In Win

Lore & Background

In Win was founded by Vincent Lai in 1985 in Taoyuan, Taiwan, with $200,000 in initial capital. Originally a computer case manufacturer, it added power supply production lines in the late 1980s and briefly manufactured disk storage equipment and joysticks in the early 1990s. By 2004 the company had 2,000 employees globally and four international branch offices in the United States, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, and China. Europe and North America were its largest importers of cases, purchasing 40 percent and 30 percent of output respectively in 2004; roughly 70 percent of overall products went to OEMs and ODMs including Ingram Micro, Time Computer, Toshiba, NEC, and Intel.

In Win grew from 60 employees in 1990 to 2,000 by 2004, with an engineering department of 80 staff in 2003. The company opened a large factory in mainland China in 2002 and later expanded its IPC system production lines, completed the Changxing II assembly factory in July of an unspecified year, and finished a system assembly factory in the United States in 2024. Construction of a new facility in Malaysia is underway as part of ESG and international expansion initiatives.

By 2012 the company began primarily targeting video gamers and PC case modders, though OEMs and systems integrators remained critical customers into the 2020s. In Win reached peak revenue of NT$4 billion (US$124 million) in 2008, but sales dropped 47 percent through 2016 to $2.1 billion. In 2018 the company unveiled a refreshed logo and completed renovations of its Taoyuan headquarters.

Reader's Guide

In Win's significance lies in its long-standing role as a Taiwanese manufacturer of computer cases and power supplies, evolving from an OEM-focused supplier to a brand recognized for ornate and innovative case designs. The company was an early adopter of USB-C ports on front panels for barebone cases and produced limited-edition models such as the GunDam case (inspired by the mecha franchise) and the H-Tower case with smartphone-controlled opening mechanisms. Its H-Frame 2.0 case, designed with stacked aluminum sheets between tempered glass, allowed air to pass completely through the chassis. In Win also sponsored PC modding competitions in the United States.

Reception of In Win cases varied. The 901 mini-ITX case was called 'the rarest of things—a genuinely attractive PC case' by Computer Shopper, though with some annoyances; Custom PC deemed it 'more of a lifestyle chassis than a high-performance one' and noted thermal issues with stock fans. The GT1 ATX case was described as 'rock-solid' in build quality but with 'sloppy design decisions' regarding front-panel cabling and dust filters. The Chopin line of small-form-factor cases was praised for build quality and quiet operation but noted as unable to accommodate discrete GPUs due to its size.

In Win's legacy includes its shift toward the gaming and modding demographic, its use of premium materials such as cast aluminum and tempered glass, and its continued presence in both the OEM and retail markets. The company's expansion into server integration services and new factories in the United States and Malaysia reflects ongoing efforts to diversify and scale production.

Did You Know?

• In Win was founded in 1985 by Vincent Lai in Taoyuan, Taiwan, with $200,000 in initial capital.
• In Win was the first to incorporate USB-C ports on front panels for a barebones computer case.
• The H-Tower case can be opened via a button or a smartphone app.