Introduction
In the world of building your own computer, NZXT’s (NZXT H7 Flow)cases are really popular. The H series of cases from NZXT have changed a lot over time, but they still keep the same overall look. The new H7 case is similar, but the H7 Flow is more interesting because it’s focused on letting air flow well and is very good at staying quiet when being tested.
Even though prices have gone up for many things lately, the new H7 and H7 Flow are priced at $130, which is pretty good. Both cases come with two really good 120mm case fans (we’ll talk more about these in our testing part), extra SSD slots, and more space for keeping things cool compared to the H710 and H710i cases they’re replacing. There’s also a fancier version called the H7 Elite that costs $200 and has a glass front. But in this review, we’ll be mostly looking at the airflow-focused H7 Flow to see if it’s a great mix of good performance, cool features, and a decent price(Best PC Cases). Let’s check it out closely.
Specifications
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Case Type | ATX Mid-Tower |
| Supported Motherboards | Mini-ITX, Micro-ATX, ATX, E-ATX |
| Dimensions (HxWxD) | 19.8 x 9.1 x 18.9 inches |
| Maximum GPU Length | 15.74 inches |
| CPU Cooler Height | Up to 7.28 inches |
| External Drive Bays | None |
| Internal Drive Bays | 4x 2.5″ or 2x 3.5″ |
| Expansion Slots | 7 |
| Front I/O Ports | 2x USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-A (10 Gbps), 1x USB Type-C (up to 10Gbps), 3.5mm headphone/audio jack |
| Additional Features | Tempered Glass Side Panel |
| Front Fans | 1x 120 mm |
| Rear Fans | 1x 120 mm |
| Top Fans | None |
| Bottom Fans | None |
| Weight | 22.15 pounds |
| Warranty | Two years |
Pros And Cons
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Surprisingly quiet | No RGB |
| Satisfying cable management | |
| A joy to build in | |
| Impressive stock case fans | |
| Tool-free side panel removal | |
| Decent pricing |
Features of the NZXT H7 Flow
The H7 Flow is a big computer case that’s like the H510 Flow from last year but better. It’s larger and has more good things about it. The H510 Flow was okay, but this one is better because it’s bigger and has space for a bigger radiator at the top.
The side of the H7 Flow is made of special strong glass that goes all the way down. The front of the case has tiny holes all over it, which is also good.
When I first saw the front of the H7 Flow, I didn’t really like it. But after testing how well it works to keep things cool inside, I changed my mind. It looks nice, especially if you add some colorful lights.
The H7 Flow has filters in different places to stop dust from getting inside. There are filters behind the front and top parts and even one under the case. Even though there are no fans there, it still has a filter.
The buttons and plugs on the top of the case are normal. There are two regular USB ports, one special USB port, and the usual plug for headphones. It would be cool to have more different plugs, but most computers wouldn’t be able to use them all.
Internal Layout
The NZXT H7 Flow is not super small or too large. It measures 19.8 x 9.1 x 18.9 inches (505 x 230 x 480mm). I think it’s just right for building a PC. It only took me about 25 minutes to set up everything in this case, even when I moved my hardware from my old case.
This case has places for organizing cables like most NZXT cases. What’s cool is that all the front panel connections are in one cable. This saved me a lot of time, and I wish more companies did this.
NZXT says the H7 series cases can hold SSR-CEB/EEB (E-ATX) motherboards. But if you really want E-ATX support without dealing with problems like blocked cable holes, go for a full-tower case made for big motherboards. Our standard ATX Gigabyte Aorus Z690 Ultra fit perfectly in the NZXT H7 Flow. There’s enough space for the CPU and GPU, which can be as big as 7.2 inches (183mm) and 15.7 inches (398mm), respectively. For example, I could easily fit a triple-fan Gigabyte RTX 3070 Ti Gaming OC graphics card and a Noctua U12S air cooler without any problems. But if you’re getting this case, why not use a top-notch AIO cooler with RGB and take advantage of the ventilated top panel?
Behind the motherboard is where you’ll find two pre-installed 2.5-inch SSD sleds (and two more in the box), a 3.5-inch hard drive cage, and cutouts for cable management. Managing cables in the NZXT H7 Flow was easy. NZXT widened the cable channels a bit, which helped because there’s not a lot of space behind the motherboard. After organizing the cables, putting back the front and rear side panels was hassle-free. The tool-less side panel installation worked perfectly.
NZXT H7 Flow Cooling
Last year, we checked out the NZXT H510 Flow. It was good at keeping things cool, but the top panel only had space for one 140mm fan. Now, with the H7 Flow, the top panel has more holes. You can fit in 3x 120mm fans, 2x 140mm fans, or a big 360mm radiator. They also made the front better – you can now put in three 140mm fans (or up to three 120mm). At the back, you can use either a 120mm or 140mm fan.
NZXT was kind enough to include two F120Q Airflow case fans with the H7 Flow. These fans are 3-pin, but surprisingly, they work really well. They stay super quiet even when running at the highest speed of 1,200 RPM. In our tests, these fans moved air through the case very effectively, especially considering they’re the ones that come with the case. I’m really impressed by these F120Q fans. Even though they’re not the fancier 4-pin/PWM type, they perform way better than I expected.
Testing Hardware
We’ve made changes to our testing equipment and now use Intel’s latest 12th Gen “Alder Lake” platform. This new setup has made a big impact on how we test desktop computers, especially in gaming. We’re currently using a Core i7-12700KF processor, cooled by a Noctua U12s air cooler. Our graphics card is a Gigabyte RTX 3070 Ti Gaming OC.
Acoustic Results for the NZXT H7
Our sound test has three parts: First, we test the CPU alone working hard. Second, we test both the CPU and GPU working hard. Lastly, we have an optimized setting.
When we test the CPU alone, we make sure the CPU and case fans work at their highest speed. When we test both the CPU and GPU, we push the Gigabyte RTX 3070 Ti Gaming OC and set the fans to 75% speed. We found that in gaming, running the fans at 100% makes a lot of noise, so we don’t do that.
For the optimized setting, we set the GPU fan speed to 30% and run the CPU and included case fans at their slowest speed.
The design of the NZXT H7 is very open, especially the front panel, which has lots of small holes. I thought this might mean it wouldn’t be quiet, but I was wrong. It’s not as quiet as a church mouse, but for a case focused on letting air in, it’s really good. The only case that’s as good as the H7 Flow on our chart is the Hyte Y60. However, two of its three fans are in the bottom, and it has a lot more glass to keep the noise lower.
Thermal Results for the NZXT H7 Flow
For the tests that measure heat, all the fans in the computer case and the CPU are running at their maximum speed, set at 100%. The Core i7-12700K, the main processor, is set to work at a speed of 4.7GHz and a power level of 1.3 volts across all its high-performance cores. This setup helps to keep the power usage consistent during different test situations. By setting the GPU’s fan speed to 75%, it can maintain its power limit while keeping a reasonable fan speed, making the temperature the only changing factor in the tests.
The H7 Flow comes with two F120Q Airflow case fans. Even though these fans have only 3 pins, they spin at a good rate of 1,200 RPM, effectively moving air in and out of the case.
The thermal performance of the H7 Flow is intriguing. Compared to other cases shown in the chart, except for the Y60, which provide strong airflow, like the Fractal Torrent Compact with its 160mm fans and the Cooler Master HAF 700 Evo that features two 200mm fans, the H7 Flow only has two 120mm 3-pin fans. Surprisingly, it competes well against these cases known for their strong airflow. What’s more, this case is priced at $130, which is quite affordable. With this price, you can even buy additional cooling components to enhance its performance further while still staying ahead of the competition in terms of cost.
Bottom Line
NZXT has made changes to its H series over time. The new H7 Flow shows how the company’s classic look can change and keep impressing people as the market and high-end hardware get more demanding. The NZXT H7 Flow is quite good. It’s not too expensive, performed well in tests, and does airflow differently with holes in the metal front and top, instead of the usual fine mesh which can limit airflow.
If you don’t like the holey design of the H7 Flow or if you’re not too worried about heat, you might want to check out the regular H7. It doesn’t have the holey front but has everything else that the airflow-focused H7 Flow offers, and at a nice price too.
"Innovative design, stellar performance, and an enticing price make the NZXT H7 Flow a standout choice for those prioritizing efficient airflow. Alternatively, the regular H7 offers similar features without the perforated design, catering to diverse preferences at an appealing price point."
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