Stalled ~7L console-style case concept (and possible future NCASE product)

[Kmpkt]

I'm pray we've hit peak RGB.

 

[Coach_Rico]

I'm pray we've hit peak RGB.

Someone will eventually design a case that shoots fireworks ... unfortunately

 

[iFreilicht]

I'm pray we've hit peak RGB.

As long as it means that mainboards and GPUs are completely black or completely white, I've no issue with that peak becoming a plateau.

 

[Edward78]

GOD you people are NEVER happy. You want retractable knobs now?? What, to control your stupid RGB lights, I assume? ... Fine. *throws up hands in disgust* I'll add your stupid knob. *grumble*

Nevermind them, I think the pic below looks great...

Have you thought about a TFX PSU?

 

[Necere]

Have you thought about a TFX PSU?

Yes, but it's too big.

 

[Edward78]

What do you think of a 3.5 cutout for a 3.5 io panel (so people can upgrade the front IO with new motherboards they buy) Or get a temp panel if they want?

 

[Necere]

We'd likely offer this with USB Type C from the start, alongside Type A and audio. If anything makes sense to add in the future, we could offer an upgrade kit that changes out the front panel I/O strip.

There isn't really room for a 3.5" bay, though.

 

[Jeffinslaw]

I really like this concept. I've had a similar idea rolling around in my head for a few weeks now.

-Jeffinslaw

 

[Edward78]

We'd likely offer this with USB Type C from the start, alongside Type A and audio. If anything makes sense to add in the future, we could offer an upgrade kit that changes out the front panel I/O strip.

There isn't really room for a 3.5" bay, though.

Great way for you guys to keep the $$ coming, 3.5 is a bit big... Where is the PSU area in the case though?

 

[Necere]

Great way for you guys to keep the $$ coming, 3.5 is a bit big... Where is the PSU area in the case though?

Not really - not enough volume on upgrade parts to make any real money. We basically offer parts/accessories more as a service to our customers, rather than try to use them as a source of profit.

Read the first post; PSU is flexATX and sits forward of the GPU at the front of the case.

 

[WillBlackstone]

Reminds me more Xbox 1 S than Nintendo, just because of the bottom being slightly less wide than the top. Which isn't a bad thing, I like the Xbox 1 S design.

However, I think I prefer this slightly more (or the other with the slim drive on bottom but still be equally wide top and bottom):

I definitely like both more than the Node 202. Nothing against Fractal (I have a Node 605), but I don't like the asymmetrical design they added on the front by the USB.

I have a node 202 and i hate it because it has plastic and i cant just send it off to powdercoating

 

[Edward78]

Not really - not enough volume on upgrade parts to make any real money. We basically offer parts/accessories more as a service to our customers, rather than try to use them as a source of profit.

Read the first post; PSU is flexATX and sits forward of the GPU at the front of the case.

Hmmm, any heat issues?

 

[Necere]

Hmmm, any heat issues?

Well, we haven't prototyped it yet, so it hasn't been tested. However, the internal layout is intentionally designed with a well-defined airflow path to cool effectively, at least in theory.

 

[Edward78]

The GPU will be on a riser, is there enough space above the gpu?

 

[Necere]

There's room for the PCIe power connectors, if that's what you're asking about.

 

[Wahaha360]

Added VESA.

 

[jeshikat]

Seems like there's room to design a custom stand with integrated cable management.

 

[TheDreamingMonk]

I like that stand.

 

[Necere]

So while w360's been plugging away at his version of the PCX design, I've been doing a bit of ideating on various concepts, and today came up with this:

Basically similar to the original design, but widened to allow the flexATX PSU to be rotated, and shortened (depthwise) accordingly. The two slim 120mm fans would be replaced by a single 140x25mm intake fan, with the possibility of two 80mm exhaust fans at the top.

Hypothetical specs
Dimensions (H x W x D): 340 x 94 x 240mm, 7.7L
CPU cooler: 40mm (exclusive of intake fan)
GPU: ~215mm long, ~125mm tall
PSU: flexATX @ 150mm long
Fans: 140x25mm intake, 2x80mm exhaust
Drives: 2x2.5"

Essentially, it's a small footprint case designed around showing off a card like the Zotac GTX 1080 Ti. Unlike the original PCX design, this is less of a console-style case, as it's meant only for vertical orientation and lacks ODD support.

My feeling is quite a few people would be more interested in something like this vs. the original design, but I'm curious to hear people's thoughts on it.

 

[Phuncz]

Personally I love tower cases as the footprint reduction is more important to me. If I would own a console and it would perform well up-right, I'd choose to use it that way.

The design looks nice, although I'm not a windowed case person. I'd rather prefer a perforated panel for the GPU to breathe, personally.
I like the colored panel options with the black "base frame" too.

Would the top 80mm fans be able to be mounted without the screws being visible on the outside ?

The rear I/O and GPU seems to be indented, is that going to stay if the project proceeds ?

Is the CPU heatsink size limited to 40mm with a 140mm x 25mm fan attached ?
So something like the Scythe Kozuti with exactly 40mm height (without extra fan) or a Noctua NH-L12 (with bottom fan) would be ideal. It does put a limit on the CPU cooler that's usable and probably eliminates AMD Ryzen 8-core, Socket 2066 and maybe even the i7-7700K from being realistic in this form factor. I'm not expecting ~95W TDP processors to flourish in the dimensions of this concept (other similar concepts also exhibit this), but it would be good to be mindful of the limitations.

Together with a ZOTAC GTX 1080Ti, this would put a rough limit of ~260W TDP that should work without issue and too much noise.

It also looks like a relatively easy to fabricate design, did you focus on this aspect specifically or is that a coincidence ?

Overall, I like the design inside and outside.