Skip to main content

This PC’s open-air chassis is unlike anything you’ve ever seen

If you’re a fan of unusual PC builds, you might like this fresh release from Nagao Seisakusho, a Japanese open-frame chassis specialist. Instead of locking all of the components inside the chassis, Nagao sets them free — and this time around, the company spiced up the build with an unexpected detail.

Nagao has just unveiled a monitor mounting bracket that goes with its open-air chassis, allowing customers to build a fully portable all-in-one PC by themselves.

Open frame PC case by Nagao with a monitor mounted on it.
Nagao

Nagao is a brand that makes open-air chassis for all kinds of motherboard sizes and use cases, including standard ATX, Micro-ATX, and Mini-ATX motherboards. The company has several options up for grabs that let users customize its PCs beyond what a typical chassis usually allows.

Recommended Videos

First spotted by @momomo_us on Twitter, and referred to as the “N-Frame PC chassis,” these open-air “cases” let you build your PC from scratch in a neat way.

As seen in the images that include the mounting bracket, the result is unlike anything else we’ve seen. The photos show off the potential of the chassis, with a massive graphics card completely unrestrained by the size of the motherboard. The monitor is suspended on the side of the chassis, with the motherboard and the components directly behind it. The whole setup is highly upgradeable, easy to monitor, and in all likelihood, delightfully easy to clean.  (Did you know that you should be cleaning the inside of your PC once every few months?)

Typically, the best all-in-one PCs tuck the components away within the screen, much like the gorgeous 24-inch Apple iMac. On the other hand, it’s hard to deny that Nagao’s vision definitely scores some points when it comes to uniqueness, and for the actual performance of the PC, it’s certainly helpful. Instead of cramming things into an ultra-tight space, the components get plenty of cooling just from being out in the open.

Although Nagao’s products seem like a lot of fun to an enthusiast PC builder, they’re not directly available in the U.S. However, you can check them out on the Japanese version of Amazon if you’d like to give them a try. A Nagao Open Frame Micro-ATX chassis costs 14,955 Japanese yen, which amounts to around $112.

Nagao open-air chassis and monitor mount.
Nagao

Ditching the chassis when building a new PC certainly has a range of benefits, from an increase in airflow to the fact that it just looks pretty cool. It’s also easier when you don’t have to worry about the size of the components quite as much, and cable management becomes less of a problem when you have plenty of space and options to organize them. What’s more, servicing an open-frame PC is fairly easy — after all, it’s all out there in the open right within reach. However, builds like Nagao’s are not without their issues, and seeing a handle on top of the PC — especially with a monitor mounted to it — brings up the question of safety.

Undoubtedly, Nagao will have tested the hardware prior to ever releasing it. It’s still a little scary to imagine what could possibly happen if the monitor ends up weighing more than the rest of the chassis, which, depending on the size of the screen, is entirely possible. The monitor bracket has 75 x 75 and 100 x 100 VESA mounting holes which could translate to a fairly big display.

Once an all-in-one PC is built based on Nagao’s products, it can be taken anywhere with ease thanks to the added handle. This, again, can make one feel a little apprehensive. Imagine the slightest bit of spillage or accidentally getting your beastly graphics card scratched… It’s not likely, but it could happen. If you wanted to try this out for yourself, you’d have to weigh the pros and cons and decide just how much portability you want to risk with your one-of-a-kind build.

Monica J. White
Monica is a computing writer at Digital Trends, focusing on PC hardware. Since joining the team in 2021, Monica has written…
A starter’s guide to PC cable management that won’t intimidate you
The cable management in the back chamber of the CLX Scarab.

With the new year upon us, do you have any resolutions related to your PC? And no, I don't mean cutting back on the time you spend gaming or buying an exciting new graphics card. I'm talking about the one thing most PC builders dread: cable management.

There's no better time to clean up the cabling in your PC, and while intimidating, the whole process should actually be pretty quick -- not to mention beneficial to your computer. Here are some tips to help you sort out the cables inside your PC case.
Pick up some accessories

Read more
Intel Meteor Lake is coming to desktop, but there’s a big catch
Intel announcing the Meteor Lake release date on Intel Innovation.

It's been a real roller coaster ride with Intel Meteor Lake. First, it was coming to desktops, then it wasn't, then it was, and now ... it isn't, but it is. If you're as confused as we are, don't worry -- Intel has set things straight and we now know that Meteor Lake chips will be available in desktops, but they won't become some of the best processors for desktop PCs, all because they're not socketed.

Intel spoke about the future of its 14th-Gen Meteor Lake chips in a statement made to ComputerBase, revealing that, yes, Intel Meteor Lake will come to desktop PCs, but only all-in-one (AIO) computers like the Intel NUC or small form-factor PCs. It won't be available in socketed form, which means that you won't be able to install it in a future LGA1851 motherboard. In short, Meteor Lake chips are laptop CPUs, through and through.

Read more
WD’s new SSD is the Steam Deck upgrade you’ve been waiting for
The WD Black SN770M hard drive on a Steam Deck.

The SSD upgrade you've been waiting on for the Steam Deck and ROG Ally is here. Western Digital revealed its WD_Black SN770M, which is an M.2 2230 SSD that's built specifically for handheld gaming devices.

The new drive is available in three capacities: 500GB, 1TB, and the coveted 2TB size. It's tough to find M.2 2230 SSDs for the Steam Deck, and even tougher to find them at 2TB. Up to this point, popular options have included the Sabrent Rocket and Corsair MP600. Otherwise, you'd have to stalk retailers like Newegg and Amazon to find a good deal on a Micron drive repurposed from another device.

Read more