[Build Log] NZXT H440 "Chaos"

[Tweakin]

It's been a long time since I had a steel case, been working with Lian Li for as long as I can remember!

Initially, the overall build is really nice with no sharp edges that I've found so far. The paint is very smooth and looks great (white case).

Layout for cable management is better then I originally thought, but the case is also smaller then I originally thought...pictures add 10 inches!

The new Fans are nice to look at, but they also feel like typical $8 fans...nothing special. Unless they are uber quiet, they will be gone tonight! I hope to get them tested tonight as I start laying out my final plan of attack.

Packing was perfect, no scratches or dents, but around the case you can find a mixture of white rivets and black rivets...strange. I'll fix that later.

It was also nice to find out that the entire front cage assembly can be removed! This would really open up the front of the case for a large rad and make life easier to plumb.

That's all I have for now, but I can't remember the last time I was excited about a case!!!

edit: I've also changed the name of this build as it has gone through so many changes, it has become "chaos" for me! The following is a detailed list of the components I've used to date:

Chaos II Infrastructure:
NZXT H440
Gigabyte Sniper G1 x87
ASRock x97 Extreme 4
Gigabyte G1 Sniper z97
Corsair Vengeance Pro 16GB
Intel i5-4760k
Intel i7-4970k
EVGA GTX 760 x2
Seasonic X-850 PSU
SanDisk Extreme II 240Gb (OS)
SanDisk Extreme II 480Gb (Data)

Thermal Management:
Alphacool NexXoS ST-30 360mm Rad
Alphacool NexXoS XT-45 360mm Rad
Alphacool NexXoS GTX-760 Full Block x2
XSPC Intel RayStorm CPU Block
Swiftech MCP-35x Pump
Swiftech MCP-35x Heat Sink
NB-eLoop BP-3 x3
NB-eLoop BP-2 x3
BitsPower Z-Multi 250
BitsPower Compression Fittings 3/8 x 5/8

Attire:
Lutro0 Custom Sleeving (Green, White & Black)

Mods:
Partial Cage Removal
Modified Window Treatment
Top and Front Air Screens (Maybe)
White Carbon Fiber Skin (Maybe)

 

[Spike]

I have only owned a single NZXT case (mostly Antecs) and I was VERY impressed with the quality, cable routing, and acoustics, especially when you consider I only paid $45 for it! I have not built a PC since buying that case and I have a spare Antec dark fleet in the closet so my next build will go in that. However, after that case I may switch entirely over to NZXT based on my one experience. Obviously I don't buy expensive or high end cases, I tend to go low to mid level, but these still have impressed me.

 

[Tweakin]

It appears that the fan port will support 10 fans with a total power limit of 30 watts.

No info on the LED Hub...

 

[Tweakin]

I have only owned a single NZXT case (mostly Antecs) and I was VERY impressed with the quality, cable routing, and acoustics, especially when you consider I only paid $45 for it! I have not built a PC since buying that case and I have a spare Antec dark fleet in the closet so my next build will go in that. However, after that case I may switch entirely over to NZXT based on my one experience. Obviously I don't buy expensive or high end cases, I tend to go low to mid level, but these still have impressed me.

Like I stated earlier, all I've been using for as long as I can remember is Lian Li cases...I was expecting a much heavier case, but in fact It's not heavy at all. The top panel and the front panel are heavy and solid, and the whole case feels like it could take a beating...which I'm going to give it!

 

[codyray10]

Nice case. I recently picked up the NZXT Phantom 530 and the thing is a beast compared to the Antec 900 it replaced. Great cable routing, hard drive mounting, the fan hub is nice also

 

[krnmastersgt]

The H440 looks pretty damn nice, and I've been a fan of NZXT after 2 customer support run ins as their customer support is most excellent.

The overall internal design of the case looks great as well (though I'd have opted/waited for the black or red [or was it black and red...] model) but how are you liking the airflow? When I saw the case it struck me as a weird balance point of a silence optimized system and a performance enthusiast system but suffered on both fronts from trying to do both.

 

[Tweakin]

The H440 looks pretty damn nice, and I've been a fan of NZXT after 2 customer support run ins as their customer support is most excellent.

The overall internal design of the case looks great as well (though I'd have opted/waited for the black or red [or was it black and red...] model) but how are you liking the airflow? When I saw the case it struck me as a weird balance point of a silence optimized system and a performance enthusiast system but suffered on both fronts from trying to do both.

The other case is Black w/red accents...and since I really don't like red and have had black cases for so long, I wanted a change. I wish this would have had a black interior with the white exterior...so I'm thinking about changing that as part of this build.

As for airflow, I'm all water but I will say it's a straight shot from the front of the case to the back...and with 3 120's I would have to think it's pretty good...especially if you took the top fans and extracted the hot air out.

For now, I'm just starting to design the interior around multiple rads.

 

[Tweakin]

Well, I've had some time to design and now it's time to dissemble, mod, prep and paint! I'm still on the edge of a two-tone interior with black and white carbon fiber or powder coating in Satin Black and gloss white accents to include green illumination....decisions, decisions, decisions.....

Waiting on some quotes for Satin Black Powder Coating...hope it's not too much! Both of the Alphacools should be here this week, along with the Carbon Fiber wrap, tubing and more fans plus my external dvd-burner.

I'm really going to need to sell some of my shop stuff to pay for all this...sheesh, it's getting out of hand!

 

[rpjkw11]

I have a white Phantom 630. The630 came out just as I was making a final decision on the 820. I currently use a Phanteks Enthoo Primo, but my brain is looking at several scenatios in which I could "justify" the 440. Failing that, I'll buy one anyway, white, and make use of it somehow. I am very impressed with this case and I'll use an external usb ODD.

 

[Tweakin]

...I'll use an external usb ODD...

I've been looking at a Samsung external writer also...$30 in...wait for it...white! Then I thought, maybe it should be black as a contrast...I'm a mess!

 

[Tweakin]

Starting to do final mock-up for clearance with the rads before paint. I tried dual 45mm rads but this was a total no-go, So I'll be going with the XT-45 in Push-Pull up front and the ST-30 in Push on top.

and

I have also tried to add a semi brushed aluminum look to the bezel

Now I have to finish the wiring and led changes to match my scheme...but my work desk is really starting to clutter up...

 

[Subyman]

Nice. I'm considering going from a 550d to the h440. I'm going to need the dual 360's once I add another 780.

 

[Tweakin]

Nice. I'm considering going from a 550d to the h440. I'm going to need the dual 360's once I add another 780.

This is probably the nicest mid-tower case I have ever worked on. I wish it was aluminum like a Lian-Li, but it's so easy to work on. On top you are limited to a 30mm (360) rad as you can see, but up front you could run a massive 80mm you really wanted to, in push-pull without an issue.

It appears that they are back-ordered all over the place...guess I was lucky to get mine early.

 

[SimsReaper]

Oh wow. Nice! You're doing a full paint workup on your 440. I'll be following this one for sure looking for any tips. And ya, I got caught in the backorder fiasco. Actually it only appears bad with the black/red cases. They apparently had a painting issue with them, and had to postpone some of the shipping. That's what I've heard at least, not sure of the veracity.
Anyways, I'll be checking this out,
Cheers!

 

[Tweakin]

It will be interesting to see the two upon completion as we have totally different schemes, yet our components are not "that" different...

I look at your post every day to see what you've done! I will say that in person, my "brushed aluminum" trick to the bezel looks cool! Only wish I had your reservoirs in my case!

Did you get any eta on your case?

 

[Tweakin]

Spent most of the night confirming my measurements for the reservoir location. It's going to be tight with what I have in mind.

Almost finished with the bezel, but I'm going to dim the led's down a little more. I want a glow not illumination...As you can see, I'm still not set on the tubing color, Clear, White, Black or Green...

 

[Tweakin]

Started working with the 3-M Carbon Wrap...just practice pieces for now. I'm also getting ready to test out all my assorted fans on the new rads. Hoping the NB e-loops perform, but I'm also testing out the new NZXT FN v2 fans in push and also in push-pull as they were pretty quiet when I first spun them up...they are only $9! Not a pretty gloss white like the e-loop, but the flat white looks really nice under lighting.

Edit: Well, the good news is the NZXT FNv2 fans push good air at low rpms, the bad news is all three of mine have a motor tick...barely audible, but I could hear it. I also setup the e-loop and the gt-14's on the same rad and using my scientific paper flapper, the gt-14's push more air...but the e-loops sound and look better.

 

[SimsReaper]

Tweakin, you gotta throw me an update bro. I'm stuck waiting for my case and need to live vicariously through your mod :sneaky:

 

[Tweakin]

Tweakin, you gotta throw me an update bro. I'm stuck waiting for my case and need to live vicariously through your mod :sneaky:

So I've spent the last week talking to everyone in the area about getting my internals powder coated in Black Satin. Come to find out NZXT powder coats their cases already, which is a good thing. What it does mean is that chemicals and time are needed to remove the old powder correctly...and that means money. $300 was the best estimate I could get to do what I wanted, and that's not going to happen. I could buy another case (when they are available) for 1/3 of that and sell the other parts for cheap to someone who wants to paint and mod!!!

So, countless of hours later, I'm back at square 1 with my design plans for a color scheme. Anyway, I've been receiving the remaining parts over the last few days (backordered items) and it's all here except for the wiring which I haven't ordered yet, and thankfully not.

My work room has taken a major hit, so I'm going to have to inventory, sort and clean up this mess before I do anything else...

 

[nitromullet]

My work room has taken a major hit, so I'm going to have to inventory, sort and clean up this mess before I do anything else...

This is the best kind of mess to have. Nothing but boxes full of new gear!

 

[krnmastersgt]

This is the best kind of mess to have. Nothing but boxes full of new gear!

Agreed! Only reason I don't have that mess laying around my room for my rebuild is because I stashed all the boxes in the garage :hmm:

So what are the options for the color scheme for this build? Stick with the white or just a non-ideal paint job for the case?

 

[Tweakin]

Agreed! Only reason I don't have that mess laying around my room for my rebuild is because I stashed all the boxes in the garage :hmm:

So what are the options for the color scheme for this build? Stick with the white or just a non-ideal paint job for the case?

Originally I was going with a white outside in Carbon Fiber Wrap with a black satin interior w green illumination, tubing and wiring.

Now, it looks like white on white and I'll probably use white tubing and white lighting...I just don't know. Black tubing looks great but gets lost and blends in.

 

[Tweakin]

This is the best kind of mess to have. Nothing but boxes full of new gear!

The little box's are the expensive ones...fittings and fans and such...

edit: Just received another box...I think I have ordered way too many fans! It may be time to update my FS thread...

 

[xD3aDPooLx]

Ill keep my eye on this one.

 

[Tweakin]

Final fitting of front rad and res with push/pull before reassembly...will most likely have to go with push only due to space, but I'm gonna stuff the beast!