NZXT H440 Mid-Tower Case Review

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Nope, the cooler was just pretty close to the gpu, but did not touch it :)



You dont't HAVE to buy a case like this, just cuz it doesn't fit your personal needs and you shouldn't want to get me fired cuz it doesen't fit your personal needs either 😉
Speaking about personal preferences: I'm using an external Blu Ray device and rarely ever touch it. Besides, it's not THAT uncommon to use a nregular full-size PC AND an additional cheap notebook nowadays.



Ouch, thx! Translation issue, this review came out on TH Germany first and I didn't do the translation myself - gonna have it fixed!
 
I really want this case, but the lack of a 5.25” external drive is a concern. I kindof agree with inveriti. My old PC has packed up and I am building a new one. I have just bought windows 8.1 and have Ubuntu 14 on DVD. I don’t have a machine to create a bootable flash drive and trying to source one demonstrates it’s just a hassle (especially when paying a lot for a case). Just one 5.25 bay tucked away would have been nice. Software / OS still comes in DVD format or downloadable & registration key. I just bought office 2013 and its downloadable installation file with option to buy a backup DVD. Many people still are using DVDs for transfer of data, movies games in DVD, have a pile of legacy DVD’s / CD’s. Having an external DVD drive (although cheap) means you have gone from a neat solution to a not-so-neat solution. I don’t understand why , If the case is forward thinking, why are there 2 USB 2.0 connections and not USB 3.0. I still like it though ?
 


you can do what i did to test the mainboard, I honestly hooked up the internal dvd drive and had it sitting on top of the h440 to install ubuntu to ensure all my components worked, ended up installing windows this way too, then just removed the sata connection and tidied up some.

The point of this case would be for someone who is more into cloud or USB transferring of data... the external is a solution for those as-needed cases.

case features both usb3 and 2, there are still some cases where usb 3 headers are not on people's mother/main boards, thus not eliminating usability (as was the instance with my parents getting a certain case that only has usb3, and now having to plug everything in the back). IMHO it's easier to discount optical drives when you maintain a means to connect devices, than discount the means to connect items... of course i could be totally wrong.

 
yeah I can see why its dividing opinions. For me its a toss up between this one and the InWin 904 which has a neat solution to the Optical drive and still looks great. However as many have said the issue is surmountable.
 
I own this case the white one and its just amazing in every way beautifully simplistic as well as practical would recommend to any gaming enthusiast
 
I am sorry but a lot of the comment that I am hearing are coming from short sighted and narrow minded individuals that act like they are the type that want to hop on the NEXT BEST THING and have no value for the old school... 5.25" bays are most definitely NOT obsolete. How you going to install simple things like.. an OS? Yes, you can boot off of a Flash Drive but as they say, ALWAYS BE PREPARED... You never know when CD/DVD would come in handy in certain applicable situations. What if you want to watch a dvd or blu-ray? on your 3d monitor.. or burn music to for a car ride...? You are all trying to get rid of certain features that "YOU", the ignorant folk "THINK" you need to get rid of... Not to mention if you get media from a friend that is only on DVD and you are over on the sideline, twiddling your thumbs because you failed to plan. For example, my coworker who's dad passed away had all of her images on dvd... And I made his memorial tribute video for them. Awkward moment to be stuck without a DVD drive.. To you know, burn cds/dvds, and potentially blu ray in the future (if I so find it fitting...) Now, Im not saying go back to the stone ages and caring around spare floppy disks and VCR tapes, but do carry more essential items, such as CDs/DVDS... And maybe, let's say you jump into a friends car. He's like, hey man bring some tunes to listen to. And you bring your flash drive and phone. Which sit useless on the car ride because he had a CD player... May be a random example, but that would be you guys, sitting on in the background, having to explain why you don't have a CD to listen to some tunes... This is what is wrong with the newer generation... Hell, maybe even possibly you guys are from my generation... But you have lost the way, such as the newer generation. You fail to plan, you plan to fail... Take greater consideration in your surroundings and your potential scenarios and plan for that... You may say you don't need it now, but more often than not, you may have that one situation where you do need it, and you are going to feel sorry that you don't have it... Food for thought...
 
The point is that most people who would look at a high-end gaming case probably already have other systems that do have DVD/bluray drives.

The CD player is usually one of the first things to be changed in a new car for us. Usually with something that takes a USB stick or SD card.

I don't know when I last installed an OS from a disc.
 

I'm sure some people fall into that group, but I don't know that I'd say most people are there. Most people I know have only one machine because when its time to upgrade they cannibalize their current rig ( case, PSU, and ODD the most liikely candidates. This means their left over parts aren't always enough to make a whole system out of. While their desktop may be their primary gamer, it's also their general purpose build. While I may have many desktops available, I try not to make the mistake of thinking most other people do as well. Yes, others may have a laptop that can burn optical discs, but again, I'm not going to to assume such from the get-go.



Again, depends on the person and the priorities. It's a pretty expensive lifestyle to have the best tech in every aspect of your life. I may have multiple desktops and the best gaming rig of all my friends, but I didn't get such a car stereo until 18 months ago. For the 10 years prior to that I only had an MP3 capable disc unit. Didn't even have an aux input until I jimmy-rigged one three years ago. Now if you want to say this is becoming a non-issue because most stock units on new models have USB inputs, I'd say that's true.



I actually did two weeks ago. My wife's laptop either can't boot from USB, or the setting was buried in the nether regions of the BIOS. Surprised me when I couldn't get it to work and I had to burn a disc.
 
Remember that there are plenty of cases that do have the drive slots - if you decide you need a case that does, it's pretty easy to find one. This is a case for those who don't need a CD drive. Which there is still a very sizable market for.

It's usually not that pricey, though it depends what you're doing.

I have laptops dating back to the 65nm core 2 duo, and all can boot off USB. My old HP nx6125 (had a single core Turion x64) could boot of USB I'm pretty sure. It's pretty rare for anything in the last decade to not boot of USB.
 
I don't understand the argument .... if you like dresses, you wear dresses, you like pants you wear pants. Saying only one or the other is right or wrong seems a bit myopic. I can't conceive of a system w/o a optical drive because of how I use my system. If like my kids, your puter's main usage is via Steam, you don't need it, no need then.

In a work environment, a puter w/o a optical is a bit limited.....
-Every project is backed up to a file and stored off site.
-We are required to deliver hard copies on optical disk to regulatory agencies upon completion for record purposes.
-The optical is a permanent record of what was delivered, it can't be changed w/o detection.
-I can't imagine a drawer full of USB sticks in my file cabinet, they don't stack well. :)

Same rules apply for any type of personal records.

Now my son's computers have games, a few programs to take care of their 'work from home" or college needs and all is easily replaced..... no need for and optical.....

But I also use 5.25 bays for temperature monitors (a la Reeven Six Eyes) some might use various types of controllers (Aquero or other system controllers like Asus) .... bay reservoirs and the like.

http://overclock3d.net/articles/misc_hardware/asus_rog_base_system_controller_review/1

To my eyes, I would have made it optional.... a 5.25 bay that you can leave in if ya want or take out if ya want .... like Phanteks did. That way the case has wider appeal and will appeal to both groups.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cBhmn21ylkc

Jack
 

I've worked on them that old as well, even my old Pentium M book from 2004 could boot from USB. I just upped my mom's C2D laptop from Vista to 8 and it had USB boot. For some reason this newer one wasn't having any of it. The only boot order options in the BIOS were HDD and ODD. No USB boot options at all. Even threw the stick in the port to see if it supported it but didn't list it. Nothing. I figured it was faster to burn an ISO than to continue hunting around for something that likely wasn't there. It was a good reminder that we can always encounter an exception to something we think has become standard.

Now I know that story isn't terribly applicable to building a desktop. Even if the case doesn't support it, you can always install the OS on the bench, provided you have an ODD and the cables.



I'm not saying that ( not saying you're saying that I am, either. ) Yes, some people want an enclosure with no external bays at all. I get that. And I also believe that everyone in that market is also aware of the limitations ( no ODDs and no external controls like monitors, fan controllers, or card readers. ) So nothing wrong with making a product for a niche market. I may not want it, but that doesn't mean no one else does.

I just don't quite get this case. As I said a few months ago, what is the point of leaving so much empty room in the front if you're not using external bays? Why not shrink the case and the weight altogether? What are you even going to put there? If the goal is a sleek finish with no external blemishes, I'd think making the case a little smaller would accomplish it better.
 


Let's not deny that there's a certain portion of purchases who will buy stuff simply "to set them selves apart from the crowd".

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EW7yZuFaKcY

That's not a knock in any way on the case just that sometimes peeps will choose something for the wrong reasons. That being said there will also be a much larger portion who just genuinely feel that they would rather have the room, or even the look of a case with no 5.25 bays. The fact that this case provides this option is to be commended.

In just about every build I have ever done for myself or others.... since SLI/CF was an option, I always spent the extra $10-15 for a multiple GFX card capable board so as to maintain the option to add that 2nd card. Also made the PSU big enough to handle that option. One may not see the need for one today but what about the future ?

Here's some potential problems. When you buy an enthusiast motherboard, oft times it's bundled with video player software, diagnostic tools, etc the cost of which is included in the purchase. The "license key" is embedded in the install program. I used to not bother with the MoBo CDs and just d/l latest from web .... then I couldn't authorize the player software because the upgrade didn't have the ability to load cause there was no license. Another was when visiting my brother 200 miles away one weekend, he asked if I'd build his PC when I visited. Newegg had delivered all the stuff Friday except for the DVD drive which was coming Monday. No big deal cause I could d/l them and put on USB right .... no, not without installing the LAN driver first. :)

So, what makes no sense to me is this:

The H440 is a $140 MSRP case..... it limits its potential users ONLY to those who don't want 5.25 bays now and are absolutely sure they will not need one in the future. OTOH, the Phanteks Enthoo Pro is a better case......winning 2014 Case of the Year at Computex and it provides the option of having or not having 5.25 bays for an MSRP that is $40 less. Why the H440 didn't provide the bays and a cupla screws so as allow users to employ or not employ them would have greatly widened it's appeal. Yes, it would have added $20 or so to the cost of the case but if Phanteks can do it for a MSRP of $100 and also provide a host of features not in the H440, I don't see why they couldn't have hit their price target and provided the option.

 

Absolutely no argument there. And I'm pretty sure we all know at least one person like that.



I absolutely agree. This is parallel to what I was saying about "I don't get this." This is a case with extra space with no external bays with no possibility of external bays. Couldn't that niche market be equally covered by a case with optional external bays? And couldn't that be done with minimal increase of cost? If you want to cover a niche, I think it would have made more sense to just make a smaller full ATX case with no bays and drop the cost.

I almost always prefer the more flexible products. Even if something is a little overkill for my current needs, it's nice having it there for that "just in case" scenario.
 
you SHOULD be fine... though if you are concerned... take a look at the enthoo luxe in black: http://www.ncix.com/detail/phanteks-enthoo-luxe-full-tower-86-100197-1011.htm a little more more money, but far more cooling, and comes with the LED kit embedded, tinted windows, screws vs grommets on the case frame, easier to remove filters, and drive bays (on top of a ton of other features)... the enthoo pro removes the light kit and has a slightly different look to it, but is a bit cheaper.
 


It's not what I would use for cooling .... The H220-X cools much better at 1/4 the noise and you can open that loop to cool GFX cards.. MoBo blocks whatever ya want in the future (or now) :)

http://www.swiftech.com/H220-X.aspx

Other comments.

1. Ya paying $605 for the MoBo / CPU combo. Same feature set, same quality componentry + Mil Spec compliance and $80 less.

http://www.newegg.ca/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.1855998

The MSI boards are also not affected by the BIOS Clock Freeze bug. See 1st post in thread here, also look at newegg reviews on the hero VII, it's also mentioned.

http://rog.asus.com/forum/showthread.php?36676-Frozen-Time-Clock-in-UEFI-The-Fix/page33

2. $5 more gets ya DDR3-2133
http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820226510

3. Holy crapz ... what happened to GFX card prices this week ?

4. I don't see the 750 watts PSU .... G2 is a fine choice but grab a 650 watter if sticking with one card or a 850 watter to allow future upgrade to SLI. It's $9 more
http://ca.pcpartpicker.com/part/evga-power-supply-220g20850xr

5. cases are generally an aesthetic choice primarily but if features matter, take a look at the Enthoo Pro and Luxe 1st ..... The H440 is a great case but the reviews put the Enthoo cases in a whole 'nother category

$100: Phanteks Enthoo Pro (Case of the Year 2014) - Black is $100 / White is $110 - Great air cooling or entry water cooling build, built in MoBo controlled fan speed control
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=guBAl6g8BlY

$150: Phanteks Enthoo Luxe (Just released few days ago) - Black is $150 / White is $150 - Great air cooling or mid level water cooling build, built in MoBo controlled fan speed control as well as LED system
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dkRJsjuvQVY

The BenQ and Asus models share many features and usually the choice goes down to price with the BenQ being cheaper in Europe and the Asus in North America.










 


 


Wouldn't the C70 have better airflow than the H440? Thus producing cooler temps?
 
According to newegg .... it seems the 500R has the edge outta the box and three of the others will do 10 fans .... but remember the Water cooler will provide 2 fans on top

C70 has (x2) 120mm Intake fans and (x1) 120mm Exhaust Fan (up to 10 fans possible)

500R has 2 x front-mounted 120mm fans, 1 x rear 120mm fan and 1 x 200mm side panel fan (up to 6 x 140mm + 4 x 120mm possible)

H440 has 3 x 120mm included and 1 x 140mm (up to 5 x 140mm or 7 x 120mm possible)

Enthoo Pro has 1 x 200mm fan in front and 1 x 140mm fan in the rear (up to 7 x 140mm or 10 x 120mm possible)

On fans alone, have to give the edge to the 500R, but since the Enthoo has a built in fan controller which gives PWM control to 11 fans which combined with the 10 fan mounts available gives it the best cooling credentials overall.

With a Swiftech water cooler adding 2 fans, and just the 780 Ti to worry about, I think you are fine with any one of them right outta the box.
 
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