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Soon. I only have a blower GPU to test atm though (a GTX 780), so it won't be a complete result until I can get my hands on an open cooler card. That likely won't happen for a bit, however, since I want to test a larger card (e.g., an ASUS Strix), but the current prototype has a couple of oversights that make installing a long+tall card over a certain size all but impossible. So that testing will have to wait until prototype 2. And of course I've been working on some other fixes/adjustments for things that became apparent once I had the case in-hand.Absolutely stunning case. Any ballpark on when you'll be doing any thermal testing?
Soon. I only have a blower GPU to test atm though (a GTX 780), so it won't be a complete result until I can get my hands on an open cooler card. That likely won't happen for a bit, however, since I want to test a larger card (e.g., an ASUS Strix), but the current prototype has a couple of oversights that make installing a long+tall card over a certain size all but impossible. So that testing will have to wait until prototype 2. And of course I've been working on some other fixes/adjustments for things that became apparent once I had the case in-hand.
So I managed to take some pics of the prototype today:
Yeah i think i can support removing the audio ports from the front now.
Ah, I see.The ID plate is fastened with a single stud+screw from the backside, which allows it to be rotated to either orientation. The power button on the front panel can also be rotated.
Hmm. The reason I asked this is because I was thinking the front logo orientation issue could be solved by providing a stand for horizontal placement as well instead of the typical four corner feet with the same aesthetic (a rectangular face right underneath and flush with the chassis' front face) and print the case logo on the front face of both of the stands rather than on the front of the chassis itself. This was also assuming you didn't mind relocating the logo from the chassis to the stands, which I wasn't so sure about. But having read your reply now I guess this isn't going to happen.The feet are definitely cheaper, as this stand is the thicker 4mm version with machined supports. I think what we'll likely do is include the four feet for horizontal placement by default, and offer the stand separately and/or as another SKU.
I agree, it seems like an endlessly discussed non-issue that only some people have issues with.I honestly don't get the issue with the logo. Almost every single case/console that can go in either horizontal or vertical orientation has this issue, and it's perfectly fine.
The real question is WHEN CAN HAZ?!
How long does it generally take a prototype to reach availability?
You're probably not serious, but the power button is the same as the M1 uses, and has the light-up I/O icon on the front, so no room for a logo.Print the logo on the button and then you can have it in whatever orientation you want!
Hey M4rk, good to hear from you again. Doubt we'll sell the prototype - it's inferior to the production version, and doesn't even have USB ports (they needed new tooling so we elected not to include them until the front ports were decided on).Popping in to say I'm happy this is finally happening. If you guys need anything, just let me know. :3
EDIT: Dibs on the prototype if you decide to sell it, N.
Nah, that's a myth. You need very powerful magnets to do any damage to a HDD. Remember that mechanical hard drives already have fairly strong magnets inside, mere millimeters from the disk surface.Damn this looks great.
A question about the magnetic dust filters: Is their magnetic force strong enough to erase or at least corrupt HDDs?
Popping in to say I'm happy this is finally happening. If you guys need anything, just let me know. :3
EDIT: Dibs on the prototype if you decide to sell it, N.
Same here.I agree.Yeah i think i can support removing the audio ports from the front now.
Soon. I only have a blower GPU to test atm though (a GTX 780), so it won't be a complete result until I can get my hands on an open cooler card. That likely won't happen for a bit, however, since I want to test a larger card (e.g., an ASUS Strix), but the current prototype has a couple of oversights that make installing a long+tall card over a certain size all but impossible. So that testing will have to wait until prototype 2. And of course I've been working on some other fixes/adjustments for things that became apparent once I had the case in-hand.
It's certainly commendable to see just how much planning, work and revision goes into bringing a PC case from design to reality.
Keep up the wonderful work, I'll be watching this thread like a damn hawk.
Popping in to say I'm happy this is finally happening. If you guys need anything, just let me know. :3
EDIT: Dibs on the prototype if you decide to sell it, N.
It depends mostly on Necere at this point.
Here is a quick list:
1. Thermal testing
2. Another prototype to confirm changes
3. I need to sign some papers
Pre-orders starts.
If they were black, would it still be a "problem" ?
I personally don't mind having them the way they are now, but I'd miss them due to most boards with a headphone amplifier using the Front Panel audio connector.
Looking pretty. Good thing you resolved your creative block and completed this design.
Your involvement seems to involve a lot of work and sweat, from what I see
PS: just kidding, ofc.
Most of my work will start after Necere is done with the prototype, plus who do you think helps Necere stay on-schedule-ish for the progress until now
Not necessarily. It really depends on how well the compartmentalized GPU and venting concept works. Remember, the idea is to have the GPU close enough to the side intake vents that the fans will draw in air, which is then forced out through the top. I believe Silverstone actually recommends an open cooler card for the RVZ02 because of how effective it is in their case.IMO, people should take non-reference designs as their own risk. I know simply looking at my M1 that you will not accept that and test it regardless... but I'm just saying that as this case will has no ventilation inside (there is no space!!!) the chances of a non-blowing design working are... probably scarce.
That might be just a bit harsh. I always feel a little bad when I see people trashing a new case design from a company, because you know some designers and engineers worked on that, and presumably they at least tried to do a good job of it. But they have to work under a lot of constraints, too, and maybe it doesn't end up as good as it could be because their bosses tell them they need to hit a price point, or they aren't given the time or resources to properly test designs.It also shows how fucking useless the rest of the computer case manufacturers are in regards to getting things right. I still remember the FT03 I had: it was probably the less thought-out case you could ever get. As in "lets have an idea and produce it without ever testing it". Yup, functionality was so bad, the case was a real pain to work with. Heck it got hot as a roaster not matter the amount of fans you put into it
While I do basically all of the actual design and engineering, w360 handles the day-to-day business of keeping NCASE running: dealing with customers, arranging shipments, managing inventory, finances, etc. I really couldn't do it all on my own, quite honestly, so he's as indispensable to this project as I am.Your involvement seems to involve a lot of work and sweat, from what I see
PS: just kidding, ofc.
Who says they haven't But here again, I'll be honest and say that I probably wouldn't make a great employee. I wouldn't do well under the types of constraints that I talked about above. I also have my own way of doing things - largely ignorant of formal design or engineering practices, and on my own schedule. In some respects, my lack of formal knowledge might actually be of benefit, since I'm forced to come up with my own way of doing things, and that can lead to some novel solutions. Can't help but think outside the box if you don't know what's in the box to begin with.But the fact that nobody has tried to hire the guys at NCASE even shows more.
While external amps are a solution, it would mean another power socket, another device on my desk, another bunch of crap to lug around when going to LAN parties, etc etc.Cmon Phuncz. Get yourself together, and find a proper headphone amp that sits outside the case. Something like and objective 2 will suffice, and you forget the crappy motherboard implementations, let alone the pain in the ass that is using the front connectors. Since using external amps I simply can't get back, and it helps a lot when you are using small cases.
I'd also think that a case like the Ncase M1 could have never existed without you and Wahaha360 teaming up, being independent and doing things with clear goals without sacrificing design and quality over a few cents.Who says they haven't But here again, I'll be honest and say that I probably wouldn't make a great employee. I wouldn't do well under the types of constraints that I talked about above. I also have my own way of doing things - largely ignorant of formal design or engineering practices, and on my own schedule. In some respects, my lack of formal knowledge might actually be of benefit, since I'm forced to come up with my own way of doing things, and that can lead to some novel solutions. Can't help but think outside the box if you don't know what's in the box to begin with.
While I do basically all of the actual design and engineering, w360 handles the day-to-day business of keeping NCASE running: dealing with customers, arranging shipments, managing inventory, finances, etc. I really couldn't do it all on my own, quite honestly, so he's as indispensable to this project as I am.
I'd also think that a case like the Ncase M1 could have never existed without you and Wahaha360 teaming up, being independent and doing things with clear goals without sacrificing design and quality over a few cents......I'd try to continue down the road Ncase is going instead of walking the very similar-looking road which in the end always goes another way that is dictated by financial success.
Not necessarily. It really depends on how well the compartmentalized GPU and venting concept works. Remember, the idea is to have the GPU close enough to the side intake vents that the fans will draw in air, which is then forced out through the top. I believe Silverstone actually recommends an open cooler card for the RVZ02 because of how effective it is in their case.
That might be just a bit harsh. I always feel a little bad when I see people trashing a new case design from a company, because you know some designers and engineers worked on that, and presumably they at least tried to do a good job of it. But they have to work under a lot of constraints, too, and maybe it doesn't end up as good as it could be because their bosses tell them they need to hit a price point, or they aren't given the time or resources to properly test designs.
From what I've seen, Silverstone does actually do a fair bit of testing and tweaking of their designs before sending them to production. They tried something new with the FT03, and it doesn't surprise me if it has a few more quirks than a more conventional design.
While I do basically all of the actual design and engineering, w360 handles the day-to-day business of keeping NCASE running: dealing with customers, arranging shipments, managing inventory, finances, etc. I really couldn't do it all on my own, quite honestly, so he's as indispensable to this project as I am.
Who says they haven't But here again, I'll be honest and say that I probably wouldn't make a great employee. I wouldn't do well under the types of constraints that I talked about above. I also have my own way of doing things - largely ignorant of formal design or engineering practices, and on my own schedule. In some respects, my lack of formal knowledge might actually be of benefit, since I'm forced to come up with my own way of doing things, and that can lead to some novel solutions. Can't help but think outside the box if you don't know what's in the box to begin with.
While external amps are a solution, it would mean another power socket, another device on my desk, another bunch of crap to lug around when going to LAN parties, etc etc.
I already have a decent external headphone amp, by the way. But it has been sitting in it's box since I got my amped front port.
And all that while the ALC1150 + headphone amp is good enough for my Sennheiser HD555 and I'd guess most people using decent headphones for gaming. But ofcourse I'm not the demographic for all the customers, so it's just my opinion. I could solve this with a PCI bracket like this:
I don't know. The Auzentech Forte I had never made the HD555 shine, it lacked the power to do so. And once you go with harder to drive headphones, you do need more power and voltage., while keeping a low impedance.
Good luck trying to power something like HD650 via something internal
It takes surprisingly little to power a good pair of headphones perfectly (i.e. audibly transparent), and even less to merely drive them very well. Once you have that, any other effect (e.g. the 'valve amp sound') can be applied as a filter or EQ setting in software.
In terms of an unamplified line-output, any modern motherboard with HD-Audio (and some of the better non-standard AC97 implementations) will be more than sufficient to drive any headphone or speaker available if you have the correct amplifier for that headphone/speaker. The only benefit of an outboard USB DAC is if your motherboard has some noise isolation issues, or the convenience of automatic audio switching on unplugging the DAC (useful for portable setups). On-board amplification is less well implemented, particularly when tied to only the front panel connector (usually passing through a long unshielded untwisted wire looping around various electrically noisy components).
Nope. The corners are fairly sharp without the radius, so they'll be staying.Very cool!
Are you going to remove the radius corners on the wrap around side panel corners? Looks like they weren't there on the original concept renderings.
Thanks. I really got lost in California for a while there. Back on the east coast again and doing much better money-wise.Missed your post when I was looking earlier.
Welcome back.
Nope. The corners are fairly sharp without the radius, so they'll be staying.
I think you're reading lone's comment the way I read it at first, i.e., that he's talking about the edge radius on the side panel flanges. But actually he's referring to the corner radius:It's also an excellent way to hide the screw holes ! Nicely done !