Sleek mid-tower
The H500 is a great mid-tower PC case with some awesome features like good airflow, support for cable management, and it even comes with a front-panel USB 3.0 ports. If you're not a fan of lighting and other PC mods, this is the case for you.
For
- Sleek design
- Good airflow
- Value
- Cable management
Against
- No Smart Device
- No GPU mount
Colorful upgrade
The H500i is a solid upgrade over the "normal" version. All that's different is the inclusion of NZXT's Smart Device, which can hook up to LED strips and fans with full support for CAM software. You get the same good airflow, support for cable management, and USB 3.0 ports, but you're paying more for the additional mods.
For
- Sleek design
- Good airflow
- Smart lighting
- Cable management
Against
- More expensive
Choosing between the H500 and H500i comes down to how large your budget is, as well as whether you need (or want) to install RGB lighting and connect compatible fans for CAM software to control everything. There's also the fact the H500i has vertical GPU mount support.
NZXT H500 vs H500i specifications
Both the NZXT H500 and H500i are nearly identical on paper, sporting the same dimensions, ports, build quality, tempered glass window side, and more. NZXT bundles two Aer F120mm fans with the H500 and H500i, which can be installed when putting together your build.
| Header Cell - Column 0 | NZXT H500 | NZXT H500i |
|---|---|---|
| Size | Mid-tower | Mid-tower |
| Fans | Front: 2x 120/140mmTop: 1x 120/140mmRear: 1x 120mm | Front: 2x 120/140mmTop: 1x 120/140mmRear: 1x 120mm |
| Radiators | Front: up to 280mmRear: 1x 120mm | Front: up to 280mmRear: 1x 120mm |
| Material | SECC SteelTempered Glass | SECC SteelTempered Glass |
| Motherboard | ATXMicro-ATXMini-ITX | ATXMicro-ATXMini-ITX |
| I/O | 2x USB 3.1 Gen 1 Type-A1x Headset audio jack1x microphone jack | 2x USB 3.1 Gen 1 Type-A1x Headset audio jack1x microphone jack |
| HDD bays | 2.5-inch: 2+13.5-inch: 2+1 | 2.5-inch: 2+13.5-inch: 2+1 |
| Filters | All intakes | All intakes |
| RGB lighting | - | ✓ |
| Vertical GPU | - | ✓ |
| Weight | 6.6kg | 6.8kg |
| Dimensions | 210 x 460 x 428mm | 210 x 460 x 428mm |
| Warranty | 2-years | 2-years |
NZXT H500 vs H500i colorful differences
The H500 and H500i are mostly the same with both chassis coming with similar color options and internal layouts. While the "intelligent" model includes some RGB lighting strips and Smart Device, there's also the inclusion of a vertical GPU mount. This kit allows you to mount your GPU vertically, showing off the fans and overall design of the GPU while also providing better clearance between it and the motherboard.
The RGB strips are part of the latest HUE family of NZXT products, providing illumination for the entire case. The money required for these additional features actually works out to be a better value compared to buying the H500 and necessary NZXT RGB kit thereafter. There is a slight drawback to having an RGB kit included with the case, but that's only if you want to use a third-party lighting solution.
While the Smart Device is a great addition to make the H500i price easier to digest, it would have been good to see the vertical mount support implemented into the baseline H500. You'd need to put up with colorful lighting effects or remove the kit altogether, which would make the additional cost harder to justify.
When you only want a decent case
If all you care about is grabbing a PC case that looks good and works well as a base for some killer builds, look no further than the H500. If RGB lighting isn't quite your thing, this version of the H500i will save you money and weight.
Excellent mid-tower PC case for stunning builds.
NZXT has done a great job with the aesthetics of the H-series and the H500 is a great middle ground for most PC builds. If you want your PC to look as good as it runs, this is a killer option.
Go with the H500i to create a light show
When the standard H500 is a little too boring for those who want to go all out with lighting and other case mods, the H500i is a solid upgrade for the price. The additional cost bags you the Smart Device, which can hook up to the included RGB strips and any compatible fans, as well as vertical GPU mounting support.
For those who love packing in RGB lighting and more into a PC.
The i, standing for "intelligent", is an advanced version of the H500, taking everything that makes the case so good and adding full support for NZXT's Smart Device, so you can hook up all your LED strips and fans.
