[Hardware] NZXT H9 Elite A good high-end PC chassis, though a definite homage to a Lian Li classic.

[Blackfire]

• As soon as I pulled the NZXT H9 Elite chassis out of the box Jacob pipes up about how it looks like the Lian Li O11 Dynamic(opens in new tab). And he just won't shut up about it. Though, to be fair, he has absolutely nailed it. There's no getting away from the fact this three-sided tempered glass PC mid-tower is practically a brushed aluminium copy of the classic Lian Li chassis.

• But that's really no bad thing, and the classic phrase about imitation being the sincerest form of flattery would seem to apply here. Lian Li makes a case beloved by many PC gamers, so why shouldn't NZXT make its own version?

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  Well, the issue is that it's not bringing anything particularly new to the party, apart from a higher price tag. Though it's worth saying that this H9 Elite(opens in new tab) is just $10 more than the O11 XL chassis of similar dimensions, which is $230. The NZXT case also comes in H9 Flow(opens in new tab) trim, which eschews the tempered glass top panel and therefore completely matches the mesh topside of the O11 XL.

   

   

  The H9 Flow is cheaper at $160, and all you're losing there is a triple-pack of F120 RGB Duo fans and that tempered glass top.

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  Either way, you get a PC chassis that's almost more of a presentation case. It will deliver the sort of system you'll see adorning stands at trade shows, or filling out the million or so 'check out my build' posts on every PC reddit from here to the heat death of the universe. 

• Y'know, those build posts that invariably use a Lian Li O11 Dynamic chassis right now. Okay, I promise I'll only mention that case one more time from now.

  One thing NZXT does well is make good chassis, and the H9 Elite is a really good high-end case. The tempered glass surrounds give it that presentation case/fish bowl effect that really shows off your supermodel components, and offers the chance for enough RGB lighting effects to make a real impact.

  And all while hiding the more workmanlike PC parts in a separate partition behind the motherboard. This partitioning allows for some clean cable management, or will at least let you hide your wire-y sins behind some sheet metal. I'm a big fan of this kind of compartmentalisation, especially when done sympathetically enough to provide ample space for your power supply and its attendant cabling to live without being crammed in.

  Corsair and Lian Li have been doing it for ages, and I've long been into it. I'm less into the sharp slice and dice of my fingers that fumbling around with Lian Li chassis in the past has resulted in. Case in point:

   

   

   

  https://www.pcgamer.com/nzxt-h9-elite-pc-case-review/