Anyone who hasn't checked in on NZXT's line of PC cases of late will have missed a big change of style.
The company's traditional, bulky (and often Imperial Stormtrooper-themed) Phantom and Noctis cases are still around, but the flagship H series packs a whole new look.
With clean lines and a trademark color band, these models can stand alone as classy cases or work as starter canvases for creative PC builders.
The latest NZXT effort, the H500i ($99.99), gives you the option for vertical video-card mounting and maximum interior-parts exposure at a nice price.
It would be an Editors' Choice winner if it included one key part.
The Curious Case of the Missing Riser
Until it launched the H500i (along with a lower-cost H500), NZXT had an H series that went straight from a large-ish mid-tower case, the NZXT H700i, to much smaller MicroATX and Mini-ITX form factors.
NZXT saw room for a compact midtower in between, giving customers a less imposing option than the 27-pound H700i ($187.00 at Amazon) for building a system with a standard ATX motherboard.
The H500i is smaller and significantly lighter, weighing in at just 15 pounds.
NZXT views these systems as the successors to its S340 and S340 Elite cases.
Before I dig into the H500i's details, I should point out the differences between the standard H500 and the H500i versions, because they may prove important to your plans for your new PC.
The H500i model features support for vertical GPU mounting, letting you show off full-face that graphics card you poured so much cash into.
That is, you can do that if you buy a separate PCI Express riser—NZXT doesn't bundle the riser cable and the mounting hardware.
The H500i merely has the rear-panel outlet bracket for a vertical video card.
So, in practical fact, you're looking at more like a $125 to $130 total outlay if you want to go vertical with your video card.
(Aftermarket card risers run about $25 to $30.) As for other functionality differences, the H500i model also includes NZXT's Smart Device, which handles fan/lighting control.
(More about that in a bit.)
Neither the H500 nor the H500i is a budget buster.
The H500 sports an MSRP of $69.99, while the H500i goes for $99.99.
(By way of comparison, the H700i is just shy of $200.) Still, the price difference between the "i" and non-"i" models might be enough to convince some buyers to take advantage of the opportunity to land a solid, spiffy-looking case at a low price in the H500 instead.
Just Enough for ATX
The NZXT H500i is just large enough to accommodate a standard ATX motherboard, offering less space surrounding the board than the H700i.
Like its bulkier sibling, the H500i also accepts MicroATX and Mini-ITX motherboards.
The smaller-board support makes more sense in this compact midtower PC case than in the H700i, where a Mini-ITX board would look lost in a sea of unused space.
Measuring 18.11 by 8.27 by 16.9 inches (HWD), the H500i is a little bigger than a typical office PC tower but on the small side for, say, a gaming system.
The review case I received is black, save for a cable guide that creates a spiffy-looking blue metal ribbon in the interior of the case.
NZXT offers the H500i with red or black cable guides (both paired with the matte black exterior), as well as in a stunning white model.
A bare front panel gives the H500i a monolithic look.
The power button and ports sit at the top of the case, near the front.
The power button has an LED ring around it, making it easy to spot.
Two USB 3.0 ports sit next to the power button, joined by mic and headphone jacks, and a drive-activity LED.
That's standard fare for front-panel ports; a USB 3.1 Type-C port would have been a nice touch, but in fairness, most other new cases still haven't adopted them, either.
One notable difference between the H500/H500i and the other NZXT H-series cases is that the new ones don't have a full side-panel window.
Instead, the window covers only about three-quarters of the case side.
NZXT designed the window to let you lift it away from the case, rather than pull it off of the typical metal posts.
The result is that the window panel is much easier to remove (and attach, for that matter) than most similar side panels.
One screw at the back of the chassis holds it firmly in place.
The H500i's interior gives you plenty of elbow room.
Two of NZXT's Aer F120 fans (which are, as the model name implies, 120mm fans) sit at the top and back of the case.
You can replace the top fan with a 140mm fan, if you so choose.
Neither fan is illuminated with LEDs, which strikes me as a missed opportunity for some extra bling, but then NZXT designed this case to be a mostly blank canvas for its DIY customers.
Unsurprisingly, the H500i isn't as wide as larger ATX cases, but it offers up to 165mm clearance for the CPU cooler (a non-issue if you're using a typical all-in-one liquid cooler) and 381mm clearance for the video card (translation: plenty of space for even the biggest).
A removable bracket at the front of the case supports two 120mm or 140mm fans, along with a radiator (up to 280mm long, and up to 60mm thick).
You won't pull much air from the front of the case, so NZXT makes use of the H500i's right side and bottom edge for that.
A long, filtered grille provides plenty of access to outside air.
Interestingly, the H500i ships with both of its SSD sleds attached to the floor of the main compartment, which is also the top of the PSU shroud.
You attach them by simply pressing them into holes in the shroud.
The case also supports mounting those sleds on the right side of the motherboard tray, which is a more traditional location for the storage devices.
I like the H500i's versatility in this regard.
NZXT put plenty of thought into the right side of the case, which gives you access to the power supply unit (PSU) and bays for the storage drives...
The PSU compartment has vents at the bottom of the case, as well as a removable filter.
Forward of the PSU area, a hard drive cage supports up to three 3.5-inch platter drives.
Plastic guides help you route cables cleanly to the other side of the H500i.
The most important, and atypical, feature on the right side of the H500i is the NZXT Smart Device, which is a vague name for a sophisticated fan and light controller.
It powers the LED strip along the back of the blue cable guide and is responsible for keeping your system both cool and quiet.
Complementing the Smart Device is NZXT's CAM software, which gives you detailed component status information, as well as updates on temperatures and fan performance, not to mention noise reduction.
You can use the software both to monitor your system and to make adjustments.
Tackling the Test Build
NZXT tucks a small box of accessories into the H500i's hard drive cage.
It's a no-frills kit, but it has just what you'll need: the usual boatload of case screws, and 10 plastic zip ties.
NZXT separates the screws with small, resealable bags, which is handy.
I wouldn't mind seeing a Velcro tie or two, but given all the cable-routing restraints and features that NZXT has built into the case itself, I'm not complaining.
Something I do need to quibble about, though: The poster-layout manual has tiny print in multiple languages, making reading it a bit of a chore.
The detailed illustrations are useful, but the manual would be more inviting to new builders were it in a book or pamphlet format.
I said it earlier in the review, but I'll say it again here: The three-quarters glass window is excellent.
Loosen the single screw at the back of the case, then push gently, and the tempered-glass panel tilts easily into your hand.
The other side's panel doesn't have a window, but it's easy to attach.
Its thumbscrews (and the thumbscrew for the tempered-glass panel) stay connected to the side panel, even when loose, so you won't lose them.
I didn't have trouble installing the hardware for a basic Intel "Coffee Lake" Core i5 gaming machine, kitted out with a midrange video card and liquid cooling.
The H500i has a horizontal cutout near the top of the motherboard tray, which let me easily guide the eight-pin power cord to the connector at the top of my ECS Z370-Lightsaber motherboard.
The blue cable bar hides most of the cables that route around to the other side of the case.
Interestingly, the blue cable bar can also mount a water reservoir.
That's a worthwhile feature for DIY-ers who plan to put a custom liquid-cooling system in the H500i.
I attached my Corsair Hydro H60 liquid cooler to the removable radiator bracket and then used the thumbscrews to lock everything into place.
Then, I attached the heatsink to the motherboard to cool my eighth-generation Intel Core i5-8400 ($219.85 at Amazon) CPU.
Because I wasn't going with a vertical GPU setup, I kept the 2.5-inch SSD sleds in their original positions on the floor of the case and routed my ADATA SSD's Serial ATA cables behind the motherboard tray.
I also had plenty of space for my bulky MSI GeForce GTX 1060 Gaming X 6G ($369.99 at Newegg) card.
Once I completed the build, I checked out the interior.
It looked clean and spacious, and it gave a clear view of the processor, the cooling gear, and the GPU.
The LEDs below the cable bar are bright enough to catch the eye, but they don't distract from the rest of the chassis.
A Solid, Space-Saving Showcase
NZXT has a deep understanding of its DIY audience: Those of us who build our own PCs care about the aesthetics of both the chassis proper, and of the build experience.
I have strong memories of my first build, and of the builds thereafter.
I swap stories about PC-building disasters, and I never, ever forget a component that broke or got fried during installation.
NZXT claims that it designed the new H series cases with a great build experience in mind, and based on my time with the H500i, it nailed that goal.
NZXT built a sturdy case with an open, airy interior that gives users plenty of room to move around.
All interior edges are rounded to prevent the sorts of cuts and scratches that can take the fun out of building a PC.
The cable-routing guides are well-placed, but also removable, which is good news for creative types who have their own visions for the H500i.
Despite being mostly straight lines and sharp corners, the H500i has plenty of attitude.
The LED-lit cable bar is striking yet functional, and it's easy to see through the tempered-glass side panel.
This is the sort of case that can stand on its own, without much in the way of LED bling.
But because it has so much interior space visible from the side-panel window, builders with a penchant for rigging up RGB can go wild.
The NZXT H500i is a win for budget-minded builders who want to save space without giving up the luxury of an ATX-form-factor motherboard.
If NZXT were able to bundle in a PCI Express riser for the tempting vertical video-card mount, this could well be the ultimate $99 PC case.
Pros
Compact for a full-ATX case.
Slick tempered-glass side-panel window.
Built-in fan and lighting controller.
Supports vertical video-card mounting.
View More
The Bottom Line
A compact full-ATX PC case, the NZXT H500i puts your hardware on display without taking over your desk.
Anyone who hasn't checked in on NZXT's line of PC cases of late will have missed a big change of style.
The company's traditional, bulky (and often Imperial Stormtrooper-themed) Phantom and Noctis cases are still around, but the flagship H series packs a whole new look.
With clean lines and a trademark color band, these models can stand alone as classy cases or work as starter canvases for creative PC builders.
The latest NZXT effort, the H500i ($99.99), gives you the option for vertical video-card mounting and maximum interior-parts exposure at a nice price.
It would be an Editors' Choice winner if it included one key part.
The Curious Case of the Missing Riser
Until it launched the H500i (along with a lower-cost H500), NZXT had an H series that went straight from a large-ish mid-tower case, the NZXT H700i, to much smaller MicroATX and Mini-ITX form factors.
NZXT saw room for a compact midtower in between, giving customers a less imposing option than the 27-pound H700i ($187.00 at Amazon) for building a system with a standard ATX motherboard.
The H500i is smaller and significantly lighter, weighing in at just 15 pounds.
NZXT views these systems as the successors to its S340 and S340 Elite cases.
Before I dig into the H500i's details, I should point out the differences between the standard H500 and the H500i versions, because they may prove important to your plans for your new PC.
The H500i model features support for vertical GPU mounting, letting you show off full-face that graphics card you poured so much cash into.
That is, you can do that if you buy a separate PCI Express riser—NZXT doesn't bundle the riser cable and the mounting hardware.
The H500i merely has the rear-panel outlet bracket for a vertical video card.
So, in practical fact, you're looking at more like a $125 to $130 total outlay if you want to go vertical with your video card.
(Aftermarket card risers run about $25 to $30.) As for other functionality differences, the H500i model also includes NZXT's Smart Device, which handles fan/lighting control.
(More about that in a bit.)
Neither the H500 nor the H500i is a budget buster.
The H500 sports an MSRP of $69.99, while the H500i goes for $99.99.
(By way of comparison, the H700i is just shy of $200.) Still, the price difference between the "i" and non-"i" models might be enough to convince some buyers to take advantage of the opportunity to land a solid, spiffy-looking case at a low price in the H500 instead.
Just Enough for ATX
The NZXT H500i is just large enough to accommodate a standard ATX motherboard, offering less space surrounding the board than the H700i.
Like its bulkier sibling, the H500i also accepts MicroATX and Mini-ITX motherboards.
The smaller-board support makes more sense in this compact midtower PC case than in the H700i, where a Mini-ITX board would look lost in a sea of unused space.
Measuring 18.11 by 8.27 by 16.9 inches (HWD), the H500i is a little bigger than a typical office PC tower but on the small side for, say, a gaming system.
The review case I received is black, save for a cable guide that creates a spiffy-looking blue metal ribbon in the interior of the case.
NZXT offers the H500i with red or black cable guides (both paired with the matte black exterior), as well as in a stunning white model.
A bare front panel gives the H500i a monolithic look.
The power button and ports sit at the top of the case, near the front.
The power button has an LED ring around it, making it easy to spot.
Two USB 3.0 ports sit next to the power button, joined by mic and headphone jacks, and a drive-activity LED.
That's standard fare for front-panel ports; a USB 3.1 Type-C port would have been a nice touch, but in fairness, most other new cases still haven't adopted them, either.
One notable difference between the H500/H500i and the other NZXT H-series cases is that the new ones don't have a full side-panel window.
Instead, the window covers only about three-quarters of the case side.
NZXT designed the window to let you lift it away from the case, rather than pull it off of the typical metal posts.
The result is that the window panel is much easier to remove (and attach, for that matter) than most similar side panels.
One screw at the back of the chassis holds it firmly in place.
The H500i's interior gives you plenty of elbow room.
Two of NZXT's Aer F120 fans (which are, as the model name implies, 120mm fans) sit at the top and back of the case.
You can replace the top fan with a 140mm fan, if you so choose.
Neither fan is illuminated with LEDs, which strikes me as a missed opportunity for some extra bling, but then NZXT designed this case to be a mostly blank canvas for its DIY customers.
Unsurprisingly, the H500i isn't as wide as larger ATX cases, but it offers up to 165mm clearance for the CPU cooler (a non-issue if you're using a typical all-in-one liquid cooler) and 381mm clearance for the video card (translation: plenty of space for even the biggest).
A removable bracket at the front of the case supports two 120mm or 140mm fans, along with a radiator (up to 280mm long, and up to 60mm thick).
You won't pull much air from the front of the case, so NZXT makes use of the H500i's right side and bottom edge for that.
A long, filtered grille provides plenty of access to outside air.
Interestingly, the H500i ships with both of its SSD sleds attached to the floor of the main compartment, which is also the top of the PSU shroud.
You attach them by simply pressing them into holes in the shroud.
The case also supports mounting those sleds on the right side of the motherboard tray, which is a more traditional location for the storage devices.
I like the H500i's versatility in this regard.
NZXT put plenty of thought into the right side of the case, which gives you access to the power supply unit (PSU) and bays for the storage drives...
The PSU compartment has vents at the bottom of the case, as well as a removable filter.
Forward of the PSU area, a hard drive cage supports up to three 3.5-inch platter drives.
Plastic guides help you route cables cleanly to the other side of the H500i.
The most important, and atypical, feature on the right side of the H500i is the NZXT Smart Device, which is a vague name for a sophisticated fan and light controller.
It powers the LED strip along the back of the blue cable guide and is responsible for keeping your system both cool and quiet.
Complementing the Smart Device is NZXT's CAM software, which gives you detailed component status information, as well as updates on temperatures and fan performance, not to mention noise reduction.
You can use the software both to monitor your system and to make adjustments.
Tackling the Test Build
NZXT tucks a small box of accessories into the H500i's hard drive cage.
It's a no-frills kit, but it has just what you'll need: the usual boatload of case screws, and 10 plastic zip ties.
NZXT separates the screws with small, resealable bags, which is handy.
I wouldn't mind seeing a Velcro tie or two, but given all the cable-routing restraints and features that NZXT has built into the case itself, I'm not complaining.
Something I do need to quibble about, though: The poster-layout manual has tiny print in multiple languages, making reading it a bit of a chore.
The detailed illustrations are useful, but the manual would be more inviting to new builders were it in a book or pamphlet format.
I said it earlier in the review, but I'll say it again here: The three-quarters glass window is excellent.
Loosen the single screw at the back of the case, then push gently, and the tempered-glass panel tilts easily into your hand.
The other side's panel doesn't have a window, but it's easy to attach.
Its thumbscrews (and the thumbscrew for the tempered-glass panel) stay connected to the side panel, even when loose, so you won't lose them.
I didn't have trouble installing the hardware for a basic Intel "Coffee Lake" Core i5 gaming machine, kitted out with a midrange video card and liquid cooling.
The H500i has a horizontal cutout near the top of the motherboard tray, which let me easily guide the eight-pin power cord to the connector at the top of my ECS Z370-Lightsaber motherboard.
The blue cable bar hides most of the cables that route around to the other side of the case.
Interestingly, the blue cable bar can also mount a water reservoir.
That's a worthwhile feature for DIY-ers who plan to put a custom liquid-cooling system in the H500i.
I attached my Corsair Hydro H60 liquid cooler to the removable radiator bracket and then used the thumbscrews to lock everything into place.
Then, I attached the heatsink to the motherboard to cool my eighth-generation Intel Core i5-8400 ($219.85 at Amazon) CPU.
Because I wasn't going with a vertical GPU setup, I kept the 2.5-inch SSD sleds in their original positions on the floor of the case and routed my ADATA SSD's Serial ATA cables behind the motherboard tray.
I also had plenty of space for my bulky MSI GeForce GTX 1060 Gaming X 6G ($369.99 at Newegg) card.
Once I completed the build, I checked out the interior.
It looked clean and spacious, and it gave a clear view of the processor, the cooling gear, and the GPU.
The LEDs below the cable bar are bright enough to catch the eye, but they don't distract from the rest of the chassis.
A Solid, Space-Saving Showcase
NZXT has a deep understanding of its DIY audience: Those of us who build our own PCs care about the aesthetics of both the chassis proper, and of the build experience.
I have strong memories of my first build, and of the builds thereafter.
I swap stories about PC-building disasters, and I never, ever forget a component that broke or got fried during installation.
NZXT claims that it designed the new H series cases with a great build experience in mind, and based on my time with the H500i, it nailed that goal.
NZXT built a sturdy case with an open, airy interior that gives users plenty of room to move around.
All interior edges are rounded to prevent the sorts of cuts and scratches that can take the fun out of building a PC.
The cable-routing guides are well-placed, but also removable, which is good news for creative types who have their own visions for the H500i.
Despite being mostly straight lines and sharp corners, the H500i has plenty of attitude.
The LED-lit cable bar is striking yet functional, and it's easy to see through the tempered-glass side panel.
This is the sort of case that can stand on its own, without much in the way of LED bling.
But because it has so much interior space visible from the side-panel window, builders with a penchant for rigging up RGB can go wild.
The NZXT H500i is a win for budget-minded builders who want to save space without giving up the luxury of an ATX-form-factor motherboard.
If NZXT were able to bundle in a PCI Express riser for the tempting vertical video-card mount, this could well be the ultimate $99 PC case.
Pros
Compact for a full-ATX case.
Slick tempered-glass side-panel window.
Built-in fan and lighting controller.
Supports vertical video-card mounting.
View More
The Bottom Line
A compact full-ATX PC case, the NZXT H500i puts your hardware on display without taking over your desk.
