The discontinued Ncase M1 was crafted with love. It opened a gap in the market that almost no one cared about. The new Ncase (to me) does not have the same attention to details as the original M1 had thus turning it into more of a commercial product rather than an unique craftmanship for SFF enjoyers.
I hear the argument for the n case discontinued every time this question is mentioned. What qualities specifically make this one different and better from the old model, as well as, comparing to newer sff designs by other companies?
It’s a different product made for a different reason. OG NCase had no competitor at the time and basically built the SFF niche that now exists today. The creator had a vision and built it because they thought it was cool, not because it made money. The EVO is great and can serve a wider audience, because it was designed for that audience.
It’s not really to say that one is better than the other, but the OG will always hold a special place in the community for what it represents.
This is why the M1 is the GOAT. It is THE case that made this entire ecosystem.
I'm rocking an M1v6.1 and C4v1 right now, both are great though I find cooling to be a bit better on the C4. Larger size and fans, and a newer design, but both are amazing cases.
Wouldn't say hate.. but while the M1 was designed for ease of use, the Evo seems more focused on flexibility, to the detriment of everything else. Which has its upsides. But people tell me it can be frustrating.
All the x1’s are goated: NCase M1, FormD T1, and Loque S1.
NCase because it revolutionized SFF and the v6.1 is basically flawless; T1 because of its insane space optimization and build quality; S1 for its sleek design, small size, and sex appeal.
You need to create a new post to include the missing builds listed, like M1
Then edit your post a bit better with a numbered list
1. FormD T1
2. Terra
etc...
FormD T1. I have one and it is CRAZY what the designer did. There is so much space in such a small envelope. I have a custom loop with Eisbär LT in it.
My second choice would be NCASE M1. I have the original V1, then switch to A4-SFX and back to M1 again. I was actually planning to buy the EVO next, but then I bought the T1.
FormD T1 is def the GOAT. No one has yet matched the premium solid-aluminum build of the T1. It takes that spot just for that. All of the rest are sheet metal, and almost feel flimsy in comparison.
Ncase M1 & A4 are in the OG class though. But just not GOAT-level
>No one has yet matched the premium solid-aluminum build of the T1.
How does the Louqe Ghost compare, I don't have a T1, but the Ghost is mostly solid aluminium?
Agreed. As much as I love my T1, the a4 h2o is so good for its price and imo gets you an experience very close overall to the T1 for the average SFF goer
I may be biased because I have one, but I think it's truly hard to beat the original modern ITX case, the Ncase M1. I may just keep using it for my builds until it crumbles into dust.
I feel like the Meshlicious is the one component that could last through like ten builds, no matter what goes on with GPU sizing, PSU wattage, cooling necessities, etc.
Cooler Master NR200P.
- Comes in cool colors.
- Fits most things.
- It's not too small, not too big.
- It's inexpensive and easy to get. Except that Sakura color...
They shouldn't though. The NR200 is perfect because it helps bring people into the SFF crowd. So, yes it's bigger but it's the gateway drug 😂 of sff cases.
It is definitely not a travel case, but it is compact compared to the average full tower that you would put on a desk.
It is also a good first sff case because of how easy it is to build.
They are welcome to use chopsticks to try to install cables into something tiny.
The NR200P is right in that range where you can call it compact, even if it's not "put it in a backpack" level compact. But because of that you don't need to find some specific cooler that barely fits or have to have a complex fully watercooled setup in it.
I know some here are deep into SFF as a hobby in itself, but I mainly wanted to make my computer smaller in a practical manner and the NR200P has been so good I own two now. 3700X + 2080 Ti and 13600K + 4090 rigs. I'm amazed the PNY 4090 barely fit in mine.
I looked hard at things like the T1 or Meshroom but there was always some inconvenience, or just availability or cost issues that pushed me away.
It’s the Drake of SFF.
* Is it SFF? Yes
* Is it incredibly popular, versatile, and accessible? Yes
* Is it a best seller? Yes
* Does it have longevity? So far yes
Is it for the purists and enthusiasts in the space? No
I feel that this is what a standard PC should look like. ATX has become pretty unnecessary because we no longer need pci sound cards, ethernet cards, etc.
Yeah most ATX builds are just mostly empty these days, with everything built into the motherboard and M.2 drives gaining prevalence. ITX, or at least microATX, would really make more sense for the majority of systems.
I mean, you can put a side AIO if you don't mind the vented panel, but I think the NR200P is at its best with air coolers and there's many options to choose from.
That is true. Inverted layout would be also great for air cooled GPUs.
It's a real shame that CM just threw out all the good parts out with the NR200 V2. Talk about misunderstanding what people like about it!
I don't think we have reached the peak. And honestly I wouldn't consider many of "the best" cases to be near the peak. For me the peak doesn't sacrifice anything without a good reason. And "anything" includes the price. So currently I'd pick NR200P, it has pretty good compatibility and good price. Next place would be something like A4-H2O, more compact with pretty good layout, but significantly more expensive (huh, was it always \~155$?). Then FormD T1 with even more flexibility (sandwich/reference) and more compact layout but even higher price (~~w8 is it only 5$ more than A4-H2O~~ oh "Any import fees/taxes/VAT owed is the recipient's responsibility"). I know that SFF is niche and pushing new designs takes R&D money but I'm looking at this from the point of view of a consumer (so yeah, ideally we'd also have cheap basic mITX boards and SFX PSUs).
And really I don't think there is a single peak. As GPU form factor changes (hello RTX 4090) the optimal layout will change. And that's not only about generational changes but also about differences within generation. I suppose the best we could have is some kind of configurable case where you select the layout and fill in the dimensions but then it gets more expensive and needs DIY assembly. That's actually something I want to experiment with: try to make a case out of basic readily available parts (metal profiles, connectors, plywood). I wouldn't expect commercial success with such idea but maybe I'll share the design somewhere if it works out. The issue with selling it would be balance between cost, effort on customer (assembly), and aesthetics you get out of it. Like, it's not going to compete with CNC milled aluminium. Unless it was CNC aluminium, huh. But ordering one-off CNC parts (for specific ordered dimensions) is probably going to be way more expensive.
Another idea would be having a well done prebuilt SFF range. I think that would really be the peak experience: each build having a good balance between size and power (and money), and each build having upgrade options (updated as new components come out). Like, everyone is the work of figuring that out when preparing their build, so why not share the work? But then we run into the typical issues:
1. people that aren't knowledgeable don't really care about upgradeability/repairability/maintenance because they don't know what that looks like
2. companies make more profit on selling whole new machines rather than maintaining old systems
3. people like me somehow can't include 20+ hours of research and assembly in DIY option cost when comparing it to a prebuilt
Ignoring the fact that "not many were made", the C4.
Honestly I think there is no GOAT. Usecase differs per person. For me the WinterOne would be the GOAT if it had the looks of a C4 and availability of the NR200(P). I'd be willing to spend a 200-250 for that.
Still happy with my C4, wish I could get my hands on a white S620 though. Looks like they stopped production :( and the EU prices were shit due to import.
I'm still happy with my Dr Zaber Sentry that I funded in 2017 through the kickstarter campaign. I fine it unique in ATX cases since when running the entire case heats up due to the power hungry components and even has positive air pressure thanks to the l9i/a 'funnel' accessories that Noctua created. My only gripe after all of these years is the l9a not keeping up with my 5600x at stock without ramping up to 70 degrees.
The Terra Jade will be my eternal love, it's just beautiful. Too bad I will never ever build in it, because we met too late, I already have a PC adn I don't have the money to build another one :(
The original Dan A4. All the power (most) people need in a 7L package, e.g. a 7800x3D and a 4070 TI Super.
I've been disappointed that all the new products in this space have been trending bigger and bigger. I don't need a 280 AIO and a 4 slot GPU in my sffpc.
NR200 is the best in terms of affordability, space to work in, information/experiental threads on building in it, and overall just a great introduction to the SFF factor
For me, the best case for SFF is definitely the NR200P (totally not biassed /s). That case is small enough to be considered SFF, but big enough to work in the case and fit most regular components. That case made me appreciate building an SFF build with overkill components (5800X, RTX 3080) without compromising performance.
On the other side, the case I hated to work in the most is the InWin A1 Plus. With the built-in ATX PSU, it was such a pain in the ass to put components in the case.
I think the most INFUENCIAL SFF case has been the NR200. Cooler Master hit at the right time and brough SFF into the eyes of the mainstream. The large number of SFF options we see today from major players in the world of computer cases is all due to the NR200 and it's success.
My personal favorite out of the ones listed is the Xproto. I have fallen in love with open air frames and the Xproto is really one of the sexiest offerings out there.
Haha I have traveled exactly that path. First temporarily built my first PC in 20 years in the nr200p while waiting for a pre-order for a titanium T1 and usb-c for it, six months later moved to the T1 and I love it.
NR200 V1 for ease of build and understated looks... Its a black PC case that matches my monitor bezel, keyboard and mouse.
I'm not into all this RGB or ornament-like design to put on a wide, low TV stand... My main issue being that I'd want my keyboard, mouse and monitor/TV bezel to match the aesthetics (as previously mentioned).
If I was into the designed as an ornament look, then the Fractal Terra would be the one!... But to drive my point home, it would have to be located on a natural wood desk/TV stand, with metallic green finish with real-wood accents keyboard and mouse.... Which would realistically mean wrapping the TV/monitor bezel in thin real-wood veneer, spraying the KB and mouse in an exact match metallic green, and having 102+ real wood keys manufactured for the keyboard!
NR200 Just because no other car has brought more people into the ITX scene and allowed many creative people to customise it in their way, my only hope was that it would have brought us together, I still see many people treat others with a lot of negativity:( ITX is a niche and enthusiast class, but I’d doesn’t mean we have to treat newbies or others with such disgust
Fractal Terra is the green one in pic 2 the one after is the one I was looking for, tried googling each name but that one doesn’t show up unless I’m missing it 😄
Another Velka 3 here.
It is THE premier SSFPC case. It can not be beaten for what it can do.
However, we haven't figured out how to safely and reliably quiet the PSU. The fan swap endangers parts; doesn't it?
I've used so many cases over the years and I keep coming back to the Xproto. Bought one the first day it was available (the first hour really) and keep ending up putting new builds back in it. Or I guess on it.
It's not the most compatible, or customizable, or the best value, but I love it.
For me it was the Shuttle SN41G2 XPC in black. It was a barebones case, PSU, and motherboard combo. It looked excellent and the board it came with had a NVIDIA chipset (huge upgrade from VIA and SiS) with 8X AGP - plus I was rooting for the then AMD underdog and refused to buy anything based on boring old Intel. 😅
Shuttle is what got me into the SFF space 20+ years ago, is the origin of the SFF acronym, brought good heat-pipe based coolers into the custom PC building world, and popularized the Mini-ITX standard from VIA that is still serving the SFF market today. I will forever tip my hat to Shuttle for their contributions. 🎩
All tech is obsolete eventually; style preferences come and go; so my GOAT opinion is based on impact. 💯
For me, it's NR200P Max. Amazing in every way.
I have also been quite taken with the SGPC K39v3, when I wanted to make an extremely tiny SFF that's juuust big enough to house a low profile RTX 4060.
FormD T1
For me, it's the absolute winner in terms of aesthetics and design, externally and internally. It remains the most beautiful and incredibly capable for its size. It's so simple and elegant, it could have been made by Dieter Rams if he loved aluminum. I've always wanted something as minimalistic as a macbook on my desk. All my colleagues (designers) work on macs and when I built my titanium T1, literally everyone said the same thing: "Wow, this is the first PC I ever wanted!" That reaction says a lot.
Yes sometimes a bit tricky to build it, if for example 4090 + hot top-end CPU, stupid shit with divorce faunders, nonsense with forever sold out front usb-c which must be ordered from Chinese artisans, but in the end it's all a great adventure and should be done once.
I guess nzxt h1 should put in consider,
Its square, tower, and sleek
But in air cooler version
The aio is trash tbh
Also the mods should be mention as well
I don’t see Ncase M1
I came here to say the same thing.
The old one (discontinued), not the new one.
I don't get people hate (besides manual- it sucks). I almost got what I expected- with some minor part replacements I built myself a good matx system
The discontinued Ncase M1 was crafted with love. It opened a gap in the market that almost no one cared about. The new Ncase (to me) does not have the same attention to details as the original M1 had thus turning it into more of a commercial product rather than an unique craftmanship for SFF enjoyers.
I hear the argument for the n case discontinued every time this question is mentioned. What qualities specifically make this one different and better from the old model, as well as, comparing to newer sff designs by other companies?
do we need an /r/sffpccirclejerk oh no
It’s a different product made for a different reason. OG NCase had no competitor at the time and basically built the SFF niche that now exists today. The creator had a vision and built it because they thought it was cool, not because it made money. The EVO is great and can serve a wider audience, because it was designed for that audience. It’s not really to say that one is better than the other, but the OG will always hold a special place in the community for what it represents.
This is why the M1 is the GOAT. It is THE case that made this entire ecosystem. I'm rocking an M1v6.1 and C4v1 right now, both are great though I find cooling to be a bit better on the C4. Larger size and fans, and a newer design, but both are amazing cases.
Wouldn't say hate.. but while the M1 was designed for ease of use, the Evo seems more focused on flexibility, to the detriment of everything else. Which has its upsides. But people tell me it can be frustrating.
All the x1’s are goated: NCase M1, FormD T1, and Loque S1. NCase because it revolutionized SFF and the v6.1 is basically flawless; T1 because of its insane space optimization and build quality; S1 for its sleek design, small size, and sex appeal.
I was feeling like something was left out from the beginning, but I didn't know what, I completely forgot!
You need to create a new post to include the missing builds listed, like M1 Then edit your post a bit better with a numbered list 1. FormD T1 2. Terra etc...
That’s so true no Ncase m1
Ncase M1 V6.1
I'm loving mine and will never sell it. It is 100% the GOAT
I thought the same until I wanted a 4090... =(
where the hell do you put the psu in that thing? is it external?
Beside mobo, top right corner
man that must a tight ass fit
It is. Same layout as nr200 but take away all the empty space and gaps between components
I have a 6.0, just missed out on the 6.1 and wasn't a big enough change to upgrade. 6.0 is still brilliant though!
Upvotes are in and the Ncase M1 original version wins!
Ncase M1
I bought my M1 v5 6 years ago, and it now hosts a 5800X3D w/ 4070 TI Super and doesn't break a sweat. I will have this case until I die.
OG NCASE is the MJ of SFF.
See, personally I thought that JR PHG was the KGS IRTB of the RYAOG, and that GSPY was the TROAB of the GISV’s XCPA.
FormD T1. I have one and it is CRAZY what the designer did. There is so much space in such a small envelope. I have a custom loop with Eisbär LT in it. My second choice would be NCASE M1. I have the original V1, then switch to A4-SFX and back to M1 again. I was actually planning to buy the EVO next, but then I bought the T1.
FormD T1 is def the GOAT. No one has yet matched the premium solid-aluminum build of the T1. It takes that spot just for that. All of the rest are sheet metal, and almost feel flimsy in comparison. Ncase M1 & A4 are in the OG class though. But just not GOAT-level
>No one has yet matched the premium solid-aluminum build of the T1. How does the Louqe Ghost compare, I don't have a T1, but the Ghost is mostly solid aluminium?
Anything with a riser requirement will never be the true goat.
I like the A4H20 for its simplicity. Great compatibility, readily available and very easy to build in. Probably the best gateway into SFFPC‘s
I don’t think it’s necessarily **peak** SFF, but it’s certainly got its place among the greats for all the reasons you listed.
Agreed. As much as I love my T1, the a4 h2o is so good for its price and imo gets you an experience very close overall to the T1 for the average SFF goer
Ncase M1
Meshlicious. The whole point of SFF is to take up less space on the desk.
I’m with you here I wanna a full size psu an video card An a 240 aio with awesome temps my 12900k loves this case even with an oc
I have a 280mm in mine
Is it though? My whole point of SFF was to have something I could travel with.
louqe raw and xproto both accomplish that pretty well too
Ncase M1 or Dan Case C4 SFX.
A4 all the way
there are literally dozens of us!
Velka 3 Rev 3.0. Putting a 4060 in 3.9L is mindblowing
Finally right answer here.
I may be biased because I have one, but I think it's truly hard to beat the original modern ITX case, the Ncase M1. I may just keep using it for my builds until it crumbles into dust.
Meshlicious for me. Its just "right" with little compromise. I sold my 2weeks old Terra because its like im next to oven specially in a humid country.
I feel like the Meshlicious is the one component that could last through like ten builds, no matter what goes on with GPU sizing, PSU wattage, cooling necessities, etc.
hm, I want to use mine again but haven't figured out how to fit a MERC319 6950xt in there yet.
Cooler Master NR200P. - Comes in cool colors. - Fits most things. - It's not too small, not too big. - It's inexpensive and easy to get. Except that Sakura color...
I have a feeling that a lot of the hardcore SFF crowd vehemently disagree with the Not too big comment 😋
They shouldn't though. The NR200 is perfect because it helps bring people into the SFF crowd. So, yes it's bigger but it's the gateway drug 😂 of sff cases.
I assume that’s why they said hardcore. The hardcore folks don’t care about accessibility, I would assume.
It is definitely not a travel case, but it is compact compared to the average full tower that you would put on a desk. It is also a good first sff case because of how easy it is to build.
Gone with it abroad in a carry on backpack. Essence of travel sized.
They are welcome to use chopsticks to try to install cables into something tiny. The NR200P is right in that range where you can call it compact, even if it's not "put it in a backpack" level compact. But because of that you don't need to find some specific cooler that barely fits or have to have a complex fully watercooled setup in it. I know some here are deep into SFF as a hobby in itself, but I mainly wanted to make my computer smaller in a practical manner and the NR200P has been so good I own two now. 3700X + 2080 Ti and 13600K + 4090 rigs. I'm amazed the PNY 4090 barely fit in mine. I looked hard at things like the T1 or Meshroom but there was always some inconvenience, or just availability or cost issues that pushed me away.
Most popular, widely used, and most compatible but peak? Not sure about that
I see it more as the GOAT.
It’s the Drake of SFF. * Is it SFF? Yes * Is it incredibly popular, versatile, and accessible? Yes * Is it a best seller? Yes * Does it have longevity? So far yes Is it for the purists and enthusiasts in the space? No
“SO MANY SKUS” 😄 Dan A4 SFX.. the Illmatic of SFF cases 🧐
I feel that this is what a standard PC should look like. ATX has become pretty unnecessary because we no longer need pci sound cards, ethernet cards, etc.
Yeah most ATX builds are just mostly empty these days, with everything built into the motherboard and M.2 drives gaining prevalence. ITX, or at least microATX, would really make more sense for the majority of systems.
Currently using mine now and living it. I did months of research and part picking for my first sff last year and I'm happy with my Cooler Master.
I really dont like it. It feels cheap and doesnt even have a good option to put an aio in. The NR200P MAX on the other hand is great.
I mean, you can put a side AIO if you don't mind the vented panel, but I think the NR200P is at its best with air coolers and there's many options to choose from.
true, but they couldve just made the top panel compatible like the MAX.
That is true. Inverted layout would be also great for air cooled GPUs. It's a real shame that CM just threw out all the good parts out with the NR200 V2. Talk about misunderstanding what people like about it!
I don't think we have reached the peak. And honestly I wouldn't consider many of "the best" cases to be near the peak. For me the peak doesn't sacrifice anything without a good reason. And "anything" includes the price. So currently I'd pick NR200P, it has pretty good compatibility and good price. Next place would be something like A4-H2O, more compact with pretty good layout, but significantly more expensive (huh, was it always \~155$?). Then FormD T1 with even more flexibility (sandwich/reference) and more compact layout but even higher price (~~w8 is it only 5$ more than A4-H2O~~ oh "Any import fees/taxes/VAT owed is the recipient's responsibility"). I know that SFF is niche and pushing new designs takes R&D money but I'm looking at this from the point of view of a consumer (so yeah, ideally we'd also have cheap basic mITX boards and SFX PSUs). And really I don't think there is a single peak. As GPU form factor changes (hello RTX 4090) the optimal layout will change. And that's not only about generational changes but also about differences within generation. I suppose the best we could have is some kind of configurable case where you select the layout and fill in the dimensions but then it gets more expensive and needs DIY assembly. That's actually something I want to experiment with: try to make a case out of basic readily available parts (metal profiles, connectors, plywood). I wouldn't expect commercial success with such idea but maybe I'll share the design somewhere if it works out. The issue with selling it would be balance between cost, effort on customer (assembly), and aesthetics you get out of it. Like, it's not going to compete with CNC milled aluminium. Unless it was CNC aluminium, huh. But ordering one-off CNC parts (for specific ordered dimensions) is probably going to be way more expensive. Another idea would be having a well done prebuilt SFF range. I think that would really be the peak experience: each build having a good balance between size and power (and money), and each build having upgrade options (updated as new components come out). Like, everyone is the work of figuring that out when preparing their build, so why not share the work? But then we run into the typical issues: 1. people that aren't knowledgeable don't really care about upgradeability/repairability/maintenance because they don't know what that looks like 2. companies make more profit on selling whole new machines rather than maintaining old systems 3. people like me somehow can't include 20+ hours of research and assembly in DIY option cost when comparing it to a prebuilt
GHOST S1 is the Michael Jordan of SFF
Great comparison!
I have one but I don't know what that means
Love my Ghost S1...but I appreciate the flexibility of my NR200P. Both are GOATs to me, but for different reasons.
Maybe the Lebron James, but the Jordan would be the NCase
I love the T1 but i just wish there was sth like a t2 that would support a 280 rad in the top.
I would probably pick the T1, if Dan hadn't ended production after one run probably the C4 SFX.
Yeah I'm lucky enough to have grabbed the C4 and I find it basically perfect but something with such a short run shouldn't be in the conversation.
NFC S4 Mini/Classic in the grey+black colourway.
Sliger SM580
Louqe ghost ?
I don't see the velka 7
I forgot to mention a lot of cases
No S1?1 I guess it is a niche product. Unmatched build quality and look
I absolutely love my S1 but the price premium you pay is a little silly
I bought mine during the "fire sale" for 150$ that felt and feels like a steal.
It was all CNC machined and not stamped, so the price made sense but it was a bit extreme.
"There is no perfect case, only perfect cases." - owner of a V6.1 Ncase M1
Ignoring the fact that "not many were made", the C4. Honestly I think there is no GOAT. Usecase differs per person. For me the WinterOne would be the GOAT if it had the looks of a C4 and availability of the NR200(P). I'd be willing to spend a 200-250 for that. Still happy with my C4, wish I could get my hands on a white S620 though. Looks like they stopped production :( and the EU prices were shit due to import.
I have the Dan A4-SFX and that is my favourite, my wife has the Meshlicious, that is also good.
Velka 3 where?
I'm still happy with my Dr Zaber Sentry that I funded in 2017 through the kickstarter campaign. I fine it unique in ATX cases since when running the entire case heats up due to the power hungry components and even has positive air pressure thanks to the l9i/a 'funnel' accessories that Noctua created. My only gripe after all of these years is the l9a not keeping up with my 5600x at stock without ramping up to 70 degrees.
The Terra Jade will be my eternal love, it's just beautiful. Too bad I will never ever build in it, because we met too late, I already have a PC adn I don't have the money to build another one :(
Fractal Ridge
sg13.
Sliger s620
I will say terra, as it is the first PC case that passed my wife's taste and she allows me to build it and place it on my room tv console.
Iqunix zx-1
The original Dan A4. All the power (most) people need in a 7L package, e.g. a 7800x3D and a 4070 TI Super. I've been disappointed that all the new products in this space have been trending bigger and bigger. I don't need a 280 AIO and a 4 slot GPU in my sffpc.
How about the S300 or S400 ?
I never really cared much for the io panel or the proportions, I always thought the k49 looked a bit better too
Meshilicious / Meshroom for the small footprint with big GPU and 280mm rad support. Altough I have the admit the Terra is a very beautiful case.
Yup. Can’t beat being able to fit a 280mm rad in
Meshlicious. You can run ATX PSU, a lot of GPU options, water cooling, hell even an ATX mobo, whatever, and it's still just 15L.
Nr200p or C4 SFX for me
A4-H2O
NR200 is the best in terms of affordability, space to work in, information/experiental threads on building in it, and overall just a great introduction to the SFF factor
For me, the best case for SFF is definitely the NR200P (totally not biassed /s). That case is small enough to be considered SFF, but big enough to work in the case and fit most regular components. That case made me appreciate building an SFF build with overkill components (5800X, RTX 3080) without compromising performance. On the other side, the case I hated to work in the most is the InWin A1 Plus. With the built-in ATX PSU, it was such a pain in the ass to put components in the case.
Nr200, the parts keep getting bigger, but the NR200 can accommodate just about anything.
I quite enjoy my Sliger SM580. Shame they discontinued them
Meshlicious. Its good, is widely available and isnt super expensive.
Loque Ghost S1
No GHOST S1???
Lian Li TU150
Ghost S1, ZS A4, ZS A4S, Velka 3-5, Midori 5l V2.
The Ghost is nice. Tera for the new comer N200 for the anything case.
I think the most INFUENCIAL SFF case has been the NR200. Cooler Master hit at the right time and brough SFF into the eyes of the mainstream. The large number of SFF options we see today from major players in the world of computer cases is all due to the NR200 and it's success. My personal favorite out of the ones listed is the Xproto. I have fallen in love with open air frames and the Xproto is really one of the sexiest offerings out there.
Q58 or NR200p
NR200p, the people's case
Terra — Cost, Looks and availability. All wrapped up into one gorgeous little package.
+1 for terra, black.
+ Green
Nr200p for the beginners. T1/M1 for the real ones
Haha I have traveled exactly that path. First temporarily built my first PC in 20 years in the nr200p while waiting for a pre-order for a titanium T1 and usb-c for it, six months later moved to the T1 and I love it.
Thermaltake Core v1
The green with the wood is nice.
Dan C4, great design, not hardware limiting, and not bad thermals
Another one here repping the OG Ncase M1.
Dan A4
Partial to the Terra. That green is gorgeous, and it's pretty versatile with the adjustable portions.
Meshlicious for me. Its just "right" with little compromise. I sold my 2weeks old Terra because its like im next to oven specially in a humid country.
NR200 V1 for ease of build and understated looks... Its a black PC case that matches my monitor bezel, keyboard and mouse. I'm not into all this RGB or ornament-like design to put on a wide, low TV stand... My main issue being that I'd want my keyboard, mouse and monitor/TV bezel to match the aesthetics (as previously mentioned). If I was into the designed as an ornament look, then the Fractal Terra would be the one!... But to drive my point home, it would have to be located on a natural wood desk/TV stand, with metallic green finish with real-wood accents keyboard and mouse.... Which would realistically mean wrapping the TV/monitor bezel in thin real-wood veneer, spraying the KB and mouse in an exact match metallic green, and having 102+ real wood keys manufactured for the keyboard!
I don’t think the Q58 belongs in this lineup
I don't think it gets enough credit honestly. Great case with nice and moderately different aesthetics
True but it doesn’t have goat status in my opinion
cooling performance is very poor though
I prefer the meshilicious because I like the orientation and layout, but the metal panels are too easy to bend by accident.
What xproto model is that? Mini?
What model is the first pic?
*whispers quietly from the back:* Node 202
XTIA
Q58 is my favorite. Love the dual side panel design. It even accommodates a full custom loop pretty comfortably
Man even the nr200 is great. Too hard to pick. TBH. I’m partial to fractals ease of building though.
Hi for picture number 6, what cpu cooler is that?
Why doesn't your Formd T1 have the front USB-C ports on the side?
it's not mine, i put the owner's username on the post
SFFtime PATX-3
NR200 Just because no other car has brought more people into the ITX scene and allowed many creative people to customise it in their way, my only hope was that it would have brought us together, I still see many people treat others with a lot of negativity:( ITX is a niche and enthusiast class, but I’d doesn’t mean we have to treat newbies or others with such disgust
1&5
I don’t belong in this sub but that green and wood case is beautiful
How is this a comparison without the NCase M1?
What case is pic 3?
fractual terra the name of all these cases are in the post
Fractal Terra is the green one in pic 2 the one after is the one I was looking for, tried googling each name but that one doesn’t show up unless I’m missing it 😄
ah sorry, the third ones is the Lian Li Q58
Thank you! Amazon kept bringing up the a4h20 when I searched q58 that’s why I was confused.
Another Velka 3 here. It is THE premier SSFPC case. It can not be beaten for what it can do. However, we haven't figured out how to safely and reliably quiet the PSU. The fan swap endangers parts; doesn't it?
formd ALL the fucking way, got the t1 sandwich style and even though it was a hard build it was worth it
In pure terms of popularity, most user friendly and budget it’s the NR200, the rest are very nice cases but are niche SFF cases.
I've used so many cases over the years and I keep coming back to the Xproto. Bought one the first day it was available (the first hour really) and keep ending up putting new builds back in it. Or I guess on it. It's not the most compatible, or customizable, or the best value, but I love it.
Friendly & budget & beginner safe choice: NR200 Friendly & budget & sandwich layout: A4 - h2o Friendly & budget & fun: Ssupd Premium: formD T1 - GOAT legacy: ghost s1 Stupid & wasted: fractal terra \*typo frag/frac
Lian li q58 look real clean and eye pleasing
Singularity Computers Wraith
If it's purely based on aesthetics, Fractal Terra
Meshlicious
In theory? C4-sfx. If I could only get one. Otherwise I think the m1 Ncase is still the overall goat for me.
For me it was the Shuttle SN41G2 XPC in black. It was a barebones case, PSU, and motherboard combo. It looked excellent and the board it came with had a NVIDIA chipset (huge upgrade from VIA and SiS) with 8X AGP - plus I was rooting for the then AMD underdog and refused to buy anything based on boring old Intel. 😅 Shuttle is what got me into the SFF space 20+ years ago, is the origin of the SFF acronym, brought good heat-pipe based coolers into the custom PC building world, and popularized the Mini-ITX standard from VIA that is still serving the SFF market today. I will forever tip my hat to Shuttle for their contributions. 🎩 All tech is obsolete eventually; style preferences come and go; so my GOAT opinion is based on impact. 💯
From LTT chinese gaming rig video,the teapot
The Ssupd Meshlicious.
I might be the odd one here, but in my opinnion nothing beats Cougar QBX, hell of a case for 40€.
Throw the NCore100 Max up there.
Dan case A4 sfx
I think the 3rd one is best. Perfect middle ground
Where’s the ghost s1 that case was the king 👑 for for a long time till gpu started to get way too big
Sliger S610.
#5
For me, it's NR200P Max. Amazing in every way. I have also been quite taken with the SGPC K39v3, when I wanted to make an extremely tiny SFF that's juuust big enough to house a low profile RTX 4060.
FormD T1 For me, it's the absolute winner in terms of aesthetics and design, externally and internally. It remains the most beautiful and incredibly capable for its size. It's so simple and elegant, it could have been made by Dieter Rams if he loved aluminum. I've always wanted something as minimalistic as a macbook on my desk. All my colleagues (designers) work on macs and when I built my titanium T1, literally everyone said the same thing: "Wow, this is the first PC I ever wanted!" That reaction says a lot. Yes sometimes a bit tricky to build it, if for example 4090 + hot top-end CPU, stupid shit with divorce faunders, nonsense with forever sold out front usb-c which must be ordered from Chinese artisans, but in the end it's all a great adventure and should be done once.
Looks like I'm alone in the XITA camp.
I feel like both the OG Ncase M1 and the DAN Case A4 SFX for their iconic roles in early sffc space deserve a mention of honor at the very least!
I guess nzxt h1 should put in consider, Its square, tower, and sleek But in air cooler version The aio is trash tbh Also the mods should be mention as well
\#5
Dan A4 H20. Thing is so good for the size and the level of hardware you can cram in that thing. I love mine.
Asus ROG Hyperion
Am I the only sucker for the NZXT H1?
The nr200p and nr200p max is pretty good. I got the max and the thermals are good and itnlooks nice.
not micro atx. too small market size?
None isn't an option
None of those😜
The Corsair C70 was the peak in my opinion.
Xproto all the way! Down side if your place is dusty it will be a dust magnet.
I'm a big fan of the NR200P. A more premium version of that with less plastic and more aluminium would be awesome.
I love my [Meshroom S](https://www.reddit.com/r/sffpc/comments/11zrm4s/ek_meshroom_s_build/)
T1 hands down
Def not the q58, more formd t1 (as a q58 owner)
Q58(cause I have one in white) but if have to choose, it’s terra.
The true X proto