UPDATE: 60 more units of the M1 available now!
We first heard about NCASE, a crowdfunded project to produce a mini-ITX enclosure capable of housing the most powerful CPUs and graphics cards, in early 2013. Started by two Hardforum enthusiasts, NCASE Design launched an Indiegogo campaign to raise money to build a prototype mini-ITX case called the NCASE M1 in February. The campaign succeeding in raising the necessary $3,000, and NCASE promised a limited production run funded by a second crowdfunding campaign (and manufactured by Lian Li).
NCASE Design launched that second crowdfunding campaign on August 10 with a goal of raising $67,500. The company also made 600 units available for purchase for those donating $205 to the cause. The money was raised within 24 hours. Within a week in, all of the cases had been claimed and over $137,000 had been raised. The campaign currently stands at just over $137,000 raised.
The NCASE M1 measures 240 x 160 x 328 mm and supports both mini-ITX and mini-DTX motherboards. It boasts 3 x 3.5-inch mounts, 3 x 2.5-inch mounts, 4 x 120 mm fan mounts, 1 x 80/92 mm fan mount, 2 x USB 3.0, and microphone and headphone jacks. The case also supports CPU coolers up to 130 mm in height, GPUs up to 12.5 (slots 1 and 2) or 11 inches (slot 3) in length, and SFX up to 130 mm (modular or non-modular). ATX support is limited to 140 mm non-modular PSUs with cards longer than 200 mm (ATX PSUs are not recommended due to limited room for long cables). NCASE Design has also thought of you watercooling nuts and included a watercooling pass through on the rear of the case.
The NCASE M1 is set for delivery in January 2014. If you didn't manage to get a unit via the Indiegogo campaign, you can hit up NCASE's website and pre-order from there. Unfortunately, the company says it currently has no plans to make the M1 available outside of the crowdfunding campaign. However, that's not to say there won't be another run. Speaking via Indiegogo a couple of days ago, NCASE said:
"For those who may have missed out on getting a case, or would like to order a second one, we're working on a solution. Stay tuned!"
Fingers crossed, eh?
