I can’t remember the last time I thought about upgrading my PC case, but when the NZXT H710i landed on my desk for review, I realised how outdated my four-year-old PC chassis is.
This mid-size tower stands about 50cm tall and offers a clean and minimalistic design. It will sit comfortably in a corner, but this case really is a showpiece and deserves to be within eyeshot. The NZXT H710i is identical to the H710 chassis but includes the Smart Device V2 to control the RGB lights and fans installed on the case. You can also add additional fans and lights, and there’s an application you can install to monitor your PC’s temps, fans, and performance.
The top of the case features a power button, two USB 3.1 Gen 2-compatible ports, and a single USB-C slot, while the single 3.5mm audio jack is a dual mic/headphone jack.
From the moment you pop open the side panels (all the panels are removable), you realise that a lot of thought went into the design of the NZXT H710i. There are slots, brackets, channels and a myriad other little touches that make this case a dream to build into.
The most noticeable cable management feature is the white channel that separates the motherboard from the chassis; it’s a great place to hide your main cables. Opening the right panel reveals the rear-end of the motherboard and loads of channels and velcro strips to ensure a neat build.
I also loved the magnetic dust filters around the PSU and front fan openings; they are easy to remove and clean and help keep your PC clean.
The inside capacity of the NZXT H710i is pretty impressive. The case supports motherboard sizes up to E-ATX and a maximum GPU length of 413mm. The back panel even has a dedicated slot should you wish to mount your GPU vertically.
There are so many well-thought-out features built into this case; in fact, not a single space is taken for granted and every spot is really well utilised. There are a couple of spots to mount your SSD drives, and you can hide those clunky looking 3.5-inch hard drives with ease. When a panel does not pop into place, it’s held down with a thumbscrew, and everything you need to ensure your cable management is up to scratch is included. This case is a dream to build into.
As to be expected, all these great features come at a cost, and indeed, at around R3,700 the NZXT H710i is not a cheap case, but considering how many years I hang onto a PC case, such an investment is actually not a bad one if you’re not saving your shekels for a new CPU or graphics card.