NZXT H1 2022

Setting standards for ITX builds?

FOR A WHILE NOW, NZXT has made some tasty-looking cases that are more than just a bit of eye candy. The cable management, build quality, and overall feel of these chassis make them great value for money, while their relatively compact dimensions are good at keeping your desk setup crisp and clean. They usually provide a great blank canvas to work on, but the H1 design is arguably the best of an already good-looking bunch.

Unfortunately, the original H1 didn’t get off to the best of starts after it was recalled after potential fire hazard concerns, which didn’t exactly fill the market with confidence. Despite its impressive visual design, the Mini-ITX case came to its demise due to grounding issues on the PCIe riser cables.

Having got our hands on the improved V2 2022 edition, hopefully, those thermal issues have been resolved and the H1 2022 has a few extra goodies to add to the mix. Unlike the majority of NZXT cases, this one isn’t a blank canvas—it comes pre-installed with an SFX 750W Gold PSU, NZXT CAM enabled fan controller, 140mm AIO liquid cooler, and room to support NVIDIA 30 series and AMD 6000 series graphics cards, which should make it an interesting Mini-ITX kit case.

Just like the V1, this revamped edition looks impressive, with more than a passing resemblance to the Xbox Series X console. With a 15.6-liter capacity, it’s a little wider and taller to enable room for a full-sized two-slot GPU but keeps the same design as the original.

This small vertical case is so versatile that it should suit most setups. It’s available in either matte black or matte white variants, the latter of which we have on test here. Three of the four sides of this case are designed with a circular pattern, providing up to 30 percent more ventilation than the previous model.

Airflow is a key upgrade this time with the introduction of the 92mm top exhaust fan. As heat rises, anything to help the flow of hot air escape this tight chassis is going to keep the PC cooler. The H1 also features a dual-chamber exhaust layout to keep both the CPU and GPU ventilated.

The panels are easy to pop off with no screwdrivers needed. The tinted glass and rear black panel detach from the top and bottom of the case and the other two sides slide off vertically, revealing the skeleton of the chassis. To help with your build, you’ll find various stickers dotted around the case instructing you how to properly open the case, which is a handy and rather welcome addition, even for those who are more experienced at the building game.

Unscrew the radiator panel on the back of the case and it reveals where you can install a Mini-ITX mobo. It’s simple and easy to do, making this case an ideal platform for any builders out there who are venturing into smaller form factors.

NO EMPTY PROMISES

So it’s not an empty chassis and, with a 750W PSU and a power efficiency rating of 80 Plus Gold, it’s capable of housing high-end, two-slot GPU’s even larger units, such as Asus’s ROG Strix cards, which is pretty impressive. The riser cable has also been upgraded from PCIe Gen3 to Gen4 to accommodate more current and powerful GPUs too. Sacrificing a powerful GPU on a Mini-ITX build isn’t uncommon so it’s great to see it being a viable option in this NZXT case.

Regardless of how impressive the airflow on this updated H1 case is, in general, smaller-sized cases can’t compete with larger units that can dissipate the heat better. Nonetheless, the 140mm AIO liquid cooler in this mini machine does a good job of keeping the whole system cool.

Along with the large circumference holes in the panels, additional exhaust fan at the top of the case, and dual heat chambers, it’s impressive what NZXT has crammed into such a small and sleek case. Now with PCIe 4.0 GPU support, it makes for a great Mini-ITX kit. Costing just under $400, you don’t have to worry about the PC’s cooling system and cabling solutions. Sure, it’s not the cheapest kit on the market, but both the build quality and potential in this revamped H1 are seriously impressive.

VERDICT 9

NZXT H1 2022

SECOND TIME LUCKY Good ventilation; clever use of space and cable management; compatible with full-sized GPUs; easy chassis to work on; safer PCIe riser cable.

OOPS, WE DID IT AGAIN Can’t use horizontally; hidden PSU switch; not compatible with three-slot GPUs.

$ 400, www.nzxt.com