The identify “H5 Stream” would possibly sound acquainted to watchers of the PC DIY market, and that’s as a result of the unique is a well-liked chassis choice in builder circles. This acquainted PC case even made a cameo in our 2023 pattern of NZXT’s high-scoring Participant One gaming PC. However in the event you’re accustomed to the identify, don’t assume that this new H5 Stream ($94.99 as examined, or $124.99 in an upgraded RGB model) is strictly the identical: This 2024 model has seen some revisions. Extra air flow and help for a bigger radiator up entrance (necessary in lately of hot-running Intel Core CPUs) make for a really ready, if not revolutionary, refinement of a stable NZXT providing.Design: Air and Liquid Stream Is the Title of the GameThe new H5 Stream iteration has a a lot bigger vent part throughout its one-piece entrance panel, and that’s as a result of it’s been redesigned to carry a 3rd entrance fan. The truth is, with a 60mm-thick radiator area that’s greater than 410mm tall behind the fan mount, mounting a close-to-360mm all-In-one ought to current no issues.
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The front-panel connections are on the entrance proper nook of the highest panel: a headphone/microphone combo jack, a USB 3.x Gen 2×2 Kind-C port, and a USB 3.x Kind-A port. An influence button with a lighted power-indicator ring attire up this part. That is a sparse set of ports; we would have preferred to see at the least one other USB-A.
(Credit score: Thomas Soderstrom)
Round again are a 120mm adjustable-height fan mount with a single manufacturing facility exhaust fan, a protruding-bracket enlargement panel with seven slots, and a power-supply mount that matches energy provides solely with the fan going through upward. (That final stipulation might be NZXT’s approach of coping with the shortage of airflow beneath that portion of the case.) Additionally seen right here, the decrease portion of the fitting aspect panel is totally ventilated.
(Credit score: Thomas Soderstrom)
One of many much less flattering issues in regards to the H5 Stream’s PCI Specific expansion-slot panel is that it’s flush with the again of the case, which in flip signifies that you must slide a card’s screw tab backward by a gap to align it with the corresponding case bracket. The 1-inch entry gap that NZXT hides behind its detachable plate is definitely broad sufficient to keep away from pitfalls famous on another circumstances, however we’ve seen far cheaper circumstances whose producers had been ready keep away from this cost-cutting design.
(Credit score: Thomas Soderstrom)
Although the highest panel has three fan mounts and its mounting slots are spaced for both 120mm or 140mm fan sizes, the general size entrance to again is sufficient to help three 120mm or simply two 140mm followers. The place can also be so near the again that there’s no room for the top cap of a 360mm-format radiator, and it units your radiator so near the motherboard as to remove most 280mm radiators from being paired with followers. That leaves 240mm-format radiators as your best option for this place.
(Credit score: Thomas Soderstrom)
We talked about that the decrease portion of the fitting aspect panel is vented, however the left aspect will get much more fascinating: Its perforated part is three-dimensional to offer much more gap area. Additionally discover the tabs protruding of the underside panel within the image beneath, the perform of which we’ll describe momentarily.
(Credit score: Thomas Soderstrom)
Behind the motherboard tray, we see a gaping gap that enables fast set up of behind-the-board help brackets to your CPU cooler, plus a number of cable guides. A drive cage resides within the ahead a part of the facility provide’s tunnel, and likewise again right here is the reverse aspect of a ribbon-shaped panel that hides cables from the opposite aspect. The H5 Stream’s drive cage holds two 2.5-inch drives internally and one 3.5-inch drive up high.
(Credit score: Thomas Soderstrom)
The tabs protruding of the underside of the case are a part of the inner drive cage, and its further slots mean you can slide it 15mm nearer to the facility provide. Doing so reduces the facility provide area from 254mm to 239mm, however NZXT charges that area solely as 200mm, anyway.
(Credit score: Thomas Soderstrom)
Constructing With the NZXT H5 Stream (2024)The H5 Stream contains six luggage of set up {hardware}, with the final two screw units threaded for plastic fan frames (above) and radiators (beneath).
(Credit score: Thomas Soderstrom)
As soon as the motherboard is screwed down, the case’s simplified header-cable set permits you to join the front-panel energy button and indicator LED, the headset combo jack, and single Kind-A and Kind-C ports. That final one advantages from a Gen 2×2 (Kind-E) inside header connection. Most up-to-date motherboards have a kind of these days.
(Credit score: Thomas Soderstrom)
With our components put in, it’s simple to see how the ribbon-shaped panel conceals cables from being considered immediately from the aspect, and the way the form of that panel permits it to suit underneath the ahead fringe of lengthy graphics playing cards.
(Credit score: Thomas Soderstrom)
As famous, we acquired the bottom ($94.99) mannequin of the 2024 revision. This H5 Stream’s black inside is properly lit by our parts. Those that need extra lighting will discover the RGB model out there for $125, and each variations are additionally out there in white.
(Credit score: Thomas Soderstrom)
Testing the NZXT H5 Stream (2024)Right here’s a recap of our present suite of normal case testing components…
We stacked up the brand new NZXT H5 Stream towards a area of ATX challengers in the identical tough worth vary: the Corsair 3500X ARGB, the Montech Air 903 Base (our present finances ATX case Editors’ Alternative decide), the NZXT sibling H7 Stream (which was additionally revamped this yr), the colourful and low cost Thermaltake View 270 TG ARGB (one other Editors’ Alternative winner), and the Cooler Grasp MasterBox 600.Although it solely cools nicely sufficient to succeed in a third-place end, the H5 Stream 2024’s tight clustering relative to the leaders places it in league with equally priced rivals…
Then again, anybody anticipating a case that has just one consumption fan and one exhaust fan to be quiet could be a bit shocked. The reasonably excessive noise degree seen right here is probably going all the way down to all that air flow space letting as a lot noise out as air in.
Verdict: A Strong if By-the-Numbers DIY OptionLacking any true standout options past its slick design, the 2024 model of NZXT’s H5 Stream’s greatest up-selling level is that it makes good on the 360mm-format front-radiator help that was lacking from its earlier iteration. Then again, it appears to be like slick sufficient (and, for a lot of consumers, will show reasonably priced sufficient) that its design will and will discover its place on or underneath the desks of many players. If you happen to just like the look, it gained’t disappoint in a mainstream, well-executed ATX chassis.
The Backside Line
A gaming-PC ATX case with a slick look, the 2024 iteration of the H5 Stream is a modest refinement of an NZXT traditional, now with room for an even bigger radiator up entrance.
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About Thomas Soderstrom
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Years again, when a small web site known as out for product-review editors. I leapt on the alternative: I’d simply wrapped up a four-year stint as a techniques provider. That have offered the credentials I’d want for the transition from business provider to business observer. For one factor, I’d been the primary supply for an exposé on capacitor plague (“Obtained Juice”) at EDN. By that point, I’d already self-published some pointers on hardcore PC stuff: pin-modifying processors to defeat compatibility checks and overclock non-overclockable techniques. I noticed an opportunity to receives a commission for my information, and have since written greater than a thousand items (lots of them for the seminal tech web site Tom’s {Hardware}) earlier than discovering my newest alternative: with PCMag.
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