NZXT h2 V2 Review: More Space, Power and Cooling
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But can this case escape the shadow of its predecessor?
(Image: © Tom’s Hardware)
Tom’s Hardware Verdict
The NZXT h2 V2 is a decent compact case for builders who want minimal setup hassles, thanks to its included and pre-installed PSU and AIO cooler. But it’s expensive for what you get, GPU thermals aren’t great, and we had issues with the power supply on our first review unit.
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Pros
- +
+ AIO cooler and PSU included
- +
+ Solid steel construction
- +
+ Pre-routed cables
- +
+ Quiet under full-load
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Small form factor PCs have become increasingly popular in recent years, especially with the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S consoles proving a capable gaming rig doesn’t have to be huge. This had led many PC enthusiasts to attempt to build the most epic ‘Console Killer!’ The thing is that fitting high-end hardware into a small case and keeping it all cool is easier said than done.
One of the more popular console-like small form-factor (SFF) cases, the NZXT h2, is back with an updated h2 V2 version that brings minor changes to make it more friendly to today’s big, power-hungry high-end GPUs. It also aims to right the wrongs that plagued the original model, causing it to be recalled due to a fire hazard just about a year ago.
Since many gamers are looking for that perfect HTPC case or console killer chassis, we need to see if the new h2 can compete with the cases on our Best Mini ITX Cases list. At $400, the h2 is certainly expensive, though it does come with an included 750-watt SFX PSU and AIO CPU cooler.
But it faces stiff competition from the likes of Hyte’s Revolt 3. That case is a couple inches deeper front to back, and it doesn’t have a glass panel or an included cooler. But as of this writing, it was selling for just $200 with a 700W SFX power supply of its own.
The h2 V2 will be available in black or white, and should be available in Asia and Europe today. It’s expected to land in US stores a bit later, on February 21st. After the problematic recall of the first iteration of this case, did NZXT come back strong with the V2? Let’s dig in and find out.
NZXT h2 V2 Specifications
Swipe to scroll horizontally
| Type | Mini-ITX |
| Motherboard Support | Mini-ITX |
| Dimensions (HxWxD) | 15.94 x 7.7. x 7.7 inches |
| Max GPU Length | 12.7 inches |
| External Bays | X |
| Internal Bays | 2x 2. 5-inch |
| Expansion Slots | 2 |
| Front I/O | 2x USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A, 1X USB Type-C |
| 3.5mm headphone/audio jack | |
| Reset switch | |
| Other | 750W SFX PSU, Tempered Glass Side Panel |
| Front Fans | None |
| Rear Fans | 1x 92 mm |
| Top Fans | None |
| Bottom Fans | None |
| Weight | 16.7 pounds |
| Warranty | 3 years case, PCIe Riser and AIO, 10 years PSU |
Features of NZXT h2 V2
Since this is the second version of the h2, changes were made to the case to make it more practical.
NZXT has added a 92 mm exhaust fan to the rear of the case for cooling, whereas the first version didn’t ship with any fans save for the one on the AIO radiator. The chassis is now slightly taller and wider, increasing maximum graphics card size from 12.01 inches (305 mm) on the original to 12.76 inches (324 mm) on the V2 to allow longer graphics cards.
However, the case is still tiny. I don’t have experience with the original h2, but the h2 V2 stands at just 15.9 inches tall and takes up 7.7 x 7.7 inches of desk space. The first version’s dimensions were 15.2 x 7.38 x 7.36 inches, so the size increase is far from substantial.
The included power supply is still an SFX 80 plus gold, but now it’s 750W, whereas the first was 650W. Again, this wattage increase is to accommodate today’s high-end graphics cards, and it’s certainly welcome. However, we encountered issues, which we’ll discuss later, with the power supply when testing.
(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)
NZXT has always done things differently regarding airflow into the case.
This is evident by the tempered glass front panels on its H-series cases. Because the h2 cools via intake from the sides, even a small case like this can have a tempered glass front panel. Note we said can, and not should.
(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)
The rest of the panels are composed of steel and are pleasingly thick. I have worked with cases that were so flimsy that when you’d handle them or screw fans into them, they would flex or wobble. That’s not an issue here at all.
The sides of the case feature the same airflow design that we saw on its bigger sibling: the NZXT H510 Flow. Yet, we saw this on the previous version of the h2, and when it comes to cooling, NZXT could benefit from a redesign.
The front of the case does feature a tempered glass panel that snaps right in, but I don’t understand its purpose. The glass panel is heavily tinted and seems forced. What I would like to have seen is another airflow panel instead.
The case IO is OK, but not anything to write home about; there are two USB Type-A ports, one USB Type-C connector and an audio jack on the top.
The USB-C port supports 3.2 Gen 2, so it can connect at up to 10 Gbps if your motherboard supports it.
According to NZXT, the issue regarding the riser cable catching fire that plagued the V1 case has been addressed. NZXT even took the liberty of making this version PCIe 4.0 ready. In the interests of not setting our testing room ablaze, we didn’t attempt to inordinately stress the cable,; we just went about building a system in the h2 V2 as normal, and we never encountered any sparks or flames. But that doesn’t mean we didn’t run into issues related to power. More on that soon.
Internal Layout of NZXT h2 V2
Getting access to the inside of the h2 V2 is as simple as popping off the side panels and sliding the steel body off.
Have you ever looked at something and realized that it’s a lot roomier than it looks from the outside? That’s how I felt about the inside of the h2 V2. The main compartment or motherboard tray is covered by the included 140 mm all-in-one liquid cooler.
You access the motherboard tray by lifting the radiator, which is held in by two captive screws. To give you some perspective, it’s kind of like lifting the hood of a car, especially since, when it’s lifted, the motherboard is right there, just like an engine when you pop the hood.
(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)
Behind the motherboard tray is where your graphics card will connect via the included PCIe 4.0 riser cable. The h2 V2’s GPU chamber can house graphics cards up to 12.76 inches (324 mm) and 2.38 (58 mm) in width, which is fairly large. We installed a three-fan Gigabyte RTX 3070 TI Gaming OC for our testing and didn’t run into clearance issues.
The idea of giving the graphics card its own chamber in a case this small is smart, because it keeps it at least somewhat isolated from any heat dispersed from other components. However, NZXT’s approach to this could be improved. I’ll elaborate on that later on.
(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)
Underneath the case is where your motherboard’s IO, GPU and PSU connect, and I don’t like this at all.
I’m able to give the power supply cable a pass since you’re probably going to plug it in and leave it. But video cables are often stiff, which can make the right turn necessary here a pain point for the cable, and any USB device swapping later on that you don’t want to plug into the top ports will mean having to lift up or tip down the whole case to plug things in.
Granted, this is a similar layout to many vertical SFF towers, including the Revolt 3 and the Ssupd Meshlicous. But there’s no denying you’re giving up a lot of convenience in terms of port access for the sake of a system with a small footprint. Just keep that in mind if you’re considering any of these cases.
The h2 V2 has just enough room for two 2.5-inch drives,which are stowed away in a little cage next to the SFX power supply. While this may not sound like much, you need to consider how much space a drive cage takes up. Plus, most ITX motherboards these days have connectors for more than one M.2 drive, so two additional drive slots are good enough for most modern builders looking specifically for a compact PC.
(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)
Cable Management on NZXT h2 V2
Cable managing any small form factor PC is a bigger chore than on any mid-tower chassis, due to the lack of cable room. The thing is, NZXT did a fantastic job by pre-routing the power supply cables on the h2 V2, which allowed me to connect to my motherboard without any extra tugging or twisting.
Because I wasn’t running with any SATA drives, I could tuck away the excess PCIe cables and whatnot into the SSD compartment. When I opened up the SSD compartment door, I was pleasantly surprised to see that this is where all of the fan cables were connected. I’m not exactly sure how, but NZXT was able to build its Smart Device V2 (a fan and RGB hub) into a door that covers your SSDs.
Another neat feature in the h2 V2 is the layout of the AIO. I love how the AIO’s tubes bow outward when this case is closed– it reminds me a lot of Cad Bane’s breathing tube from Star Wars.Did NZXT intend on having the tubes sit this way? I doubt it, but I like it.
It’s surprising to say that for such a small case that cable management was easier than some mid-tower cases. NZXT did an excellent job pre routing the cables to meet its motherboard connectors. I don’t even want to think of the horror show it must be to get the power supply seated with all of the cables attached, while dealing with the AIO. I’m happy NZXT does this for you, and it makes the case much more new-builder friendly.
To me at least, cable management within ITX cases isn’t as crucial (as long as it doesn’t block airflow) as it can be in a build that’s done in a standard mid-tower, so I’m overall impressed with the cable management on the NZXT h2 V2.
(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)
Cooling the NZXT h2 V2
One of the two pieces of extra component hardware that come with the h2 V2 is a 140 mm all-in-one liquid cooler. I understand that some people prefer air cooling over water cooling. Still, water cooling is arguably more practical here because of the case’s size.
Plus, with a radiator oriented to exhaust, the heat from the CPU can be pushed out more efficiently than with an air cooler. This time around, NZXT includes a 92 mm exhaust fan to help expel any heat generated by the other components.
We are still waiting on parts for our new Mini ITX testbed, so in the interim we tested the h2 V2 with components we had at hand. The following acoustic and thermal results were performed using a Ryzen 5 2600X and a Gigabyte RTX 3070 Ti Gaming OC. Once we have the full set of new parts, we will re-run these tests for comparison with later reviews.
Acoustic Results for NZXT h2 V2
Our acoustic test consists of three scenarios: We run the CPU at full load, the CPU and GPU at full load, and an optimized mode. The CPU full load test runs the CPU and case fans at their maximum speed. For the CPU and GPU full load acoustic test, we also stress the Gigabyte RTX 3070 TI Gaming OC and set the fans at 75% speed, because in gaming the fans never run at 100 percent and are far too loud when they do.
For the optimized mode, we run the GPU fan speed at 30 percent and run the CPU and included case fans at their lowest speed.
Swipe to scroll horizontally
| Optimized Mode | Case Full Speed | CPU & Case Full Speed, GPU 75% |
|---|---|---|
| 34dB | 40.8dB | 42.1dB |
The NZXT h2 surprised me a lot when it came to noise levels. For a chassis that’s composed mostly of thick steel with zero dampening materials at all, this case is hushed. Even when the GPU fans were ramped up to 75%, it was still bearable to my ears. I’m overall stunned and impressed with how well the h2 V2 dampens sound. This is likely one area where the glass helps.
Thermal Results for NZXT h2 V2
For the thermal tests, all case and CPU fan speeds are set to 100 percent.
The AMD Ryzen 5 2600X is set at 4.1GHz. Letting the GPU run at 75% fan speed enables it to maintain its power target while sticking to one set of reasonable fan speed so that the temperature is the only variable.
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| CPU Temperature | GPU Temperature | Average |
|---|---|---|
| 55 °C | 77 °C | 66 °C |
When we got to this part of our testing, our test system suddenly shut down. At first, I figured something overheated and the PC shut down. But when I tried to turn the system back on, nothing happened.
After hours of troubleshooting, installing the same parts in another system, it was clear that the power supply had died. Now, parts do occasionally die, sometimes when they’re brand-new due to manufacturing flaws or damage during some stage of manufacturing or shipping.
Usually, we note this when it happens and warn potential buyers in the review, but don’t hold it against a company or product.
It’s usually hard to tell if we just got a rare defective part or if the issue is more widespread. That’s the case here as well. But given the fact that the previous h2 was recalled due to an electrical issue, it’s hard not to worry at least a bit when the followup case has its power supply randomly expire just a few hours into active use.
I notified NZXT and the company shipped us a new case. We started the testing over and the PSU in our second h2 V2 review unit worked fine–and is still working without issue as of this writing. Still, given the history the h2 line has, it’s hard not to see a random PSU failure as a red flag.
At the very least, if you opt for the h2 V2, you’ll want to do some stress testing while you’re still in the return window. NZXT does provide a generous 10-year warranty for the power supply, but no one wants to sit around waiting for an RMA with a bunch of PC parts they can’t use until a replacement power supply shows up.
Getting back to the thermal tests, the included 140 mm AIO did a fantastic job keeping our CPU chilled, at 55 degrees Celsius. However, our GPU’s thermals were not great at 77 degrees C, which surprised me since it has its own chamber to cool down in. At the same time, I’m not that surprised because it’s not the ideal airflow design if you look at the side panel’s perforated design.
The case’s holes are too far apart to be ideal for airflow. We were still able to hit our power target, but I needed to bump up the temperature limit in MSI Afterburner to 88 degrees Celsius because its default limit is 83 degrees and I was worried we would hit that.
(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)
(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)
The NZXT h2 V2 had a lot of potential, given its similarities to the well-liked design of the previous model, plus the addition of an exhaust fan and a higher-wattage PSU and a little more space for today’s beefy graphics cards. But the demons that haunted the first model may have carried onto this version as well, given that the PSU on our first review unit unexpectedly died in the middleof our testing.
Or maybe I just got a lemon. Who knows? After receiving the second sample, the case worked as intended.
And even with the power supply problem and the h2’s history aside, $400 is a lot to ask given you can pick up 750W SFX PSUs from Lian Li or EVGA for as little as $120. And while 140 mm AIO coolers are hard to come by, you can get quality 120 mm or 240 mm models for around $100, which leaves you paying about $280 for the case alone.
Granted, there is some value to be had, especially for novice builders, in the fact that NXZT ships the h2 with the power supply and cooler pre-installed and the cables neatly routed. But the Hyte Revolt 3 comes with a 700W SFX PSU, is a similar size and shape as the h2, currently sells for just $200–and that case has a handle, which can come in handy for both moving the system around or just lifting it to plug something in at the bottom. You’ll have to provide your own cooler with the Hyte, but we’re sure you can afford that given the $300 difference between the two cases.
NZXT h2 V2: Price Comparison
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Myles Goldman is a freelance writer for Tom’s Hardware US. He reviews keyboards and cases.
NZXT h2 V2 review: A vastly improved version of an excellent compact PC case
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And it won’t catch fire!
(Image: © Rich Edmonds / Windows Central)
The original NZXT h2 was a big launch for the company. It was a unique compact PC case that made the h310 look like a large beast. We awarded the NZXT h2 with full stars for its design, functionality, and performance. Unfortunately for NZXT, the PCIe riser cable wasn’t designed and manufactured to a safe standard, which eventually caused a fire-related recall.
It’s a shame as the h2 was one of the best PC cases for compact builds. NZXT did release a revised version of the PCIe riser cable for case owners, but if you already returned your h2 to hold off for a new version, that’s exactly what we’re looking at today.
NZXT has made numerous improvements to the h2 to bring it up to standard in 2022 with the NZXT h2 V2.
There’s a new PCIe riser cable, power supply, as well as enlarged dimensions so you can install even the best graphics card. Will it be able to compete against the HYTE Revolt 3 and is this a candidate for the best PC case crown?
NZXT h2 V2
Bottom line: NZXT made some notable improvements to the already excellent h2 PC case, including more internal space, higher capacity PSU, and a new (fire-free) PCIe riser cable. This is the compact PC case to get.
For
- Gorgeous design
- Fits most GPUs
- Small footprint
- Good airflow
- Easy to build in
Against
- Can’t use horizontally
- PSU switch located behind a panel
- Limited modding
NZXT h2 V2: Price and availability
Source: Rich Edmonds / Windows Central (Image credit: Source: Rich Edmonds / Windows Central)
The original NZXT h2 launched for $350 and included an AIO and PSU.
It’s the same with the h2 V2, but with all the improvements included, as well as a better PSU, NZXT has bumped the price up to $400. This isn’t terrible, considering what’s included. All you need to add is a motherboard, processor, RAM, and (optionally) a GPU.
If you’re wanting to build a compact budget-friendly PC, this isn’t the case for you. It would be a better move to choose another small form factor case like the excellent NZXT h310i.
NZXT h2 V2: What’s good
Source: Rich Edmonds / Windows Central (Image credit: Source: Rich Edmonds / Windows Central)
If you’re not familiar with its predecessor, the NZXT h2 V2 looks like any other NZXT PC case from afar. It’s only until you analyze the dimensions and take a look around the sides would you notice something different. It’s incredibly small, even compared to the NZXT h310i. The revised h2 is a little larger than the original, but it’s still small enough for most ITX PC builds.
NZXT took the h2 PC case and made it even better.
The front panel is tempered glass, allowing you to peek inside at installed components. The two sides have numerous larger perforated holes and have dust filters to pull in cool, clean air. The rear has the same hole array and is used as the sole exhaust. It’s a good design, allowing the CPU AIO cooler on the left and GPU on the right to get direct access to air in such a tight space.
But this meant NZXT decided to use a PCIe riser cable for the GPU, which has been an issue not only for the company and the h2, but also for other brands with other cases. The h2 V2 comes with a revised design for the riser and should run just fine, though this should have been shipped with the original. Coming from the NZXT h2, it’s easy to notice the larger internal space for beefy graphics cards.
Image 1 of 11
There’s a 750W (up from 650W) 80 Plus Gold-rated power supply and 140mm AIO preinstalled, which is what help bump the price up considerably. This does allow one to focus on installing the motherboard (with CPU and RAM) and GPU without having to worry about choosing a PSU and working on cable management.
The HZXT h2 V2 is a blank canvas with some guidelines lending a helping hand.
Swipe to scroll horizontally
| Category | NZXT h2 V2 |
|---|---|
| Motherboard | Mini-ITX |
| I/O | 1x USB-C 3.1 Gen 2 2x USB-A 3.1 Gen 1 1x Headset Audio Jack |
| Expansion | 2 horizontal PCI |
| Storage | 2x 2.5-inch SSD |
| PSU | SFX (750W Gold included) |
| Included fans | 2 |
| Side fans | 1x 140mm |
| Rear fan | 1x 120mm |
| Side rad | 140mm |
| Filters | Sides |
| Clearance | GPU: 324mm |
| Dimensions | 15. 9 x 7.7 x 7.7 inches(405mm x 196mm x 196mm) |
| Weight | 16.75 pounds (7.6 kg) |
| Materials | Steel Tempered glass |
| Warranty | 2 years |
| Color | Black White |
An additional fan was installed to help direct air through the enlarged chassis. We didn’t have an issue with heat when running an AMD Ryzen 9 3900X in the first version of the h2, but the better thermal performance is always a good improvement. This added internal volume even allowed NZXT to install a fan controller, which can be managed by NZXT CAM software.
It’s the same great case that’s easier to build a PC inside, with most of the major original complaints addressed. We installed a system with an Intel Core i5-12600K processor, DDR5 RAM, and an RTX 3060 Ti GPU. This is a mid-range build that would be ideal for a chassis like the NZXT h2 V2.
Temperatures were great for this mid-range 12th Gen Intel processor. At idle, the 12600K sits comfortably at 35 C (95 F), gaming takes it up to 47 C (117 F) and stress tests pushed the CPU to 56 C (133 F). Compared to the original NZXT h2, you’re looking at about a 10-15% improvement to thermals for the CPU and GPU in a variety of tests.
NZXT h2 V2: What’s not good
Source: Rich Edmonds / Windows Central (Image credit: Source: Rich Edmonds / Windows Central)
While I really liked the improvements NZXT made to the h2 for version 2.0, there are still a few things you may not like about the chassis. The ports remain underneath the h2, requiring you to tilt the unit to gain access to motherboard I/O. You also won’t be able to use the h2 horizontally.
The enlarged internal space will let you install an LED strip or two, but that’s about all you can get away with for modding the h2.
NZXT h2 V2: Competition
Source: Rich Edmonds / Windows Central (Image credit: Source: Rich Edmonds / Windows Central)
There wasn’t much competition when the NZXT h2 was released in 2020, but companies have joined NZXT by launching similar PC cases.
iBUYPOWER is probably the closest competition for the NZXT h2 V2 with the HYTE Revolt 3. The Revolt 3 is far more affordable but doesn’t come with a PSU or AIO cooler.
Both cases differ in design too. HYTE opted to go with a direct contact for the GPU and motherboard negating the need for a PCIe riser cable. NZXT continues to require one with the h2 V2, and we’ve seen reliability issues with these risers in a variety of PC cases. The Revolt 3 also has a carry handle and headphone holders.
It largely comes down to which design you prefer, but I’d go with the Revolt 3 if I had to choose a case for a compact gaming PC.
NZXT h2 V2: Should you buy it?
Source: Rich Edmonds / Windows Central (Image credit: Source: Rich Edmonds / Windows Central)
You should buy this if …
- You want a well-designed compact PC case
- You want a PC case with a PSU and AIO preinstalled
- You want to use NZXT CAM software
You shouldn’t buy this if .
..
- You have a motherboard larger than ITX
- You want a budget-friendly compact case
I really liked the original NZXT h2, and I’m glad the company kept most of what made it so good for version 2.0. This is a well-designed compact PC case with a preinstalled PSU and AIO cooler, allowing you to get up and running in no time at all. There’s also integrated NZXT CAM software to control fan curves and more. Just make sure your motherboard will fit.
The changes made to the NZXT h2 are welcome. I’m glad the company made an effort to ensure the PCIe riser is safe to use for everyone, though I’d much rather it be removed altogether and the GPU connected to the motherboard directly. The 750W Gold PSU allows one to install more powerful NVIDIA RTX 30-series GPUs, and the additional fan helps with thermals.
The NZXT h2 V2 is a brilliant compact PC case. It’s not perfect, especially with the HYTE Revolt 3 out in the wild, but there’s plenty to love about this chassis.
When going for a compact PC build with an ITX motherboard, it’s important to consider dimensions when looking at high-end GPUs from AMD and NVIDIA. Luckily, you can build a very powerful PC inside this case.
NZXT h2 V2
Bottom line: The NZXT h2 V2 is a brilliant PC case. NZXT took everything that made the original case amazing and turned it up to 11.
Rich Edmonds was formerly a Senior Editor of PC hardware at Windows Central, covering everything related to PC components and NAS. He’s been involved in technology for more than a decade and knows a thing or two about the magic inside a PC chassis. You can follow him on Twitter at @RichEdmonds.
Test and Review: NZXT h2 V2 (2022) — Updated Mini-ITX Chassis with Included Power Supply and CBO
Page 1: Test and Review: NZXT h2 V2 (2022) — Updated Mini-ITX Chassis with Included Power Supply and CBO
V In 2020, the NZXT h2 case attracted a lot of attention with the successful combination of a compact Mini-ITX format, a complete SFX power supply and a built-in CBO for cooling the CPU.
Unless later there was information about an unsuccessful riser, which could lead to a short circuit, but the problem was solved. Now NZXT is introducing an updated version of h2 V2. Let’s see how the case performs in our tests.
Small Form Factor (SFF) systems are of interest to many enthusiasts because they allow high performance to be packed into a compact package. But not everything is so simple. To assemble such a system, you will have to carefully select components, which is much more complicated than the same Midi Tower cases, for example. The assembly process itself is also non-trivial. With the original h2 case, NZXT came up with an interesting concept that makes it much easier to assemble the system. The power supply and CBO of the processor are already installed in the case, you don’t have to select them. The lengths of cables and tubes are optimally matched. As a result, the installed PSU and CBO really speed up the assembly, and the h2 case itself convincingly proved itself in our tests.
But after the start of sales, a problem was identified with the riser, which could lead to a short circuit. Fortunately, the problem has been resolved.
The new version h2 V2 is now on the market. The problem with the riser was fixed initially, and the hull has also undergone various optimizations. The power supply has become more powerful, a fan has been added to the case, the possible length of video cards has increased, and the riser has switched to the PCIe Gen4 generation. There is also a fan controller. Mounting of the 140mm CBO has been revised to support the new mass market Intel LGA1700 sockets.
h2 V2 is available in black (CS-h21BB) or white (CS-h21BW). NZXT has set a suggested price of €400.
Since we have already tested the original h2 case, here we will focus on innovation and change with the new h2 V2. If you need general information about the case, we recommend that you read the review of the original h2.
Of the important innovations, we note the complete mounts LGA1700. In addition to chassis and cooler mounting accessories, the h2 V2 comes with a power cord, a 4-pin 3.5mm audio jack to two 3-pin 3.5mm jack adapter, an I/O panel adapter, black cable ties, and a user manual.
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Before we start the tests, let me give you the basic specs of the case in tabular form.
| Specs: |
|
| Manufacturer and model: | NZXT h2 V2 CS-h21BB |
| Material: | SGCC-steel, tempered glass, plastic |
| Dimensions: | 196 x 405 x 196 mm (W x H x D) |
| Form factor: | Mini-ITX |
| Drive bays: | 2x 2. 5″ (internal) |
| Cooling: | 140mm CBO for Intel LGA 1700, 1200, 115X and AMD AM4; 92mm rear case fan |
| Power supply: | 750W SFX, 80 Plus Gold |
| Max. graphics card length (manufacturer’s information): | 32.4 cm (max. thickness 5.8 cm) |
| Weight: | 7.6 kg |
| Price: | 400 euro |
We recommend that you read our selection guide. In it, we answered many questions that readers have when buying a new case. Our advice will help you choose the right model that best suits your needs.
We recommend reading our guide to choosing the best case for your money. We reviewed cases with different prices and functionality, which will allow you to choose the best model for your budget.
Today, more and more cases are equipped with a side window, so the cables must be routed as neatly as possible.
And, if possible, hidden. We have prepared a guide to help you efficiently route cables in your computer.
We’ve put together a guide to optimizing PC cooling that looks at the effects of different fan positions inside a case. Which chassis fan configuration works best for the job? This is what we found out.
RGB and A-RGB backlighting is firmly established in the PC segment. But what kinds of lighting options exist, and how can you manage all its diversity in the most efficient and convenient way? What is the best way to sync the backlight? We will answer all these questions in our guide to building an A-RGB backlit system.
<>Test and Review: NZXT h2 V2 (2022) — Updated Mini-ITX Chassis with Included PSU and CBO
Chassis in Detail
NZXT h2 in Review — AMD Gaming-PC Mini-ITX with Ryzen and Radeon
The part already annoyed me, if only because of the size, which should have been called small. Well, the Corsair One is a completely custom cycle, but here I don’t have Frickelei with watered graphics cards.
At a footprint of just under 19 x 19cm and a height of just under 39cm, N’XT’s h2 is fairly compact. Also, there’s a decent mini-ITX motherboard in the form of the Asus ROG Strix X570-I Gaming and Ryzen 5 3600X, which I emulated for technical reasons with your Ryzen 7 3800X. There is also more videos where you can watch me screw ingesth.
Asus ROG Strix X570-I Gaming motherboard, one of three currently only three X570 motherboards available on the market in mini-ITX format. And it was also the only thing I could mount two NVMe SSDs on at all, because I really wanted to do without the SATA components. As far as RDNA2 and PCIe 4.0 are concerned, all the old boards are eliminated before the A320 anyway. So you have a lot of choice with generous two options: buy or don’t buy.
However, the board is not bad even if the HD audio connection is available only after the full cover of the input area and cooling has been unscrewed. The format is also much smaller, with the result that Asus has at least thought of an appropriate adapter.
SSD cooling at the front is good, but the back needs to be dispensed with. It’s also a pity that there’s no 20-pin header for connecting a Type-C (USB 3.2 Gen.2) cable. You can cheat with the adapter, but you will only find one big USB 3.x Gen.1 header on the board. So you can’t connect more than one USB font like this, which is a pity.
Well, you could install a Ryzen 9 3900X and fail on board and housing, but I just liked the idea of putting together and putting together something mid-range. By the way, this applies to the graphics card as well, even if the Radeon RX 5600XT Pulse from Sapphire used here is not one of the absolute best sellers. But for less than 300 euros together with the gaming package (until the end of March) at participating dealers, 10 to 14% weeks of performance over the RX 5700 is at least somewhat relative.
Because one thing should not be forgotten: in Q4 we are already expecting RDNA2, and then the cards are shuffled again — in the truest sense of the mandatory AMD word of the game field.
The RX 5600XT isn’t even as stupid as bridging and full HD pixel traction, because the loss in sales in winter 2020 is unlikely to be greater than with more expensive navi cards. And the RX 5500XT I also felt a bit out of place for this project, 8GB round trip. So downgrading the CPU to a 6-core makes a lot more sense in context.
Case — Unpacking and facts
h2 comes to the customer in two colors — black or white. Using a neatly thick but also widely punched steel sheet is good because I measure in places a little ca. 0.9mm when powder coating is removed. It’s neat and you can even feel it haptically. There is nothing swirling and waving, meaning that the price is approx. EUR 350 is also appropriate. You don’t see any screws on the outside because the glass on the front as well as the back can be easily taken out (clips). Then you can simply remove the U-shaped hood with grooves held on the longitudinal sides. Technical data shows the following table
| Dimensions | 187 mm (H) x 387. 7 mm (H) x 187.6 mm (D) |
| Materials | SGCC Steel, tempered glass |
| Weight | 6.53 kg |
| Main board support | Mini-ITX |
| Processor and socket | Intel: 115X AMD: AM4, FM2+, FM2, FM1, AM3+, AM3, AM2 |
| V-o front ports | 1x USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C 1x USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-A 1x 4-pin headset Audio Jack |
| Filter | All air intakes |
| Built-in accessories | 650W SFX-L 80 Plus Gold Fully Modular 140mm AIO Liquid Cooler PCIe 16x Gen3 High Speed Riser Card |
| Expansion slots | 2 |
| Drive bays | 2x 2.5″ |
| Radiator | 1x 140mm (Integrated AIO 140mm liquid CPU cooler) |
| Video cards | GPU 305mm x 128mm or 265mm x 145mm GPU up to 2.5 slots Memory modules: 45mm max.  |
| Warranty | 3 years in Ayo and Riser Card housing 10 years in CCGT |
| Manufacturer’s side | N’XT product page |
Features and functions
The case itself is quite cleverly designed because it relies on a solid SFX-L power supply with 650W of power and 80 Plus Gold certification. By the way, the part comes from a seasonal shelf and is completely modular. In addition, N’XT has already pre-assembled and routed all cables to the maximum required length, so cable salad is largely avoided. It’s exemplary and saves a lot of work. The video card is connected by a riser cable (photo above) and is located in another cooling zone. By the way, turning the lid to present the video card behind the glass, as some reviews show, is rather stupid, although it is physically quite possible. However, the card will be horribly sprained in Schnapps, since its RGB ice lighting won’t help.
Cooling is provided by the AiO compact water cooling system, which is based on the Asetek 7th generation system. A special feature is that the pump is no longer located above the cooling block, but in the front chamber of the radiator. The hoses are perfectly matched in length and the entire cooler can be folded into a medium tray and quite comfortably. So you can also get the motherboard installed. where the 140mm fan is protected from cables and hoses by a kind of mesh.
What’s left somewhat obscure is the existing Type-C connector at the top, because in general you get into conflicts with small mini-ITX boards (see motherboard note). Of course the downgrade will go, so USB 3.2 Gen.1 over Adapter2.0 and 3.2 Gen.2 to big 3.2 Gen.1, but what’s the point? At the very least, you would have nested more externally. Well, yes.
Test video and assembly documentation
Performance and conclusion
Temperature reached really good.
The processor as an emulated Ryzen 5 3600X is hardly warmer than 50 degrees Celsius even in the stress test, and together with a full graphics card works to the limit, you stay freely below 55 to 56 degrees Celsius. If you let the Ryzen 7 3800X run full without castration, it will only be 2 to 3 degrees warmer thanks to the fan control, but then get a little louder. But measured< 40 dBA fürs Gesamtsystem mit Grafikkarte bei Volllast nach 30 Minuten sind vollends akzeptabel. There is overclocking potential from up to approx. The 140 watts of power dissipation on the processor remains just below the 80-degree mark. Also, however, the temperature explodes tremendously.
The graphics card still runs at 72 to 74 degrees Celsius and is on average only 10 to 15% slower than the comparable Radeon RX 5700 from the same Pulse from Sapphire series. You can also live with this if you want or need to keep your pennies together.
The case is well thought out, clean and solidly implemented, and also clearly something for mini-ITX noobs, or at least people with big hands (like me) who otherwise have physical issues with miniaturization.