Introduction
With the rise of completive PC gaming, companies are now creating limited edition products based on popular games and streamers. NZXT is no different and has been creating a variety of limited-edition cases such as H500 Overwatch, H700 PUBG, H700 Nuka-Cola for some time. Now joining the ranks of these special-edition cases is the H700i Ninja, which has been designed based on well-known Twitch Streamer Tyler “Ninja” Blevins. The H700i Ninja has all the features of the original H700i such as all-steel construction, tempered glass side panel, custom cable management system and a PSU shroud but has been given a custom ”Ninja” theme. This theme consists of a custom blue/yellow paint, an etched “Ninja” on the tempered glass panel, and Ninja’s logo painted on the back. Being a limited-edition case, the H700i Ninja does retail at a premium price point of $274.99 but at the time of this review is currently on sale for $199.99.
We would like to thanks NZXT for sending us the H700i Ninja for review.
About NZXT
NZXT was founded in 2004 by Johnny Hou and they have been building cases and accessories for PC gamers for over 13 years. Primarily known for their cases, they also develop many cooling accessories such as their Kraken line of GPU and CPU coolers and AER fans. Just recently, NZXT also joined the list of motherboard manufacturers by releasing their first motherboard: the N7 Z370.
Features & Specifications
Notable features of the H700i include:
- All steel construction
- PSU shroud
- Unique cable routing kit
- Etched tempered glass front panel
- RBG lighting controller
- Integrated RGB lighting
- Custom Paint
Technical specifications are as follows:
Dimensions | W: 230mm H: 494mm D: 494mm (without feet) |
W: 230mm H: 516mm D: 494mm (with feet) | |
Material(s) | SECC Steel and Tempered Glass |
Weight | 12.27 kg |
Motherboard Support | Mini-ITX, MicroATX, ATX, and EATX(Up to 272mm or 10.7-inches) |
I/O Ports | 2 x USB 2.0 |
2 x USB 3.1 Gen 1 | |
1 x Audio/Mic | |
Filters | Front and PSU Intake |
Expansion Slots | 7 |
Smart Device | 3 x Fan channels with Max 10W per channel output* |
1 x RGB LED port support up to 4 x HUE+ LED strips or 5 x Aer RGB fans (The RGB channel is not compatible with HUE 2 RGB accessories and Aer RGB 2 fans) | |
Built-in noise detection module | |
*Note: If a splitter is used, fan control is regulated depending on the fan connected to the 4-pin port. Do not use low-noise adapters. | |
System Requirements | PC with open internal USB 2.0 port and Windows® 10 operating system recommended. |
Internet connection is needed to download CAM. | |
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Some CAM features require Internet access, a valid email address and acceptance of our current Terms of Service. | |
Drive Bays | 2.5”: 7 |
3.5”: 2+1 | |
Fan Specs | Aer F120 (Case Version) |
Speed: 1200 + 200 RPM | |
Airflow: 50.42 | |
CFM Noise: 28 dBA | |
Bearing: Rifle Bearing | |
Aer F140 (Case Version) | |
Speed: 1,000 + 200 RPM | |
Airflow: 68.95 CFM | |
Noise: 29 dBA | |
Bearing: Rifle Bearing | |
Radiator Support | Front: 2 x 140 or 3 x 120mm with Push/Pull |
Top: 2 x 140 or 3 x 120 | |
Rear: 1 x 120 | |
Clearance | Cable Management: 18-22mm |
GPU Clearance: Up to 413mm | |
CPU Cooler: Up to 185mm | |
Front Radiator: 60mm | |
Top Radiator: 30mm | |
Reservoir & Pump: Up to 224mm (Along cable bar) | |
Warranty | 2 Years |
Model Number | CA-H700W-NJ |
EAN | 5060301694686 |
UPC | 815671014382 |
Packaging & Unboxing
NZXT 700i Ninja deviates from its traditional white/purple packaging and replaced it with an entirely blue box. On the front of the box is a profile shot of the H700I Ninja sporting a custom blue paint job and giant Ninja logo on the back panel.
Turning the box to the side, we see the H700i Ninja’s notable features as well as the case specifications, cooling capabilities, and system requirements. The listed features are also written at the bottom in 10 additional languages.
Moving to the back of the box, the Ninja theme is continued with Tyler’s logo filling up the entire back of the box. In the bottom right corner is another shot of the H700i showing off its custom “Ninja” etched tempered glass side panel.
The final side of the box highlights some of the unique features of the H700i Ninja and what inspired the case’s design. Also, in bold text, we have the slogan “Stand out from the other 99 players” which references the highly popular game, Fortnite, by Epic Games.
After removing the case from the box, it is protected by two pieces of foam on each side and is wrapped in a plastic bag.
Since the H700i Ninja has no plastic film, after all the packaging has been removed, you can jump right in building your PC.
Included with the H700i Ninja are two custom Ninja vinyl stickers, H700i user guide, front panel extension cable, LED strip extension cable, zip-ties, and various types of screws. I really like that NZXT too the time to individually package each set of screws and even labeled the baggies. Little things like this really make it easier to find the correct screw when completing your build.
A Closer Look: Exterior
The first thing that really catches your eye with the N700i Ninja is the beautiful blue chassis with yellow accents. This finish is seen throughout the exterior of the case and on our review sample; it’s absolutely flawless. Another unique feature of the H700i Ninja is the word “Ninja” that is laser etched on the tempered glass panel. We find the etching faint enough not to obstruct your view too much and it really adds that little bit of uniqueness of the case.
Going to the front of the case, there are some yellow Japanese characters that translate to “Ninja” as well as some extremely stealthy NZXT branding below them.
Looking to the back side of the case, we see Tyler’s ninja logo prominent painted in the center of the panel. We also notice that there are no thumbscrews holding the panel in place as you would normally see in most cases. This is because NZXT has replaced this with a much easier mechanism which involves pressing a single button on the back of the case to release the panel.
Turning the H700i Ninja to the back, it has your stand cutouts for your PSU/motherboard and also includes 7 expansion slots and mounting for a single 120mm exhaust fan. Taking a closer look at the PSU cutout, NZXT has chosen to include a PSU bracket so the PSU can be installed from the back of the case instead of sliding it in from the interior. For us, this is a welcomed addition as it makes installing the PSU so much easier.
The top of the H700i Ninja consists of the case’s I/O toward the front and doesn’t include any ventilation that would we see with most cases. Taking a closer look at the I/O, it includes a 3.5mm microphone/audio jacks, two USB 3.0 port, two USB 2.0 ports, and a power button.
You may have noticed the lack of intake/exhaust vents both on the front top of the case. NZXT has chosen to go with side ventilation which does make for a sleeker/cleaner look but at the expense of airflow. This likely won’t be an issue for most people but if you are planning to do some overclocking you may see slightly higher temperatures.
Turning the H700i Ninja to its front, the bottom of the case reveals rubberized feet on each corner and a removable PSU intake filter. There is also a handle if you wish to remove the front panel to gain access its removable filter.
A Closer Look: Interior
To get a look at the interior of the H700i Ninja, you must remove four thumb screws and gently remove the tempered glass. Taking off the temper glass panel was a little tricky due to it being slightly indented into the case. When doing so, we made sure we had a hand at the bottom to prevent it from falling onto the desk. Once the panel was removed, the H700i Ninja has a matte black finish on the motherboard tray and PSU shroud with a nice pop of color with a yellow cable management bar. On their PSU shroud, we have some more ever so subtle NZXT branding with a detachable SSD mount beside it.
Looking toward the front of the case, are three pre-installed NZXT Aer F120 fans along with an LED strip to their right. NZXT has also included a second LED strip which is located at the top right of the case. Both the fans and LED strips are plugged into an NZXT Smart Device which is installed behind the cable management bar at the top of the case.
At the back of the case, we have our fourth pre-installed 120mm fan which acts as the case’s exhaust.
Looking down at the PSU shroud, we have two more detachable SSD mounts which can be installed anywhere on the shroud. Beside the SSD mounts, there is also a hole to feed some cables through, which is perfect for running your PSU cables. If you wanted to install a 360mm radiator or AIO up front, you can do so thanks to a cutout in the front portion of the shroud. The large cutout is approximately 70mm from the back of the cutout to the installed fans, this gives you enough room for even a push/pull configuration on the radiator.
Going to the back of the case, it's nice to see that NZXT has kept with the cable management channels at the back. We loved these in our previous review of the H500i and I’m sure they will come in handy with our H700i Ninja build. Looking below the motherboard tray, we have two more SSD mounting brackets bringing our total up to 5.
Taking a closer look at the cable channels, we have multiple cable lanes located on both sides of the cable management bar as well as below the SSD brackets. It’s nice to see that NZXT has also included many Velcro straps over these channels limiting your need to use zip ties when cleaning up your cables.
Underneath the PSU NZXT has also included a 3.5” drive bay that can store up to two drives. If you are not utilizing the drive bay or wish to have more room for your PSU, it can be removed using the two thumb screws at the bottom. Also if you want just to use one of the brackets, the second one can be detached using the two thumb screws in the middle.
System Build and Installation
Building in the H700i Ninja gave me fond memories of the build we did in the H500i. I absolutely love the cable management options in the H700i and it has resulted in one of my cleanest builds to date. The center cable management bar not only gives the case a nice pop of color, but it also hides all of the cables going to the motherboard extremely well. I also really enjoyed all the cutouts throughout the case which allowed me to cleanly run the rest of my cables to the motherboard, GPU and SSD drive.
Some of the features that really stood out in addition to the cable management was the ample SSD mounting locations and the single connector for the front panel. I can’t tell you how many times I have referenced my motherboard manual when hooking up the front panel. So, it was a pleasant surprise to see a single 9pin connector which made it foolproof when plugging it into the motherboard.
Being that the H700i Ninja has a fully tempered glass panel, it is nice to see NZXT has added some case illumination to showcase your components. Here we used the downloaded CAM software to set the LED strips to “Spectrum Wave” to match our RGB T-Force Delta ram.
Even though you don’t see the back of the case often in the H700i, we put those cable channels to use. With the addition of the second set of channels on the right of the cable management bar, we even managed to get our bulk 24 pin cable routed. This was something that we couldn’t do in the H500i and we were thankful for the extra lanes in the H700i. Thanks to all the included Velcro strips, we only needed to use a single zip tie on the CPU cable which is quite impressive.
Software
To control the included LED strips, you must download NZXT’s cam software from theie website. This piece of software allows you to view and configure various aspects of your PC and its dashboard includes readouts for temperature, CPU/GPU load and your current clock speeds to name a few. In this review, we will focus on the features that pertain to the pre-installed RGB LED strips.
Under the lighting tab of the CAM software NXZT, it comes loaded with 10 presets which can apply a certain lighting pattern to your LED strips. These presets include:
- Fixed – Solid color
- Breathing – Colors fading in and out
- Fading – Fades colors in and out and blending them during the transition
- Marquee – LED chases around attached LED strips
- Covering Marquee – Like Marquee but the LED stays on when the color moves to the next LED
- Pulse – Pulse the color
- Spectrum Wave – RBG Wave going through all colors
- Alternating – Alternates colors each LED between 2 colors
- Wings – 2 chasing LED’s going in opposite directions and bounce off each other.
- Candle – Add a flame effect to the LEDs
Under the “Smart” tab you can have the LED’s change base on CPU/ GPU temperature as well as your current FPS
The “Custom” tab allows you to create a custom version of the Fixed, Breathing and Wave presets.
On the “Audio” tab, it allows you to change the LEDs based on various sound presets such as Level, Bass, and Gain.
On the last tab “Game” you can configure your LEDs to react to various attributes in games. Each game can be configured individually and the software will change the present based on what game you are playing.
Final Thoughts & Conclusion
Building in the H700i Ninja was an amazing experience and ultimately resulted in one of my cleanest builds to date. The number of well-placed cutouts coupled with the cable management system behind the motherboard tray made achieving this effortless.
In addition to the amazing cable management options, I really enjoyed the custom themed paint job. Even if you are not a fan of Tyler “Ninja” Blevins you can still appreciate the look of this case. I also thought the etched “Ninja” on the tempered glass was a nice touch. Personally, I usually don’t like anything obstructing my view but this was faint enough to be a non-issue. My only minor issue with the H700i Ninja was that taking off the tempered glass is a little tricky with it being slightly indented. You just have to remember when removing it to make sure you have a hand underneath to prevent it from falling.
I thoroughly enjoyed my time with the H700i Ninja and would highly recommend anyone looking for a solid mid-tower case to give it a look. Also, if you not a fan of the theme of this specific case check out NZXT's regular H700i as it contains all the features that make this case great with other finishes available.
