This is a gorgeous case once built and installed. However - I don't think I would buy it again...and certainly would not buy the "i" version again.
First - lets talk about the "i" version and smart box. The Cam software is clunky and obtrusive when compared to something like Asus aurasync. Why does it want me to create a login? Why does something for setting fan speed and light color need any sort of login or internet connection? With that said, once you have it configured and setup - everything HAS been working just fine. Either way, I plan to move my fans to the motherboard and repin my light strips to work with the Asus 5v addressable header on my motherboard... would prefer not having CAM plugging away in the background doing whatever it is that its doing.
On to the rest of the case... the h500 glass mounting is a breeze and the biggest reason I initially selected the case. The back side of the case gives you some decent options for cable routing and SSD mounts. However, for the price of the case, its kind of a bummer that thumbscrews are ONLY available for removing the side panels, Fan/cooler tray, and vertical GPU plate. EVERYTHING else will be manual screws... I'm fine with that for mounting the motherboard, but it would really be nice if they had a screwless system for PCI slots. STILL - I can forgive that. The biggest offender though is the 3.5" HDD bays...
The 3.5" bay require screws into each hard drive. and the bay itself has 4 screws from the BOTTOM of the case. I havent had to deal with something like that for mounting hard drives since.... 2002? To NZXT's credit - it does allow you to offset, center, etc your hard drive bay in case you need some extra space for cable management or something. Still - it would have been far nicer to have a thumbscrew and slide out bay. While we're picking on the 3.5" bay - its also worth mentioning that it has NO rubber mounts or standoffs. This seems to amplify the old spinner drive into a shout whenever something needs to loud. I guess I got spoiled by the LianLi I had before in this respect.
The top fan is a 140mm opening, with a 120mm fan from factory. I knew it in advance, but after seeing it in person...it really looks rather hokey. Its a shame that it doesnt have a 140 out of the box.
Now - with all of the negatives out of the way - the case looks gorgeous with everything installed and built. The cable management worked out beautifully for hiding everything away. The 2.5" bays and fan tray worked wonderfully. It is a nice looking build, MOSTLY nice to work with, and reasonably solid feeling assembled. I suppose I just expected a few more quality of life points for the price. I certainly don't regret purchasing it - but I'm also fairly sure I would not pick it again... at the least I would get the cheaper standard version, or just spend a bit more and bump up to the next tier in case selection in general!
| Brand | NZXT |
|---|---|
| Item model number | CA-H500B-B1 |
| Item Weight | 15.4 pounds |
| Product Dimensions | 18.11 x 8.26 x 16.85 inches |
| Item Dimensions LxWxH | 18.11 x 8.26 x 16.85 inches |
| Color | Black |
| Manufacturer | NZXT - US PC |
| ASIN | B07C3DWCDC |
| Is Discontinued By Manufacturer | No |
| Date First Available | June 4, 2018 |
