Computer Shopper 2019-11-01

32 NOVEMBER 2019|COMPUTER SHOPPER|ISSUE 381

TOBEHONEST,we’d hoped that NZXT’s

SmartDevicecaseswerejustaphase.Itwasn’t

that these fan-hub-meets-RGB-controller

boxes were useless, but theyalso didn’t do

much that free desktop software couldn’t do,

and their inclusion bumped up the price of

every i-suffixed case that contained one.

The H500 (Shopper368), forexample,was

£70: asignificant £30 saving on the H500i.

However,NZXT has decided it’s time fora

refresh, and the Smart Device is back, as the

SmartDeviceV2.There’sstillachoicebetween

the H510i and the non-smart H510 (both have

the same launch prices as their H500 series

counterparts), but only the former,ontest

here,has the little CAM-powered box.

The V2 edition is, in fairness, improved

quitesignificantly.Itnow has two RGB

channels instead of just one,soyou no

longer have to choose between controlling

the included addressable light strips or a

multitude of RGB-equipped fans.

BODYDOUBLE

Does that make it worth the extra cash?

Not really.Even if it means giving up the

automated, dynamic aspect of the Smart

Device V2’s approach to fancontrol, we’d still

rather save £30 and stick to fine-tuning fan

speeds or lighting colours through software.

The only other big changes between this

chassis and the H500i sit front and centre on

the topI/O panel. The previous set of two

USB3 ports has become one USB3 port and a

VERDICT

Somequalitiesshinethrough,butthisisanunderwhelming

casefromamakerweknowcandobetter

MID-TOWER CASE

USB Type-C port; atimely and welcome

tweak, provided you choose amotherboard

that can provide ample full-size USB

connectivity on the rear panel. Less

positive is the merging of the 3.5mm mic

and headphone jacks intoasingle combo

jack. This means that if you have a

headset with separatemic and headphone

connectors, or if you want to leave a

microphone plugged in while using

speakers connected to arear port, you

have to add the clutter of asplitter cable.

This is, at least, bundled in.

Elsewhere,it’s all markedly similar to

the H500. The dimensions are the same –a

compact 460x210x428mm –while GPU

clearance still sits at arespectable 381mm,

with aslightly less airy CPU cooler

clearance of 165mm. The stark whitecolour

and steel construction remain unchanged too.

ThegoodnewsisthatyougetalltheH500’s

best bits. One of these is the clever removable

fanmounting platefor the front slots; you can

take this out, screw on up to two 120mm fans,

two 140mm fans or a280mm watercooling

radiator,then retattach the plateand cooling

kit with apair of thumbscrews. It’s much

easier than trying to affix multiple fans or a

bulkyradiator within the chassis itself.

TOPANDTAIL

Speaking of fans, two come pre-installed: one

at the rear and one in the top, both 120mm.

Afront intake fanusually makes formore

efficient airflow,but it’s still nice to

get the extra dispersal from the

topfan, when alot of cases

include only asingle exhaust. Just

remember that there’s not enough

room to add aradiator to the top

slot, although a120mm radiator

could be added to the rear fan.

Forstorage,there’s adecent

three-bay3.5in cage under the

PSU shroud, and the topmost bay

can hold a2.5in SSD as well. There

are also two dedicated 2.5in trays

which can –just as brilliantly as

theycould on the H500 –be

removed from their default

position behind the motherboard

and slotted just about anywhere

on topofthe PSU shroud. Leaving

them be contributes to acleaner

look, but many might well want

to displaytheir SSDs through the

tempered-glass side window.

We were quitecritical of the H500’s cable

management,butafterseeingthesamesystem

in the H510i, that might have been alittle

harsh. The channels maybesmall and there

mayonly be two reusable fastening straps,

but on both counts that’s still preferable to

the even more basic systems used by some

cases. Many don’t even have defined channels,

and only include little metal loops through

which to thread cheap cable ties.

SINS OFTHE FATHER

Sadly, the H510i also inherits some flaws,

which we’re disappointed to see reappear.

Metal panels both inside and out are prone to

rattling and flexing, exhibiting alower standard

of build quality than NZXT has shown with the

S340 Eliteand the Manta (bothShopper351).

Airflow is also limited at the front, with just a

strip of cut-out dots on the right side and a

gap on the underside to let air in.

The biggest issue with this case,then,

isn’t an overpriced accessory hub,but a

failure to improve on what was already a

middling case.The H510 is closer in price to

what we’d consider paying, but if you want

astraightforward mid-tower with some

RGB flair,the Cooler Master K500 (Shopper

371) is abetter deal than both.

JamesArcher

NZXT H510i

★★★★★

£100•From http://www.scan.co.uk

SPECIFICATIONS

CASETYPEMid-tower•MOTHERBOARDCOMPATIBILITY

ATX,microATX,Mini-ITX•SUPPLIEDFANS2x120mm•

MAX3.5inDRIVEBAYS (^3) • MAX5.25inDRIVEBAYS (^0) •
DIMENSIONS460x210x428mm•WEIGHT6.8kg•
WARRANTYTwoyearsRTB•DETAILSwww.nzxt.com•
PARTCODECA-H510i-W1