NZXT H2: Not Quite Quiet
by Dustin Sklavos on May 26, 2011 2:43 AM EST- Posted in
- Cases/Cooling/PSUs
- mid-tower
- NZXT
Conclusion: A Good Rough Draft
The test results for the NZXT H2 are disappointing. This is a case I was particularly looking forward to checking out because it looked like quite a find: quiet, efficient cases can be hard to come by at the $99 price point. More than that, the H2 is very feature rich, relatively easy to assemble, and just generally pleasant to look at. It's a far cry from the types of cases we're used to seeing down here. The H2 had a lot of hype behind it, and I've visited a lot of forums where people were really excited about it. It undoubtedly has a few followers already and that's fair.
Which is why it's such a drag that NZXT dropped the ball on the thermals. My results and general feelings towards the H2 seem to fall into consensus with other reviewers, that the H2 has a lot of promise but it would really need some modification to live up to its potential. Antec's P180 went through a few revisions over its lifetime, and I'd like to see NZXT revise the H2 by adding ventilation around the front door so the intake fans aren't suffocating. Getting more air into the enclosure would mean the internal fans won't have to work as hard, and that allows the sound-proofing NZXT installed to do its job. It's a win-win all around, and comparing the H2 to In-Win's BUC really proves that: a system is quieter when the fans don't have to work as hard.
I want to be clear, the H2 has a lot of great features and can be assembled without much trouble. It's nice to look at, and if you don't stress it too hard, it can run very quietly. Unfortunately it has a hard time hanging with other cases in terms of thermal performance, and as a result that takes its toll on the noise NZXT was trying to fight. This is a really solid starting point for NZXT's engineers to work from, and while I might hesitate to recommend the H2 as it is, the case is just one revision away from being a stellar option for budget builders who just want a little piece and quiet.
I'd love to see what NZXT could do with another crack at it. In the meantime, a bit of modding should help alleviate some of the issues we've uncovered, but right now it isn't quite ready for mass consumption.
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Dustin Sklavos - Thursday, May 26, 2011 - link
Fret not! There are more on the way.Oh, so MANY more. ;)
geniekid - Thursday, May 26, 2011 - link
I just want to say I totally support your reviewing of cases, ESPECIALLY those that are designed to be quiet. This is an area of system building that is severely lacking in good information on the internet, second maybe to power supply testing (which you guys are also good at).After using my home built machine for the last 4 years, I've made up my mind that my next rig must be inaudible at idle and pretty quiet at load. It's gotten to the point where choosing the graphics card isn't just picking out the best card on the price/performance curve - it requires looking at noise at load. In that vein of thinking, I would like to suggest that you guys test GPUs that you've already tested just to generate some noise benchmarks for third party cooling solutions.
scott967a - Thursday, May 26, 2011 - link
I've also been looking at case reviews. Glad to see Anandtech might do more in this area. I had pretty much crossed off the H2 and this confirms it. Now looking at the Fractal Design R3, but most sites that review quiet (or quieter at least) cases aren't also looking at whether these quiet cases can handle an OC system. I'm looking at a Corsair H70 cooler so have to kind of guess how that radiator will work in these cases.Dustin Sklavos - Thursday, May 26, 2011 - link
We were supposed to get a Fractal Design R3 in house at one point but it didn't materialize and I haven't shaken their tree to get one sent in because I have such a backlog of other cases to review. ;)But I hear you about quiet, high performance cases because I'm in a similar boat. We have an Antec Sonata IV review that should be going up within the next month and then hopefully I'll be looking at SilverStone's Raven RV03 next month, too. Not going to lie, I'm pretty excited about that one.
Andreos - Thursday, May 26, 2011 - link
Suggest you guys update your photography skills and possibly equipment. Out-of-focus, motion-blurred, poorly exposed photos really don't do justice the content of your reviews, or the products being reviewed.tekeffect - Thursday, May 26, 2011 - link
I would like to see this some numbers for this with a liquid cooling setup...at least for the cpu.MMinNC - Tuesday, June 7, 2011 - link
Does anyone know if extra fans can be controlled by the integrated fan controller? This case has room for one 120mm fan at the bottom and one 140mm fan at the top.Thanks
kuzzia - Wednesday, June 8, 2011 - link
I'm almost positive that it can control an extra fan, bringing the total amount up to four.raytseng - Sunday, August 5, 2012 - link
if people still are looking at this article, apparently nzxt did make changes to H2 to address the concerns.I think they are stealth changes so no change in model number.
SilentPCReview was happier with an H2 build they received that had a later H2 over their initial review.
http://www.silentpcreview.com/article1274-page2.ht...