I have reviewed many cases over the years, with only a few making their way into my personal builds. One of these cases was last year’s NZXT H5 Flow. While a relatively lower-cost offering as far as PC cases go, the H5 Flow provides a sleek, clean design with ample airflow and a price that makes it easy to recommend to PC builders of all experience levels. With the new 2024 model, NZXT continues this trend. Priced at $94.99 for the base model and $124.99 for the RGB variant, this mid-tower case reflects NZXT’s commitment to practical, minimalist design while addressing modern cooling demands. It is one of the best-looking cases available for under $100.
The 2024 NZXT H5 Flow features significant improvements over its predecessor, particularly in airflow management. The case now includes an ultra-fine mesh front panel that functions as both ventilation and dust filtration, eliminating the need for separate dust filters. The power supply shroud has been redesigned with perforated sections on the top and sides, improving airflow to the GPU. Despite these changes, the H5 Flow retains its signature sharp, clean lines.
Unboxing the case, I was pleased to see that the build quality has not been compromised in the redesign. Constructed primarily from SGCC steel and tempered glass, the H5 Flow offers solid construction that should withstand several years of use. The case supports motherboards up to E-ATX (277 mm wide) and provides ample space for modern graphics cards up to 410 mm in length. Above all, it is a case built to last while appearing far more expensive than its price tag suggests.
As the name suggests, the H5 Flow excels in thermal performance. It offers several options for keeping your PC cool while maintaining a clean and simple overall design, making it an excellent choice for builds that prioritize cooling efficiency. The case comes pre-equipped with two 120 mm F120Q fans—one serving as a front intake and the other as a rear exhaust. These stock fans provide effective airflow while remaining remarkably quiet, making them ideal for mid-range builds. This balance of performance and low noise levels underscores the thoughtful design of the H5 Flow.
“…the H5 Flow offers solid construction that should withstand several years of use.”
For those looking to expand cooling capabilities, the case supports up to nine fans in total, offering versatile mounting positions. These include configurations for three 120 mm or two 140 mm fans in the front, two 120 mm or 140 mm fans at the top, one 120 mm fan at the rear, and two 120 mm fans on the bottom via the power supply shroud.
Liquid cooling enthusiasts will also find the H5 Flow accommodating, with support for up to a 360 mm radiator in the front and a 240 mm radiator at the top. Additionally, with low-profile RAM, the top position can support a 280 mm radiator, adding further flexibility for high-performance cooling setups.
For testing purposes, we received the black base model, which looks fantastic. The new front design maintains the look we have come to expect, and the case retains an almost tool-less design for most of the cover plates—something I always appreciate in PC cases. Building in the case was solid, even though it is smaller than any of the dual-chamber models CGM has reviewed recently. Despite the slightly reduced workspace, the H5 Flow never feels cramped, offering enough room to ensure most builds look clean and sleek—something we at CGM love to see.
As the smaller case suggests, storage options are modest but sufficient for most modern builds, with space for two 2.5-inch drives and one 3.5-inch drive. This limitation reflects the current trend toward M.2 SSDs as primary storage solutions and should meet the needs of most new builds.
The front I/O panel is one of my biggest gripes with the H5 Flow. While it includes a USB-C 3.2 Gen 2 port and a USB-A 3.2 Gen 1 port, the single USB-A port feels incredibly limiting, especially for those planning to use their new build for content creation. While there are ways to expand this offering, relying on additional wires to achieve full functionality detracts from the case’s clean aesthetic. The panel also features a 3.5 mm audio combo jack and a power button with an LED indicator ring.
As seen with past cases from the brand, NZXT has implemented several thoughtful features for cable management within the H5 Flow. The case includes a signature cable management bar, three Velcro straps, and various routing channels. A unified front panel header simplifies installation, although I encountered some difficulty due to the tight space near the power supply shroud, which made cable routing challenging—even with the modern-style cables I was using. If paired with stiffer cables from an older PSU, this could become frustrating and potentially make building in the H5 Flow more difficult. Thankfully, most newer PSUs use a modern design, but this is still worth noting when pricing out the parts for your new build.
With the PC fully built and all the parts in place, I was overall impressed with the thermal performance of the H5 Flow. It goes without saying that increased airflow leads to cooler component temperatures, but the level of airflow was particularly impressive, especially at the front, all without requiring a filter. I front-mounted the cooler in this build, and it performed incredibly well. With the build consisting of an AMD Ryzen 9 9950X and an RTX 4080 Super, the case maintained reasonable temperatures even under heavy load with the NZXT Kraken Elite 360 running. The GPU especially benefited from the redesigned power supply shroud ventilation, with temperatures remaining well within acceptable ranges—all without being overly loud.
There are a few issues I had with the case, but most are minor annoyances. At the starting price of $94.99 for the base model, I can forgive most of the H5 Flow’s shortcomings due to the solid value it offers. For budget-conscious builders seeking a clean, minimalist aesthetic without compromising cooling performance, few cases can match what this offers without sacrificing quality. The RGB version, priced at $124.99, faces stiffer competition, particularly from alternatives by Cooler Master, Corsair, and other brands well-established in the $150 range. If you are looking for an RGB case, I would recommend exploring other options. While I love the H5 Flow, there are better choices if you plan to spend more than $120.
The NZXT H5 Flow (2024) is an easy case to recommend, especially for its balance of design, cooling, and value. While not revolutionary, it successfully refines the original H5 Flow formula with thoughtful improvements to airflow and GPU cooling. NZXT has created a case that is both practical and aesthetically pleasing, maintaining its reputation for quality while adapting to the cooling demands of modern hardware.
