FormD was a two-man operation that began in late 2018 as a project to design and manufacture the ultimate small form factor PC case. The original prototype was called SidearmD SA4, which later became the FormD T1 and sold via Formdworks.com
FromD T1 (the T comes from the front panel design, but is also a reference to Terminator-1000 or T-1000). The T1 was originally intended for the radiator to be located at the bottom of the case. If a leak occurred, it wouldn’t spill onto components. This is not typically how the case is used today, but is interesting to know that the case does have an official right way up.
The FormD T1 has gone through four iterations. v1.0 (most of these units were sold in China, around 300 units, with only a few making it overseas). v1.1 was more of the official release in 2020. v1.5 (which was skipped/complied into v2 in 2022), with a later v2.1 stealth update sometime in 2022/2023.
In late 2023, we learned of a controversial dispute between the two FormD confounders: Kevin “3FC” & Dan “W360” was taking place over financials and the direction of the business, among other matters. This may be the answer as to why the T1 case availability was so limited throughout 2023.
3FC brought the situation to the publics attention when he split from W360 to run his own operation independently under Fmdworks.com. Fmdworks later became FormdT1.com. 3FC retained control of the existing manufacturing supply chain with T1 v2.1 after separation and handled most/all the CAD/design work to best of our knowledge.
W360 handled marketing, PR. Ideas, design elements, manufacturing and business may have also been discussed/decided upon between both parties. W360 launched the T1 v2.5 under NCASE portfolio and manufacturing process in early 2024. T1 v2.5 however remains absent of any FormD branding. The original Formdworks.com website remains under the care of W360, however it now redirects to ncased.com
Some may find it a little ironic that W360 was leaning on shuttering the FormD project altogether. Then releases the competing T1 v2.5. Coincidence? It’s difficult to say, giving the manufacturing change by NCASE. It does make one wonder whether the T1 2.5 was just in retaliation or always the intention.
While we have a unique prospective to the ongoings within FormD, we are not qualified to comment or formulate a definitive conclusion. Currently, the T1 is being sold independently by both original owners, however T1 2.5 is not backwards compatible with any previous revisions. We’ll update this page, if additional relevant information becomes available.