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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.

Cooler Master HAF 500 (Mid-Tower ATX/Polygonal Mesh Front/3x 120mm ARGB Fans Included/Airflow-Focused)
Cooler Master

$140.00

Cooler Master Store

@ Cooler Master Store ›
NZXT H7 Flow (Mid-Tower ATX/High-Airflow Mesh Front/3x 120mm Fans Included/All-Rounder)
NZXT

$130.00

NZXT Store

@ NZXT Store ›

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

    RetailerCooler Master HAF 500NZXT 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.