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Cooler Master HAF 500 vs NZXT H7 Flow: Comparison
Cooler Master HAF 500 vs NZXT H7 Flow cpu cooler clearance compared
Start with cpu cooler clearance, because it is the widest measured gap between them: Cooler Master HAF 500 175 mm against NZXT H7 Flow 165 mm, 6% in favour of Cooler Master HAF 500. Motherboard support is not the same on both, E-ATX, ATX, mATX, ITX on the Cooler Master HAF 500 versus ATX, mATX, ITX on the NZXT H7 Flow. There is a split on panel type as well, Polygonal mesh front, tempered glass side on the Cooler Master HAF 500 versus Mesh front, tempered glass side on the NZXT H7 Flow. They differ on typical price too, 140 USD on the Cooler Master HAF 500 versus 130 USD on the NZXT H7 Flow. There is a split on dimensions as well, 494 x 231 x 468mm on the Cooler Master HAF 500 versus 460 x 230 x 480mm on the NZXT H7 Flow.
Who each one is for
The Cooler Master HAF 500 suits high-wattage airflow builds and E-ATX boards in a mid-tower footprint, though it is not built for noise-sensitive environments and showcase RGB builds without extra fans. The NZXT H7 Flow is the one to take for general-purpose gaming builds and buyers who want fans included stock, though it is the wrong buy for E-ATX motherboards and dual-chamber cable hiding fans. 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 H7 Flow (8/10): A safe, well-rounded mesh mid-tower with nothing to complain about at its price.
Cooler Master HAF 500 vs NZXT H7 Flow price
The Cooler Master HAF 500 asks 8% more, $140 against $130 for the NZXT H7 Flow.
What Cooler Master HAF 500 and NZXT H7 Flow have in common
Everything else lines up. Gpu clearance, included fans, radiator support, case type and front usb-c read the same on both, so those are not worth weighing.
Specs and benchmarks
Brand
- Cooler Master HAF 500
- Cooler Master
- NZXT H7 Flow
- NZXT
Motherboard Support
- Cooler Master HAF 500
- E-ATX, ATX, mATX, ITX
- NZXT H7 Flow
- ATX, mATX, ITX
Case Type
- Cooler Master HAF 500
- Mid-Tower
- NZXT H7 Flow
- Mid-Tower
Model
- Cooler Master HAF 500
- HAF 500
- NZXT H7 Flow
- H7 Flow
Panel Type
- Cooler Master HAF 500
- Polygonal mesh front, tempered glass side
- NZXT H7 Flow
- Mesh front, tempered glass side
GPU Clearance
- Cooler Master HAF 500
- 400 mm
- NZXT H7 Flow
- 400 mm
Typical Price
- Cooler Master HAF 500
- 140 USD
- NZXT H7 Flow
- 130 USD
CPU Cooler Clearance
- Cooler Master HAF 500
- 175 mmBest
- NZXT H7 Flow
- 165 mm-6%
Included Fans
- Cooler Master HAF 500
- 3
- NZXT H7 Flow
- 3
Radiator Support
- Cooler Master HAF 500
- Front up to 360mm, top up to 360mm
- NZXT H7 Flow
- Front up to 360mm, top up to 360mm
Front USB-C
- Cooler Master HAF 500
- Yes
- NZXT H7 Flow
- Yes
Dimensions
- Cooler Master HAF 500
- 494 x 231 x 468mm
- NZXT H7 Flow
- 460 x 230 x 480mm
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 H7 Flow if you already have it on hand or find it at a lower price.
Price comparison
| Retailer | Cooler Master HAF 500 | NZXT H7 Flow |
|---|---|---|
| Cooler Master Store | $140.00 View on Cooler Master Store | |
| NZXT Store | $130.00 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 H7 Flow
8 / 10 Expert Rating
A safe, well-rounded mesh mid-tower with nothing to complain about at its price.




