NZXT H700i
Enthusiast-grade case with a CAM-do attitude
IT ONLY TAKES ONE LOOK at the H700i to figure out that this case isn’t messing around. Technically, you could build a super-efficient Core i3 system on a microATX board within its roomy chambers, but you wouldn’t be fulfilling the purpose for which it was designed. A tempered glass side panel, flashy LED strips, and a central CAM fan controller are all intended for high-end systems to be housed within, and shown off like a gaudy museum exhibit. Unsurprisingly, the pricing follows suit: At $200, is it worth the outlay on your already expensive build?
First things first: It looks great. Aesthetic judgements are never unanimous, but the atmosphere of quiet reverence in the MaximumPC office as we unboxed the H700i speaks for itself. The simplicity of its front panel and mesh-free top work well with the full tempered glass side panel to create an unfussy, angular look. Our review sample is plain black, but white, blue-black, and red-black options are also available should you wish to color co-ordinate your GPU, motherboard, and the like. The roomy look of this model is facilitated by some smart internal design— it’s easy to keep cables tucked away and components positioned neatly. The PSU is fitted under a shroud at the base of the case, which also has three mounting brackets for 2.5-inch SSDs. In fact, there’s room for seven 2.5-inch drives in total— although, to our eye, installing a drive in each of those bays would compromise the clean look quite a bit. Two are on top of the PSU shroud, and another is on the side wall, facing out toward the glass panel as a showcase piece.
It’s also a huge case. The CPU and GPU clearance heights are 7.2 inches and 16.2 inches respectively, which is about as roomy as you’ll find anywhere in the market. In addition to giving plenty of space for multi-GPU builds without compromising airflow, it also allows ease of access when you’re building inside the case. We installed a 120mm air cooler during our test build, but liquid coolers are equally at home in the H700i, thanks to its many radiator mount slots. There’s room on the front and top panels for a radiator with three 120mm or two 140mm fans, and plenty of elbow room to fit them, too. Despite the sleek panels, absent of mesh, the airflow is decent within those panels. Three fans fitted to the front and one at the rear disperse the hot air amply.
While we’re on the topic of airflow and cooling, it’s time to touch upon the H700i’s big selling point: a central fan and LED strip controller. The four included fans are all connected to this controller, as are the LED strips along the glass panel side of the case. The controller’s connected up by SATA and USB cables, and neatly positioned behind a central pillar on the far side of the case— whose panel can be popped off with one handy button press. Connecting additional fans is therefore straightforward—hook them up to the controller rather than on to the motherboard directly. Some users have reported problems with the CAM software since the H700i’s launch. Certain firmware updates have rendered the whole controller useless in some cases, although by the time of publication, it’s entirely possible that subsequent firmware updates will have remedied that. That said, Corsair has been running similar systems without the need for additional software for several years now, although admittedly without LED support.
Happily, that’s the only stumbling block. Elsewhere, it’s plain sailing, from the ease of access when building to the quality of its construction and overall appearance. It’s right up in the nosebleeds when it comes to pricing, and does everything you’d expect such an expensive model to do. It’s worth researching the state of play on that fan controller before taking the plunge, though, and we only wish there were a cheaper variant, sans smart CAM technology. –PHIL IWANIUK