Teenage Engineering, a style and design firm that dabbles in everything from synthesizers to aiding establish the Playdate gaming handheld, has created its to start with computer situation. It is termed Computer-1. It is a daring orange case that is manufactured for mini-ITX-sized motherboards, which are reserved for smaller sort factor builds. Like most of the company’s merchandise, it’s not precisely very affordable at $195. But that could not be an obstacle if you are a sucker for a case which is dripping in shade and one of a kind style.
The Computer system-1 case is created with powder-coated aluminum and has chrome handles, which will make it glimpse a bit like Apple’s most current Mac Pro desktop chassis. Although, in contrast to that computer system, this circumstance arrives unassembled. It arrives in a flat pack, like most Ikea products and solutions. Not only will you have to create your pc, finish with motherboard and parts, but you will practically have to bend some of this case’s parts into condition. Its assembly manual (PDF) warns you to “think 2 times, bend after,” so no stress there with your $195 circumstance.
In case you cannot inform from the visuals, the Laptop or computer-1 is very small. The proportions with the chrome handles hooked up are 6.69 x 7.48 x 12.67 inches (WxDxH), which roughly translates to 10 liters of capacity. You are going to want an especially very small GPU to match within. It has a restrict of 180mm in size for graphics playing cards, and several modern day styles are in fact that tiny. Mainly, you are going to require a one-enthusiast graphics card, so forget about about setting up an RTX 3080 procedure in this compact scenario. Even the RTX 3060 card that we reviewed is also large.
The structure of this scenario raises some concerns all over airflow. Because warmth rises and GPUs generally pull in refreshing air, it is not apparent why Teenage Engineering made the scenario with the GPU at the major instead of the base. We believe that the enterprise has tested airflow, but it’s a bit of a crimson flag for a situation this pricey.
You will need to have a SFX electric power supply to fit inside of the base of the case, which is scaled-down than common ATX-sized ability provides. If you strategy to use a CPU cooler, there’s 120mm of top clearance from the motherboard’s area.
:format(webp):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/22963358/tec1.jpg)
In Teenage Engineering fashion, the Computer system-1 has a switch that I simply cannot wait to flick — that’ll electric power your Personal computer on and off. Its front I/O has a headphone jack and a lone USB-C port. It’s very clear below that this scenario is extra about seems to be than utility, so if you want additional ports on the front, look elsewhere.
However, the Pc-1 offered out through the process of writing this publish. It’ll likely go back on sale in the near future, nevertheless, and The Verge has asked Teenage Engineering if it can share more specific restocking information and facts.