Conclusion:

The NZXT H2 Classic Series Silent midtower case definitely made a very positive impression on me in this review. Although there isn't anything really jazzy, I really like the stealthiness of this case. Just about everything is black, giving it a cool understated style.

The cooling is well done, too. NZXT supplied three quiet 120mm fans and there are two more spots to add more fans. All fans and optional fan areas have filtering to keep most of the dust and debris out of the interior of the case. And with an integrated fan speed controller and lots of sound dampening material throughout the case, the system can stay cool and quiet!



The bottom fan filter is excellent, and there is no need to remove a panel or any screws in order to access it for cleaning. Another thing that is great about the case is that NZXT provided a good amount of room behind the motherboard tray to keep excess cables hidden from plain view. So many times with other cases I barely get the side panel on and need to squeeze the cables between the panel and chassis. The last item that wowed me was the 5.25" device bay covers... No more breaking the cheap plastic tabs when removing or repositioning your drives.

The Bigbruin.com shopping page only finds this case at Sears, or all places, where the price is $126 (US). Looking around the web at more typical sources for computer components finds prices ranging from $85 - $100 (US). While it is a little expensive for a midtower case, when you factor in things like the overall quality of the case, the inclusion of three 120mm fans, a hot swap SATA drive module, and a fan controller, the price is not bad at all.

Given all of the positive things I have had to say about the NZXT H2 Classic Series Silent midtower case so far it earns the Bigbruin.com "Highly Recommended" award. And because it includes a few fans, has a built-in fan speed controller, and includes some sound dampening material, it also earns the Bigbruin.com "Whisper Quiet" award.



Pros:

» Built in fan controller for factory installed fans
» Top hot swap capable SATA HDD Dock
» Best 5.25" bay device covers
» 25mm space behind motherboard


Cons:

» Too many black thumbscrews???
» Only one USB 3.0 port, which plugs into the rear I/O panel

Please drop by the Bigbruin.com Forum and feel free to post any comments or questions.