Review: NZXT H700i

Conclusion

The long-awaited successor to NZXT's H440 has arrived with more baggage than anticipated. Priced at £200, the H700i is designed to further the use of NZXT's CAM software, with the hope of making the H-Series range a smart solution for the modern system builder.

In practise, the software's multiple bugs make for a frustrating user experience, and on this showing we're in no hurry to transfer fan management from our tried-and-trusted system BIOS to a CAM software utility that's clearly rough around the edges.

And that's a shame because beneath the superfluous software lies a solid, well-built chassis boasting plenty of potential. NZXT's signature aesthetic continues to offer something different to the norm, with plenty of colour combinations to choose from, tempered glass is an elegant addition, the quick-release rear panel works a treat, 2.5in storage bays are in plentiful supply and provisions have been made for a high-end liquid-cooling setup.

Bottom line: the H700i should be a joy to work with, but unnecessary extras make it more convoluted than need be. Remove the Smart Device, simplify the cable routing and add USB Type-C and you would have a cheaper, more attractive case that would probably be known candidly as the H700.

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The NZXT H700i chassis is available to order from Scan Computers.

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