The NZXT H9 Flow is the latest and greatest flagship computer case model that boasts a Dual-Chamber installation structure. This innovative design provides ample expansion space and optimal heat dissipation performance. The case is compatible with up to ten fans and three 360mm water cooling radiators, and the graphics card installation length can go up to 43.5cm. Additionally, the case can accommodate the largest ATX motherboard and a 165mm high air cooling tower, making it a standout option in terms of expandability and attention to detail. Overall, the NZXT H9 Flow is highly recommended for those seeking a top-of-the-line computer case.
NZXT H9 Flow Specifications:
Dimensions: 466 (L) x 290 (W) x 495 (H) mm
Colour: White, Black
Material: SGCC steel, tempered glass
Motherboard: ATX, Micro-ATX, Mini-ITX
CPU air cooling: Up to 165mm
Graphics card: 435mm
Power supply: ATX 200mm
pre-installed fan (side+rear): 120mm 3+1
fan installation position (side+upper+rear+bottom): 120mm 3+3+1+3, 140mm 0+2+0+2
radiator support: side 360/240mm, top 360/280mm, bottom 360/280mm, rear 120mm
top I/O port: USB 3.2 Type-A x2, USB 3.2 Type-C x1 , HD_AUDIO
hard disk and storage slots: four 2.5-inch and two 2.5/3.5-inch composite
NZXT H9 Flow case out of the box
The NZXT H7/H5 cases released last year were introduced as updated models to replace the H710/H510 series, whereas the H9 series is a completely new high-end case model released by NZXT. The H9 series offers two options: the H9 Elite and the H9 Flow, each of which is available in matte white and matte black to allow for colour coordination.
The H9 Elite, which is positioned at a higher price point, offers the same installation support as the H9 Flow. The only differences between the two models are the shape of the top cover and the built-in fan configuration. The H9 Elite has three Duo RGB fans and the NZXT RGB fan controller V2, making its appearance and lighting effects more striking than the H9 Flow.
The NZXT H9 Flow case being reviewed here is priced lower than the H9 Elite model. The H9 series is classified as a mid-tower case and measures 46.6 x 29 x 49.5 cm, which is slightly wider than other mid-tower cases due to the adoption of the Dual-Chamber installation structure. The left-right sub-chamber structure of the H9 Flow is unique compared to the current mainstream bottom/top power supply structure, with the power supply and hard disk being installed in the entire line space. This design offers more space for core hardware installation, such as the motherboard and graphics card.
The NZXT H9 Flow case features a front panel made of full-transparency glass, providing ample display and allowing players to view the internal hardware configuration from the front. The signature wire-shielding baffle that is a hallmark of NZXT case products has also been ingeniously designed on the side. The empty baffle has an acrylic panel on the right side, which appears to be intended to improve side fan airflow and optimize cooling for the graphics card.
The H9 Flow is also equipped with fully transparent tempered glass on the side, but the matte black model features blackened tempered glass. The visual effect may differ slightly depending on the model. Through the side panel, the three One F12Q fans are clearly visible, with the F12Q powered by DC 3-Pin and installed in the direction of the air intake.
Looking at the rear of the case, the Dual-Chamber installation structure can be seen more clearly. The left half is reserved for the power supply and hard disk rack. The rear of the case supports the installation of a 12cm fan and water-cooling radiator, while the seven slots have no horizontal bar PCI-E device expansion installation slot. The reusable bezel decoration is pre-installed at the factory, and the case does not support the vertical installation slot of the graphics card.
One noteworthy feature is the closed design of the PCI-E baffle, which lacks a mesh design and leaves no additional gap when the baffles are side by side. This effectively prevents small insects, dust, and other foreign objects from entering the cabinet.
The side panel on the back of the motherboard is constructed with steel. To provide ample air intake space for the side fan and power supply, NZXT has boldly designed a full-area mesh with a magnetic dust filter. This design allows for sufficient airflow while also addressing the issue of dust prevention. However, the appearance may not be as appealing for those who are averse to densely patterned designs. The appearance of the side panel is subjective and may vary depending on personal preferences.
The top cover of the H9 Flow case follows the same design approach with large-area ventilation holes and a removable dust-proof filter. The filter, which is fixed by rails, helps reduce the amount of dust and small foreign objects entering the case. The detachable fan mounting bracket located on the top makes it easier to install fans and water cooling components. The H9 can support up to 280/360mm water cooling and fan installations on the top.
The I/O port of the H9 Flow is on the top cover’s right side, making it more convenient for users who typically place their desktops under the table. However, during use, it is important to pay attention to the issue of dust accumulation and whether pets at home may access these ports.
NZXT H9 Flow cabinet interior installation space introduction
The H9 Flow comes pre-installed with four DC 3-Pin powered 120mm F series Quiet Airflow fans, with three located on the side and one on the rear. This setup ensures sufficient heat dissipation performance. When installing the case, removing the front panel glass is not recommended or necessary. Doing so will not bring better convenience, and the front panel glass is securely fixed in place by multiple screws. Therefore, removing the front panel to install the computer is unnecessary.
The internal installation space in the H9 Flow is quite generous due to the Dual-Chamber structure design. It supports the installation of Mini-ITX, Micro-ATX, and ATX motherboards, making it compatible with both consumer-grade mainstream and high-end model motherboards. However, only a limited number of E-ATX-size motherboards can be installed. The case has a maximum installation height of 165mm for air cooling towers and a 495mm space for installing graphics cards, allowing for the installation of even the longest non-public version graphics cards.
The bottom of the H9 Flow also supports the installation of 360/280mm water-cooling radiators and fans. When a fan is installed from the bottom, external cold air can be blown directly onto the graphics card, resulting in better heat dissipation performance. The bottom also features a side-pumped dust filter that helps prevent dust accumulation problems during long-term use and insulates the graphics card.
Now let’s take a look at the wiring space at the back of the motherboard. The H9 Flow offers a hidden 10cm wiring space at the deepest part of the back, so you don’t have to worry about poor wiring skills. With such a deep cable space, the case can easily accommodate a variety of power supply cables and other cables, such as HUB.
For those who prefer the dual-compartment structure of the chassis, an important consideration is the depth of the side fan installation. The H9 Flow provides an installation space of 5.5cm in the whole line space, which theoretically allows for the installation of a fan and water-cooling radiator on the back. However, I do not recommend installing a water cooling system with a total thickness exceeding 5.5cm, as it may jam against the thumb screw below.
The detachable side fan mounting bracket supports the installation of 360/240mm fans and water-cooling radiators. Due to width limitations, it does not support 14cm radiators.
The NZXT H9 case features hard disk installation positions that are fixed on the wall, with a composite hard disk rack installed under the power supply fixing position. This rack is fixed by a single thumb screw and a rail tenon and supports the installation of two 2.5/3.5-inch hard disks.
The side-opening baffle serves as the location for hard disk installation and can accommodate up to four 2.5-inch hard disks. It can also be used to fix a fan controller or other components. Therefore, the entire H9 case can hold up to four 2.5″ plus two 2.5/3.5″ hard drives.
NZXT F120 RGB DUO fan out of the box
NZXT has also introduced a new F120/140 RGB DUO fan to their F series lineup. These fans are available in black and white colours and are offered in single-pack and three-pack options for the F120 RGB DUO and single-pack and double-pack options for the F140 RGB DUO.
The F120 RGB DUO fan can rotate at up to 1800 RPM, providing a wind pressure of 2.42 mmH2O and an air volume of 48.58 CFM.
NZXT F120 RGB DUO Specifications
Colour: White/Black
Fan Size: 120 X 120 X 25mm
Fan Rated Voltage: 12V DC, 0.13A, 1.56W
Fan Speed: 500~1800 ± 300 RPM
Air Pressure: 2.42 mmH2O
Air Volume: 48.58 CFM
Noise: 29 dB(A)
Number of LEDs: 20
Bearing: Fluid Dynamic Bearing (FDB)
Connection Connector: 4-Pin PWM
I received the NZXT F120 RGB DUO white triple-pack style in this unpacking. The F120 RGB DUO fans are equipped with FDB fluid dynamic bearings and can operate at speeds ranging from 500 to 1800 ± 300 RPM. Additionally, each fan aperture features 20 LEDs that can be individually controlled to create custom lighting effects.
The NZXT F120 RGB DUO is designed with a double-sided aperture. No matter which side it is installed on, there are sufficient ARGB lighting effects to display, the maximum air pressure of 2.42 mmH2O and the air volume of 48.58 CFM can provide sufficient heat dissipation performance, and the fan itself only provides 4-Pin connectors PWM and NZXT RGB specifications.
The F120 RGB DUO white triple pack comes with an NZXT RGB controller, which features three NZXT RGB interfaces. Unfortunately, the controller does not offer any additional PWM fan interfaces. The controller requires an additional SATA power supply cable for power and is connected to the host via a USB 2.0 cable and a motherboard slot. Users can customize the lighting effect of the fans using the NZXT CAM software.
NZXT H9 Flow actual installation and thermal performance test
In addition to installing the NZXT H9 Flow case, we also installed an N7 Z790 motherboard and a Kraken Z63 RGB 280mm all-in-one water cooler. The system is powered by an Intel i7 13700K processor and features a ZOTAC GAMING RTX 3080 graphics card, resulting in a sleek white NZXT build. We installed the F120 RGB DUO fan on the bottom of the case to test thermal performance.
Test Platform
Processor: Intel Core i7-13700K
Radiator: NZXT Kraken Z63 RGB
Motherboard: NZXT N7 Z790 (UEFI 3.01)
Memory: KLEVV CRAS XR5 RGB DDR5 6200MT/s 16Gx2
Graphics Card: ZOTAC GAMING RTX 3080 Trinity OC White Edition LHR
Case: NZXT H9 Flow
Fan: NZXT F120 RGB DUO
Operating System: Windows 11 Home Edition 21H2
Power Supply: 850W PSU
We used the preset Intel Core i7-13700K processor for the heat dissipation performance test and ran AIDA64 CPU and Furmark stress tests without any additional settings on the motherboard. We also ran the Time Spy 3D Mark test to simulate a 2K quality game. The data was collected using HWiFO64 to record the maximum temperature and power consumption.
During the test, the i7-13700K processor reached a temperature of 88°C in the AIDA CPU project and the Furmark stress test. The ZOTAC RTX 3080 graphics card reached a temperature of 71°C. In the Time Spy test, which simulated game performance, the maximum temperature of the i7-13700K was only 66.9°C, while the graphics card temperature was 71.6°C.
Summary and experience
The NZXT H9 Flow is a successful first attempt at a dual-chamber installation structure. The design and installation experience are well thought out, with attention paid to even the smallest details. The included F120 RGB DUO fan provided adequate thermal performance during our temperature stress tests, with the CPU and GPU reaching a maximum temperature of 88°C and 71°C, respectively. The case offers impressive expandability, with support for ATX motherboards, 43.5cm graphics cards, up to three 360mm water coolers, and ten fans.
Those interested in experiencing NZXT’s first dual-chamber case should consider the H9 Elite, which is priced at 8990. However, the more affordable H9 Flow, priced at 6490, is also a great option.
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Title: NZXT H9 Flow computer case comes equipped with dual compartments and includes a pair of NZXT F120 RGB DUO fans that feature double-sided apertures