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We began this review of the NZXT N5 Z690 knowing full well the hardware is based on an ASRock Phantom Gaming 4 motherboard with the addition of some NZXT cosmetic touches.
This meant we had no expectations of any radical innovations but instead were keen to see how the N5 Z690 performed and, yes, whether it looks suitably pleasing to the eye. Let's get that part out of the way first; yup, the N5 Z690 looks fine and will smarten your PC build nicely.
When it comes to usability and performance it is slightly more of a mixed bag. We are confident that many customers buying the N5 Z690 will leave everything on Auto and will not dabble with the settings in the BIOS.
That means they will get Auto performance that delivers a decent gaming experience, while dedicated CPU tasks such as Blender and video editing are likely to suffer. From our perspective as hardware enthusiasts, that is clearly less than ideal – but realistically it is unlikely to be a problem for NZXT's target audience and that is the main priority.
We don't yet have a buy link for the NZXT N5 Z690 but we have been told the MSRP is £209.99.
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Pros:
- Smart styling.
- Good support for M.2 storage.
- DDR4 support helps you save money.
- Performance is decent.
Cons:
- CAM software can be flaky.
- The VRMs will not appeal to overclockers.
- Another 5V ARGB header would be useful.
- Single internal USB 2.0 header.
KitGuru says: NZXT N5 Z690 is cheap, cheerful and looks neat and tidy.
