It finally happened – the NZXT has updated their H-series with brand new cases! And those are H200i (mini ITX), H400i (micro ATX), and the H700i (ATX), which is the model we’ll be taking a closer look at. This would be a spiritual successor to the tremendously popular H440, which is now a pretty aged PC case and one that undoubtedly deserves a modern update.
This model sports smooth surfaces, sharp edges, a sizable tempered glass window as well as the prominent cable management, but also the “smart device,” which is something that sets it apart from the competition. Is this a worthy successor to the popular H440? Is it a worthwhile investment? Read on and find out!
Unique Features of the NZXT H700i
The H700i can be purchased in both white and black variants, as well as in a number of accent colors, such as red or blue. Its dimensions stand at 516 x 230 x 494mm, its weight at 27lbs, and it comes with a warranty period of two years.
On the top of the chassis, we can find the microphone and headphone jacks, as well a pair of USB 3.0 ports and two USB 2.0 ports. The rest of the case’s top panel is featureless and smooth, and the same can be said for the front and one side panel. The opposite side panel, however, is made out of 5mm thick tempered glass and sports a handy one-button release mechanism which gives the user instant access to the model’s interior.
The backside of H700i has a pretty standard I/O area, as well as the opening for the power supply and seven expansion card slots. It supports both the 140mm and the 120mm fans and has a standard fan filtration system (the top mounting areas are unfiltered). One thing we particularly liked is that the model comes with a pre-installed 12″ RGB lighting strip – that’s always a big plus in our books.
The “smart device” that we mentioned is one of the main selling points of this chassis. Via its CAM interface, it controls three channels of fan speed and one channel of lighting, and also introduces the innovative “Adaptive Noise Reduction” feature. Its purpose is to find the optimal cooling/noise balance.
Specifications
- Dimensions (mm): 516 x 230 x 494mm
- Weight: 27lbs
- Front Panel: Microphone, Headphone, 2 x USB 2.0/3.0
- Material: SECC Steel, Tempered Glass
- Maximum graphics card length: 413mm
- Fan Support: Front – 2 X 140mm/ 3 X 120mm; Roof – 2 X 140/120mm; Floor – 1 X 120mm; Back – 1 X 120mm
Pros and Cons of NZXT H700i
PROS
- Great design and build quality
- Excellent cable management system
- Outstanding hardware compatibility
- Decent temperatures
CONS
- Relatively expensive
- Long calibration process
Conclusion
Despite some minor drawbacks, we think that this chassis is certainly worth the money and that it’s a fantastic update to the manufacturer’s H-series of PC cases. The combination of a tempered-glass side panel in this chassis, RGB lighting, excellent hardware compatibility, and the eye-catching design make H700i something we are glad to recommend to all PC enthusiasts.