NZXT H500i Tempered Glass RGB Mid-Tower Chassis Review

Peter Donnell / 7 years ago

Final Thoughts

How Much Does it Cost?

The NZXT H500i and the model down, the H500, both launch today at most major retailers. It will be available in matte white, matte black, black and red, black and blue, for just £99.99. Of course, the H500 is available in the same colours but will cost just £69.99. Considering how much lower that is than the H400i and the H700i, this may be the best value for money premium chassis so for this year!

Overview

NZXT is on a roll recently, delivering some truly phenomenal chassis products that are quite simply the best they’ve ever done. Their last few products have been a hit and miss, and there just wasn’t much love for the Manta. However, they’ve taken everything we loved about the H440 and the S370 type chassis, merged them, and created what feels like an “NZXT Greatest Hits Collection”.

Build Quality

I really can’t fault anything NZXT has done when it comes to construction of this chassis. They’ve gone a little further than they needed to, playing fantastic amounts of attention to the little details. For example, the way they glass sits in a groove of the chassis at the bottom, requiring just a single screw to secure it at the top is really nicely designed. The way the screws are notched so they don’t fall off the side panels when you loosen them is nice too. The one-piece cable cover not only does its job but it becomes a style point too. High-quality fans, good dust filters, premium looking paintwork. All of these little details add up to a premium quality look and feel for the chassis.

Lots of Features

For many, the H500 would be enough. However, the extra features of the H500i seem more than worthy of the extra £30. Offering support for a vertically mounted GPU, the lighting and fan hub, smart fan control, customisable RGB lighting. Again, not for everyone, but for those wanting a build that really stands out, they’re fantastic value for money upgrades that would cost much more bought separately.

Should I Buy One?

I really can’t find a fault with this chassis, and even less so when you consider how much cheaper it is than the flagship h700i, while still offering most of the same features and design. If money is no object, the H700i wins, if you’re eager to stay under triple digits, the H500i, and when money is a little tighter but you still want a great looking chassis, the H500 is the way to go! If this isn’t one of the most popular chassis of 2018 and beyond, I will be pretty shocked.