Case H1 NZXT V2 Review: An updated and state-of-the-art compact case

The American company NZXT manages to make itself known only in recent years in the European market despite its foundation dating back to 2004. The Californian hardware manufacturer last year presented a very particular case, a Mini tower version to be precise with power supply. integrated liquid. Unfortunately, the H1 did not have much luck and proved to be very problematic, so much so that in some cases it caused fires due to the overheating of the screws that held the PCIe riser card anchored.

This problem obviously blocked sales and consequently the product was withdrawn from the market and you will understand our surprise in finding ourselves having version 2.0 in our hands, after only one year. NZXT thus presents, in two different colors, matte white and black, the return of this controversial case with a minimal but at the same time elegant aesthetic.

When compared, the aesthetic differences between the first and second versions are in fact almost nil, with a shape similar to an Xbox Series X but with an obviously higher centimeter count. The H1 with its 405 mm high and 196 mm wide by 196 mm deep is a compact case compared to the classics, which still manages to get noticed and dominate the desk. The material with which it is built remains unchanged, in SGCC steel and a side panel in tempered glass, a window to show off the components inside.

Unlike the previous version, the H1 equips a more powerful power supply, now 750W, with a silent 92 mm FDB fan and a 140 mm Aer P fan designed to dissipate heat more efficiently and avoid overheating problems that have plagued the previous model. To maintain an ideal component temperature, NZXT renews the integration of a ready-to-use 15.6-liter integrated liquid cooling system, a convenient solution for those unfamiliar with this refrigeration technology.

All this, despite the small size, inevitably raises the overall weight which stands at 7.6 kg without components inside except those integrated with which the case is supplied. To complete the internal components there is the much debated PCIe riser card, this time of the fourth generation at high speed, tested for a long time and which has passed all the safety and reliability tests.

On the external body, more precisely on the upper part of the case, we find all the connectivity ports together with the power button, to be precise two USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type A ports, a USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type C port and a classic Jack Audio for 3.5mm headphones. This arrangement makes the H1 very versatile and comfortable in being able to easily connect our devices without particular hindrances and also maintains a clean and more than pleasant aesthetic line.

Focusing on this type of hardware for your PC objectively brings many advantages if you have an adequate budget, given the integration of some components already standard and of indisputable quality and ease of use. But configuring a Mini Case involves making compromises that must necessarily be accepted and consequently there is an obligatory attention to be paid in the choice of motherboard and graphics card.

If you have no worries about the power supply and heat dissipation with the H1, the headaches will come when choosing the CPU. The ITX cases need special motherboards with reduced dimensions, or variants of the classic motherboards created with the advent of this type of tower enclosure. In this case the compatibility offered is of Socket LGA 1200, 115X for Intel and a Socket AM4 for AMD. Another fundamental piece in the construction of a configuration that revolves around this type of product is the graphics card. Also in this case the GPU must respect very precise dimensions, a maximum thickness of 58mm and a memory height of 45mm. The housing of the latter will necessarily be vertical due to the reduced space available and the shape with which the H1 is designed, which considerably limits the customization that can be given to our PC.

In fact, it is highly inadvisable to add LED strips inside the H1, for example, given the already limited space for essential components. Although mounting and assembly are really a breeze thanks to the arrangement of the seats for the GPU, CPU and SSD, this case was created to contain the dimensions. Inside there are also guides to keep the cables in the right position without dirtying the internal aesthetics visible from the tempered glass panel but despite this, fitting them all perfectly is not exactly a simple mission.

As mentioned above, the H1 provides very specific configurations and if you are looking for a case with which to indulge yourself with additions of fans and other changes you will necessarily have to look beyond and focus on classic houses, with much more accessible prices.

This tower is certainly controversial, its aesthetic beauty and quality of integrated components collides with a price that is not really accessible to all budgets and very limited possibilities of choice in terms of builds to create. By consulting the official website you can see three types of pre-assembled configurations with prices in line with those of a normal PC, where the most problematic variant remains the cost of the video cards and not for example the ITX version of the motherboard.

The H1 has many pros and cons and before evaluating the purchase there must be a very careful process of considering the needs you have. The first obstacle is represented by the price, 399 € of the list, certainly not convenient but which finds its justification with the integration of a very efficient AIO liquid cooling system and a very performing power supply. Always in its favor there is an aesthetic that cannot be overlooked, with reduced dimensions of width on the desk and a simplicity of lines that makes it elegant and refined.

All this must deal with the personal tastes of the user, who must understand how much the aesthetic customization or the possibility to change the components at will is essential for your Personal Computer. In any case, the H1 is certainly one more choice to consider for all consumers looking for their new hardware.