TO BE HONEST, we’d hoped that NZXT’s Smart Device cases were just a phase. It wasn’t that these fan-hub-meets-RGB-controller boxes were useless, but they also didn’t do much that free desktop software couldn’t do, and their inclusion bumped up the price of every i-suffied case that contained one. The H500 (Shopper 368), for example, was £70: a significant £30 saving on the H500i.
However, NZXT has decided it’s time for a refresh, and the Smart Device is back, as the Smart Device V2. There’s still a choice between the H510i and the non-smart H510 (both have the same launch prices as their H500 series counterparts), but only the former, on test here, has the little CAM-powered box.
The V2 edition is, in fairness, improved quite significantly. It now has two RGB channels instead of just one, so you no longer have to choose between controlling the included addressable light strips or a multitude of RGB-equipped fans.
BODY DOUBLE
Does that make it worth the extra cash? Not really. Even if it means giving up the automated, dynamic aspect of the Smart Device V2’s approach to fan control, we’d still rather save £30 and stick to fine-tuning fan speeds or lighting colours through software.
Denne historien er fra November 2019-utgaven av Computer Shopper.
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Denne historien er fra November 2019-utgaven av Computer Shopper.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
XIAOMI Mi Mix 3 5G
VERDICT This is the most affordable of the first 5G smartphones, but even with great hardware, the service isn’t yet worth the expense
RHA T20 Wireless
VERDICT They’re not cheap, but these well-designed earphones deliver superb sound quality
Protect And Preserve
Data might be A Valuable Commodity, But It’s Remarkably Easy To Lose Or For Others To Get Their Hands On. Mike Bedford Provides Guidance On How To Preserve, Recover And Destroy Data, And Looks At The Technologies Involved
NZXT H510i
VERDICT Some qualities shine through, but this is an underwhelming case from a maker we know can do better
Kicking Off A New Era Of Football?
With the new football season well and truly under way, David Crookes talks to Jon Hare about reviving the spirit of Sensible Soccer with a new, more sociable offering that he hopes will avoid an own goal
NAIM Mu-so 2
VERDICT A luxurious and fine-sounding slab of metal, but for most homes it won’t be worth the expense
Motorola One Vision
VERDICT The One Vision comes close to being a brilliant mishmash of tech – shame about the camera
JBL Xtreme 2
VERDICT With top-quality sound and a versatile design, this is a great – if expensive – rugged Bluetooth speaker
HUAWEI MateBook 13
VERDICT What the MateBook 13 lacks in flourish, it makes up for in value and performance
GIGABYTE X570 Aorus Master
VERDICT A loaded and forward-thinking motherboard, but not one that fully justifies its high price
