Detailed overview of the NZXT H500
Whereas the NZXT H700i we examined earlier was a mid-tower case, the H500 is a extra compact model of it with a compromise on fan and heatsink help. If you’re questioning about the lack of “i” in the mannequin title, then we’ve to let you know that every one these circumstances are available in two variants, wherein the variations with out i don’t have the smart module put in. The H500 follows the identical minimalist design method and appears completely sensible in the white variant we obtained for overview. It additionally presents handy cable routing with Velcro fasteners, making the total meeting course of simpler. How does the NZXT H500 deal with cooling with solely two pre-installed exhaust followers in the case? Let’s discover out.
Specs
Motherboard type issue: Mini-ITX, Micro-ATX, ATX
Energy normal: ATX normal (max. size 180 mm)
I/O Ports: 2x USB 3.1 Gen-1, 1x headphone/microphone combo
Compartments for discs: 3 x 3.5″ HDD, 2 x 2.5″ SSD
Fan help: 2 x 120/140mm (entrance), 1 x 120/140mm (high), 1 x 120mm (rear)
Radiator help: As much as 280 mm (entrance), 120 mm (rear)
Clearances: Processor cooler – 165 mm, video card – 381 mm
Dimensions (H x W x D): 435mm x 210mm x 428mm
The looks of the NZXT H500
NZXT has used metal panels all through the case, sustaining a minimalistic design that is considerably distinctive to the new H sequence than the older era. This additionally applies to interiors, which we are going to discuss later. We preferred the method for eradicating the glass panel, which is significantly better than angle screws. The higher a part of the panel has a metallic bar with clips which can be inserted into the physique body. Nonetheless, you must get used to the drive required to take away the panel and watch out to not apply an excessive amount of drive.
As a consequence of the H500’s design selections, the entrance panel doesn’t help any air consumption vents. As an alternative, the vents have been moved to the aspect panels ahead. The highest panel has a stand for one 120 or 140 mm exhaust fan. The case comes with one pre-installed on the again.
The ports on the high panel mix in nicely with the case and have NZXT’s purple accent as an alternative of the blue USB 3.0 indicators. It could be nice if the I/O ports included the newer USB Kind-C port as nicely.
On the exterior, we discovered nothing to complain about. Nonetheless, the solely space we will probably be is the high quality of the screws. They might be higher and tighter. You’ll find mud filters wherever there is an air consumption or exhaust.
The inside of the NZXT H500
The within is nicely constructed aside from the fan mount on the entrance panel. Whereas the motherboard plate and PSU shroud have been thick sufficient to not bend simply, the fan mount may bend simply. Though it wasn’t fragile, the smaller dimension was sudden in comparison with the different components. Along with the construct high quality, having a detachable fan mount is extraordinarily handy when putting in a fan or heatsink.
The distinction between H500 and H500i is the presence of a smart module. You will not discover that in the H500. Whereas this implies you may be depending on the motherboard’s fan connectors to attach the case’s followers, it considerably reduces the case’s worth.
The cable administration system in the new H sequence is glorious. Like the H700 and H700i, it takes care of all of your cables with loads of connection factors on the again of the motherboard. There is a handy cable channel in the center to accommodate all the thick cables behind the velcro. With these pre-existing channels in the construct course of, we have been in a position to higher plan the construct.
When it comes to cooling capabilities, the most heatsink dimension that may be put in is 280mm on the entrance panel. There is not a lot area on the high panel as just one 120/140mm fan may be put in on the high panel.
On the storage entrance, NZXT has provide you with a intelligent option to make the SSD trays modular inside. Due to the perforated casing of the energy provide, two SSD trays may be connected anyplace on it. They will also be moved behind the motherboard panel, however that may even intrude with the cables on the again.
Your laborious drive trays may be put in beneath the energy provide shroud in the drive bay. It is handy to put three HDDs right here. We have been a little bit upset that putting in laborious drives wasn’t a tool-less function. Additionally, you’ll have to take away the drive field from the cage, thus rising the issue a bit.
Should you want extra room for the energy provide cables, the drive compartment may be moved ahead by eradicating the screws at the backside of the case.
One other function we wish to spotlight is the extraordinarily helpful I/O port connector. Usually it’s a must to join the energy and reset button cables individually. However NZXT has mixed all these connectors into one connector that may be related like USB connectors. This is one thing that different case producers ought to positively undertake.
Testing methodology
Initially, the H500 was examined with two pre-installed followers. If you wish to study extra about our testing course of, we advocate you learn our Corsair Obsidian 500D overview. For our second a part of the check, two 120mm followers have been mounted on the entrance panel as intakes. On this configuration, the case had balanced air strain inside with two followers performing as suction and the different performing as exhaust.
Our check configuration is as follows:
CPU: Intel Core i7-4960X
Motherboard: ASRock X79 Extreme9
Video card: Sapphire Radeon HD 7790
Processor cooler: Noctua NH-L9x65
RAM: Corsair Dominator 2x8GB DDR3 (16GB)
HDD: WD Pink 2TB
SSD: SanDisk Excessive II (240 GB)
Energy provide: Antec HCP-1000 Platinum
Thermal efficiency
The package consists of two Aer F120 Case Model followers, every of which exhausts sizzling air from the high and rear panels. With out the air consumption, we anticipated the inner temperature to be barely larger than common. Nonetheless, this was not the case and the temperatures recorded have been inside acceptable limits. We let the system idle for quarter-hour earlier than performing stress checks. The Intel Core i7-4960X ran at 36 levels Celsius, whereas the Radeon HD 7790 stabilized at 34 levels.
In our Prime95 stress check, the CPU went as much as 53 levels, whereas the GPU touched 69 levels. To get a greater thought of how nicely the case performs with extra followers, we put in two extra 120mm followers on the entrance panel as inputs. Surprisingly, it did little. Putting in a heatsink in the future on your CPU will probably be a greater funding than including followers to chill the case. Moreover, changing the overhead exhaust fan with a excessive airflow fan may even decrease the temperature inside by a number of levels.
For such a worth, the cooling effectivity of the case is a lot larger than common. You possibly can depend on case followers to chill your system as an alternative of changing them with new ones.
NZXT H500 Key options, worth and launch date
| Value: | ₹9000 |
| Launch date: | March 24, 2019 |
| Model: |
None |
| Market standing: | Launched |
