By David Shields
Manufacturer: NZXT, Inc.
Product Name: NZXT H440 Razer Edition
Model Number: CA-H440W-RA
UPC: 815671012234 EAN: 5060301692507
Price As Tested: $149.99 (Amazon | Newegg)
Full Disclosure: The product sample used in this article has been provided by NZXT.
Razer, creator of all things peripheral, has finally released their hotly anticipated entry into the chassis market. This is the NZXT H440 – Designed by Razer. With a completely new appearance featuring a matte black exterior and interior, four black NZXT fans, a large tinted window, and plenty of LED lighting, this chassis will be sure to make every Razer fan’s wish list, especially given that it retains the original H440 quality and simplicity.
My very first chassis was a NZXT Gamma, and as such I’ve been looking forward to reviewing this case. As this Razer edition version retains the original H440 design, this Benchmark Reviews article will be a little different. Instead of discussing the many features of this chassis (which David Ramsey has already done in his review) I will be focusing more on the changes Razer has added to create this special edition case before showing off the new build inside.
| Dimensions | 220mm x 510mm x 475.3mm. |
| Materials | SECC Steel, ABS Plastic. |
| Motherboard Compatibility | Mini-ITX, MicroATX, ATX. |
| Expansion Slots | 7. |
| External I/O | 2 USB 3.0, 2 USB 2.0, Audio/Mic. |
| Weight | 9.75kg / 21.5 pounds. |
| Drive Bays | External: 0, Internal 2.5?/3.5?: 6 + 2. |
| Cooling Options | Front: 2 140/3120mm (3 120mm FN V2 Fans Included), Top: 2 140/3 120mm, Rear: 1 140/120mm (1 140mm FN V2 Fan Included). |
| Expansion Compatibility | GPU Clearance With HDD Bays: 294mm, GPU Clearance Without HDD Bays: 406.2mm CPU Cooler Clearance: 180mm, Cable Management Clearance: 17.7mm – 32.5mm. |
The NZXT H440 Razer Edition front panel is made of mostly steel with a bit of plastic framework, colored matte black with a green Razer logo. This logo is actually set inside the panel and covered with clear plastic so it has a neat 3D effect to it. The panel is very resistant to fingerprints and easy to wipe dust off, but it scuffs and scratches pretty easily. This issue is apparent throughout the entire case.
The side panels are made from a sturdy steel, and one side has this very large tinted window panel. This window is very reflective, and is also very dark. Upon installing my system within I could barely see the components. If you plan to show off your system in this case, I’d recommend plenty of LEDs within. I also struggled quite mightily to remove the panels the first couple times (I actually had to step on the chassis to weigh it down while pulling off the panels). One thumbscrew is designed to stay in place, while the other removes entirely. You can also see the venting along the side of the top panel.
The top panel is again mostly steel with a bit of plastic making up the sides. At the front we see dual 2.0 and 3.0 (green) USB ports, audio / headphone jacks, and the power / reset switches. The power switch is surrounded by a small ring lit by a green led when the PC is on.
The bottom panel has a number of unique features, some of which set it apart from a typical H440. It retains the pull out dust filter for the PSU fan, cable tie down points, and mounting holes for an additional hard drive. However, along the side and front edges Razer has added green LED strips, which provide a nice glow effect under the chassis.
Finally, the back panel of the NZXT H440 Razer Edition includes a standard assortment of expansion slots, adjustable 140mm / 120mm fan mount for exhaust and holes for water cooling tubules. In addition, a pair of green LEds are included to light up the motherboard backplate, as well as the expansion slots. Finally, a small button at the top allows you to switch the lighting (with the exception of the power button light) off or on.
This side vent is the only way for the front fans to draw air into the chassis, as the other side is solid plastic. A small area under the top panel is included, but togetehr it isn’t much. The same issue exists on the top panel as well. This means that airflow is more restricted in the H440 than with many other cases.
Matte black plus green accent lighting make the NZXT H440 Razer Edition a great looking case. Unfortunately, what makes it great also detracts from it, as it is easily scratched and marked up, and the dark window makes to harder to see your interior, along with attracting significant dust.
The interior of the NZXT H440 Razer Edition is basically identical to every other version of the H440, except that it’s now been redone in all matte black like the exterior. From this side of the chassis, we can see the motherboard plate, dual SSD brackets on top of the PSU shroud, and many cable tie – down points. Plenty of cabling holes allow you to route cables to create an ultra clean system build. The black strip on the side of the shroud now has another Razer logo instead of an NZXT logo. However, the window panel is so dark the logo doesn’t appear very bright when lit. You can also see where the paint has been scratched up trying to remove or reinstall the side panels.
On the other side, we find many, many cable tie points (with some cabling already done for you), a fan hub, and another small hub for the LED controls. We can also see the 3.5″ drive slots, all of which can be removed to accommodate water cooling radiators. At the bottom you don’t get any additional fan mounts, but you do get a mount for an extra 2.5″ / 3.5″ drive, along with plenty of space to stuff extra cables.
The top panel of the NZXT H440 Razer Edition has mounting for an additional three 120mm fans or dual 140mm fans, or up to a 360mm radiator. The I/O ports do not remove with the top panel, making removing and replacement of the panel easy.
The front panel can also mount up to three 120mm fans, dual 140mm fans, or if you remove the 3.5″ drive trays, up to a 360mm radiator. In this H440, all cooling fans are completely matte black. The fans are all reasonably quiet running at their default settings.
The interior of this H440 is nothing new in design or features. It is a good design though, so why change it up? Keeping the same lauded interior is a smart move, while adding a new paint job for an all matte black interior, something not many cases have to offer. A pity we don’t have more green / black internals to choose from.
Installing the PSU is as simple as removing the rear bracket, slotting the PSU in place, and tightening the screws in over it. You have enough space for a PSU of any length thanks the the open design at the bottom of the chassis. In my build I installed a Corsair HX750 PSU. The good news is you don’t have to worry about getting a modular PSU with the H440, as plenty of space is included for extra cables.
On top of the PSU shroud are dual 2.5″ mounts. NZXT brilliantly included hidden cable holes below the shroud, allowing you to route cables (including hard drive cables) with minimal fuss and without to much cabling showing. You can also see the lit Razer logo on the side.
At the back of the chassis we can see the LED’s that light up the motherboard I/O plate and expansions slots. These LEDs can be turned off (along with most of the others) with the button on the back.
A look behind the motherboard shows the cable management job we’ve done. I really had to stretch to get the CPU power cable to the motherboard, but beyond that this is easily the cleanest and most organized job I’ve done. Plenty of extra room below the shroud was provided for stowing my extra mess of cables, and they can’t be seen from the window. I will make a note however, that with some places having a small amount of cable space (17.7mm) the sound padding gets in the way when installing the panel.
Finally, you can see my clean build on the inside. This is a Gigabyte ATX motherboard with one SSD, a 750TI, and an AMD FX8350. Even with the undesirable stock cooling the system stayed within acceptable temperatures when gaming. With the HDD cages in place you get 294mm of expansion space, and without them you get 406.2mm. Finally, you can install CPU coolers of up to 180mm in height.
Building in the NZXT H440 Razer Edition was a painless experience that I enjoyed. It’s the cleanest build I’ve ever done, and can be customized in a few ways. I only wish I could see it a little better with the side panel in place!
The NZXT H440 Razer Edition isn’t something new. It’s basically a repackaged NZXT H440 that costs an additional $30. The design, the features, the concept, it’s nothing new. This case is purely intended as a special item for Razer fans (or builders who’ve been waiting for a nice green / black case). It is undoubtedly a good case, and has many features builders love, but when you can get the same for less…it’s a hard sell for much of the PC masses.
The H440 is certainly quieter than other cases I’ve reviewed, which goes to show that the various methods for sound dampening do in fact work. However, this does come at the cost of more restricted airflow through the front and top panels. Furthermore, it doesn’t even have a top dust filter, so unless you plan on getting your system very dusty, your basically limited to three intakes. As a result, its evident that the NZXT H440 Razer Edition doesn’t quite offer the best cooling options in it’s price range. I award performance 8.75 out of 10.
The NZXT H440 Razer Edition is a great looking case. The matte black finish looks great, and the lighting is not so overdone it detracts from the overall appearance. But after some use, it became clear the paint job itself could use a little work. It scratches and marks much to easily, and its made even worse when the entire case is matte black. NZXT has said they plan to use this matte paint on all new production H440 cases. That might not be a problem with lighter colors, but with darker colors, it very much is. I didn’t do anything to this case I haven’t to others I’ve reviewed, but you can see how the paint has been scratched off and marked. Because of this issue, I give the appearance score an 8.75 out of 10.
The H440 is made of more steel than plastic, and this is great to see on a case in this budget range. However, as previously stated getting the side panels off the first few times was a bit of struggle, as was removing the top and front panels. As a result, I give this case a score of 9.00 for its construction.
In his review of the original H440, David Ramsey deducted significantly for the lack of 5.25″ drive bays. The lack of such bays could of course turn off anyone needed a disk drive, but for those who don’t need, or a satisfied with an external drive, this is a non-issue. More importantly, a number of case designers are following NZXT’s lead, making it possible to remove the 5.25″ bays or removing them entirely in favor of slim optical drives. Is this a growing trend towards the end of 5.25″ drives? I give the H440 an 8.75 for overall great functionality, deducting for the lack of 5.25″ bays, simply because many still can’t do without them completely.
Value is a tricky one, as this case is priced for $149.99 (Amazon | Newegg). This Razer edition case offers the same features for builders as it’s less expensive brethren do. Instead, you pay an extra $30 for a matte black finish and LED lights. Is that worth it to you? If you are a big Razer, the answer is likely yes. For others though, it may not be. Because we have to compare with other cases in the market though, I give the Razer edition 8.75 out of 10.
In the end, I rated this version of the NZXT H440 slightly lower than the original. The Razer edition not only retained the original problems, but added a few new ones of its own. It is a solid, dependable case that is easy to build in and looks great so long a you keep it spotless, but I suspect that many builders will likely prefer another case for $150, or a cheaper H440. But like I said in at the start, this is intended for Razer’s many fans and those who just like the look, not as the new “case to be desired” on the market.
+ Clean, attractive exterior.
+ Subtle, elegant lighting.
+ Strong construction.
+ Simply, clean cable management.
+ Plenty of water cooling options.
– Exterior marks much to easily.
– Tinted window panel is a tad dark, masking internals. Dust shows very clearly.
– Outside paint scuffs and marks much to easily.
– Limited intake.
– Price is for looks, not features.
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Performance: 8.75
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Appearance: 8.75
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Construction: 9.00
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Functionality: 8.75
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Value: 8.75
