Selecting the perfect tower for your gaming rig can be a major decision. Although the motherboard and graphics card get most of the attention when it comes to performance, housing them in the right tower that can provide proper airflow, room for organization, and appealing aesthetics is nearly just as important. The updated line of NZXT H-Series models aims to deliver in terms of both style and functionality by making a few minor improvements to the already well-received towers.
Game Rant was recently provided a matte black NZXT H510i to unbox, teardown, and build with. For those unfamiliar with the H-Series line, the H510i is a compact mid-tower with custom lighting and fan control. The rest of the line offers other size options ranging from mini-ITX to ATX mid-tower. The 510i falls right in the middle and aims to offer compact tower fans some style and organization along with functionality.
After unboxing the NZXT tower, it was impossible not to take note of the care that has been taken to provide a clean building experience. The product combines some very organized cable tracks (neatly hidden behind the tower side that is not tempered glass) with a standalone box of well organized screws and wire ties. These are the little touches that make the NZXT products stand out from the crowd. At just around $110 USD, it would be understandable to expect to have to do some creative organizing and cable planning on our own, but the H510i nearly removes that entire element from the building equation.
One of the noticeable improvements this refresh line has made is the inclusion of a USB 3.1 Gen2-compatible USB-C connector on the front panel. This is a welcome addition (especially for PC gamers who like to plug a PS4 or Xbox One controller into the front of their tower), but builders who are used to multiple USB connectors on the front panel may still feel a little bit limited by this particular tower, so keep that in mind.
Specs
Dimensions W: 210mm H: 435mm D: 428mm (without feet)
W: 210mm H: 460mm D: 428mm (with feet)=
Material(s) SGCC Steel, Tempered Glass
Weight 6.8 kg
Motherboard Support Mini-ITX, MicroATX, and ATX
Front I/O Ports 1x USB 3.1 Gen 2 Type-C
1x USB 3.1 Gen 1 Type-A
1x Headset audio Jack
Front I/O internal header
1x USB 3.1 Gen 2 Internal Header
1x USB 3.1 Gen 1 Internal Header
1x USB 2.0 Internal Header
1x HD Audio Header
Filters All Air Intakes
Smart Device V2 3x Fan channels with Max 10W per channel output*
2x RGB LED port support up to 4x HUE 2 addressable LED strips or 5x Aer RGB or Aer RGB 2 fans
Built-in noise detection module
*Note: If a splitter is used, fan control is regulated depending on the fan connected to the 4-pin port. Do not use low-noise adapters.
LED Strip(s) 2 integrated addressable LED strip
Vertical GPU Mount 2 Slots
Included Accessories Installation screws
10x Cable ties
1x Headset Audio Jack splitter (4 pole to 3 pole)
Drive Bays 2.5”: 2+1
3.5”: 2+1
Expansion Slots 7
Radiator Support Front: 2x 140 or 2x 120mm with Pull
Rear: 1x 120mm
Fan Support Front: 2 x 120/ 2 x 140mm
Top: 1x 120mm/ 1x 140mm (1 Aer F120 Case Version included)
Rear: 1x 120mm (1 Aer F120 Case Version included)
Fan Specs Aer F120 (Case Version)
Speed: 1200 ± 200 RPM
Airflow: 50.42 CFM
Noise: 28 dBA
Bearing: Rifle Bearing
Clearance Cable Management: 19-23mm
GPU Clearance: Up to 381mm
CPU Cooler: Up to 165mm
Front Radiator: 60mm
Rear Radiator: 60mm
Reservoir & Pump: Up to 180mm (Along cable bar), Up to 86mm (Along bottom panel)
Warranty 2 Years
Model Number CA-H510i-W1
EAN 5060301695027
UPC 815671014726
We installed an ATX-sized mobo for testing, which is pushing the size limit for the compact mid-tower, and things got a touch tight as the rest of the hardware came together, but there was still room to work. The organization and cable tracks provided in the tower helped keep the clutter under control and everything ended up fitting just fine.
In terms of style, the tower looks pretty fantastic once filled out and up and running. The glass side panel and the two built-in HUE 2 RBG lights make the computer the showcase of any gaming station that gives the tower room to shine. That said, when comparing the H510i to the H510 Elite, it's hard not to feel a little bit of envy for that glass front panel, as well. Despite the open glass on this model being limited to just one wall, it is still a very sleek tower.
After completing the build and getting the lights up and running we played through some Destiny 2, Overwatch, World of Warcraft, and Magic: Arena. As expected, there were no performance issues and the tower managed to maintain a healthy temperature throughout multiple gaming sessions. The tower has the right amount of built-in ventilation for the fans to pull air through and cool the system, so even with a bit of a crowded build things still managed to stay cool enough to avoid any performance issues.
The NZXT H510i is an easy recommendation for PC builders who like style and organization and won't feel too limited by minimal front ports a compact-mid tower size. Most of the same features can be obtained with a bit more breathing room by jumping up about $90 to the H710i if compact mid is just a little too cramped for your particular style.
The NZXT H510i is available now. Game Rant was provided a matte black NZXT H510i tower for this review.