Defcon One M-ATX case - prototype and test build

[NicolaZanarini]

Hey guys, 

Some of you may remember the earlier post about the Defcon One M-ATX case we were crowdfunding for (http://linustechtips.com/main/topic/380775-a-revolution-in-mid-tower-cases-the-defcon-one/)
- well, the crowdfunding went well and we've working on the case prototypes - this second prototype we built a test system in and took some pictures.

As you can see the system looks fairly clean, and we'll ass more wire management holes too.
Also, we've kept the case as "dis-assemble-able" as possible, only leaving two parts riveter together and every other part removable. 
Only thing missing  are the side panels - laser messed them up and we're waiting for replacement.
The 2 USb 3.0 ports stay hidden to sight yet very accessible in the front.

We'll be correcting the mistakes we found and will make some changes too, such as adding an option for 240 radiator on the top, moving the PSU and 120 rad  to the bottom (not as efficient thermally, but easier to assemble)and a few other goodies which we'll uncover in time.

Feel free to leave your feedback

[The Benjamins]

I remember that post, it looks like its coming alone great. It is a interesting design. I want to design and build my own case soon.

[NicolaZanarini]

I remember that post, it looks like its coming alone great. It is a interesting design. I want to design and build my own case soon.

Thanks man we're working very hard on it and expect the next prototype to be the final one

What kind of case did you want to build?

[The Benjamins]

Thanks man we're working very hard on it and expect the next prototype to be the final one

What kind of case did you want to build?

A small mini ITX case, with a spot for a 180mm rad at the top. roughly 200mm x 220mm x280mm in size. I also want to design a PCI-E riser spiter card for it so i can run 2 R9 nano's. the nano's will be water cooled with single slot block.

 

as for the riser boards that support bifurcation like the mini itx asrock X99 board can split a PCI-E 16X to 2 8X

 

I want to buy parts to measure it all out before I start drawing it in Autodesk inventor.

 

about bifurcation  http://hardforum.com/showthread.php?t=1870298

[NicolaZanarini]

A small mini ITX case, with a spot for a 180mm rad at the top. roughly 200mm x 220mm x280mm in size. I also want to design a PCI-E riser spiter card for it so i can run 2 R9 nano's. the nano's will be water cooled with single slot block.

 

as for the riser boards that support bifurcation like the mini itx asrock X99 board can split a PCI-E 16X to 2 8X

 

I want to buy parts to measure it all out before I start drawing it in Autodesk inventor.

 

about bifurcation  http://hardforum.com/showthread.php?t=1870298

Very nice project! And yeah, getting the parts relaly helps to avoid making silly mistakes - even 3D can be treacherous at times - best of luck with it! 

[The Benjamins]

Very nice project! And yeah, getting the parts relaly helps to avoid making silly mistakes - even 3D can be treacherous at times - best of luck with it! 

 

I wish I could get outline drawings of the things I need to reference but most places will not give them out. I may have to try and talk to reps

[CommandMan7]

That reminds me of this:

http://hardforum.com/showthread.php?t=1832126

 

So many cool crowdfunded / independent designed mini-itx cases coming to market. 

[Jerakl]

If only I had any use for an mATX case :^(

 

sexy af

[Syfes]

One or two remarks: would be cool to have soms hard drive mounting options behind the motherboard tray, which would allow me to hide unsightly hard drives when not using a second GPU. Oh and the slots cut into the front and back of the case for airflow look rather big, would prefer mesh but... Meh whatever, it looks awesome!

[NicolaZanarini]

 

I wish I could get outline drawings of the things I need to reference but most places will not give them out. I may have to try and talk to reps

 

Yeah, a caliber and ruler are a designers best friends
 

That reminds me of this:

http://hardforum.com/showthread.php?t=1832126

 

So many cool crowdfunded / independent designed mini-itx cases coming to market. 

Cool project, never seen it before - looks pretty cool for the format it has!   (hadn't seen the name before, that's what 4am does to you, lol)
 

 

If only I had any use for an mATX case :^(

 

sexy af

Thanks man! in the futre we might have a similar but bigger version

 

One or two remarks: would be cool to have soms hard drive mounting options behind the motherboard tray, which would allow me to hide unsightly hard drives when not using a second GPU. Oh and the slots cut into the front and back of the case for airflow look rather big, would prefer mesh but... Meh whatever, it looks awesome!

We'll correct the mistakes we found on this one and change a few things, among them the HDD positioning - they will remain hidden between the motherboard and GPU plates but it will be real easy to access them

About airflow - the front ones are hidden from sight and don't actually serve airflow purposes, while the back ones are really just intake - this case has a thermal design quite different from any other case you can find on the market because it works on a different concept of thermal management

Ah also guys, both sides of the case will be windowed, so you can choose what way to turn it and weather to look at the GPUs or the motherboard

[JebKerman]

so this is going up against the 350D then

[NicolaZanarini]

so this is going up against the 350D then

Uhm, sort of - the retail price will be higher than the 350D since production cost for us is higher and this one is fully made out of aluminium, but it also has a few features that no other case has like double window, dual vertical GPU placement, a unique thermal design and a few other goodies.

In addition, is smaller than the 350D

 

[Guest Kloaked]

Whoever thought of the design on the video card side, and how to position the two PCIE ribbons is a beautiful person. 10/10 would bang

[qwertywarrior]

very stupid case

[Lethal Seraph]

But why? Don't you wanna show off those fancy motherboard and ram sticks?

[Sanctuary2808]

very stupid case

 

Love the constructive criticism. Care to share more thought-provoking comments? If you're having trouble, how about asking yourself "why is this case stupid"?

[NicolaZanarini]

Whoever thought of the design on the video card side, and how to position the two PCIE ribbons is a beautiful person. 10/10 would bang

Hahaha, thanks, I appreciate the sentiment

 

very stupid case

Care to share why you don't like it?

 

But why? Don't you wanna show off those fancy motherboard and ram sticks?

Don't we all? this way you can show off both the GPUs and the motherboard

 

Love the constructive criticism. Care to share more thought-provoking comments? If you're having trouble, how about asking yourself "why is this case stupid"?

Thank you sir

[JebKerman]

very stupid case

unusual and different, yes, stupid, not really, it's actually quite clever.

 

In theory (and most likely in practice) this almost completely thermally isolates each of the primary heat producing components:

 

Both GPUs are in their own separate compartments which I assume will have a filtered intake directly in front of the fans, allowing the GPUs uncontested access to cool air.

 

The PSU is similar in that it takes in cool air from the top and exhausts it out the back, so it doesn't interact with, and/or interrupts airflow to the CPU.

 

The CPU, is a bit different, and it is clearly optimized for AIOs since it looks like you can't get a big dual tower in there.

 

and actually, on that, @NicolaZanarini if the design isn't finalized, it might be a good idea to allow people to mount a 240mm AIO somewhere. (although i don't see how you could without modifying the chassis)

[NicolaZanarini]

unusual and different, yes, stupid, not really, it's actually quite clever.

 

In theory (and most likely in practice) this almost completely thermally isolates each of the primary heat producing components:

 

Both GPUs are in their own separate compartments which I assume will have a filtered intake directly in front of the fans, allowing the GPUs uncontested access to cool air.

 

The PSU is similar in that it takes in cool air from the top and exhausts it out the back, so it doesn't interact with, and/or interrupts airflow to the CPU.

 

The CPU, is a bit different, and it is clearly optimized for AIOs since it looks like you can't get a big dual tower in there.

 

and actually, on that, @NicolaZanarini if the design isn't finalized, it might be a good idea to allow people to mount a 240mm AIO somewhere. (although i don't see how you could without modifying the chassis)

Thank you JebKerman! you got everything right! those are exactly the main design features of the case - nice to see some people take the time to look properly before commenting

We'll actually be making a few corrections and along with it making it1 some cm taller (it will reach about 43cm in height) and will move the PSU and the 120mm slot for fan/AiO to the bottom, adding support for a 240mm optional rad on the top of the case, which will still integrate seamlessly with everything if one chooses to mount it

[rhyseyness]

As you can see the system looks fairly clean, and we'll ass more wire management holes too.

I lol'd.

 

OT: I didn't think this was actually going to go anywhere but here you are with a prototype!

Congratulations!

The case looks good

Keep up the good work and listening to your feedback and you'll go far.

Good luck!

I'm rooting for you, even thought I have no intention of buying a new case anytime soon

 

EDIT: when you're happy with it, maybe ask nicely send Linus one for review

[NicolaZanarini]

I lol'd.

 

OT: I didn't think this was actually going to go anywhere but here you are with a prototype!

Congratulations!

The case looks good

Keep up the good work and listening to your feedback and you'll go far.

Good luck!

I'm rooting for you, even thought I have no intention of buying a new case anytime soon

 

EDIT: when you're happy with it, maybe ask nicely send Linus one for review

Hahahah, didn;t see that typo...but who knows, if we go to fairs and events there might be more ass around the case

Yeah, we've come a long way still works to do but it's looking good

And when finished will certainly try to send one to Linus

Thank you for the support!

[mikeeginger]

Hail hydra

[NicolaZanarini]

Hail hydra

Hail Hydra!

[NumLock21]

Imo don't like the position of the aio. Them tubes are stretch to the breaking point. And it will interfere with gpus.

[Misanthrope]

This looks really nice already. I do have a suggestion: the front is pretty unused in case you don't need that much storage, it should eventually have the option to use a radiator bracket there a single 120 might not be enough.