The NZXT H510 Elite Mid-Tower case coming in at 229.99 CAD has some great looks with a premium feel to it, but is it worth your hard-earned?
I will say this up-front, but it’s likely obvious from the images that if you’re looking for a high airflow case, this one is not for you. There are two included fans mounted at the front of the case, but the glass front panel hinders their performance. Let’s take a look at the specs from NZXT.
NZXT H510 Elite Key Features
- The H510 Elite compact ATX mid-tower is perfect for your RGB build. Behind the flush-mounted, tempered glass front panel, you’ll discover our renowned Aer RGB 2 fans keeping your components brilliantly cool. Well-engineered airflow, removable radiator mounting bracket, multiple fan filters, vertical GPU mount, a front panel USB-C connector, and an all-steel and tempered glass construction are just some of the key features you’ll get. The H510 Elite also includes the NZXT Smart Device V2, powering the built-in RGB light strips and case fans.
- Two tempered glass panels top off your build, perfectly showcasing your RGB build. We’ve included two Aer RGB 2 fans and an RGB LED strip to get you started.
- The H510 Elite features a removable radiator mounting bracket, simple-to-use SSD trays, and a patented cable management system for a smarter, easier build experience. The new Smart Device 2 includes two HUE 2 RGB lighting channels, and three fan channels that support 0dB modes for voltage-regulated or PWM fans.
- The USB 3.1 Gen 2-compatible USB-C connector on the front panel makes it easier than ever to connect smartphones, high-speed external storage, and the latest peripherals to your PC.
- The clean, modern design, iconic cable management bar, and uninterrupted tempered-glass panels all showcase your stunning build.
- Use the intuitive NZXT CAM application to monitor and control your build, choosing from presets or custom controls for your RGB lighting and fans to create your dream PC.
NZXT H510 Elite Specifications
| Dimensions | W: 210mm H: 435mm D: 428mm (without feet) W: 210mm H: 460mm D: 428mm (with feet) |
| Material(s) | SGCC Steel, Tempered Glass |
| Weight | 7.5 kg |
| Clearance | Cable Management: 19-23mm GPU Clearance: Up to 368.5mm Vertical GPU Mount Clearance: 40.64mm CPU Cooler: Up to 165mm Front Radiator: 60mm Rear Radiator: 60mm Reservoir & Pump: Up to 180mm (Along cable bar), Up to 86mm (Along bottom panel) |
| Motherboard Support | Mini-ITX, MicroATX, ATX |
| Front I/O Ports | 1x USB 3.1 Gen 2 Type-C 1x USB 3.1 Gen 1 Type-A 1x Headset Audio Jack Front I/O internal header 1x USB 3.1 Gen 2 Internal Header 1x USB 3.1 Gen 1 Internal Header 1x USB 2.0 Internal Header 1x HD Audio Header |
| Filters | All Air Intakes |
| Smart Device V2 | 3x Fan channels with Max 10W per channel output* 2x RGB LED channels, each support up to 4x HUE 2 addressable LED strips or 5x 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. |
| RGB LED Lighting | 2x Integrated Aer RGB 2 140mm Fans 1x Integrated addressable LED Strip |
| Vertical GPU Mount | 2 Slots |
| Drive Bays | 2.5″: 2+1 3.5″: 2+1 |
| Expansion Slots | 7 |
| Radiator Support | Front: 2x 140 or 2x 120mm with Pull *Note: Need to remove RGB fans if you plan to mount the radiator to the front Rear: 1x 120mm |
| Fan Support | Front: 2x 120/ 2x 140mm (2x AER RGB 2 140mm included) Top: 1x 120mm/ 1x 140mm (1x AER F140 Case Version Included) Rear: 1x 120mm (1x AER F120 Case Version Included) |
| Fan Specs | Aer RGB 2 (140mm) Speed: 500-1,500 RPM Airflow: 30.39 – 91.19 CFM Noise: 22 – 33 dBA Air Pressure: 0.17 – 1.52mm-H2O Bearing: Fluid Dynamic Bearing Fan Connector 4-Pin PWM |
Expansion
The NZXT H510 Elite has 7 expansion slots at the rear of the case, 2+1 2.5inch drive bays, and 2+1 3.5 inch drive bays.
| Drive Bays | 2.5″: 2+1 3.5″: 2+1 |
| Expansion Slots | 7 |
Cable Management
Cable Management is good in the NZXT H510 Elite. NZXT does a great job when organizing the cable management layout of their cases. It’s a system builder’s dream as they provide everything you need to make your build look tidy. There are holes where you need them, channels for the cables where you need them with plenty of tie-down locations. I enjoy building in this series of cases from NZXT.
Cooling
The NZXT H510 Elite comes with two 140mm fans at the front of the case. They get fresh air from a vent on the back panel of the case and also from the front bottom panel of the case. Like I said previously, those fans would do better with more ventilation at the front of the case.
The rear of the case has a 120mm fan. This time around, however, they skipped on putting a fan at the top of the case, which hurts cooling performance.
I get that not all cases need to be ‘high airflow’ like many of the reviewers on YouTube would have you believe. I do, however, feel there should be some balance between looks and cooling potential. I also get that push back was needed as case manufacturers were starting to flood the market with the buzz words of the day and completely ignoring airflow.
A case with a tempered glass front panel with no vents for air and 3 RGB fans smooshed up against the inside of the glass for maximum bling is a horrible idea.
I would have liked to have seen this case tilt a bit more to the airflow side of the argument, as I feel a PC case, at this price point, could do a better job at balancing looks and function.
Cleaning
The NZXT H510 Elite should clean up without hassle as most of the case has dust filters. There is no dust filter at the top of the case, however, and no included fan at the top, which means dust will be coming in from the top of the case.
The side vent, bottom front vent, and PSU vent all have removable dust filters making them easy to clean up.
Front I/O
The front I/O of the NZXT H510 Elite is a highlight for me. I like the clean, minimalist look of the front I/O on this series. The front I/O includes a power button with an led ring around it, a single USB 3.0 port, a USB 3.1 Gen 2 Type-C port, and a combined audio/mic port.
Final Thoughts on the NZXT H510 Elite
The NZXT H510 Elite, in my opinion, is a nice looking case. It has a premium look and feel to it that comes with a premium price. For 229.99 CAD, though, I would want a bit more airflow, and I would like the frame to be more rigid. I would also expect to see more radiator support at this price point. I am also not a fan of the cam software from NZXT. All in all, if you like the looks of this case and can work around the airflow issues or aren’t concerned with getting maximum airflow, then this case may be the one for you. It’s also worth noting that adding a fan at the top of the case will drop your temps by 4-5 degrees.
NZXT H510 Elite Gallery
Photo Credit: NZXT
This is a beautiful looking case!