Panoramic instances are clearly placing a chord with PC builders. After we wrote this, Hyte’s panoramic Y60 case occupied the #8 spot on Amazon’s record of best-selling PC instances (opens in new tab). However for those who’ve spent any time on PC-adjacent social media or sport streaming websites within the final yr, you’ve got little doubt seen it tons of of instances, if no more. It is no surprise that more-established case corporations have taken discover.
NZXT’s new H9 line is a transparent try to supply up a Y60 different, with the H9 Elite providing glass entrance and aspect panels that however up towards one another at a 90-degree angle, with no steel body in between, permitting for an uninterrupted view. That mannequin has a glass panel on high as effectively. The H9 Stream, proven in our photographs, has the glass on the entrance and aspect, however swaps the glass high for perforated metal for improved airflow. Each fashions function a proper aspect panel that is perforated throughout its whole floor to make up for the shortage of consumption on the entrance. This panel additionally options an enormous detachable mud filter, that covers your complete floor space of the aspect panel. There’s additionally a slide-out filter on the underside of the case, which properly pulls out from the aspect for straightforward entry.
Each the H9 Elite and H9 Stream can be found in white or black, with tinted glass on the black fashions. The H9 Stream will promote for $159, whereas the H9 Elite additionally features a fan and RGB controller and three RGB followers for its increased $239 worth. Each instances must be obtainable right this moment, and can compete with the Hyte Y60 ($199) and the brand new Hyte Y40 ($149). Take into accout, although, that whereas each Hyte instances include a horny PCIe 4.0 riser cable for vertically mounting your GPU, NZXT provides a vertical GPU and cable equipment as an possibility, for an additional $89.
NZXT Specs
Dimensions (with toes) | W: 290mm H: 495mm D: 466mm |
Motherboard Help | Mini-ITX, Micro-ATX, ATX |
Case Materials | Metal and Tempered Glass |
Weight | H9 Stream: 12.1 kg | H9 Elite: 13.1 kg |
Compatibility & Clearances | Max CPU Clearance: 165 mm |
Max GPU Clearance: 435 mm | |
Max PSU Clearance: 200 mm | |
Cable Administration: 91 mm | |
Entrance I/O Ports | USB 3.2 Gen 1 Kind-A x 2 |
USB 3.2 Gen 2 Kind-C x 1 | |
Headset Audio Jack x 1 | |
Growth Slots | Normal 7 |
Drive Bays | 2.5-inch: 4+2 |
3.5-inch: 2 | |
Included Followers | H9 Stream |
4 x F120Q Airflow Fan Case Model (Facet & Rear) | |
H9 Elite | |
3 x 120 mm F Collection RGB Duo followers (Facet) | |
1 x 120 mm F Collection Quiet Airflow Case Model (Rear) |
At 19.49 x 11.4 x 18.35 inches (HWD), the H9 instances are greater than an inch taller than Hyte’s Y60 (18.19 x 11.22 x 17.95 inches), however the different dimensions are fairly comparable. With 6.5 inches of clearance for the CPU cooler and over 17 inches for the GPU, most core parts ought to match with room to spare. Each H9 fashions ship with 4 120 mm followers (and help for as much as ten). However the Elite sports activities three F Collection RGB Duo followers (which function RGB on all sides) on the fitting aspect, in entrance of the motherboard, and one F Collection Quiet Airflow fan on the rear exhaust.
The H9 Stream brings 4 F120Q followers, centered on quiet efficiency, additionally situated on the entrance aspect and the again. However for the reason that entrance followers on the Stream are mounted as consumption, you will be staring behind these followers contained in the case, which is not as engaging because the entrance. Be aware that within the pricier RGB H9 Elite Professional, this can be much less of a difficulty for the reason that firm’s new Duo followers have RGB on each the back and front. Not one of the followers on the Stream mannequin we acquired have lighting, neither is there every other lighting, which appears a little bit of an odd selection for a case designed to point out off your parts. You will need to deliver your personal lighting or go for the a lot pricier Elite mannequin.
Whereas we did not get the H9 Stream case in time to do temperature and airflow testing, we did toss some parts in it to get a way of its options and the way issues match. The corporate additionally despatched alongside its new C1200 Gold ATX 3.0 modular energy provide, which packs a formidable 1200-watt ranking (together with 600 watts for the GPU by way of a 12VHPWR connector) right into a compact 150 x 150 x 86 mm chassis with an inner 135 mm fan. The C1200 PSU is priced at $219 and slots simply in its horizontal place behind the motherboard.
Additionally behind the motherboard conceal a few of the H9’s nicest options. A magnetic swing-out door has mounts for 4 2.5-inch drives on the within, whereas a detachable cage close to the again can help two 3.5-inch drives (or two extra 2.5-inchers). With many motherboards sporting a number of M.2 drive slots as of late, six SATA drives must be sufficient for nearly everybody.
That magnetic swing-out SSD door additionally hides a large cable-routing channel, with over three inches of depth and 6 massive Velcro straps on each the rear of the motherboard space and a aspect panel close to the entrance. The latter has the entrance panel and fan connectors properly pre-routed, whereas the previous holds the exhaust fan cable out of the field, with numerous room in your motherboard cables. There are even three straps alongside the highest of the motherboard space for routing header and PSU energy cables. I solely want the straps had been just a little longer, as a result of issues can nonetheless get tight once you try to route a complete system’s value of wires down the identical channel.
Apart from simply the final lack of airflow that comes with numerous glass, significantly within the Elite mannequin, there’s lots to love concerning the H9’s design. If temperatures are a priority, we would undoubtedly advocate springing for extra followers – there is a purpose this case helps as much as ten. The cable routing and SSD placement specifically are standout options. And for those who just like the loads-of-glass look, the H9 line undoubtedly provides Hyte some competitors.
Actually although, how interesting the H9 lineup is to you goes to return down to cost and whether or not or not you wish to vertically mount your graphics card. If the reply to the latter is sure, it is type of exhausting to argue towards the worth of the Y60 at $199 and particularly the brand new Y40 at $149. Each these instances include a horny PCIe 4.0 cable for vertical mounting included, whereas NZXT fees $89 additional for that privilege. Including that will put the H9 Elite’s complete worth at a fairly wild $330.
However for $159, I do just like the H9 Stream for its mixture of showpiece aesthetics, ample storage and glorious cable routing. It is also much more reasonably priced than the $239 H9 Elite. Simply bear in mind, you will need to deliver your personal lighting to point out off your parts at midnight as a result of the H9 Stream does not include any lighting of its personal. This nonetheless strikes me as odd for a case designed to point out off your components. Hyte’s Y-series instances do not include RGB followers both, however they do ship with a PCIe vertical GPU mount, which once more is a $90 add-on for these H9 instances.
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