Well, I would pick this case up, but I had a few 2.5" SSDs lying around, so my go to case right now is the NESPi 4 case. Just the noisy fan is annoying having it on my desk...
Yes, my pet peeve with the Pi is the form factor with connectors in all directions. It's messy on the desktop and difficult for makers to enclose inside boxes. Why? To save $15 on a different style of case? Khadas, NVidia, and a few other SBC mfrs have broken rank and I'm hopeful that 3rd party CM4 carrier board mfrs will get the message.
4:20 please do not use thermal compound in this scenario. thermal compound is meant to be in a very thin layer to fill in the microscopic gaps between two touching surfaces. if the case is designed with thermal pads in mind, then the gap will be too large for thermal compound to be effective in any way. just use the pads, buy new ones if you have to.
The clearance between the post and the chip is very very close. I would say it's touching. When you disassemble this case from the pi, the pads included are smashed very thin and are hardly reusable. If you intend on swapping boards in this thing, you'll need extra pads which aren't included. I think paste is a perfectly acceptable use in this case.
Like with the Flirc case some people use those 15mmx15mm copper shims to make up the gap while using the paste on either side. Seems to work pretty well, but it's one of those things you only really do for your own satisfaction, seeing those slightly lower numbers. I don't believe even the Flirc case throttles with the thermal pad installed.
@@TwistedD85 Yep, that's what I do, but it's a hassle to figure out which shim thickness to use. If one goes too big and screws the board down, your R Pi is toast. The plus side of using shims is that one can open the case and put it back together without worrying about finding the right pad if the original gets destroyed.
@@j7a1k1e They must have changed the tolerances on this new case, then, because I could swear there is way too big of a gap for thermal paste on the original ArgonOne.
It's a bit ironic to se a "...metal case " & then to see that they "forgot" the basics of thermal resistance/transfer - those thermal blocks should have been polished NOT sand/bead blasted - it's like making a car & then shipping it with 1 wheel missing - they won't know the difference :-)
I wasn't crazy about the micro HDMI, but with some of the better cases using full sized HDMI ports, I'm kinda hoping the pi5 is just just a cpu/gpu upgrade with everything remaining the same, that way we can hold on to the cases.
Imagine a 6 core CPU boosting to 2-2.5 GHz and a GPU boosting to 1 GHz. That would be a monster chip. Probably needs the ice tower cooler at that point though
Not gonna happen, the Pi4 already struggles without a cooling system in stress tests (even more powerful chips in such small sizes won't perform well without proper cooling).
Yeah, there are a few things that need to happen though imo. All peripheral connectors need to be facing in one direction like this case (ideally modular so you can remove what you don't want), native m2 support, USB-C options instead of the huge, ancient, crappy ones.
Yeah, I was also thinking that this does everything that Chris' 'ultimate steam punk rig' does, except it's all slick and commercial. But, you've got to admit that those polished brass plates put a smile on your face. ;-)
The company does not recommend thermal paste. i asked for the Argon one case as i use the pads. (swapped cases and tried to swap back) so i contacted the company. here is the e-mail! Thank you for contacting us. We wouldn't readily recommend you use Thermal Paste, but it is possible. Please keep in mind to only use this on the CPU chip, and NOT the RAM chip, because there's a great chance you could damage the RAM chip with thermal paste. Please also keep in mind to use as minimal paste as possible though so that you don't damage your board. Best REgards,
@@NewAgeDIY www.amazon.ca/COOLOOdirect-15x15x1mm-Silicone-Conductive-Northbridge/dp/B074K55CWF/ref=sr_1_10?dchild=1&keywords=thermal+pads&qid=1602001597&sr=8-10 is what i bought. they work fine. just have to be 1mm.
I like the full-size HDMI and the cooling solution. The M.2 SATA over USB is better than SD but its still a hack - here's hoping Pi5 gets a U.2 connector.
Now, after watching this video my love for this case has gone up. The layout and installation of the M.2 is super easy. Access to the SD card is not a problem. Let’s give it Doug score of 9 out of 10👍🏼
I cut a very clean 1cm deep slot in the back of the bottom portion of the case, allowing me access to the SD card. Totally worth doing. A Dremmel is ideal.
@@cookiemonster-ky9ru I get it, and you get a lot for the price. I just personally wish it was lower and can't wait for a sale. It doesn't quite fit in my frivolous budget just yet.
It's quite a big jump in price over the original Argon 1. I bought one of those just to see what is was like. At $45, I would have to have a good reason as it adds a lot to the total cost, especially when I already have USB SSDs, and don't have any M.2 SSDs. The cost starts getting to the point where for many things a used i3 or i5 PC with 8GB would be cheaper and faster, depending on what you plan to do with it.
Zeric E I sound like this isn’t for you then tbh but I’d say your getting a lot for the price especially considering you get the gpio if you need it and full sized HDMI ports
I like the one without full size because I already have it and the adapter so I'll use it as a fall back. I just got this one and I love it without the m.2 piece I got the upper part only.
I bought the original case and I am in full love with it. I can easily overclock my Pi4 and keep it nice and cool. I will probably pick up another Pi and the new case.
Honestly, this is the case I have been hoping for. I've wanted an argon one for a while but never wanted to pull the trigger because I have also wanted an SSD case. This will be my next purchase and may make me build a couple more to get my kids in to games.
@@heresmyurl right now I only use it for emulation, but I have a mid range gaming PC with an NVME. The speed of that makes me want more speed from the Raspberry Pi. I've also considered setting one up as a smart home hub and moving away from smartthings.
Bought the Argon40 ArgonONE case because of your first review. Pre ordering the new one now. Unfortunately I bought an NVMe drive and put it in an external case. Oh well guess I have to buy an SATA III M.2 drive now. Thanks for the review.
The more video's i watch from you,the more i lean into getting a PI.It will never replace my pc but to play around with it.It's a little steep for my budget at the moment but i may get one later in life.
I was strongly considering getting the DeskPi pro until I saw this video. Now I have to do some thinking about which would suit my needs and space better. Great video.
Love the first Argon One case. Now I am going to have to get the new one. Thanks for making me spend money, ETA Prime! ;). Due to this channel, this is going to be my 3rd case (NES SATA SSD one is pretty awesome too).
Awesome upgrades to an awesome case; they must be listening to feedback, as the jumper for always on is a great addition for an unattended Pi based server. $20 extra for being able to use an M.2 all in the same tidy case is worth it IMO, but I hope they keep selling the original non M.2 case with the always on jumper too.
The issue with the sd card slot access. I fixed it with a small drill bit and two holes followed by a small disc cutting tool to cut a slot between the holes previously drilled to make an access slot in the front.
Thank you for the very thorough video, I bought one of these cases based off your review for my PI4 2 gig used as a NAS. I''ve already got it booting from USB with a tiny SANdisk UltraFit. 16 gig.
I just want to say, great video Prime ! good work. I have watched a lot of your videos over the past couple of days & give you major credit to the detail you take to explain products, set ups & installations of things. I especially like the updated video of Recalbox 7.0 running on a Pi 4. As someone who works for Raspberry Pi, it's great to see such detailed videos providing great support for the community. Keep up the good work 👍
After seeing this video I ordered one of these and it arrived today. Easy to set up and migrate to the SSD. I didn't go the BerryBoot route so I'm running with just the SSD. Very solid case! *edit* I wound up having to reinstall the RasPi OS since I had configured settings for my old case and fan. I’m lazy and didn’t want to take the case apart to put the sd card in. Luckily the A-A adapter was just the right size for me to connect the m.2 to my laptop (the case sat on top of my keyboard). I was able to reinstall the os with the RasPi imager without dismantling the case.
The coolest thing about this case is if you remove the jumper that bridges the Pi and the M.2 board you can use a USB 3.0 Male-to-Male cable, plug directly into the M.2 USB port and use the inert M.2 drive like an external hard drive. Mount it on another RPi or any Linux box, or use GPartEd to resize the partitions, or even Clone/flash an existing SD card from another running RPi to the M.2 drive. If you buy a big enough M.2 drive you could even partition it half for RPi and half with NTFS or other file system for when you want to use like a hard drive for another system. Also makes moving large files easy from another PC/Workstation to the Pi.
I have 2 of these Enclosures and am installing the 1st as we speak. Getting that small board to seat on the side of the Pi4 is a PITA. You really need to have the patience of JOB to get that puppy to line up but once you get it it aligned it does go together well but I think the audio connector creates the issue with getting the HDMI Connectors to align.
Well, I bought one via Amazon with plans to use it with OpenCPN on my sailboat, and will agree it is a very nice case. Mine had a minor problem with the on/off power switch, it was intermittent, to the point of being inop. I contacted Argon product support, and after a week or so they responded that they would send me another board to replace the original. 2 weeks later no contact. I sent it back, a shame a nice product but.... product support not as good.
Yeah I'm going alright, had a bit of breakfast you know... thinking about having a coffee thanks for asking how I'm going you're a really personable RUclipsr and I appreciate the candor you exhibit. I'll update you later on with how I'm feeling the next time you ask me what's going on guys thank you.
A very close to perfect case... I agree with some of the commenters here that separate parts should be sold as well, the idea of mixing and matching what you need is a good idea. This is more a personal preference but a 3 - 5 inch display on the top of the case would be a nice extra, that is certainly worth paying extra or as a separate part.
Almost perfect. A front mounted USB for wired controllers (or an existing FLIRC depending on how customizable the IR receiver is) would make it perfect.
It is a cool case, and I like the original Argon case as well. Have you ever found a great case that also supports POE? It seems like there are not many out there. I'm using Raspberry PIs throughout my house (in ceiling 1 gang boxes), and they are all POE.
My Raspi4 is in the original Argon One case. I added a Noctua fan and its even better! The lack of full-sized HDMI is my only complaint and this seems to solve that issue. Its too bad it only supports SATA m.2 since I have a couple 500GB WD Blue NVMEs lying around that I could have put to use with this. Maybe with a Pre-built Retropie image?
Thanks for a full video on this. I am planning to use one,for my MAME cabinet setup. I have a complete set of ROMS,and CHD’s 🧐. Have tested on mock setup, rPi 4GB. This will use the 8GB I bought, if I can see a need for the extranRAM. Am also looking to run a Win10 ARM install so probably use the 8GB for that. Once they sort the RAM access to allow all 8GB, we will have a functional Win10, oh and of course the WI-FI. Even as an ‘extra system’, to play with, this will be fun.
I have this on my desk and it serves as my mini workstation for light surfing, email, web radio receiver and some STL slicing for smaller stuff. And in my opinion, it is still one of the best Pi cases around, if not THE best. It makes the Pi look a lot less „hacky“. Not that there is something wrong with a hacky look per se (because there isn’t), but every once and a while, one of my Pi SBCs should be allowed to look a little sleeker. I currently have the 4GB Pi4 installed…because the 8GB version was sold out at the time and now (as of early March 2022) even the smallest version of the Pi will cost you a kidney, if you can get it at all.
Just a shame you can't use the power button on these cases with RetroPie, Batocera, RecalBox etc to safe-shutdown like you can with the RetroFlag cases - they can access the fan controls though through the relative .conf files for each system
@@DrewArdner How did you manage to get the script installed? Whenever i try it through SSH I just get an error saying it couldn't install. You can just hold the Argon power button for 5 secs to turn the case off, but it's not a safe shutdown, it just kills the power - but without the script none of the reset options work etc for the button
Yep. This case covers pretty much all the bases I was looking for for my smart workbench build. It's a shame that it doesn't support NVME, but given the difference between NVME, Sata 3, and SD cards I suppose the difference is too negligible to be noticeable, given the harder of the rpi4.
The real question is: can i use the pi for streaming live to youtube at 1080p30 using obs and a capture card with an dslr? Powerbank + tethering internet.
ETA Prime, I hope you can update this video so it includes Argon One Remote control information. I very much want to to control the Power button on this Argon One M.2 case using an InfraRed remote because I am using my Pi4 as a media player. It would be great if you can show how to setup the InfraRead remote.
While I don't regret kickstarting the pi case 40 (only thing that really sucks is the wait until shipment later this month), this case is really, really awesome. I'm gonna keep it on my radar for future projects!
Do you think that an access window for the SD card can be cut with a Dremel tool into the lower plastic bottom? It may not look pretty but it should be practical
The video I was long waiting for, finally. I haven't watched it prior to this comment, but hopefully this question gets settled after viewing it: Why didn't Argon Forty design ir for use with NVMe SSD? I ask because other expansion boards do have that NVMe SSD implementation.
You won't see the extra speed from NVMe if it's being converted to USB3 and limited to 5gbps, and they cost more than equivalent sized SATA SSDs. Then again, SATA M.2 drives are getting less common, at some point NVMe may become cheaper.
@@W1ldTangent I understand the speed limit that you point out, but since other developers have implemented it, I don't see why not to future proof it. Maybe it's just a waste, but I wonder if those other expansion boards do get a speed increase due to it. In Mexico, as of last week at least, in many online stores NVMe M.2 SSDs for some reason were discounted and would end up costing less than their equivalent SATA M.2 SSD counterparts.
@@DoryanTheCritic Ya I'm seeing a lot of that recently, with sales the NVMe drives can be attractive bargains. I suppose SATA could just be easier to implement or the controller/bridge chip is cheaper too? This case is a serious bargain at just $45, other cases with built-in storage similar to this have had much higher prices.
Hi. Thank you for the informative video. One quick question. If you set the jumpers to "always on" I understand the Pi will boot automatically even after a power outage. But my question is: Does "always on" override the power button completely? For example, can I turn off the Pi by using the power button while "always on" is enabled? Or will the Pi turn right back on immediately after pressing the button? Or will the power button not work at all? I want the Pi to be able to automatically boot after an unexpected power outage, but remain off if I do it through the power button without having to unplug the power cable. Thank you!
There have been issues with the previous breakout board and its ability to connect perfectly. Some other customers and I have been on reddit with problems with the audio coming through crackling, super low even on max volume, or no volume at all. Has this new board addressed these problems as far as you know?
I have the old Argon One, and I would love to update to this case - but I've had problems with the sound from the daughterboard that hooks up to the mini HDMI ports. Maybe sound would be fine if I'm using HDMI, but with the stereo out sound only comes out of one speaker with feedback (first board) or just horrible feedback (second replacement board).
Does this usb-to-msata adapter suppport UASP mode? Because that is a must-have if you want to maximize transfer speed via usb to a solid state disk with the Pi
If you replace the fan& stock thermal pads, how thick a fan&TIM can you install? If I got one, I'd think about replacing the fan with a Noctua and the pads with SARCON XR-m.
The thing I don't like about a lot of the pi cases is they don't support any of the POE cards. I wish there was a version of the pi that had POE built into the board.
This looks awesome. One thing you skipped over was adding the OS to the SATA drive. Did you do that beforehand? Or can you do that from the SD card? A little explanation about that would be nice if you could please. Thanks!
You can boot from a microSD card, then use the 'SD Card Copier' app, under the 'Accessories' menu, to duplicate the OS onto the SATA drive, while it is plugged into the USB3.0 port. Then, from the terminal, run: $sudo raspi-config Set the Boot Order to 'USB if no microSD detected'. Shutdown, remove the microSD and power on to boot from the SSD (plugged in the USB3.0 port) Note: If the Raspberry Pi doesn't initially detect the SSD, it may be necessary to use 'gparted' to repartition and format the SSD.
Another great review! Yeh I think I’ll get this but am a little annoyed there’s no quick external access to the microSD despite this case obviously being for those intending to primarily use an M.2 SSD. I can understand it but don’t like it lol
Thanks for this--I just watched your review of the DeskPi Pro and this one. Both of these videos are excellent, as usual. Putting aside the M.2 vs. SSD issue, is there any scenario where you'd recommend the DeskPi Pro over this? This seemed easier to assemble than the DeskPi Pro, by far, and I prefer the size advantage when using M.2. Does the fan control software work on other Linux distributions? I'm running Manjaro right now. I'm currently running an Ice Tower cooler with a 2.0 overclock, so I don't mind the little bit of fan noise it makes when always on, but being able to software control the fan in Manjaro would be excellent. My two biggest reasons for wanting something like this are the M.2 interface and having all the ports moved to the back. Right now I've got cables coming out two sides of the Pi, and it is ... inelegant to say the least. Thanks!
This Argon Case video reminded me of the Giveaway, and i tried to see if the winner were mentioned or not, to find that the Video of the Giveaway is missing. Did something happen for it to get taken down, or am i turning blind and can't find the video?
He never posts winners for his giveaways. I mentioned it in his last giveaway video too and no reply. Not a single sentence saying anything about giveaways in any other videos
I would also like to know how this works with berryboot, do you need to install and edit the fan settings on each OS separately? Or can you install them IN berryboot itself somehow?
@@awakengangster well I was using Ubuntu with it for a bit, and the fan would come on when it was hot for a few days, and then it stopped coming on at all, and then I got error messages about the argon script before the pi crashed and then my SDD got corrupted (after 10 days of use) and I had to reformat it… so I’m not sure anymore 😂
@@TardyMomentsi m not sure ubuntu, i m using ozrin, twister, rpi os, may be the script wrong, can get from git-hub or utube discrib., may be m.2 wrong, happen once for me
I have the first argon one version, my friend said he set his pi4 up with an ssd and that it's super fast. Maybe for christmas, maybe. Is it the same fan again? It's a little loud imo, but since summer is over it doesn't come on anymore anyway. Some people do swap them out tho.
Great again. I finally got my pisugar 2 pro and pi4 with 7in touchscreen all setup with a new all in one portable case i printed. My question is do you think a pisugar would fit in this case?
It looks like if you already have the original Argon case its possible to get just the base section from Amazon (Argon ONE M.2 Expansion Board for Raspberry Pi 4 )
Interesting , why are you not on the latest firmware for the pi? Thought that was super recommended . Also OMG I will buy this case once my new pi get here :)
I got this case and honestly I didn’t like it a whole lot. Very sleek good looking design but overclocked to 2.1Ghz it was running a bit hot so I grabbed the low profile ice tower fan with the metal case for it. Much better and has way better ventilation. Unfortunately had to get an external ssd box for my m.2 ssd but i can’t complain
Now that you have an high end Raspberry Pi 4 Model B 8GB what are you going to do with it to really push the setup to the maximum and really make it useful? :) Thank you for your videos.
Hi Thank you for your great review of the case :) I am planning buying the case and RP4-8GB and a M2-SSD. I wonder if I need some other software for the M2-SSD to work? The M2 - SSD seams just to be plug and play? Best regard Fredrik
Are you thinking about picking this case up? If not what’s your go to case for the pi4 right now?
I love my old case, can just sell like a addon to the old case ? Ask them please
Well, I would pick this case up, but I had a few 2.5" SSDs lying around, so my go to case right now is the NESPi 4 case. Just the noisy fan is annoying having it on my desk...
Maybe
I would if they shipped to Ireland :(
I do not own a Raspberry Pi system.
My wife and her brother got sneaky and bought me this whole setup for Christmas I finally got it to arrive today so excited
I love that these cases actually make the pi look like a mini pc rather than having cables going out the sides.
Yes, my pet peeve with the Pi is the form factor with connectors in all directions. It's messy on the desktop and difficult for makers to enclose inside boxes. Why? To save $15 on a different style of case? Khadas, NVidia, and a few other SBC mfrs have broken rank and I'm hopeful that 3rd party CM4 carrier board mfrs will get the message.
4:20 please do not use thermal compound in this scenario. thermal compound is meant to be in a very thin layer to fill in the microscopic gaps between two touching surfaces. if the case is designed with thermal pads in mind, then the gap will be too large for thermal compound to be effective in any way. just use the pads, buy new ones if you have to.
The clearance between the post and the chip is very very close. I would say it's touching. When you disassemble this case from the pi, the pads included are smashed very thin and are hardly reusable. If you intend on swapping boards in this thing, you'll need extra pads which aren't included. I think paste is a perfectly acceptable use in this case.
Like with the Flirc case some people use those 15mmx15mm copper shims to make up the gap while using the paste on either side. Seems to work pretty well, but it's one of those things you only really do for your own satisfaction, seeing those slightly lower numbers. I don't believe even the Flirc case throttles with the thermal pad installed.
@@TwistedD85 Yep, that's what I do, but it's a hassle to figure out which shim thickness to use. If one goes too big and screws the board down, your R Pi is toast. The plus side of using shims is that one can open the case and put it back together without worrying about finding the right pad if the original gets destroyed.
@@j7a1k1e They must have changed the tolerances on this new case, then, because I could swear there is way too big of a gap for thermal paste on the original ArgonOne.
It's a bit ironic to se a "...metal case " & then to see that they "forgot" the basics of thermal resistance/transfer - those thermal blocks should have been polished NOT sand/bead blasted - it's like making a car & then shipping it with 1 wheel missing - they won't know the difference :-)
I wasn't crazy about the micro HDMI, but with some of the better cases using full sized HDMI ports, I'm kinda hoping the pi5 is just just a cpu/gpu upgrade with everything remaining the same, that way we can hold on to the cases.
Same here. I would LOVE a faster CPU/GPU and hardware acceleration for chromium
Imagine a 6 core CPU boosting to 2-2.5 GHz and a GPU boosting to 1 GHz. That would be a monster chip. Probably needs the ice tower cooler at that point though
@@charliemaybe id be willing to buy one for that
I'll settle for finished drivers for hardware acceleration in the meantime. The hardware is much faster than what the drivers allow.
Not gonna happen, the Pi4 already struggles without a cooling system in stress tests (even more powerful chips in such small sizes won't perform well without proper cooling).
Over time there are few and fewer bottlenecks for the RPi... This is amazing
You are the bottleneck now **somalian pirate meme**
You would actually be surprised to learn, this is a quad core desktop. The RPI 4 8gb is more powerful than my laptop.
@@Revon-Feuer quad core with no hyper threading...
@@applepoop10 i have a dual core with .5 threads lamo my laptop is trashcan
Yeah, there are a few things that need to happen though imo. All peripheral connectors need to be facing in one direction like this case (ideally modular so you can remove what you don't want), native m2 support, USB-C options instead of the huge, ancient, crappy ones.
Man, Chris Barnatt is going to love this!
Yeah, I was also thinking that this does everything that Chris' 'ultimate steam punk rig' does, except it's all slick and commercial. But, you've got to admit that those polished brass plates put a smile on your face. ;-)
The company does not recommend thermal paste. i asked for the Argon one case as i use the pads. (swapped cases and tried to swap back) so i contacted the company.
here is the e-mail!
Thank you for contacting us. We wouldn't readily recommend you use Thermal Paste, but it is possible.
Please keep in mind to only use this on the CPU chip, and NOT the RAM chip, because there's a great chance you could damage the RAM chip with thermal paste.
Please also keep in mind to use as minimal paste as possible though so that you don't damage your board.
Best REgards,
Thanks for the info 👍🏻
Yeah I noticed they don't look they make contact so the pad needs some thickness. I cut the pad in half for the ram because it's too big .
I believe you can buy larger sheets and cut off what you need. Anyone got a idea who’s the supplier is?
@@NewAgeDIY www.amazon.ca/COOLOOdirect-15x15x1mm-Silicone-Conductive-Northbridge/dp/B074K55CWF/ref=sr_1_10?dchild=1&keywords=thermal+pads&qid=1602001597&sr=8-10 is what i bought. they work fine. just have to be 1mm.
@@cyprus125 Many thanks for the link.
I was sold at "Two Full Size HDMI Ports"
Me too...
Wow...just when I get settled in with my case collection for my Pi 4s, Argon does it again!
The pain is real......
I like the full-size HDMI and the cooling solution. The M.2 SATA over USB is better than SD but its still a hack - here's hoping Pi5 gets a U.2 connector.
I wonder why they did not use the USB-C connecter instead for the USB to SATA adaptor. Update: the USB-C port is only USB 2.0.
@@PerMejdal I can't see any advantage to that.
@@PerMejdal Because the USB-C connector is the default power connector.
Per Mejdal Rasmussen not only is it just for power, but the specification is non standard.
Wild Biker Bill it is not connected and inaccessible when using the case. It however only 2.0.
Now, after watching this video my love for this case has gone up.
The layout and installation of the M.2 is super easy.
Access to the SD card is not a problem. Let’s give it Doug score of 9 out of 10👍🏼
Love this case. Peeling the plastic from the thermal pads was the most difficult task in assemble.
I cut a very clean 1cm deep slot in the back of the bottom portion of the case, allowing me access to the SD card. Totally worth doing. A Dremmel is ideal.
$45 feels a little high though the speeds and the internal m.2 is pretty neat. Hopefully they'll have a sale at some point. Thanks for sharing!
Devinatron I mean it is clearly a higher end case tho so the price is justified especially considering how much you get
@@cookiemonster-ky9ru I get it, and you get a lot for the price. I just personally wish it was lower and can't wait for a sale. It doesn't quite fit in my frivolous budget just yet.
Devinatron I wish the best of luck to you friend
It's quite a big jump in price over the original Argon 1. I bought one of those just to see what is was like. At $45, I would have to have a good reason as it adds a lot to the total cost, especially when I already have USB SSDs, and don't have any M.2 SSDs. The cost starts getting to the point where for many things a used i3 or i5 PC with 8GB would be cheaper and faster, depending on what you plan to do with it.
Zeric E I sound like this isn’t for you then tbh but I’d say your getting a lot for the price especially considering you get the gpio if you need it and full sized HDMI ports
I’m more impressed that at 2:27 you inserted the usb ion the first try! Also love your reviews, crushing it dude!
case is great, the full size hdmi upgrade is the best thing aside from m.2 support, I just hope they update the non-m2 version to full hdmi also
I like the one without full size because I already have it and the adapter so I'll use it as a fall back. I just got this one and I love it without the m.2 piece I got the upper part only.
The people making theses Argon cases are doing an awesome job.
Thank you, Prime.
Leaning towards getting this case. Funny 5:23 --- the m.2 screw struggle is *REAL*.
I bought the original case and I am in full love with it. I can easily overclock my Pi4 and keep it nice and cool. I will probably pick up another Pi and the new case.
Honestly, this is the case I have been hoping for. I've wanted an argon one for a while but never wanted to pull the trigger because I have also wanted an SSD case. This will be my next purchase and may make me build a couple more to get my kids in to games.
I have no need for this; what would you use this for? Because I have no need, I want one of course. I just don't know what I could use it for.
@@heresmyurl right now I only use it for emulation, but I have a mid range gaming PC with an NVME. The speed of that makes me want more speed from the Raspberry Pi. I've also considered setting one up as a smart home hub and moving away from smartthings.
That’s exactly what I was thinking, Ive been wanting this case for a while, this new addition and full size HDMI just made the sale complete
Bought the Argon40 ArgonONE case because of your first review. Pre ordering the new one now. Unfortunately I bought an NVMe drive and put it in an external case. Oh well guess I have to buy an SATA III M.2 drive now. Thanks for the review.
Or buy a NanoPC T4 or Rockpi 4 and enjoy reliable transfer rates over 1Gbps?
The more video's i watch from you,the more i lean into getting a PI.It will never replace my pc but to play around with it.It's a little steep for my budget at the moment but i may get one later in life.
gonna buy this for my kids and tell them that this is ps5.
ahahahahahahah
Way to small. You need a full tower.
Don't be cruel. They would remember that, especially when your birthday comes around...
Try to 3D print a "bootleg ps5 case" instead and put the raspberry inside!
@Josh C ... you don’t say? So was mine.
I was strongly considering getting the DeskPi pro until I saw this video. Now I have to do some thinking about which would suit my needs and space better. Great video.
Love the first Argon One case. Now I am going to have to get the new one. Thanks for making me spend money, ETA Prime! ;). Due to this channel, this is going to be my 3rd case (NES SATA SSD one is pretty awesome too).
Awesome upgrades to an awesome case; they must be listening to feedback, as the jumper for always on is a great addition for an unattended Pi based server. $20 extra for being able to use an M.2 all in the same tidy case is worth it IMO, but I hope they keep selling the original non M.2 case with the always on jumper too.
Really glad I didn't buy the last two SATA cases I've seen on this channel, despite much temptation... this is way better. Argon nailed it.
The issue with the sd card slot access.
I fixed it with a small drill bit and two holes followed by a small disc cutting tool to cut a slot between the holes previously drilled to make an access slot in the front.
Thank you for the very thorough video, I bought one of these cases based off your review for my PI4 2 gig used as a NAS. I''ve already got it booting from USB with a tiny SANdisk UltraFit. 16 gig.
I just want to say, great video Prime ! good work. I have watched a lot of your videos over the past couple of days & give you major credit to the detail you take to explain products, set ups & installations of things. I especially like the updated video of Recalbox 7.0 running on a Pi 4. As someone who works for Raspberry Pi, it's great to see such detailed videos providing great support for the community. Keep up the good work 👍
Love how it moves the ports to the back
After seeing this video I ordered one of these and it arrived today. Easy to set up and migrate to the SSD. I didn't go the BerryBoot route so I'm running with just the SSD. Very solid case!
*edit* I wound up having to reinstall the RasPi OS since I had configured settings for my old case and fan. I’m lazy and didn’t want to take the case apart to put the sd card in. Luckily the A-A adapter was just the right size for me to connect the m.2 to my laptop (the case sat on top of my keyboard). I was able to reinstall the os with the RasPi imager without dismantling the case.
5:54 You *can* access the SD card from outside the case.
The coolest thing about this case is if you remove the jumper that bridges the Pi and the M.2 board you can use a USB 3.0 Male-to-Male cable, plug directly into the M.2 USB port and use the inert M.2 drive like an external hard drive. Mount it on another RPi or any Linux box, or use GPartEd to resize the partitions, or even Clone/flash an existing SD card from another running RPi to the M.2 drive. If you buy a big enough M.2 drive you could even partition it half for RPi and half with NTFS or other file system for when you want to use like a hard drive for another system. Also makes moving large files easy from another PC/Workstation to the Pi.
I have 2 of these Enclosures and am installing the 1st as we speak. Getting that small board to seat on the side of the Pi4 is a PITA. You really need to have the patience of JOB to get that puppy to line up but once you get it it aligned it does go together well but I think the audio connector creates the issue with getting the HDMI Connectors to align.
Well, I bought one via Amazon with plans to use it with OpenCPN on my sailboat, and will agree it is a very nice case. Mine had a minor problem with the on/off power switch, it was intermittent, to the point of being inop. I contacted Argon product support, and after a week or so they responded that they would send me another board to replace the original. 2 weeks later no contact. I sent it back, a shame a nice product but.... product support not as good.
please do multiple ssd stress tests and plot the temps. m.2 tend to get quite hot.
Yeah I'm going alright, had a bit of breakfast you know... thinking about having a coffee thanks for asking how I'm going you're a really personable RUclipsr and I appreciate the candor you exhibit. I'll update you later on with how I'm feeling the next time you ask me what's going on guys thank you.
A very close to perfect case... I agree with some of the commenters here that separate parts should be sold as well, the idea of mixing and matching what you need is a good idea.
This is more a personal preference but a 3 - 5 inch display on the top of the case would be a nice extra, that is certainly worth paying extra or as a separate part.
One bad thing about the Argon case I'd you do not access to the dedicated camera and display connectors of the Pi4...
Almost perfect. A front mounted USB for wired controllers (or an existing FLIRC depending on how customizable the IR receiver is) would make it perfect.
It is a cool case, and I like the original Argon case as well. Have you ever found a great case that also supports POE? It seems like there are not many out there. I'm using Raspberry PIs throughout my house (in ceiling 1 gang boxes), and they are all POE.
Id get one just for the full size hdmi
My Raspi4 is in the original Argon One case. I added a Noctua fan and its even better! The lack of full-sized HDMI is my only complaint and this seems to solve that issue.
Its too bad it only supports SATA m.2 since I have a couple 500GB WD Blue NVMEs lying around that I could have put to use with this. Maybe with a Pre-built Retropie image?
Thanks for a full video on this. I am planning to use one,for my MAME cabinet setup. I have a complete set of ROMS,and CHD’s 🧐. Have tested on mock setup, rPi 4GB. This will use the 8GB I bought, if I can see a need for the extranRAM. Am also looking to run a Win10 ARM install so probably use the 8GB for that. Once they sort the RAM access to allow all 8GB, we will have a functional Win10, oh and of course the WI-FI. Even as an ‘extra system’, to play with, this will be fun.
There is an addon board for the original Argon One case for the M2 drive and you would still be able to access the microsd card.
I have this on my desk and it serves as my mini workstation for light surfing, email, web radio receiver and some STL slicing for smaller stuff.
And in my opinion, it is still one of the best Pi cases around, if not THE best. It makes the Pi look a lot less „hacky“. Not that there is something wrong with a hacky look per se (because there isn’t), but every once and a while, one of my Pi SBCs should be allowed to look a little sleeker. I currently have the 4GB Pi4 installed…because the 8GB version was sold out at the time and now (as of early March 2022) even the smallest version of the Pi will cost you a kidney, if you can get it at all.
I like the look of that. I just might change and get one. Thanks for showing it off.
I love the Argon Case, I have 2 in my server rack and they sit at a cool 33C
Just a shame you can't use the power button on these cases with RetroPie, Batocera, RecalBox etc to safe-shutdown like you can with the RetroFlag cases - they can access the fan controls though through the relative .conf files for each system
What're you talking about? I have the Argon One and I can use it to safe shutdown my RetroPie box no problem.
@@DrewArdner How did you manage to get the script installed? Whenever i try it through SSH I just get an error saying it couldn't install. You can just hold the Argon power button for 5 secs to turn the case off, but it's not a safe shutdown, it just kills the power - but without the script none of the reset options work etc for the button
i have the Argon One V2 version and that one you can access the Micro SD card without opening the enclosure
The only issue I had with this case is WiFi signal dropped a lot. If using with external wifi dongle or is wired, no problem at all
You are awesome eta. I really hope you will hit 1M with is 6 months
As a beginner, thanks for that. And your channel! Really helpful! -from Canada, Québec 🙂
I gotta agree.. the full size hdmi access and cooling make it worth every penny
Yep. This case covers pretty much all the bases I was looking for for my smart workbench build. It's a shame that it doesn't support NVME, but given the difference between NVME, Sata 3, and SD cards I suppose the difference is too negligible to be noticeable, given the harder of the rpi4.
Good review, I like the design
Wish the constant screen tearing issues with the pi playing video could be solved. Only thing I hate about using it.
The real question is: can i use the pi for streaming live to youtube at 1080p30 using obs and a capture card with an dslr? Powerbank + tethering internet.
Hello ETA,
Please compare the Desk Pi Pro and Argon One M.2 Case.
Which is your favourite?
ETA Prime, I hope you can update this video so it includes Argon One Remote control information. I very much want to to control the Power button on this Argon One M.2 case using an InfraRed remote because I am using my Pi4 as a media player. It would be great if you can show how to setup the InfraRead remote.
Can you just plug it in to the ethernet and download the roon software on it or do u have to put the software on a micro SD card and then boot it ?
Thanks so much man. Very helpful overview and review :)
Another great clear vid! Cheers.
CM4 just released with PCI-e Gen 2 support. Can't wait until this case is updated for that.
While I don't regret kickstarting the pi case 40 (only thing that really sucks is the wait until shipment later this month), this case is really, really awesome. I'm gonna keep it on my radar for future projects!
Do you think that an access window for the SD card can be cut with a Dremel tool into the lower plastic bottom? It may not look pretty but it should be practical
Is the wifi and bluetooth nerfed by the chunky aluminium block on the top? Can it run a bluetooth gamepad without excessive latencies?
Great video as always dude! I think $45 is a little high on any case for many pi board.
I do not own a Raspberry Pi system, looks like it mounts well with the case assembly.
The video I was long waiting for, finally. I haven't watched it prior to this comment, but hopefully this question gets settled after viewing it:
Why didn't Argon Forty design ir for use with NVMe SSD? I ask because other expansion boards do have that NVMe SSD implementation.
You won't see the extra speed from NVMe if it's being converted to USB3 and limited to 5gbps, and they cost more than equivalent sized SATA SSDs. Then again, SATA M.2 drives are getting less common, at some point NVMe may become cheaper.
@@W1ldTangent I understand the speed limit that you point out, but since other developers have implemented it, I don't see why not to future proof it. Maybe it's just a waste, but I wonder if those other expansion boards do get a speed increase due to it.
In Mexico, as of last week at least, in many online stores NVMe M.2 SSDs for some reason were discounted and would end up costing less than their equivalent SATA M.2 SSD counterparts.
@@DoryanTheCritic Ya I'm seeing a lot of that recently, with sales the NVMe drives can be attractive bargains. I suppose SATA could just be easier to implement or the controller/bridge chip is cheaper too? This case is a serious bargain at just $45, other cases with built-in storage similar to this have had much higher prices.
@@W1ldTangent By the way, thanks for taking the time to respond and sharing your insight.
Hi. Thank you for the informative video. One quick question. If you set the jumpers to "always on" I understand the Pi will boot automatically even after a power outage. But my question is: Does "always on" override the power button completely? For example, can I turn off the Pi by using the power button while "always on" is enabled? Or will the Pi turn right back on immediately after pressing the button? Or will the power button not work at all? I want the Pi to be able to automatically boot after an unexpected power outage, but remain off if I do it through the power button without having to unplug the power cable. Thank you!
There have been issues with the previous breakout board and its ability to connect perfectly. Some other customers and I have been on reddit with problems with the audio coming through crackling, super low even on max volume, or no volume at all. Has this new board addressed these problems as far as you know?
I have the old Argon One, and I would love to update to this case - but I've had problems with the sound from the daughterboard that hooks up to the mini HDMI ports. Maybe sound would be fine if I'm using HDMI, but with the stereo out sound only comes out of one speaker with feedback (first board) or just horrible feedback (second replacement board).
Can you make a video for Pi Hole?
Thanks for the info and demo, have a great day
A pity they don't sell only the bottom half as an update for the original Argon one... (the top looks very similar)
Does this usb-to-msata adapter suppport UASP mode? Because that is a must-have if you want to maximize transfer speed via usb to a solid state disk with the Pi
If you replace the fan& stock thermal pads, how thick a fan&TIM can you install? If I got one, I'd think about replacing the fan with a Noctua and the pads with SARCON XR-m.
The thing I don't like about a lot of the pi cases is they don't support any of the POE cards. I wish there was a version of the pi that had POE built into the board.
That looks amazing I have a argon one case but very tempted to upgrade to that I also love berry boot it's great.
This looks awesome.
One thing you skipped over was adding the OS to the SATA drive. Did you do that beforehand? Or can you do that from the SD card? A little explanation about that would be nice if you could please. Thanks!
You can boot from a microSD card, then use the 'SD Card Copier' app, under the 'Accessories' menu, to duplicate the OS onto the SATA drive, while it is plugged into the USB3.0 port. Then, from the terminal, run:
$sudo raspi-config
Set the Boot Order to 'USB if no microSD detected'.
Shutdown, remove the microSD and power on to boot from the SSD (plugged in the USB3.0 port)
Note: If the Raspberry Pi doesn't initially detect the SSD, it may be necessary to use 'gparted' to repartition and format the SSD.
Another great review! Yeh I think I’ll get this but am a little annoyed there’s no quick external access to the microSD despite this case obviously being for those intending to primarily use an M.2 SSD. I can understand it but don’t like it lol
Thanks for this--I just watched your review of the DeskPi Pro and this one. Both of these videos are excellent, as usual.
Putting aside the M.2 vs. SSD issue, is there any scenario where you'd recommend the DeskPi Pro over this? This seemed easier to assemble than the DeskPi Pro, by far, and I prefer the size advantage when using M.2.
Does the fan control software work on other Linux distributions? I'm running Manjaro right now. I'm currently running an Ice Tower cooler with a 2.0 overclock, so I don't mind the little bit of fan noise it makes when always on, but being able to software control the fan in Manjaro would be excellent.
My two biggest reasons for wanting something like this are the M.2 interface and having all the ports moved to the back. Right now I've got cables coming out two sides of the Pi, and it is ... inelegant to say the least.
Thanks!
Looks like an awesome case.
Great case! Have you done a twister OS installation using that M.2
could i install and boot os from the m.2 ssd ?
I like the Argon one M2 👍
This Argon Case video reminded me of the Giveaway, and i tried to see if the winner were mentioned or not, to find that the Video of the Giveaway is missing.
Did something happen for it to get taken down, or am i turning blind and can't find the video?
He never posts winners for his giveaways. I mentioned it in his last giveaway video too and no reply. Not a single sentence saying anything about giveaways in any other videos
I have been keeping my eyes peeled for the giveaway, too...
Why not connect the m.2 board to the usb c?
What about access to the ribbon cables and a heatsink for the USB controller?
does it work with next dock? berry boot + argon m.2 + zorin os + virtual machine + windows virtual machine + quickbook pro, ok?
I would also like to know how this works with berryboot, do you need to install and edit the fan settings on each OS separately? Or can you install them IN berryboot itself somehow?
@@TardyMoments the fan starts anyway, i just set ip the fan once in rpi os, i m not sure if need set up each os, berryboot should work
@@awakengangster well I was using Ubuntu with it for a bit, and the fan would come on when it was hot for a few days, and then it stopped coming on at all, and then I got error messages about the argon script before the pi crashed and then my SDD got corrupted (after 10 days of use) and I had to reformat it… so I’m not sure anymore 😂
@@TardyMomentsi m not sure ubuntu, i m using ozrin, twister, rpi os, may be the script wrong, can get from git-hub or utube discrib., may be m.2 wrong, happen once for me
Awesome Speed values
I have the first argon one version, my friend said he set his pi4 up with an ssd and that it's super fast. Maybe for christmas, maybe. Is it the same fan again? It's a little loud imo, but since summer is over it doesn't come on anymore anyway. Some people do swap them out tho.
Great again. I finally got my pisugar 2 pro and pi4 with 7in touchscreen all setup with a new all in one portable case i printed. My question is do you think a pisugar would fit in this case?
It looks like if you already have the original Argon case its possible to get just the base section from Amazon (Argon ONE M.2 Expansion Board for Raspberry Pi 4 )
Interesting , why are you not on the latest firmware for the pi?
Thought that was super recommended .
Also OMG I will buy this case once my new pi get here :)
I got this case and honestly I didn’t like it a whole lot. Very sleek good looking design but overclocked to 2.1Ghz it was running a bit hot so I grabbed the low profile ice tower fan with the metal case for it. Much better and has way better ventilation. Unfortunately had to get an external ssd box for my m.2 ssd but i can’t complain
Now that you have an high end Raspberry Pi 4 Model B 8GB what are you going to do with it to really push the setup to the maximum and really make it useful? :) Thank you for your videos.
High end devices doesn't connect drives via USB :)
Hi
Thank you for your great review of the case :)
I am planning buying the case and RP4-8GB and a M2-SSD. I wonder if I need some other software for the M2-SSD to work?
The M2 - SSD seams just to be plug and play?
Best regard Fredrik