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Cooler Master HAF 500 vs NZXT H5 Elite: Comparison
Cooler Master HAF 500 vs NZXT H5 Elite: the cpu cooler clearance difference
On cpu cooler clearance the spread is 6%, Cooler Master HAF 500 175 mm against NZXT H5 Elite 165 mm, so Cooler Master HAF 500 takes it. They differ on radiator support too, Front up to 360mm, top up to 360mm on the Cooler Master HAF 500 versus Front 280mm, Top 240mm on the NZXT H5 Elite. They differ on motherboard support too, E-ATX, ATX, mATX, ITX on the Cooler Master HAF 500 versus ATX, Micro-ATX, Mini-ITX on the NZXT H5 Elite. There is a split on panel type as well, Polygonal mesh front, tempered glass side on the Cooler Master HAF 500 versus Tempered glass front and side on the NZXT H5 Elite.
Cooler Master HAF 500 vs NZXT H5 Elite: which one fits your build
The Cooler Master HAF 500 is the one to take for high-wattage airflow builds and E-ATX boards in a mid-tower footprint, though it is the wrong buy for noise-sensitive environments and showcase RGB builds without extra fans. The NZXT H5 Elite suits mid-range gaming PCs prioritizing looks over max airflow, though it is not built for high-heat CPU/GPU combos needing maximum front airflow and E-ATX motherboards. The same goes for RGB builds that don't want to buy a separate fan hub. Our rating of the Cooler Master HAF 500 (8/10): A strong airflow mid-tower for people who like the HAF 700's looks but not its size. Our rating of the NZXT H5 Elite (8/10): good value once you factor in the included RGB fans and controller, but pick the H5 Flow instead if airflow matters more than looks.
Where the two are identical
Where they agree, they agree completely, gpu clearance, included fans, case type and front usb-c included, so the decision does not turn on any of those.
Specs and benchmarks
Motherboard Support
- Cooler Master HAF 500
- E-ATX, ATX, mATX, ITX
- NZXT H5 Elite
- ATX, Micro-ATX, Mini-ITX
Case Type
- Cooler Master HAF 500
- Mid-Tower
- NZXT H5 Elite
- Mid-Tower
Panel Type
- Cooler Master HAF 500
- Polygonal mesh front, tempered glass side
- NZXT H5 Elite
- Tempered glass front and side
GPU Clearance
- Cooler Master HAF 500
- 400 mm
- NZXT H5 Elite
- 400 mm
CPU Cooler Clearance
- Cooler Master HAF 500
- 175 mmBest
- NZXT H5 Elite
- 165 mm-6%
Included Fans
- Cooler Master HAF 500
- 3
- NZXT H5 Elite
- 3
Radiator Support
- Cooler Master HAF 500
- Front up to 360mm, top up to 360mm
- NZXT H5 Elite
- Front 280mm, Top 240mm
Front USB-C
- Cooler Master HAF 500
- Yes
- NZXT H5 Elite
- Yes
Which one should you pick?
Choose Cooler Master HAF 500 if you want the higher GPU clearance (400 mm vs 400 mm), the higher CPU cooler clearance (175 mm vs 165 mm) and the higher included fans (3 vs 3).
Choose NZXT H5 Elite if you already have it on hand or find it at a lower price.
Price comparison
| Retailer | Cooler Master HAF 500 | NZXT H5 Elite |
|---|---|---|
| Cooler Master Store | $140.00 View on Cooler Master Store | |
| NZXT Store | View on NZXT Store |
Disclaimer: The price and specification of the given product may differ from the actual product. Please confirm on the retailer's website before buying.
Verdict
Cooler Master HAF 500
8 / 10 Expert Rating
A strong airflow mid-tower for people who like the HAF 700's looks but not its size.
NZXT H5 Elite
8 / 10 Expert Rating
Good value once you factor in the included RGB fans and controller, but pick the H5 Flow instead if airflow matters more than looks.