What you need to know
- NZXT releases a second-gen H1 PC case with numerous improvements on the original.
- The new case has a revised PCIe riser cable, improved cooling, and larger internal volume for the biggest GPUs.
- The NZXT H1 V2 is available now in Europe for $400, coming to the U.S. by the end of February.
NZXT launched a new version of the H1 PC case. This was well-reviewed but had a few problems, including one with the PCIe riser that turned out to be rather serious and could lead to a fire. The company handled this problem by issuing a recall and offering PCIe riser replacements for owners, but it also worked on version 2.0 to really move things forward.
| Category | NZXT H1 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 (405 x 196 x 196 mm) |
| Weight | 16.75 lbs (7.6 kg) |
| Materials | Steel Tempered glass |
| Warranty | Two years |
| Color | Black White |
This latest NZXT H1 V2 has the aforementioned PCIe riser cable that doesn't catch fire. It also has 15.6 liters of internal volume (compared to 13 liters of the original) to accommodate larger graphics cards and to allow for more air to be pulled through the chassis. Speaking of which, an additional fan has been preinstalled to go along with the 140mm blower for the AIO CPU cooler.
The GPU has been bumped to 750W which should be able to handle more demanding GPUs. An extra USB-A port is present on the front I/O, and a new preinstalled fan controller lets you monitor and control cooling using NZXT CAM software. The original was on our best PC cases list and this revised version looks to improve mostly everything we complained about.
If you're looking for a new case for a small, compact PC build, this is a solid choice. The NZXT H1 V2 will be available in the U.S. for $400 towards the end of February, but you can buy one right now elsewhere.
NZXT H1 V2
The NZXT H1 V2 is a brilliant PC case. NZXT took everything that made the original case amazing and turned it up to 11. If you want a cool-looking compact PC case, this is the one to get.
Rich Edmonds is a word conjurer at Windows Central, covering everything related to Windows, gaming, and hardware. He's been involved in technology for more than a decade and knows a thing or two about the magic inside a device chassis. You can follow him over on Twitter at @RichEdmonds.
