NZXT H230 Silent Mid-Tower Case Review
Final Thoughts and Conclusion
The NZXT H230 Black Silent Mid-Tower case is a beautiful looking case. The pictures in the review do not do it justice. The case is not very flashy, it doesn’t offer LED fans, a windowed side panel, or other features that make cases stand out. What it does offer is simple looks, with clean lines, and a great high-gloss finish. I say this, while recognizing that I prefer the matte finish of most cases; purely because fingerprints on the case would drive me insane.
Cases built by NZXT are typically well built, and the H230 is no different; the physical build and paint quality is up to NZXT’s high standards. The removable storage drive cage allows for the long video cards to be installed and the 5.25″ tool-less clips work very well. However, the hard drive trays need to be reworked to make sure the drive connectors line up whether a 3.5″ or 2.5″ drive is installed.
I was unable to find any specific information on the sound insulation material that was used in the H230, it is a foam material that should help block the noise from the various fans inside. While we didn’t use a sound meter or remove the foam to see what it was like without it, it appeared to do the job and when the computer was idle, it was barely noticeable.
The only physical issue I had with the NZXT H230 is that if I was going to install an additional 120mm fan, I couldn’t do it from the front. There were no long fan screws included; unfortunately the manual says these should have been included. I assume this is an oversight on NZXT’s packaging process or within quality control, which can happen at any company.
If NZXT wanted to know what they could improve on the H230, my first recommendation would be to take a close look at the hard drive trays. Next, would be removable filters. And finally, better sound insulation even at the top of the case. Of course, these could increase the price of the H230; keeping in mind that the suggested retail price of the H230 is $69.99 and has a 2 year warranty, even without these this case certainly has a lot going for it as a bare essential case. However, I can’t recommend it for a gaming system, as when the fans spun up on mid-range components they were muffled, however they could be heard. If a system is built with components designed for silent operation, the sound insulation on the H230 should work well enough to lower any additional noise. Whatever system is built in the H230 just pick your components geared towards silent operation.
Legit Bottom Line: While generally, I can recommend NZXT’s cases, I would be hesitant to recommend the H230. Build quality and features are up to NZXT’s reputation. However, the sound proofing didn’t seem sufficient, and several improvements should be done to make this a case that is worthy of the reputation of NZXT.