The NZXT H1 Mini-ITX case looks similar to the Xbox Series X case, but it’s more than just that. It’s a mini-ITX gaming PC starter kit that we’ll discuss in our NZXT H1 Mini-ITX case review.
It’s actually a cleverly-designed H1 mini-ITX case that provides the efficiency and performance of mid-tower gaming desktops. But the difference is that it’s more compact and sleek.
Sounds like something you’d need for your build? Or maybe you’ve gotten curious about it? No matter what the reason is, continue reading our NZXT H1 Mini-ITX case review to learn more about this product.
NZXT H1 Mini-ITX Case Packaging
This mini-ITX case that we got was the black-coloured version, and it arrived in a simple-looking cardboard box.
Its front displays an image of one part of the case, and you’ll find H1 written above it. The box’s top shows a smaller image of the product, along with NZXT to its left. On the sides, you’ll find the features and specifications of this mini-ITX case.
Flipping the box, the rear displays another angle of the case. And now, you’ll see H1 written under the image. NZXT is also written in bold letters on the upper-left corner of the box.
Inside the Box
Of course, our NZXT H1 Mini-ITX case review won’t be complete if we don’t discuss the other inclusions inside. The mini-ITX case comes with a couple of inclusions. These are the 140mm AIO liquid cooler, SFX-L 650W 80 Plus Gold power supply, and an Aer P140mm fan.
There’s also a PCIe 16x Gen3 high-speed riser card, a breakout cable, all necessary installation accessories, and a user manual.
NZXT H1 Mini-ITX Case Review – Design and Functionality
This section of our NZXT H1 Mini-ITX case review discusses the design and functions of the case.
The mini-ITX case is only a fraction as big as a mid-tower case. Again, we’re testing the black coloured version which looks sleek and premium, but NZXT also offers it in white.
Once you build your system using this mini-ITX case, it’ll be a PC that you can show off. It doesn’t matter if it’s in your office or game room, the H1 mini-ITX case will look great anywhere.
The material NZXT used for this case is metal, and it’s extremely sturdy and durable which is good. They didn’t include any plastic internally and externally so you won’t have to worry about it tipping over. If you’re wondering about heat, most of its exhaust goes out through the left and rear portions.
It comes with a LED-lit power button, two USB 3.2 Gen1 ports (Type-C and Type-A), and a headphone jack. All of these can be found on the case’s top panel.
The connectivity of this case is concealed in a certain cavity beneath the tower.
To see it for connecting cables, you’ll need to tilt the case a bit to access the area. It isn’t an issue since this is a spot that you don’t have to see often. Once you link the cables, you’re all good.
Seeing the mini-ITX case for the first time, it appears like it doesn’t have adequate room for things. However, it actually has a ton of space in it which is pretty neat.
Getting in it is straightforward since assembling the case is a tool-less process. Both the grated rear panels and tempered glass front pops out easily.
All you have to do is hook your fingers beneath the bottom edges. Then, pull these so you can readily lift the single-piece, three-sided metal exterior. In addition, the tall, washable dust filter linked to the metal exterior are easy to remove too.
When removing the case’s shell, you’ll see that the ventilated sections feature detachable filters. And with just the mini-ITX case’s barebones, you’ll see how the company designed and set things up.
Power Supply of the NZXT H1 Mini-ITX Case
Starting at the top, you’ll find the pre-installed 650W SFX 80 Plus gold modular power supply. We like the fact that it’s modular. So if you’re not using specific cables, you can entirely remove them from the case.
In addition, there’s a little plate that conceals most of the case. If you aren’t a fan of it, you can easily remove this too.
The mini-ITX case features a power supply routed to the bottom of the case. This is also where you’ll find a regular power connector.
Next to where the power supply is set is a hard drive cage. It has enough space for two 2.5: hard drives which is great.
Integrated Liquid CPU Cooler
When you look at the centre of the case, notice that it’s quite busy. The 140mm all-in-one liquid CPU cooler is in this spot, but you can easily slide it out when needed.
Once it’s out, you’ll see how much of a compact uni the H1 mini-ITX case is. Plus, it comes with a pre-applied thermal paste so it’s ready to install.
For the CPU block, it’s quite thin so it can fit perfectly in the case’s limited space. Also, it can support both AMD AM4 and Intel LGA-115x CPUs.
Motherboard Mount, GPU Mount, and Riser
With the AIO removed, you’ll be able to see the motherboard mount. Of course, since the H1 is a mini-ITX case, it can only support mini-ITX boards.
There’s a built-in riser in this area, allowing you to install a full-length graphics card on the case’s opposite side. Of course, the riser is with this case, and it’s also specially made for it. That means, it’s another element that you won’t have to purchase.
On the opposite corner of the case, there’s the other side of the riser plus a mount for the graphics card. It’s specifically a two-slot mount. However, it appears that you’ll still have room for at least a 2.5-slot card in the area.
This time, let’s discuss what the case has to offer in our NZXT H1 Mini-ITX case review.
Key Features of the NZXT H1 Mini-ITX Case
Built-in Power Supply AIO Liquid Cooler + Pre-routed Cables
The company included the AIO cooler plus the SFX-L power supply as part of their package. And what’s nice is that they’re already installed with neatly-routed cables.
For the PSU, it’s tucked into the top of the mini-ITX case. Specifically, it’s behind another tool-less compartment cover. Its important power cablings have just the ideal length, and you won’t need to fold these back to fit.
You can find the cooler fitted perfectly around the steel frame. And, it’s made to fold away when a compatible board and processor are installed.
With these built-in parts, assembling the mini-ITX case is both easy and quick. That’s because the board assembly drops on one side, and the graphics card slips into the other chamber.
Compact Vertical Style with Support for Full-sized GPU’s Today
The size of the case is only a fraction as big as a mid-tower. And, it measures 388 x 187 x 188mm (H x W x D). But despite its small form factor, it can fit most full-sized GPU’s, so you won’t have limited options.
Toolless Riser Card and SSD Tray for Simple Installation
Compact desktops usually rely on exclusive components or are challenging to upgrade. Neither of these is true for the mini-ITX case because everything in it is user-friendly and upgradable in just minutes.
Downward Facing Motherboard
Unlike most PC cases that feature ports at their rear portion, the H1 Mini-ITX case’s ports are under the tower. That’s because it features a downward-facing motherboard which keeps the chassis’ elegant appearance.
Built-in PCIe Riser Card for Vertical GPU Mounting
The NZXT H1 Mini-ITX case comes with a Gen3 PCIe riser, allowing you to vertically mount your graphics card.
Dual-chamber Airflow for the NZXT H1 Mini-ITX Case
This mini-ITX case allows for adequate access to fresh air for its 140mm AIO. That’s because of the extremely perforated side panels that are available. Other than this, it also allows for easier venting of thermal loads.
This time, our NZXT H1 Mini-ITX case review will focus on the product’s specifications.
Specifications
The H1 mini-ITX case measures NZXT H1 Mini-ITX case review 388 x 187 x 188mm (H x W x D). For its maximum GPU clearance, it’s 305 x 128mm – 265 x 145mm. For the maximum GPU thickness, it’s up to 2.5 slots.
For the mini-ITX case’s memory height, it measures 45mm.
Compatible sockets and CPU for intel are LGA 1200 and 115X sockets. For the AMD sockets, it’s compatible with AM4, FM2+,FM2, AM3+, AM3, AM2, and AM1.
Fan Specs
The Aer P 140mm fan of the mini-ITX case has a speed of 500 – 1,800 ± 300 RPM. Its airflow ranges from 27.27 to 98.17 CFM while static pressure is 0.21 to 2.71mm H2O. For its noise, it ranges from 21 to 38 dBA.
It also has a 4-pin PWM fan connector.
Power Supply Specs
This full modular power supply is the NP-S650M model with an SFX-L form factor. It has a 650W with an SFX 12V V.3.3 | ATX 12V V.2.4 compliance standard. Plus, it’s also compatible with Intel V.1.31.
The case’s MTBF is 100,000 hours at 25-degrees Celsius but do note that this excludes the DC fan. Lastly, the H1 mini-ITX case comes with a 3-year warranty, and this applies to the case and riser card.
Hands-on with the NZXT H1 Mini-ITX Case
It’s vital to know how the case worked during our tests. So, we’re definitely discussing this in our NZXT H1 Mini-ITX case review. But first, let’s start with the CAM Software.
The CAM Software is where we manage the temperatures, performance, and a lot more. We liked the software since it was efficient, fast, and user-friendly. So, it allowed us to control and manage each aspect of the mini-ITX case.
The CAM software allowed us to see what the computer was doing. This was from the processor load to bandwidth consumption. Not only that, but it also let us know which applications were utilising the machine.
With this software, we were able to immediately detect any issues which was great. So, we were guaranteed that we were receiving optimal performance all throughout.
We love the tool-free design of the NZXT H1 case. And since its cables and components were routed and installed, we only had little work to do.
When we positioned the board assembly, we had decent access from the sides and above. With that, we had good and adequate clearance to link various cables.
Technically, it wasn’t difficult to build an entire PC from scratch, and we finished in just half an hour. But if we decided to double-check each step, we’d likely finish in an hour or so.
It’s actually much faster than other small factor cases that we’ve tried building with. So, we have to applaud NZXT because of their design. It saved us a lot of time and trouble when it came to installing.
The cooling performance of this mini-ITX case is impressive. We let the system reach close to the limits and had the fan run at full speed. There was a bit of noise in the process so take note of that.
NZXT H1 Mini-ITX Case Review Summary
The company ideally designed the H1 mini-ITX case, and it offers the serviceability and performance that you’d find in mid-tower gaming desktops.
A simple and sleek design with the capacity to let you build a superb system. This makes the NZXT H1 mini-ITX case ideal for someone who seeks full-desktop potential with a minimalist footprint.
Although the price might make you twitch, just stop and think. The components utilised here aren’t cheap or mediocre. When you get your hands on it, it’s sheer quality from top to bottom.
Overall, the NZXT H1 mini-ITX case stands out from the crowd, and it’s among our favourite mini-ITX cases. It performed well and it looks great, so it’s something we’d highly recommend to you.
If you want to get your hands on this case for your next build, you can purchase it from the company’s official website.
