We love the fact that NZXT bills this semi-silent-themed case as a "hassle-free experience." We wonder if the company was using the same case that we were, because we encountered quite a bit of hassle building a standard configuration into this smaller-than-usual chassis.

Excellent placement of (limited) cable-routing holes; ample air cooling; lovely looks; USB 3.0 support

Limited cable-management space; fans overpower soundproofing; too many screws; expensive

Over the past couple of year NZXT has really set the bar when it has come to computer case design,

– Incredibly sleek design; – Easy installation; – Large side panel window; – Power supply cover with light up NZXT logo; – 4 included fans and fan hub; – Watercooling support

– Some may not like that there are no optical drive bays

The NZXT H440 aims to make the new and revamped H series part of the mid-tower market. Offering no external drive bay is either gutsy or na?ve, but let us take a closer look to figure out whether NZXT managed to gun for the glory among silent mid-tower cases this time around.

The H440 packs a lot of smarts and flexibility into an attractive tower that won't break your bank account. It's long on storage and cooling capabilities, with outstanding cable management.

Sturdy steel body; Tons of cable management capability; Very versatile cooling mountings; Lack of 5.25-inch bays allows for better use of space

Some cheap-looking plastic accents; Needs a pinch more room under the motherboard tray; Illuminated logo branding through window

It's that awesome time of the year again when NZXT bestow upon the industry another premium grade chassis solution, this time with the release of their H440. The H440 is the latest entry into their H series, and somewhat of a sequel to their truly epic H630.

Clean looks in and out; Extensive support for air and water cooling; Four high quality fans pre-installed; Removable and washable air filters on all intakes; PSU and cable management shroud; Durable HDD bays; Clear side panel window; 10 port fan hub included; Robust build quality; Competitive price...

No 5.25″ drive bays; although we do appreciate that they've been removed to save space and make room for more cooling and hard drive bay

Kick starting 2014 computer case maker NZXT was quick to release their latest mid-tower chassis, the H440. This new computer case had been designed from the ground up with a redesigned interior and next generation FN V2 case fans...

Jumping right into things as I like to do lets concentrate on the design for a moment. NZXT truly put forth a massive effort in making sure the H440 was going to be one of the best cases on the market.

NZXT has continually demonstrated a willingness to improve its chassis solutions, and with the H440, the company has taken what it has learned thus far to deliver a mid-tower enclosure that meets the requirements of a modern-day build.

The NZXT H440 leaves us a little disappointed. We really want to be able to recommend it, not only because of the appearance but due to the many innovative features and clever design choices.

Let's talk about the lack of 5.25" external drive bays and get that out of the way right now. Obviously there are going to be people that feel this is a deal breaker. If you cannot live without an optical drive, this case is definitely not for you. It's as simple as that.