Cooler Master has just released its new mini ITX case: the NCORE 100 MAX. It reinvents the concept of the mini PC, turning it into a lifestyle product. It arrives with a very pronounced style, but a little bulkier than its competition. So let’s take a look at this new model and compare it with the NZXT H1 – let’s go!
The exterior of the NCORE 100 MAX:
With this model, we have the option of changing the volume to allow large graphics cards to be fitted. Its dimensions are 155mm x 212mm x 481mm in normal mode, and 172mm x 212mm x 481mm in expansion mode. Indeed, this mini ITX model is particularly tall at 481mm. As for weight, we’re pretty light at 6.3 kg, including watercooling and power supply.
With this Cooler Master case, we have the right to a new type of lifestyle product and the design that goes with it. Like it or not, we love it. It’s a product that should go on your desk, a bit like a Mac mini, which has a larger footprint, by the way, because the NCORE 100 MAX is all height.
As for the price, as you can see, it’s a case that sells for around €399, depending on the store. And you’ll be entitled to two anodizing colors: dark grey or bronze.
The control panel :
The control panel is located at the foot of the case. Unlike other products, which generally offer a top-mounted interface. It’s pretty complete, but its position makes it a disadvantage if you want to put your PC on the floor. We find :
- 3.5 mm headphone/microphone jack
- One USB-C 3.2 Gen2
- Two USB-A 3.2 Gen1
- A power button
The underside :
It’s under the case that you’ll have access to your graphics card connectors. As for the feet, they give a significant height, which helps with the passage of hdmi and DisplayPort cables. This height is also useful for allowing components to breathe.
Rear :
Unlike the NZXT H1, which has all its connections underneath, the NCORE 100 MAX has all the motherboard I/O on the rear. This makes connections so much easier and more accessible. There’s also a power supply connection. And there’s an exhaust fan, just as you’d find on a normal case.
The top :
Finally, we come to the top, where we find a protective grille for the watercooling included with the case. This AIO is a bit special, as the 120mm radiator is much thicker than that found on the competition. Unable to integrate a long radiator of the 240mm type, Cooler Master, aptly named, decided to increase the thickness to provide more surface area for heat dissipation.
It’s also worth noting that, with the radiator at the top of the case, it allows cool air to be taken in and hot air to be extracted directly from the case. A big difference from the NZXT H1, which takes air from components that are already hot, we’ll soon see the difference in our tests.
[nextpage title=”Inside the NCORE 100 MAX”]
Inside the NCORE 100 MAX :
To open the NCORE 100 MAX, no tools are needed, as the two side panels are held in place by clips.
The chassis:
Internally, we find a spacious case on the graphics card side. The NCORE 100 MAX is designed to house the big RTX 4090. On ours, we’ve installed an RTX 3080, and you can quickly see that it’s very empty, even though this card isn’t particularly small.
On the motherboard side, we have much less space. The power supply is pre-installed, as is the watercooling. Cables are the right size, and all you need to do is use the zipties supplied to keep everything clean once the components are installed. In the meantime they are temporarily secured for transport.
Storage location:
Storage is minimalist, with just one 2.5″ slot at the bottom of the case, beneath the motherboard. The SSD is held in place by 4 screws, which are housed in rubber pads on the bottom of the case. The SSD power cable must also be installed; it’s the right length, but strangely enough there are 2 connectors, whereas there’s only room for one SSD.
Power supply :
The power supply is located at the top of the case, beneath the watercooling. It’s an 850W SFX Gold ATX 3.0 power supply. Which will run any CPU / GPU combo currently on the market.
Cooling:
The NCORE 100 MAX comes with an AIO watercooling system specially designed for it. Indeed, you can easily find AIOs with a 120mm radiator, but this one is 38mm thick, i.e. nearly 2 times thicker than the norm. And this is where Cooler Master comes into its own, because by making the radiator thicker, it increases its contact with the air and therefore heat transfer. Cooler Master also uses a custom fan that can reach up to 2400RPM.
As you can see, Cooler Master has thought of everything when it comes to cooling… the brand lives up to its name.
The bundle:
All the essentials are included, including brackets for installing AMD or Intel processors, power cables for the 2.5″ SSD, power supply and various graphics cards. Finally, the Ncore 100 Max has a second grid to cover the watercooling at the top of the case, should you ever want to switch it to Expansion mode to fit a graphics card with more than 3 slots.
Small details:
In terms of small details, there’s not much to remember, except that the case features numerous places for securing cables via zipties. These are scattered throughout the case, in places where they are most needed. However, there are no cable channels as such.
To sum up:
This is a case that stands out from the crowd, with an original design and a well-arranged interior to accommodate the largest configurations. It’s also a case that won’t take up much space on your desk.
[nextpage title=”Assembly”]
Assembly
We’re now ready to assemble our configuration inside the NCORE 100 MAX. Here are the components we’ll be using for assembly:
- Motherboard: ASUS ROG Strix B450-I Gaming
- Processor: Ryzen 9 3900X
- Graphics card: RTX 3080
Overall:
Basically, it’s quick to assemble the configuration inside the case, and with the power supply and watercooling pre-installed, you won’t even have to worry about whether these components are compatible. A perfect case for a novice. As the cables are all the right length, you won’t even need to make a cable management- Cooler Master did it for us.
The instructions, however, are not optimal: for example, mounting an SSD 2.5 should ideally be done before mounting the motherboard. We’d also have liked the riser to be a little longer, so that it wouldn’t pull so hard on the wires during assembly.
[nextpage title=”Protocol”]
For this different PC format, we’re going to use a different test protocol. Here, we’ll be comparing the Cooler Master NCORE 100 MAX with its biggest rival, the NZXT H1.
Here, the configuration changes – you’ll find the details below. As for the software, the CPU and GPU will run on OCCT, both alternately, so as to be able to identify the impact that the heating of one component can have on the others in a small case. Note that CPU and GPU ventilation is default. The ambient temperature is the same for all tests, at 20 degrees Celsius.
A 10-minute warm-up period is applied before taking temperature readings, to identify gradual temperature rises. The tests are run one after the other, without interruption, so as to observe the variation in component temperature according to the speed of the case’s fans. A delta is then applied: component temperature subtracted from ambient temperature.
For this test, we took two series of readings.
Configuration:
- Motherboard: ASUS ROG Strix B450-I Gaming
- CPU: Ryzen 9 3900X
- Graphics card: RTX 3080
[nextpage title=”Tests”]
Tests
Airflow:
Before showing you the graphs, here’s the table to show you the data retained.
As you can see, at rest, the NCORE 100 MAX is 11 degrees Celsius cooler than the NZXT H1 for the CPU, but 9 degrees Celsius warmer for the graphics card. However, Cooler Master wins the arm-wrestling match when the load is increased.
It’s worth noting that during our CPU load tests on the H1, the GPU heated up to the point of triggering its fans… Which wasn’t the case with the NCORE 100 MAX, where CPU heating didn’t negatively impact GPU temperature.
Processor :
Here, the observation is clear: the Cooler Master 7-degree Celsius case is less hot than the H1 under full load. The CPU temperature is so low as to give us plenty to play with in the BIOS.
Graphics card:
When it comes to GPUs, Cooler Master’s case wins again, with 5.7 degrees Celsius of difference compared to NZXT’s H1. In such a compact case, the RTX 3080 had more room and therefore better airflow than in the H1, where it was shoehorned in.
To sum up:
All in all, we’re back with a case that generates very good thermal dynamics, and where we’ll be able to install any processor and graphics card without worrying about temperatures.
[nextpage title=”Conclusion”]
We’ve now come to the end of our test of Cooler Master’s NCORE 100 MAX.
A compact model:
With this new case, Cooler Master offers us a mini ITX tower with a small footprint but close to half a meter vertically. An ideal format for placing on a desk.
When it comes to aesthetics, everyone has their own tastes, especially for a model with character like this one. We loved this counterpoint to current trends with RGB and glass panels. Here, we’re offered an elegant sculpture, not a festival of light.
Simple assembly!
With watercooling, power supply and cables pre-installed, assembly can be done in 15 minutes, with no fuss
An affordable price:
As for price, you’ll have to reckon with some €399, regardless of color: gray or bronze. Clearly, the competition has something to worry about.
Cooler Master NCORE 100 MAX:
We liked :
- The design
- The tall format
- Well-thought-out concept
- Space for an RTX 4090
- Temperatures under load
- Not too steep a price considering the bundle
- IO on the back rather than underneath
We didn’t like :
- Location of the control panel
- Not being able to deactivate the watercooling light
All in all, I fell in love with it. A breath of fresh air with this design. When it comes to airflow, Cooler Master has done its utmost by optimizing and using components specially made for this case, such as the radiator and fans. What’s more, you can now install an RTX 4080 Super or RTX 4090 in a mini ITX case with ease.
Many thanks to Cooler Master !