to be the best layout for gpu temp and thats what I would want to see compared against the similar shaped DAN C4 that only does flipped layout.
Well I get that adding additional test is time consuming. I remember watching gamer's Nexus reviews of the steam deck and showing how thermal patterns with airflow could be seen. I would love to see that being done with these cases. That way you can see where air is coming in and out depending on the setup being used
I actually really like the look of this. I was considering downsizing and turning my current mATX parts into a NAS when I upgrade, so with the 2000 SSD holes, that's a pretty cool idea. Expensive just for that though.
I'd say supporting all those drives is one of the main selling points of these cases. If you want something really portable or that takes up very little space, you're more likely to go for a a MiniPC or something along those lines, and if you want top gaming / cooling performance, you're better off with a bigger case (even if you stick to a small motherboard). Of course, these do make for a great "LAN party PC", if you happen to be living in 2005. 😉
To clarify, a 4090 Founders does fit, but there is no way to close the panel with a power connector plugged in, even with a 180° adapter in a horizontal configuration.
Interesting case, I like the flexibility of the motherboard position, can allow one to fine-tune the position of a de-shrouded GPU from fans mounted in the bottom,, though it sounds like both their options for feet may as well be ignored for something better.
Mentioned it on the first SFF case review, but just Ncase (sorry) it was missed, the SFFTime N-ATX V-2 is an interesting case, as it fits full size ATX boards (and some 'EATX' with an SFX PSU), it too has some flaws, leading to doing some mods myself, but overall it's pretty unique in that it's a very slim design with small footprint, whilst still fitting high end hardware :) I personally went with a Thermalright AXP-200 'muscle' for cooling, but wish there were more options like the Jiushark JF13K, but with a lower height profile, considering the TDP of modern CPUs, seeing that cooler on here got me really excited for more slim yet capable CPU coolers 🙏
I had an Ncase M1EVO and I got rid of it because it simply was not very user friendly. The case was eventually assembled but it did not seem like it was square, and I was going to have to cut the back panel to fit my 4090 in. The side panel would not fit without an adapter and those seem to want to set on fire apparently. I settled on the Fractal Ridge.
It seems like there are numerous configurations available, but unfortunately, there's one specific setup I have in mind that might not be feasible for this case. I'm envisioning a full custom water-cooled loop with radiators positioned at both the top and bottom, along with a YTX motherboard. Additionally, I'd like to mount the GPU on the backside to showcase it, while also having glass panels on both sides to display the components inside
I would've been interested if they offered a way to stand the whole case up on it's back like the NZXT H1. That would resolve the ground clearance issues and further reduce it's desk footprint. To me, a smaller case is more beneficial when it's taking up less desk space.
that would easily lead to a bigger case (in terms of volume) as you need extra space for mobo backside cable routing, look at that new cooler master max case
@@kharak6204 yup, but given how customizable this case is, it's odd that they didn't offer a feet/skirt option for that setup. Again, volume would go up but desk footprint would go down which some prefer.
@@bobbybyrne1899 i think that customisation (plus the design itself in terms of aesthetics) is the issue, if I'm seeing this right one of the feet for a vertical stand would have to go right where that weird gpu mounting bracket goes. i guess it's doable but it would complicate the pretty awful installation even more, alternatively they could use a sort of bracket but that would be even more expensive. i think that streacom ff1 would support a vertical build like that but it keeps getting delayed (and it's also a bit bigger)
Hey guys, would you ever consider redoing a retro-case-review of the good old ShuttlePC's? They were so tightly packed back in the day, I had one, actually -have- one that is running an intel P4. And there is incredibly space for 2 HDD's (or one HDD and a FDD) and even one 5 1/4 inch drive. If you can't find one, give me a poke though I am sure they shouldn't be too hard to come by. Would be interesting to see how they do today considering how well they were manufactured even for back in the day.
By the way! Just got the full ATX testing methodology redeveloped and deployed! That's the first time in 8 years we've done a complete and total rework of our ATX testing procedure and it was about 1 year in the making. We're running cases through testing now and will have a methodology piece soon, followed by a return of our ATX case reviews! Super excited for that. Lots of new types of data with the new approach also. As for ITX -- which ITX case is next?
Watch our NCORE 100 Max ITX tower review: th-cam.com/video/xR1JIzdcVV4/w-d-xo.html
Watch our Fractal Terra ITX case review (and for testing methodology information): th-cam.com/video/pKiFk7tBTLg/w-d-xo.html
Or watch our Dan Case x Lian Li A4-H2O review: th-cam.com/video/6LdxMEP65h4/w-d-xo.html
30:17 - I'm going to recommend the ZS Case A4S V3, one of the easier to acquire cases from the Chinese market since they have their own international store. Uses a flex PSU
i wish i could upvote more than once.
Thanks Steve,
A peek behind the curtain of OEMs, designers and revenue like the lawsuit would be a great.
Thor Zone Nanoq R please
Your review release came at a very unfortunate time for NCASE. I believe the 2.0 version will be released this month and will remedy some of the problems expressed in the review. Maybe buy the 2.0 version for an update video?
I totally would like a murder-mystery-not-really tracking of that ITX design mastermind. As bonus, sneak those details of that lawsuit, or maybe not because it is so intricate to that web of industry connections. Just need to the full tack board full of photos, string and pins to connect everything.
GN journalism shines with those kinds of pieces so hopefully we might see some exploration into that eventually
Hey hey it’s my case! Glad you guys could check it out since I couldn’t swing a new build by the time it showed up. The 15 SSDs are nuts… who… asked for that?
My 7 year old is going to be stoked when I show this to him. We watch GN together and he told me “your computer is going to be a star dad!” When I said I was sending it to you guys. Thanks for being so easy to work with.
I totally would
M.2A has one NVME drive. So...
4x drives from mobo SATA ports
6x drives from M.2 6x SATA card
4-5x drives thru internal USB header with USB hu to SATA adapter. There are also dedicated USB3 SATA adapters if you want to use PSU SATA power instead of USB power (which also means being able to use 3.5in HDDs thru the USB headers
Currently have an SG05 with 2x3.5in HDDs, 2x2.5in SSDs, 2xM.2 drives, 120mm AIO in push-pull, 2x 70mm exhausts, an RX570, Aorus B550i, 5800X, Corsair SF650 Gold. Its pretty packed and heavy. And I can still put in one 2.5in SSD below the AIO pushpull.
Bitfenix prodigy has 6 SATA drives now but I think I can put in more drives with a top-mounted HDD cage, and custom HDD cage for the front mount. Thinking of adding more SATA using the internal USB headers.
Some of us just dont wanna NAS or holding off as much as possible =)))))
my guess would be for an easy closet server or even plex/jellyfish server. my plex server uses 12 8TB SSD's that i got for dirt cheap from a data center whole seller. but i'm cheap and lazy so they're just taped together laying on the bottom of the case.
that's so wholesome! Enjoy with your son!
@@sirmonkey1985 Hahaha. Hey. 🤷♂️ Do what we gotta do, right? 🤝🏻🖖🏻
I definitely want to hear about the designer's backstory. 'All ITX cases that people like' being tied to a single person while also having a minimalistic non-gamery design says a lot. The only reason my new system is not SFF is due to the insane price of decent small mobos where I live.
Not "NComplete"? A missed opportunity.
Hired
Did you guys update the thumbnail after this comment?? 😂 @@GamersNexus
@@buttersalad117I think they did 😂
@@tonyfang119epic
NCompetent sprung to mind but seemed a little harsh
next step: flat pack sheet metal that allows you to install your own holes and case design to your exact specifications
Next step: Ship an empty cardboard box to put the computer in.
Just the 3D print the poor thing with Polycarbonate, flatpack it, send it to yourself, wait two weeks, then enjoy!
Bruh man this case is really good, some imperfections are def a problem, but not the entire concept
@GamersNexus 😂😂😂
mine your own silicone and coltan from war torn Africa and smelt your own motherboard materials. very cheap. you only pay a flat $200 fee to be interred in a forced labor camp and compelled to work 15 hour days in a dark mineshaft slightly wider than your shoulder width. free room and board when we remember to feed you.
I love Mini-ITX content, these small/compact cases add many complexities to a build - but to me that makes it that much more satisfying to plan and complete. Throwing parts in an ATX tower is just not fun anymore, too easy and too much wasted space.
As for the M1EVO specifically, it is not for the faint of heart. A very complex build, with terrible documentation as you mentioned. Someone new to Small Form Factor builds should definitely look into something more basic, like the CoolerMaster NR200.
Glad you like it! We're having fun with these and ramping our abilities for the reviews! Agreed on the complexity being part of the fun. This one could do a lot to smooth over some of the usability, but for mini-ITX in general (or mATX), a lot of the fun is the challenge of making the best possible things fit in the space available!
Space means room to breathe and to upgrade. Components keep getting bigger and output more and more thermal energy. I'd rather not limit myself this much.
Go play Tetris or something. I have to question the wisdom in not only purposely forcing yourself to battle thermals, but paying _more_ to do it. Just buy a masterbox or CoreV1 and save 80% off these overpriced fad cases.
@@FINNIUSORION That really depends tbh. In a flipped layout, you have the GPU sucking fresh air from the top, and on the vertical layout, its intaking from the side mesh. So it should be good. CPU will depend on the configuration as well but it should also be decent.
@@FINNIUSORIONI’m running a 4090FE and a 5800x3d in a case that isn’t much bigger than this. 4090 never cracks 70*C and fits nicely on my desk.
Regarding a statement in the video about the M1 Classic and EVO sharing the same designer -- Necere designed the original M1, and shares the NCASE brand with W360 who designed the M1EVO, T1, Meshilicious, etc. but did not have a hand in the OG M1 design. Necere is also not involved in the M1EVO, in his own words on Discord: "it's the people who work on the products that matters, and in that respect there is no commonality betweeen the M1 and M1 evo"
I'd really like to hear the about the history and politics of these companies. A couple months ago things got really complicated and I dont even know whats happening.
The ITX ones in particular are super interesting! We'll put something together.
@@GamersNexus especially the Formd T1 2.1 vs 2.5! ongoing politics rn!
There's also the Dan C4 design changes, and sadly, Loque will stop production.
I like to think that I'm interested, but I'm probably better of reading something else, like history of Roman Empire.
I've got an Ncase M1, original crowdfunded run, serial number and all! Would love to hear the full history that happened since then!
Sadly, the original M1 series stopped production. It had quite a legacy.
So glad that you guys have broken into reviewing ITX gear. My last build was my first mini ITX and it took a lot of research and a little bit of guesswork to be confident that the build I wanted would fit in my case. I was lucky that someone tore into that one pretty thoroughly but the kind of information GN provides would have been invaluable. Particularly with the fitment considerations in such small cases, it's incredible to see gear put through it's paces and not just parrot incorrect or misleading information from the manufacturer. ATX cases feel like mounting computer hardware in a studio apartment by comparison.
I built my first and current PC in the original NCASE M1 and I'm still rocking it to this day. Between Nvidia's 10 series GPUs, an NZXT CLC, and a Samsung NVMe that I probably way overpaid for, I was absolutely jazzed to have a PC I could pack up and travel with. The PC landscape has changed drastically since 2017 and it's now quite long in the tooth, so I was psyched to see GN's review of the M1 EVO pop up on my feed today. The expansive compatibility of the original has persisted to the EVO but some of the other design elements feel unrecognizable. For as loved as the original M1 was, I think this review has helped steer my search in another direction. Thank you Steve and the GN Team for sticking with the ITX case reviews!
If you're satisfied with a modern video card that fits you could still use the original M1. I refreshed mine about a year ago with a 13600k and 7900xt.
That flash to the 180° adapter recall is pure comedy
Ncase have prioritised flexibility and customisability over everything else. I think there is definitely value in this approach, however comes at significant cost (and not just $$$). I have been eye'ing this case for my own build, but am waiting for the next iteration which should clean up a few of the core issues.
I think a key factor in someones decision is "do I want my own adventure", or do I just want to get my PC up and running ASAP... I think most people in the SFF community are of the DIY mindset, and as such this case fits its user-base pretty well.
The meshroom D is this case with lesser build quality for $120 less
I was watching the video and was thinking why so much flexibility. Would prefer a small opinionated ITX case.
This mirrors my build experience from my M1EVO build as a batch 1 delivery group. I threw the manual out once I got the basic structure complete and just winged the rest of build and seeing where there were countersunk screw holes. The manual had so many missing steps and conflicting information and wrong screws used in different locations.
This release felt so unrefined and pushed out in a rushed manner. The build was frustrating and thats coming from an experienced SFF builder; built M1 classic, NR200, A4-H2O, S610, and FORMD T1.
The few it good things about it is the aesthetics and amazing cooling performance like the FORMD T1 but accommodating larger GPUs and CPU coolers.
I have an dan case a4 v1 atm and I’m thinking about upgrading to a bigger case. Seeing that you used so many Sff cases I just thought that maybe you could tell me which one you would recommend. Thank you
@@channelURL If you are ok with the predetermined layout of the A4-H2O then I would recommend that since it can still fit FE RTX 4080 and 4090 paired with a low wattage 7800X3D. Otherwise I would consider waiting on the Dan C4 V2 case (Q2-Q3 2024). I had wanted the original C4, but missed out because he posted that he would sell them in the US under his own Newegg account. No one knew that only planned 1 batch of shipment and only for the EU.
There is also a bigger case, at 25L the Lian Li A3 designed by Dan that is going to be announce on Feb 15th.
The versatility can also probably carry it forward well for reuse for upgrades, able to adapt to changing dimensions. For my money, the flipped layout is what I like, omitting my irritation with riser cables, and not having the feet problem. The C4-SFX being more specifically built to that layout.
I just gave up on my ITX adventures. I currently have the Corsair 2000D which is getting way too hot and noisy, due to lack of airflow. Then I ordered the Fractal Ridge to discover that my GPU would not fit. I am back to a good and performing ATX build, using the NZXT H6 Flow case. I don't have the patience and money (200-300 euros for a good ITX case) to continue on the ITX road.
Haha you flipped us the bird in that outtake 😅
A consequence of trying to save my life from the flying panel!
Still rocking my v5 Ncase M1!
I used an NCASE M1 for many years, it still does server duty in the closet serving Plex and Palworld. Now I use a Dan C4-SFX V1 and that was an absolute joy to build, especially with a Founders Edition 4090. I hope you guys do a review of the C4-SFX V2 when it is released. I think Steve will like it, its so elegant and intuitive.
I absolutely love your context on when 2012 was.
As mentioned in a few other comments if you're looking for the fastest way to get a SFF build up and running this isn't the case. But if you've been building PC's for years and have grown bored of cookie cutter systems, this case opens the door to some interesting Configs and builds.
Personally i have been wanting to do a custom loop SFF build for awhile and this is a serious contender for the case to do it in.
The fact you can rearrange the layout so much and convert it to match multiple system layouts, makes the upfront cost some what justifiable.
This is actually the first time seeing the M1Evo for me, and it's actually gorgeous :o
Nice work GN! Thanks for putting this together. Only review I seen someone explain the different configuration. I’m just hoping now you will review the T1!
Damn, didn't expect our name to popup! Also, first time somebody pronounces the name correctly - NANOQ! (preferably with a fierce voice like Steve)
Ok this was weird… was literally coming to YT to see if you had a video on this case, and… it dropped 12 min ago. 😮😮😮
For that last part.
I think it's good that you say this.
You didn't recommend the Scythe Ninja 5 at all, yet I saw it, looked at it and found that it works perfectly for what I'm doing with it.
So even after your review I bought it anyway and it performs great for how it sits in my case and how I use it.
Surrounded on three sides with fans with the fourth side obstructed using the two fans it comes with in push configuration (something you didn't even test) it works silently even while gaming on a 5800X3D.
But I knew what I was getting into and had a plan on how to use it and your review helped tremendously with that!
So I'm really glad and I'm also talking to viewers in that regard, if your favorite TH-camr makes a negative review of something but you figure out a way you do like or can just totally live with the negatives they present, then don't tie yourself down to their final views.
We'd all be the same person otherwise.
As a frequent traveler who’s out for months at a time, I love this form factor and am looking to build one for myself. I would add a thin “Fan-Box” on the bottom to blow air in from the bottom. BTW, another great job.
Can you please review the Newer version Ncase M2. I heard it made lots of improvements, but want to see Steve detailed review
As I understand it, the original M1 Classic was a partnership between W360 and Necere with the former taking lead on manufacturing and the latter doing most of the design work. Hopefully any investigation into the origins of these boutique ITX cases at least reaches out to Necere for comment.
That's awesome that it has so much storage! I ended up going with the Silverstone CS-382 to build an mATX server/workstation. Now if I can just get a decent mATX AM5 board with two x16 slots for transcoding and HBA compatibility...
Excellent review! Love the high customization on some of these smaller cases. However, you're literally screwed if you're changing up your build often. Unfortunately it reminds me of my Fractal tower which is a PITA when swapping configurations because I have to dismantle half the case. Kudos to the guy who loaned this out for review. 👍
As a current user of the NCASE M1 v6.1, I've been super excited to see an in depth review of the M1 EVO. This definitely didn't disappoint! Personally while I love the upgrades made with the EVO especially with the GPU compatibility and configurations, the ease of build and performance per volume is really what drew me to the original. I'll have to keep searching for the best case that can fit in my bookbag and accommodate a 4090 sized GPU with a 240mm AIO.
On another note I'm really interested in the backstory behind the Meshilicious lawsuit as I've seen snippets of it on and off in the sff forums after the original M1 was discontinued and the EVO was in development. Keep up the great work Steve!
So appreciate your thoughtful and thorough case reviews!
I got this case and I was definitely challenged lol. I like the way it turned out. I like your take/review on it. I pretty much rebuilt it in twice so I felt your pain at 9:03 lmao “Jesus, that’s good enough.” This is my 3rd itx/sff build (I built 2 NR200Ps before), and got the gist from SFFGurus that I was gonna struggle, which I did, but everything worked out 😉 Keep the itx/sff related stuff coming.
As an owner of a NCase M1 "Classic" as it's called now: I am super happy with it and glad I snagged that over the Evo :)
Cooling is quite a challenge though, I tore off the 3080ti cooler shroud and put some P12s there instead. CPU is on an EK240 as well.
Undervolting was needed, because those 3080tis are such hotheads!
Bottom Line though, it's been super satisfying ever since and I can easily take it along (for work reasons I do so quite often)
I have one configured with an Arctic Liquid Freezer II 240, i9-13900k, and a Pro Art 4080. I love it, it works great and keeps cool in combo with cabinet fans blowing cool air up from below in the cabinet where it lives. It cools much more effectively then my m1 did. The config/install was a real pain - the manual had errors and I had to get onto their Discord in the end, which went about as well as Discord based support ever goes (high on condescension, low on information users are the first to chime in, but you eventually do get help). Fortunately you only have to go through initial setup once and it's a great case. Definitely worth it if you're good at problem solving/figuring things out. You'll likely need to spend time on their Discord for anything but basic configs. Hopefully documentation improves.
Imagine the cabling for those 15 SSDs.... it'd be an absolute nest
SFF cables from an HBA would be ok but power would be a nightmare. Imagine when your drive cabling serves as a baffle to force air around your drives.
I moved from a p600s to M1 Evo. Did some research on which case i should get and i considered a few but the m1evo stood up to me because of gpu support. As i keep my builds for 4-5 years i wanted a generous gpu support and i think for the size m1evo offers it.
Yes, the screws situation could be improved and the gpu mounting need a rework but the front AIO feels like an alpha stage product. I was shocked how unstable it is. I tough i was missing something to put it in place but lots of people complained about it.
On the bottom you can install 2x slim noctuas or p12,one 92mm on the back , i went for a 280mm nzxt aio with 140mm noctuas in normal config with aio on the side and with a little bit undervolt for the 7950 x3d and 3090 they are quite cool. cpu temps around 40-45 idle and 60-65 playing ac Valhalla gpu idling 30-40(no fan spinning but bottom one intake helps a lot) and 60-72C gaming.
This was my first sff build and I loved it. It took me around 3 hours to get it done properly but in the end it all came together fine.
If you are the kind of pc user that swaps components every 3-6 months get ready to waste some time into assembly and disassembly , if you are like me to build it and leave it until the next major upgrade the case won't disappoint you.
Nice review, and I like that you tested the case for acoustics.
However I've got a nitpick : at the end, when comparing the M1 Evo to other cases, you didn't insist enough on its mATX capabilities.
E.g. if someone want to make an ITX build, then yes, the A4-H2O would be a strong contender. But for an mATX build, at this volume, there aren't many contenders.
I have the case and completely agree. The customizabilty of it is through the roof. I view it like building a technic Lego set with horrible instructions. You will have some fun doing it, and there will be a lot of frustration along the way. But in the end It will end up looking like a computer but it will take some inginuity to get there.
It wasn't mentioned, but this case is also able to support 2x 120mm fans between the PSU and mobo (SFX/ITX mobo), behind the SSDs in the shown configuration. It's actually insane how versatile this case is, even if it's not user friendly and caters more towards SFF and/or custom watercooling users. Triple 240/280 rads are possible to fit in this case, although I'd rather use an external MORA at that point.
Seeing all the thermal comparisons reminded me of a video I've wanted to see for a while now.
I'd be cool to see how pre-pasted AIO's compare vs re-pasting with various other thermal pastes.
I've always trusted that the packaged paste was fine; I wholly expect repasting to be a waste of time and expect all results to fall within the margin of error, but if anyone is going to be pedantic enough to find out for sure I fully expect it to be you guys.
The rack of hard drives is kind of neat for compact data hoarding. Maybe not how I'd do it but neat.
I absolutely love my M1evo in verticle gpu config. Temps are great with a 3080ti.
The fact that an m-ATX motherboard can legitimately fit here, as an actual intended configuration of the design (not merely some janky home-brew hack-mod possibility), puts this one in a class of its own vs. the existing ITX case "competitors", as far as I'm concerned. I feel like the value/importance of this option wan't emphasized or "weighted" heavily enough in your conclusion.
I am willing to overlook or accommodate a LOT of other shortcomings in the "user-friendliness" aspects, AND overall "cost-competitiveness", just based on that one feature alone. Because this thing will allow me to re-use my existing older AM4 m-ATX motherboard (originally bought with a 3700X) for an upgrade to a 5800x3D, rather than having to start from scratch on a whole new parts list with a new mini-ITX board for my desired build in this SFF size-class. So for me, this effectively takes ~$150+ off the price of the case.
Yes, more compact size ITX cases please. Lets see them how they compare to ATX towers.
A friend of mine is saying they suck because no space inside and no airflow and bad thermals.
I want to build in the future an ITX system (gpu at the top to breathe air) and replace my gaming laptop and never look back at a gaming laptop ever again.
It depends a lot on the case. More fans doesn't equate to better temperatures. Sometimes, letting the hot air of the GPU mix with the CPU can be detrimental to the CPU performance. Some of the ITX builds can avoid this situation.
@@yensteel hence why i'm happy for this case test and hope for more...so people can see which to buy, as the prices on these cases is unjustifibly high, consumers need to get one that is good and not being scammed with a bad product
You should definitely check out the Thor Zone NanoQ S/R next! Super high quality ITX case with also a good amount of flexibility in how you want to setup your PC on the inside. It’s also able to house high end components including the biggest GPU’s that are currently available
Please review the Formd T1 next. Thanks Steve 😆
The first NCASE M1 is what got my interested in itx builds. I was bummed when I found out it had been discontinued but super excited when I saw the EVO coming out. Unfortunately, by the time I wanted to build a new PC, the EVO wasn't available and the color/front panel configuration I wanted wouldn't be coming out until much later. I ended up going with a Terra and I'm content.
It is really cool. I could see myself getting it and keeping it for a lot of time, like three different builds.
9:20 I was not ready for this drop test
GN, Thanks for a characteristically very detailed review. But as an M1 Classic owner I would advise you to include the version number in the review, because things change very rapidly as versions come by (and the cadence on the M1 Classic was relatively swift).
Fyi, I'm interested in a follow up video expanding on the whole falling out.
Oh nice! I just got this case not too long ago. Can definitely say I would‘ve been better off not reading the manual. Definitely struggling to get a 2x 240mm AIO setup going. I just hang one radiator outside the case on my desk while I wait for more parts lol. The extra side brackets have been constantly sold out and weren’t available with my Interest Check order. Been debating on trying to get a 3d print of it instead. The patience part has definitely been a fun part for me to try to get it all fit in. Glad to see such detailed review!
You gave me some ideas or ways to try to get this fully up and going. I went with this case as I started taking my PC in my carry on luggage as I travel as I got tired of laptops long ago. Been through a few different cases trying to find ones that give me flexibility to upgrade as well as stay small enough to fit in my roll aboard bag for the smaller regional airlines.
Thank you Steve for reviewing this and yes please dive deeper into this matter.. I have this case.. be sure comment on that cheap power button and the janky graphics card holder and slot rest area
oooo oooo ooo! CASE REVIEW! awesome! Flat pack too! looking forward to watching!
Thermalright Peerless Assassin 120 Mini review when? MANY ITX cases have a 135mm CPU cooler limit, it would be great to have a series of cooler reviews which revolve around this height limit.
Honestly still think what ThermalTake did with the Tower 100 after you guys roasted them is the best SFF case out there.
Would like to see more micro-atx cases for 60-100€.
FormD T1 V2 next?
This one has been getting more requests lately! Might order it soon.
@@GamersNexus I would love to see it but I'd really want a bit of background and comparison between all of the versions going around. I have a v2 but I have a hard time knowing what's changed in the v2.1 v2.5 and the upcoming(?) v3. I doubt it'll be worth it for me to upgrade but I have a few small gripes with the v2 that I believe have been fixed since then and I'd like to see what the key differences are - even if it's only a brief explanation without any builds/testing. That video would definitely benefit from some digging into the drama going on between the creators of the T1. I only know it's happening (and potentially going legal again) but no idea what the details are beyond that there now seems to be at least 2 websites.
This is perfect for building a NAS. I would probably go with mechanical drives instead of SSDs (and only fill every other slot for cooling) but it is compact and will happily take one of my 10 year old mATX desktop boards. Drives are expensive enough. Why buy a new platform for a NAS when any one of several old potatoes will do the job? I have low power CPUs - If you consider 35W low power. It is compared to an old Xeon, which is the first thing most budget builders will think of when they want to build a server. But a 3rd gen i5 is perfectly fine for a NAS. There are people using Pis with a quarter of the processing power.
The DIY nature gives options when building to make it as easy as possible for your particular use case. For example, you could assemble the drives in the drive cage before bolting it in as an assembly. You can essentially build the case around the PC rather than trying to cram a MB into a tiny case.
You can put some stub legs on the bottom of the case for better airflow. Literally just get a piece of 1.5" diameter round aluminum bar stock, cut some 2" lengths and drill and tap holes for standard PC case screws, put a bevel on the other end and some stick on pads and bolt them in. It is the only way you're getting such a big GPU to run anything approaching cool. I would be putting a Noctua Industrial PPM fan in the rear exhaust position. The 2000RPM would probably be sufficient. It would increase flow by around 33% over the one you have in there. The 3000 RPM fan would double your exhaust airflow but they're quite noisy.
Seems like a great case for that shared gpu/cpu block.
I had a lot of the same gripes about mine that Steve pointed out. The one I also found out is that the power supply mount doesn't like EVGA power supply because their on/off switch is too close to the rail so the screws don't sinch down properly. Also if the PSU is just over the front panel and not sideways, the mounting basically flips back and forth on it. Also building MATX in it is a complete PITA. I had high hopes for it, but it was a bit of a letdown. I'm hoping the Thor Zone I've got coming will be better.
Would definitely love the low down on the design history and lawsuits as I've been following the drama via sffnet and r/sffpc and Im thoroughly lost to this day! Great to see the itx series of videos as its my size of choice.... Phenomenal power in an itty bitty space!
I was eyeing the M1 Evo, coming from the original M1, but have a T1 sitting on the bench now. Just waiting for parts to get started.
Funny that the parting between NCase and Lian Li was bad, too. Because the parting between W360 and F3C for the T1 was bad, too. Guess who is the culprit in these cases...
I like that it will fix an MATX board. I feel an ultra compact MATX case has been missing from the market (or at least googles search optimization).
It's a clearly a case for experts, especially when using custom water cooling:
Like the first NCASE M1 it needs still some revision to be really good, like my V6.1.
Watercooling sucks ass and is loud in the M1, ended up just sticking to the dual fan u9s
I also have a custom loop in the original M1 and regret not having gone with the iceman pump / res that attaches outside to the back. The Barrow pump/res/cpu block is not well decoupled and there are constantly new air pockets in the loop, a proper reservoir would really be necessary. Anyways, I will build a virtualization server in the old case soon and move the itx gaming system to a different case.
@@BonusCrooksorry to say I disagree with you on this as I am running triple 280 radiator with 4 different profile and the gaming profile I set my fan at 70% is running pretty quiet at night gaming while is sufficient to cool my 4090 and 13900ks.
I was looking at the M1 for my itx build and it is so customizable and expensive that i decided to simply design my own case. I think my case performs even better because its made to only fit my hardware so i have made some fresh air intakes that only work with my cooler and gpu. The M1 was a great inspiration on the layout though.
I actually don't mind the screws. Personally I think is it a pro for customization. Hoping the price comes down a bit. Worth is for MATX if if around $175. Like to see top mount GPU Thermals.
Holy shit! 15 SSDs! How do you even get that mana SATA connections?
Love the Zaku ITX board. You all are great. Keep it up
would be cool to see a review of the m2 now that that's out
Love these small form factor cases. Lots of creativity. Love it.
I'm curious if you guys have any plans to review the NZXT H6 Flow. After your HYTE Y60 review, I loved the "fish tank" style cases with the side intake and have been looking them up and first thought about getting the Montech King 95 since it's cheaper than the Y60, but then also learned about the H6 Flow and it being even cheaper and am deeply thinking about getting it for my next PC build this year, but would also just love to see what yall think about it.
It's amazing the workarounds needed to keep on using quantum mechanically defective CMOS.
Thanks great review. Cool option to use Micro ITX motherboard in it and side glass panel is cool as well.
I love the ITX/MATX case reviews! Was following this case along with DAN C4v2. Why do the acustic/thermal testing in standard layout when you specifically said it's likely to hurt thick gpu temps? The flipped version is supposed to be the best layout for gpu temp and thats what I would want to see compared against the similar shaped DAN C4 that only does flipped layout.
Well I get that adding additional test is time consuming. I remember watching gamer's Nexus reviews of the steam deck and showing how thermal patterns with airflow could be seen. I would love to see that being done with these cases. That way you can see where air is coming in and out depending on the setup being used
This case looks so badass omg
I actually really like the look of this. I was considering downsizing and turning my current mATX parts into a NAS when I upgrade, so with the 2000 SSD holes, that's a pretty cool idea. Expensive just for that though.
I'd say supporting all those drives is one of the main selling points of these cases. If you want something really portable or that takes up very little space, you're more likely to go for a a MiniPC or something along those lines, and if you want top gaming / cooling performance, you're better off with a bigger case (even if you stick to a small motherboard).
Of course, these do make for a great "LAN party PC", if you happen to be living in 2005. 😉
I was finally getting around to building this after buying this months ago (Itx board just came in). Your content is oddly prescient.
I would love to see a video about integrated graphics. A CPU roundup to see what would be great to get when you are still waiting to save up for a GPU
To clarify, a 4090 Founders does fit, but there is no way to close the panel with a power connector plugged in, even with a 180° adapter in a horizontal configuration.
Interesting case, I like the flexibility of the motherboard position, can allow one to fine-tune the position of a de-shrouded GPU from fans mounted in the bottom,, though it sounds like both their options for feet may as well be ignored for something better.
Mentioned it on the first SFF case review, but just Ncase (sorry) it was missed, the SFFTime N-ATX V-2 is an interesting case, as it fits full size ATX boards (and some 'EATX' with an SFX PSU), it too has some flaws, leading to doing some mods myself, but overall it's pretty unique in that it's a very slim design with small footprint, whilst still fitting high end hardware :)
I personally went with a Thermalright AXP-200 'muscle' for cooling, but wish there were more options like the Jiushark JF13K, but with a lower height profile, considering the TDP of modern CPUs, seeing that cooler on here got me really excited for more slim yet capable CPU coolers 🙏
I love these smaller mITX/mATX case reviews
I had an Ncase M1EVO and I got rid of it because it simply was not very user friendly.
The case was eventually assembled but it did not seem like it was square, and I was going to have to cut the back panel to fit my 4090 in. The side panel would not fit without an adapter and those seem to want to set on fire apparently.
I settled on the Fractal Ridge.
Yay!!! Case review! My favorite GN content!!
Btw, is it just me or did we not get a “case of the year 2023” video?
Did I miss it??
Id never buy a case so small but i enjoy seeing the builds in them.
Edit: charging for feet is a bit cheap 😅
Why not? Try it :)
@@EverythingisFire just not my style
really like this case, so versatile and can fit basically anything. definitely needs some refinement tho
It seems like there are numerous configurations available, but unfortunately, there's one specific setup I have in mind that might not be feasible for this case. I'm envisioning a full custom water-cooled loop with radiators positioned at both the top and bottom, along with a YTX motherboard. Additionally, I'd like to mount the GPU on the backside to showcase it, while also having glass panels on both sides to display the components inside
I would've been interested if they offered a way to stand the whole case up on it's back like the NZXT H1. That would resolve the ground clearance issues and further reduce it's desk footprint. To me, a smaller case is more beneficial when it's taking up less desk space.
that would easily lead to a bigger case (in terms of volume) as you need extra space for mobo backside cable routing, look at that new cooler master max case
@@kharak6204 yup, but given how customizable this case is, it's odd that they didn't offer a feet/skirt option for that setup. Again, volume would go up but desk footprint would go down which some prefer.
@@bobbybyrne1899 i think that customisation (plus the design itself in terms of aesthetics) is the issue, if I'm seeing this right one of the feet for a vertical stand would have to go right where that weird gpu mounting bracket goes. i guess it's doable but it would complicate the pretty awful installation even more, alternatively they could use a sort of bracket but that would be even more expensive.
i think that streacom ff1 would support a vertical build like that but it keeps getting delayed (and it's also a bit bigger)
Pleeease do a follow up about all the cases being linked to the same person. I'm a huge SFF fan and I'd love to see more spotlights on it.
An MATX Asus AP201 review would be fantastic.🙂
Hey guys, would you ever consider redoing a retro-case-review of the good old ShuttlePC's? They were so tightly packed back in the day, I had one, actually -have- one that is running an intel P4. And there is incredibly space for 2 HDD's (or one HDD and a FDD) and even one 5 1/4 inch drive.
If you can't find one, give me a poke though I am sure they shouldn't be too hard to come by. Would be interesting to see how they do today considering how well they were manufactured even for back in the day.
I honestly realy love that everything is screed togerher. However, i think it's not cheap, considering the amount of work you have to put in yourself.
Oh it isn’t only the Cooler Master Qube 500 you can get disassembled.
Interested in a video discussing the history of ncase and other sff cases!