Zalman z9 black. Zalman Z9 Plus case: budget option with plenty of fans

The Korean company Zalman, since its founding (1999), has been producing and developing all kinds of cooling systems for PCs, and the designers' priority remains the quietness and convenience of the devices.

Until recently, the brand did not develop its presence in the computer case market, but nevertheless, this did not prevent the company from developing a new direction in a relatively short period of time. Although Zalman’s assortment cannot boast of a wide selection of models, all of them, without exception, deserve close attention.

By launching the “heavyweight” of the TNN series, with passive cooling of the internals, the company proved that it is indeed able to replenish the segment with unique and quiet cases. Subsequent representatives in the form of the Z-Machine series for a long time held leading positions in various ratings and were considered the standard of a high-quality gaming case.

The hero of today's article is the U3 case: an overview of the characteristics, advantages, advantages and disadvantages of the model. The decisive opinion is formed by analyzing reviews from both specialists and ordinary users.

Dimensions

The design of the Zalman Z9 U3 is characterized as an ATX Middle Tower form factor and looks like a typical mid-tower. The dimensions of the model are appropriate: length - 504 mm, width - 207 mm, height 464 mm with a weight of 7.2 kg. The case weighs quite impressively for its size (analogues do not exceed 6.0 kg), but this fact can only be attributed to the advantages of the line, since the greater mass allows for more vibration to be absorbed.

Appearance

Externally, the Z9 looks three-dimensional and not as angular as the previous models. The chassis of the line is made of 0.8mm thick steel, the same can be said about the side panels. All edges of the case are carefully rolled, which virtually eliminates cuts and injuries during the assembly of computer components. The top and front panels are made of high-quality and fairly durable plastic with a recognizable brand design.

Zalman Z9 U3 black comes exclusively in one color range - deep black. The outer walls of the case are painted with matte paint, pleasant and rough to the touch. The coating prevents fingerprints, dust and dirt from collecting.

Design

The Z9 U3 model differs from the rest of the line in that it has a transparent, slightly curved window on the main wall of the case. It is located there almost along the entire perimeter of the wall. The diameter of the ventilation holes is quite impressive - 5.5 mm, so the reviews of many users indicate the problem of dust accumulation. This issue can be resolved by blowing out the system unit and daily ventilation of the room where the computer is installed.

The other side of the case is completely blank and is no different from the general style of the model. Both doors are secured using special grooves located in the chassis and screws on the rear panel of the Zalman Z9 U3. The instructions provide for simple dismantling of the side covers due to the recess where the fasteners with a plastic knurled head are located in the rear of the case.

The front panel of the Z9 is almost completely perforated, and its main attribute is the compartments for devices: 5.25 inches - 4 pcs. and one 3.5 inches.

The upper part of the Zalman Z9 U3 is reserved for the control panel. It is molded into the body and functions with it as one whole, so only three 5.25-inch devices can be used in the model.

Control Panel

On the left side of the panel you can see a digital display with a temperature sensor and a control wheel for the speed of rotation of the cooling screws. Manufacturers heeded user feedback about the lack of USB outputs and equipped the panel with four 2.0 type ports. Version “USB” 3.0 is not included in the model as a class, which is very disappointing, so you have to carry out an additional upgrade of the case to avoid problems of synergy with connected gadgets and especially with external hard drives.

The middle part of the control panel is reserved for microphone and headphone outputs. The board supports international standards such as AC'97 and HAD. On the right side there are sensors for the hard drive and a sleep/restart button. All control indicators, buttons and ports are signed, so it’s quite difficult to make a mistake or miss.

Front Panel

At the top end of the Zalman Z9 U3 there is a power button in the brand’s characteristic style - a 45-degree bend and pleasant diode sensors that light up with a bluish glow when the computer is turned on.

The lower part of the front panel is made in a defiant style and its appearance resembles the letter Z. Here you can also see a compartment for 3.5-inch devices with a plug identical to the body. At the bottom there is a fan with a standard size of 120x120x25 mm, coupled with a discreet LED backlight. Plus, the fan is protected by a removable dust filter, to clean which you will need to remove the front panel of the Zalman Z9 U3 black case. The rear panel overview is similar to the entire Z9 line.

Back panel

The lower part is reserved for installing a power supply; there is a cutout for an I/O plug and a mounting compartment for a 120 mm fan. Perforated covers cover seven expansion card slots. It’s sad that the plugs require breaking out and are disposable, so if a discrete device is removed from the system unit, there is nothing to replace them with. User reviews have repeatedly focused the company's attention on this problem. Next to the plugs there is a ventilation grill that runs along the entire length of the slots.

I am glad that Zalman did not forget about the liquid cooling system, providing holes for the hoses. They, as expected for this type of system, are located under the fan in the amount of two, covered with special inserts in the form of rubber petals. The diameter of the cooling holes assumes a hose of no more than 18 mm in diameter, but this can be increased to 20 mm by removing the rubber insert.

The Zalman Z9 U3 case stands on four plastic legs, where at the ends you can see rubber inserts that prevent crawling on the surface and additionally dampen vibration.

Internal structure

The color of the inside of the model is identical to the outside - matte black. The layout, although standard, is well thought out and time-tested. The lower part is reserved for the power supply; above there is a place for the motherboard, which is attached to the tray using screws from the kit and hexagonal racks, and it is worth mentioning separately that the tray itself cannot be dismantled and is molded into the case.

In the front there are 5.25-inch compartments and, as mentioned above, only three of the four are free. The hard drives are placed in a special non-removable basket at the bottom. Hard drives are installed without screws, using local latches. The maximum number of HDDs is up to five pieces of 3.5-inch format.

Zalman Z9 U3 has an advanced cable management system, which ensures that wires are pulled behind the motherboard, which significantly frees up space inside the case and, as a result, provides more efficient ventilation from dust and other polluting factors. Positive user reviews allow us to conclude that the system is 100% justified.

Cooling system

Zalman engineers have once again earned all sorts of praise by providing the Z9 case with a powerful and quiet cooling system. Its main components are branded fans, which are “scattered” around the entire perimeter of the Zalman Z9 U3. It is better to review and install standard fans together with the video card and processor cooling systems, because due to the specifics of these elements, the intake or exhaust properties of each fan will be adjusted individually. That is, taking into account the active or passive cooling of each peripheral device, it is possible to install “blowing” or “blowing” of the blades.

Summarizing

Undoubtedly, the Z9 U3 model can be classified as a gaming case. The existing cooling system can cope even with several powerful video accelerators. Fans of modding will like the unit thanks to the blue LEDs scattered throughout the case and fans, while overclockers will appreciate the model for its thoughtful layout and the same impeccable cooling system.

• refined and pleasing to the eye design;
• quality of assembly and materials is at a high level;
• built-in thermometer and rheobass;
• the ability to install additional fans and other case upgrades;
• there are dust filters on all inlets;
• The hard drive mounts are equipped with good anti-vibration pads.

• The fan backlight can only be turned off in a “rough” way (removing the diodes);
• The rotation speed is regulated by reobass in only two of all possible fans.

The average price of a Zalman Z9 U3 case on Yandex Market is 5,000 rubles.

The Zalman Z9 case has long enjoyed well-deserved popular love, both among enthusiasts and ordinary users. Perhaps because of this, the company hesitated for a long time to make any changes to this model, other than cosmetic ones. When I finally saw the updated Zalman Z9 Neo chassis on the official website, I simply couldn’t believe my eyes. It seemed to me that instead of the website of a Korean company, I ended up somewhere in the domain of Antec or Fractal Design. But no, the address turned out to be correct and it was indeed a Zalman Z9, but only with the Neo prefix. Well, let's see if there is at least something left in it from the previous model, except for the name.

Characteristics

Model
Product page	zalman.com
Type of shell	Midi-Tower
Dimensions, mm	512(H) x 205(W) x 485(D)
Material	ABS plastic, steel
Weight, kg	6,8
Color	Black
Form factor	ATX, MicroATX, Mini-ITX
5.25″ devices	2
3.5″ external devices	-
3.5″ / 2.5″ internal devices	4 / 6 (maximum, depending on configuration)
Supported number of expansion slots	7
Fans	front - 2 x 120 / 140 mm (2 x 120 mm installed) top - 2 x 120 mm (installed) rear — 1 x 120 mm (installed)
Interface connectors	2 x USB 2.0, 2 x USB 3.0, microphone input and headphone output
Other	Dust filters on the front and bottom, side window, illumination of the two top fans and USB ports, plugs on the USB ports
Recommended cost, $	88

Packaging and delivery

The new Zalman packaging style is not much different from the old one. On both sides there is a schematic representation of the case. For some reason, tables with specifications and some names are pasted onto the box rather than printed on it. Perhaps because there are photographs of other revisions of this chassis on the Internet. And the boxes are the same for everyone. Protection against damage is standard - foam dampers, bags and stickers.

The delivery set, assembled in a neat plastic cosmetic bag, includes:

• assembly instructions;
• technical quality control sheet;
• five cable ties.
• three additional motherboard stands;
• four plastic thumbscrews for the power supply;
• eight body screws;
• 12 flat head screws to secure 3.5″ drives;
• six screws for fixing storage baskets;
• 18 small screws for motherboard, 2.5″ drives and 5.25″ devices.

Appearance

Nothing remains from the mesh, ventilated design of its predecessor in the Z9 Neo. The front panel of the case is solid, with a specific gray mirror paint that makes the plastic look like polished aluminum. The company logo appears at the bottom. Control buttons and ports are located on the top edge.

The front panel is a door that opens to the right (the opening opening is located at the top left), and its reverse side is lined with a layer of sound insulation. It is held on by two magnets and three loops. Behind the door at the top there are two seats for 5.25″ devices, closed with solid plugs. The lower half of the front panel is occupied by a plastic ventilation grill, behind which a metal mesh dust filter is visible.

The square system start key is located on the left, separate from other elements. Its circular illumination combines power and drive activity indicators. The reset button, two 3.5 mm audio ports, two USB 2.0 and two USB 3.0 are placed horizontally on the ledge on the right. The ports, by the way, have rubber plugs to prevent the rapid accumulation of dust. Quite a nice solution, however, the plugs are not attached to anything, and it is very easy to accidentally lose them.

The left side panel is decorated with a large smoky acrylic window, measuring 350x250 mm. It has curved corners and protrudes 5 mm above the surface of the door. On the side edges of the front and top panels you can see a row of ventilation holes for taking in cold air and removing hot air. The side door is removable towards the rear and is equipped with a stamped handle. It is held on by two plastic knurled screws.

The inside of the door is equipped with good stiffening ribs. The window is supported by ordinary metal petals, without any gaskets.

The right panel is solid and, in general, similar in design to the left. There are also slots for ventilation in the front and top edges on this side.

The top panel is plastic and its design is slightly unusual. At the back of the top, where either ventilation holes or a solid wall are usually made, you can see a kind of transparent plastic rim that covers the recess.

This bezel actually covers the vent and the instructions even recommend removing it if the user prefers better ventilation over less noise. Otherwise, heated air is released under pressure from fans through narrow slots around the perimeter of the rim.

The rear view of the Zalman Z9 Neo is not much different from the previous model. A ventilation grille behind which is secured a 120mm exhaust propeller, seven expansion slots with ventilated plugs (and this time, lo and behold, they are reusable) and mounting holes for the power supply, with which it can be oriented with the fan up or down.

But under the power supply there is a high-quality dust filter that can be easily removed for cleaning.

At the bottom of the case on the outside, in addition to the filter, there are four holes through which you can additionally secure a 3.5″ hard drive inside and two larger holes, the purpose of which is unclear. Nothing more than a drain, in case of an accident in the SVO circuit.

The four plastic legs are 22 mm high and are glued underneath with rubber pads, which is positive. The cutout at the bottom of the front panel is needed for ease of dismantling it.

Let's see what has changed inside.

Internal organization

The Zalman Z9 Neo case supports vertical installation of ATX, MicroATX and Mini-ITX motherboards. The maximum permissible height of a processor cooler is 160 mm (in some cases - up to 165 mm if the cooler falls into the plane of the side window). The possible length of expansion cards reaches 385 mm, taking into account the fans installed at the front. The permissible length of the power supply is up to 180 mm, taking into account permanent cables.

Under the top panel, two 120 mm transparent fans with blue backlight, model ZA1225CSL, based on a sleeve bearing, are preinstalled on the hood. They are connected using Molex connectors, the standard rotation speed is 1200 rpm. In general, the propellers can be described as fairly quiet, although with a slight chirping sound. In addition to the 25 mm thick fans located in the recess, there is another 30 mm margin to the edge of the motherboard under the top panel, which means that almost any standard 240 mm SVO radiator will fit here. True, in the latter case the holes for pulling the wires will slightly overlap, but this is a minor problem.

The rear panel has a pre-installed 120mm fan with a white impeller model ZA1225ASL. This is a plain bearing propeller with a maximum rotation speed of 1200 rpm, with a noise level of 45 dB (A). It is able to start reliably at 5V, 500rpm and 33dB(A) noise. In general, this is a fairly decent propeller in terms of acoustics, from which you can hear overtones in the form of a buzz only when you are very close. Its black three-pin power cord is 430mm long.

The blanks for all PCI slots are reusable and secured with plastic thumbscrews. This is an undoubted progress compared to the previous version of the chassis.

Almost the entire space below is occupied by a metal non-removable box that has become fashionable among manufacturers these days. Under it, in a volume separate from the main part of the chassis, the power supply, cables from it and drives are hidden. Opposite the drives on the front and sides there are ventilation holes. At the top of the casing there are two oval cutouts for pulling wires. The distance from the box to the front panel is 55 mm, which means you can also install the SVO radiator complete with fans there.

At the front, for blowing, two more 120 mm fans of the ZA1225ASL model are pre-installed, similar in characteristics to the rear propeller, but with a Molex power connection. As a result, the chassis is equipped with a full set of five 120 mm fans, four of which are powered via a Molex, and one (rear) is powered via a three-pin connector.

In the motherboard tray, next to the front fans, there are two perforated grilles into which you can install two 2.5″ drives using screws.

Two metal trays on top can accommodate not only 5.25″ devices, but also serve as a basket for one 3.5″ or 2.5″ drive. There are no quick latches here, but if necessary, the trays themselves can be quickly and easily removed by unscrewing a few screws from the side and front panels.

The motherboard tray has undergone a number of positive changes. In particular, the cutout for the reinforcement plate of the processor cooler has increased significantly in size. The main holes for cable routing are now covered with rubber curtains. The number of eyelets for attaching cable ties has also increased noticeably and they are now located in all the right places.

There was also such a nice detail as three reusable Velcro cable ties. And for laying wires behind the pallet there is up to 22 mm of space in width.

A basket with two storage slides is located at the front of the chassis. At its bottom, if desired, you can also attach a third 3.5″ drive, securing it with screws to the bottom panel.

The sleds can accept one 3.5″ hard drive, which is simply inserted into their plastic mounts, or one 2.5″ drive, which must be secured with screws. The side projections of the carriage are equipped with corrugated rubber pads that act as vibration-isolating dampers. Although the drive connectors are turned towards the plastic handle during installation, it does not interfere with their connection at all, since it is located slightly above these ports.

On the seat of the power supply there are rubber dampers, both at the bottom in the form of slaps and on the side of the casing, in the form of a large insert made of soft material. When selecting a power supply for this case, do not exceed the length of 180 mm, otherwise placing it together with the wires in this case will be extremely problematic.

The front panel, unlike the old Zalman Z9, can be dismantled very easily - you just need to carefully pull it by the protrusion from below, snapping off all eight tulip-type fasteners in sequence. There are wires attached to the top of the panel, so be sure to free them before removing the front.

Front view of the metal part of the front panel. The 5.25″ compartments are closed with disposable plugs. And opposite the fans there is a mesh installed that acts as a dust filter. It is not very convenient to remove and clean it.

Behind the filter is a large-mesh honeycomb grille, to the long side openings of which two 120- or 140-mm fans, or radiators of 240 or 280 mm format can be attached. Although it would be better if this grille simply did not exist here, so as not to create unnecessary obstacles to the air flow.

The top panel can be easily removed after removing the front part of the case. It is also supported by eight tulip-type fasteners. There are no wires here, therefore, you can remove it without fear. Looking at how close the top vents are to the pre-mounted propellers, it's doubtful that any perceptible air movement is possible through the side perforations at all.

Two 120mm fans can be mounted on the protrusions of the top panel. The oblong holes allow you to install even “tricky” radiators here with a small space between the middle holes, like those produced by Corsair.

The set of wires includes four standard cables from system operation indicators and drive activity indicators, system start and reboot buttons, one USB 2.0 connector, an HD Audio cable and one USB 3.0 connector. The length of all cords is sufficient, the color of the wiring insulation is completely black.

Let's move on to assembling the system and its thermal test.

Assembly

The assembly of the system in the Zalman Z9 Neo case went without a single problem. In terms of ease of placement of components and access to them, routing of cables and their connections, the new version of the chassis turned out to be head and shoulders above the old one. The only point that can cause inconvenience is installing the power supply in the cramped space of the box at the bottom of the chassis. If the unit has a modular cable connection, it is better to connect all the wires to it in advance. Access to the reinforcement plate of the processor cooler is complete; you can install and remove it without dismantling the motherboard, something the old Z9 could not boast of. And especially worth noting are the included Velcro straps, thanks to which fixing all the cables behind the tray turns into an “easy walk.”

The darkening factor of the smoky side window is chosen quite well, and presents the contents of the case in a favorable light, hiding unnecessary details.

The lighting came out a little ambiguous. The inside of the chassis is illuminated by blue LEDs from the two top fans. In addition, part of the light passes through the rim of the top cover. The system start button and all four USB ports are illuminated around the perimeter. The drive activity indicator is combined with the backlight of the start key, and is highlighted with a brighter light when activated. In the light everything looks decent, but in the dark it’s very bright. In addition, the USB ports light up even after the system is turned off if power is supplied to the connector. And if the UEFI of the motherboard does not have a parameter responsible for managing USB power, then you will have to enjoy this radiance forever, or turn off the power supply from the outlet.

Test stand

To test the cooling efficiency of components in the Zalman Z9 Neo case, the following configuration was used:

• processor: Intel Core i7-2600K ([email protected] GHz, 1,330 V);
• cooler: Zalman CNPS10X Performa;
• motherboard: Gigabyte GA-Z77MX-D3H TH (Intel Z77);
• video card: ASUS R9270-DC2OC-2GD5 (AMD Radeon R9 270);
• memory: Kingston KHX24C11X3K4/16X (2x4 GB, DDR3-2133, 10-12-12-27-2T, 1.65 V);
• SSD: Crucial M4 CT064M4SSD2 (64 GB, SATA 6Gb/s);
• hard drive: Western Digital WD2000JS-00MHB0 (200 GB, SATA 3Gb/s, 7200 rpm);
• power supply: be quiet! Dark Power Pro 10 (550 W);
• thermal interface: Noctua NT-H1.

Testing methodology

The thermal load was created by simultaneously running LinX 0.6.5 stress tests with 2048 MB of dedicated memory and MSI Combustor 3.5.1.0 for 10 minutes after temperature stabilization. The hard drive was loaded with Crystal Disk Mark 5.0.3 x64. At the end of the test cycle, the system was idle for 10 minutes to determine minimum thermal performance. The ambient temperature was 26 degrees Celsius. The fan speeds of the processor cooler and video card are fixed at maximum speed. Peak system power consumption was 336 watts. Testing was carried out in a single comparison mode with an open stand. All preset propellers operated at the maximum available speeds.

Test results

Since the Zalman Z9 Neo has in its design a number of solutions inherent in cases with passive noise reduction, it is not very good in terms of cooling components. With the front door closed and the rim installed on the top panel, even with a full set of fans running at full speed, the component temperatures do not look very optimistic. The processor, power elements and motherboard heat up by seven degrees more, and the video card - by 14 degrees - by seven degrees compared to an open stand. And only the hard drive feels a little lighter in the case - by two and one degrees, under load and at idle, respectively. Therefore, I can rate the basic ventilation scheme in the case as “worse than average.” How can it be improved? Open the front door when there is a lot of stress on the components, remove the front dust filter, remove the top decorative bezel, and possibly cut off the top cover above the fans completely, replacing it with a grill grille or something similar.

conclusions

The updated Zalman Z9 Neo chassis has many improvements over its predecessor, the Z9. The appearance has become more pleasant and strict, the amount of internal space in the case has noticeably increased due to the removal of unnecessary compartments, the ability to lay wires has improved, a complete set of relatively quiet fans has appeared, and it has become possible to install air conditioning systems on the front and rear panels. This is all undoubtedly positive. After all, a number of painful problems were solved that stopped many people from purchasing this case.

However, all these improvements were not in vain, and the overall cost of the case increased slightly, since it stopped saving on matches (for example, on reusable plugs, a power supply filter, rubber curtains and Velcro for cable management). The second point that confuses me is the not very good ventilation system, due to which the system components will heat up more. For most casual users, this isn't a big deal, but for enthusiasts who are struggling to get every ounce of power out of their overclocked system, it can be a stumbling block.

In general, I liked the updated Zalman Z9 Neo based on all its parameters, and therefore it can be recommended for purchase when assembling any computer systems, with the exception of the hottest configurations.

If you belong to the so-called caste of IT enthusiasts involved in overclocking, modding and hunting for the latest and most powerful hardware, then the Zalman company needs no introduction to you. But today we will not talk about complex coolers and accessories, but about a simple “box” for your computer parts - the Zalman Z9 computer case of the Mid-ATX form factor.

Initially, the product was designed for those who value high performance, high quality and reasonable cost of the case. We decided to check whether Zalman managed to implement his plan.

As a veteran in the case and cooling market, Zalman is well aware of what a person wants when building a good computer. And the goal of the creators of the Z9 was a body that would combine rich functionality and a low price. Let's take a look at what Zalman Z9 offers us...

Zalman Z9 Specifications

Form factor
		207(W) x 464(H) x 504(D) mm
Materials		Plastic, steel
Motherboard compatibility		Standard ATX/m-ATX
PSU compatibility		Standard ATX/ATX12V
Support for large video cards		Full, 290 mm
Number of PCI slots
Drive and optical drive bays	External 5.25''
	Internal 3.5''
	External 3.5''
	Internal 2.5''
Fans	Frontal	One 120mm/140mm fan slot (120mm blue LED fan pre-installed)
		Space for two 120 mm/140 mm fans
		Space for one 120mm/140mm fan
		Space for one 120mm fan (120mm fan pre-installed)
		Space for two 120 mm fans
Front panel with I/O ports		Headphone jack, microphone jack, four USB 2.0 ports
Case color

Hull exterior

The appearance of the case is one of the most important factors influencing the buyer’s choice. If the case is perfect on the inside, but ugly on the outside, most people will simply ignore it and opt for another product, albeit less functional, but at the same time more attractive.

In the photo above you can see the front and left side parts of the Zalman Z9. The case looks quite stylish - it combines rigor, solidity and a sort of “sporty” element. The matte surface is painted black; in some places you can see glossy inserts, making the case even prettier. Fortunately, the “glossy madness”, kitsch and bad taste inherent in some (even more expensive!) similar products are completely absent here. The efforts made by Zalman to ensure that the case looks decent are quite noticeable.

The photo of the front part shows that all the requirements for cooling the inside of the case have been taken into account - pay attention to the unobtrusive letter “Z” formed in the lower part by a kind of “petals” that rise above the front panel, creating at the same time a pleasant asymmetry. On the top of the “facade” you can find the computer’s power button, and just below is the I/O panel with a variety of ports and sockets.

Underneath it, if you look closely, you can easily distinguish three five-inch compartments, covered with mesh plugs, and a little lower - one 3.5” compartment. We will look at all these points in more detail a little later.

Here is the back of the Zalman Z9 case. Behind the ventilation holes you can see a pre-installed 120 mm fan; under it, Zalman has prudently placed two holes covered with rubber rings - as you might guess, they will serve for the air cooler tubes. Also here you can note 7 slots for PCI cards and an empty hole for mounting the power supply, which is supposed to be placed at the bottom of the case.

South Korea knows how to create not only decent films, but also produce computer equipment under the Zalman brand: controllers, cooling systems, power supplies, system cases and even monitors. And if the reader thinks that all products are unique, and their quantities are limited (this is precisely the stupidity that many sellers justify the high cost of Zalman products), then he is very mistaken. In this article, a potential buyer will get acquainted with the cases of the Zalman Z9 line. Instructions, photos, reviews and reviews will help the reader decide on the purchase of a decent system unit.

Market positioning

The Zalman Z9 case in most stores is called an elite product, which is completely wrong. The manufacturer positions its brainchild as a high-quality product (note that many elite products, upon detailed study, turn out to be low-quality or have limited functionality). Therefore, Zalman products should be treated the same as any other on the market.

The small number of housing modifications on the Russian market is not due to limited quantities, but to the specifics of our market. Before the presentation of the new Zalman Z9, the company conducted marketing research and found that most Russians like large cases with a bunch of fans, lighting, and always a control panel with a thermometer. But the Germans prefer that the case does not make a single sound and does not twinkle like a Christmas tree; accordingly, the Koreans released a completely different, unique model of the case for their market.

First meeting

An ordinary system case, supplied without a power supply and costing about 10-12 thousand rubles, simply must have decent packaging and components. Here the manufacturer has something to surprise the future owner. It’s better to start the review with the box, which is huge. Within the walls of the Zalman company they worried about transportation, because upon opening the packaging, the buyer will find that the case itself does not take up much space inside, and all the free space is given over to stiffening ribs made of cardboard.

Inside, besides the device itself, the owner will not find anything, but upon removing it from the box, he will find that all spare parts for the case, instructions and manufacturer’s advertising brochures are located inside the spacious unit. It is worth noting that the Zalman Z9 instructions are complete and have a Russian translation. Mounting the motherboard, connecting interface connectors, installing drives and securing the power supply - everything is described in detail in the manual and is accompanied by color drawings.

About the build quality

It’s worth noting right away that all modifications of the Z9 line have the same device and differ only in appearance, and, accordingly, in price. The case, made of steel, has a huge weight (7.5 kilograms without a power supply), but this is a plus for most users. After all, all the steel walls of the device are very thick and are not capable of vibration during operation. For the owner, this is a guarantee of noiselessness, since many cheap cases are capable of resonance with the fans installed in the system and emit specific noise.

The buyer will also like the absence of a cutting edge on all Zalman Z9 steel elements. Assembling a computer will be much more efficient if the user is not afraid of cutting his hands on the edges of the case. As you would expect, the manufacturer used a welded connection only when creating the load-bearing part of the body; all other spare parts can be removed - a regular construction kit, which is very convenient during assembly.

Remote Control

As practice shows, a panel with a built-in thermometer and fan speed control is of interest to users in the first week of operation. After making sure that everything is fine, the owner forgets about the existence of the Zalman Z9 control panel. This is quite natural. But still, this panel needs to be given its due attention. The fact is that additional interfaces in the form of audio connectors and USB ports have a number of advantages over contacts located on the motherboard.

We are talking about wear resistance. For Zalman Z9 Plus, connecting external interfaces is a priority, and the manufacturer tried to make sure that the connectors do not get jammed during operation (in-house developed controllers are used). By the way, the panel has a USB 3.0 interface, which is rarely found in cheap Chinese cases.

About hard drives

A removable basket for installing magnetic disks will definitely please the owner, although it’s not so easy to figure out. The description of its installation is described in the manual on just one page. The main thing here is to keep track of the screws and monitor their size, so that after installing the drives in the Zalman Z9 chassis basket, you can mount the device correctly. Difficulties are possible, and if they arise, you should refer to the video instructions, which can be found in the media.

The only drawback in working with hard drives that was found in Zalman cases is the inability to install SSD drives in the basket. You can, of course, connect the drive and leave it hanging on the wires in the Zalman Z9 system unit, but this is somehow wrong. Upon a detailed inspection of the case, after removing the second protective cover, the user may find a strange cell at the level. For some reason, many people think that this is a connector for a cooler (cooling the video card from the back is original). In fact, this is a niche for an SSD drive. Even if it’s just one, it’s still nice.

Cooling system

A review of the Zalman Z9 case may lead the owner to think that the device will be quite noisy in operation, because 4 powerful fans, not counting the coolers of computer components, can produce a loud hum. It all depends directly on the user. In the initial state, the entire cooling system operates at the same frequency and by controlling the resistor on the control panel, the owner, when starting the computer for the first time, will have to adjust the fan speed to the operation of the system. This is not difficult to do - the resonance is clearly detected by human hearing.

In the future, during operation, you need to monitor the operation of the cooling system and lubricate the fan bearings in a timely manner (2 times a year exactly). Yes, this requires time, but, on the other hand, these actions will save the owner from noise or failure of coolers. Nothing complicated - open the Zalman Z9 case, remove the sticker, pry the valve with a needle and remove it, add two drops of machine oil, return the plug to its place and secure the sticker in its original position.

Manufacturer's defect

Without deviating from the topic of cooling, it is worth discussing where to install the Zalman Z9 case. The photo in the instructions for the device informs the owner that fresh air enters the system from below. But small plastic legs will not allow this to be done if the system unit is placed on the floor (carpet, rug). Be sure to use a stand or increase the length of the legs. This is an obvious flaw, considering that the power supply is located at the bottom of the case. All dust that accumulates on the floor is drawn into the system.

The Black case does not have a clamping partition for fixing the power supply. It is simply screwed to the body, as is implemented in cheap devices. This is also wrong. The PSU itself will not go anywhere, but the 120mm fan built into it will create vibration that can be perceptible by ear (the power supply housing may drum on the bottom of the case). Be sure to install rubber gaskets under the power supply.

System assembly

Difficulty during assembly can only arise when installing the motherboard. For unknown reasons, the manufacturer chose to make the carrier platform for installing the base board non-removable. Although, of course, this is not for everyone. Some people like to mount in the case, others prefer to mount all the components on a table. In any case, connecting the Zalman Z9 to the main power system still needs to be done inside the case.

It is worth noting that the device comes with a large set of screws and adapters for installation. You should not be upset if you discover an excess of consumables during the assembly process. The manufacturer simply provided the user with spare screws. True, as the owners of the case note in their reviews, the manufacturer saved on rubber gaskets. After all, the case and the computer components installed in it are made of metal. But in the end, this will not interfere with assembling and connecting the Zalman Z9.

Finally

In general, impressions of the body of the Korean giant Zalman are positive. The ease of assembly is excellent: all the necessary components can be removed, nothing rattles inside, there is no need to break out the partitions, and the metal itself does not have a cutting edge. Well-thought-out ventilation, using the laws of physics, perfectly circulates fresh air throughout the entire system (although for this you need to install the case on a stand). The complete absence of noise in the system is achieved by controlling the fan speed, which is also very convenient. Having analyzed the review of the Zalman Z9 case, we can safely conclude that this is one of the few devices that is truly made for the convenience of the user, and is not just another toy for beauty.

Company products Zalman in our country it is represented primarily by a variety of cooling systems and their components; Its computer power supplies are somewhat less known, but a case produced by this company was tested in our laboratory for the first time.

The external housing can be assessed in the attached video.

Layout

The Zalman Z9 Plus case is a single-volume miditower with a bottom-mounted power supply. The PSU itself is not included; and the instructions leave its orientation (fan up or down) at the discretion of the owner; it only emphasizes that in dusty rooms it is not recommended to install the power supply with the fan down.

The color of all parts of the body is black, as is now customary almost everywhere; The manufacturer does not offer other color solutions.

Air exhaust occurs through the top panel of the case, so there is no need to try to use the case as a stand for various useful things. In addition, there is an exhaust fan on the rear wall of the chassis.

There are four slots for 5.25-inch devices, but only the bottom three have access to the outside, and the top slot is occupied by a panel with connectors and indicators. It is also possible to install one 3.5-inch device with an output to the front panel.

Hard drives are installed in a transverse cage that has five slots for 3.5-inch devices; To install a 2.5-inch HDD or SSD into it, you will have to purchase adapters. However, it is still possible to place such devices in the case without additional costs: one in the existing 5-inch bay adapter, and the second in the most unexpected place - on the right side of the motherboard substrate there are four ears with holes for mounting screws. Of course, such places cannot be classified as easily accessible; but it’s good that at least some possibility of installing 2.5-inch drives is provided as standard, especially since the price is a pittance. But there are no docks with external access for quickly connecting drives - they are, of course, more convenient, but they also affect the price much more.

The case can accommodate full-size ATX motherboards, as well as increasingly compact board options. The choice of video cards is limited to models up to 290 mm in length.

Design

Case dimensions 464×207×504 mm (H×W×D), weight 7.2 kg (packed 8.4 kg).

According to our measurements, the chassis is made of 0.6 mm thick steel, and the removable side panels are made of 0.8 mm thick. A significant part of the left panel is occupied by ventilation holes, and there are also two small windows covered with transparent plastic; therefore, the use of sufficiently thick metal is quite justified.

The legs of the case are made in the form of plastic rectangles with rubber inserts, which should provide good shock-absorbing ability.

The front and top panels of the case are made of plastic, painted according to the mass. Both of them are bordered by a beveled frame, the surface of which is matte and slightly rough, and therefore hides handprints well. But it’s unlikely that anyone will touch them often; but those places where fingerprints will certainly appear are for some reason made glossy - this is the transition from the front to the top panel, on which the power button is located, and the panel adjacent to it in front with connectors and indicators.

At least half of the surface of the front part of the case is covered with a fine metal mesh: these include plugs for 5-inch slots and a Z-shaped cutout in the lower half of the front panel.

The Power button is located very conveniently - “on the forehead” of the case (the upper part of the front panel sloping back), so it will be noticeable and easily accessible in any location of the case - even on a table, even under a table. It also has a blue indicator built into it.

The rest of the controls and switching, as already mentioned, are located on the cover of the top 5-inch slot. Let's list from right to left: an oblong HDD activity indicator (red), below it is a Reset button of the same shape; then a vertical block of two USB 2.0 connectors; then 3.5 mm headphone and microphone jacks, another block of two USB 2.0; The series is completed by a temperature indicator and a fan speed controller. We'll tell you more about the last two below.

Let us also note that the presence of four USB connectors in this configuration does not guarantee the ability to connect four devices, if at least two of them are of decent size; but you’ll definitely be able to connect a couple of “fat ones.”

It is unlikely that you will be able to press the Reset button by accident, but the same cannot be said about Power: it has practically no free movement, and you can turn off the computer with a light touch.

The front part of the top panel forms a shallow “trough”, which will probably be used to store all sorts of small items such as paper clips. In principle, there is nothing particularly scary about this: the metal mesh covering the upper fans has small enough holes into which only something like a pin or needle can fall.

Ventilation system

Zalman, a well-known manufacturer of cooling systems, richly equipped the Z9 Plus case with 12-centimeter fans of its own production.

Three of them, located on the front, top and removable left panels, are connected with 3-pin connectors and have a blue backlight. The fourth, on the rear wall of the chassis, is simpler: without backlighting and connected to the power supply using a Molex connector (double, male+female).

The first three fans can be controlled either from the motherboard or using the controller present in the case, the controller of which is located on the front panel of the case. True, the controller allows the connection of only two fans, and its functions are primitive: you can manually change the rotation speed by adjusting the supply voltage, but at the same time the brightness of the backlight also changes. The controller does not track the rotation speed.

But there is a temperature sensor connected to the controller with long wires; the measured value (in degrees Celsius) is simply displayed on a digital indicator, without affecting the operation of the fans in any way. It is impossible to attach the sensor directly to vital computer components (CPU or video chip), and therefore you can only measure the temperature of their radiators or the air inside the case. Of course, if you pull the sensor out, you can also find out the temperature in the workplace...

The manufacturer has also taken care of those who are not interested in such toys: the Z9 modification without “Plus” has neither such a controller nor a temperature indicator; and there are only two fans in it - the front one and on the rear wall of the chassis.

If desired, the number of fans can be increased or models of a different size can be installed. So, on the top panel it is possible to install two 120 or 140 mm fans, in the center of the bottom plane of the chassis - one 120/140 mm, on the left side wall - two 120 mm. The only thing is that there are no self-tapping screws for attaching them.

Standard filters made of fine-mesh plastic mesh are provided for only two fans - the standard front one and the optional one on the bottom of the case. To clean the first of them, you will have to remove the front panel; the second is accessible from the outside.

We also note that the mesh plugs for the 5-inch slots on the front panel are equipped with foam inserts.

The possibility of installing liquid cooling systems has not been forgotten; for it, there are holes on the rear wall of the chassis, closed with rubber plugs with split petals.

Additional ventilation holes, in addition to the 5-inch slots available in the plugs, include a vertical perforated strip in the rear wall of the chassis and a number of slots in the bottom of the case, under the installation location of the power supply. There is no cutout on the bottom edge of the front panel, which also makes it easier to remove.

Assembling the system unit

The side covers are attached with the usual system of grooves and combs, and are fixed with pairs of screws with plastic thumb heads. To make it easier to remove the covers, there is a stamped protrusion on their rear end.

Six brass hexagonal motherboard stands are already installed; If this turns out to be not enough, you can add additional ones from the fastening kit. The hole on the rear panel for the I/O ports of the motherboard does not have a plug, but the slots for expansion cards will have to be cleared by breaking out the disposable plugs. The fastening of such boards is screw; When installing screws, working with a screwdriver is hampered by the edge of the chassis, which does not have a cutout.

There is a large window in the motherboard substrate that will allow you to install or remove the processor cooler without removing the board itself. The installation of some types of coolers may be hindered by the standard top case fan; in this case, you can simply move it to the center of the top panel.

The cables from the front connectors are shielded and connected using monolithic connectors (for audio there are both HD Audio and AC’97). Since these connectors, as well as buttons and indicators, are mounted on a separate block, their cables will not interfere with the removal of the top and front panels.

And the front panel will probably have to be removed: there are metal plugs installed in the chassis, which will need to be removed to install 3.5- and 5-inch devices with access to the front panel. All four plugs are reusable, but the top two are secured with screws, and the bottom two will have to be broken out.

In addition, the decorative plugs of the front panel itself, made entirely of metal mesh, have very tight latches, and it is better to remove them from the inside by removing the panel itself. Let us remind you that there is a button and a power indicator on it; however, the long wires coming from them will not prevent you from moving the panel a sufficient distance. These wires are also equipped with connectors, so the panel can be removed completely.

The top panel will only have to be removed to install an additional fan or service the existing one. It is secured with eight plastic latches, the location of which is given in the instructions; but to remove this cover, you will also have to remove the front panel (or at least move its upper edge forward a little).

For neat routing of cables, three rectangular cutouts without rubber seals are provided in the motherboard substrate; You can secure the bundles of wires using the included nylon ties, attaching them to the stamped lugs in the backing.

Of course, when choosing a power supply, you need to focus on models with a wire length sufficient for “hidden” installation.

However, the gap between the substrate and the side wall is small, and if the cables are not routed carefully enough, it will be awkward to install the right side cover.

The left cover, despite the abundance of holes, snaps into place without distortion or extra effort.

The power supply can also be installed after the motherboard; It has already been noted that it can be positioned either up or down with the fan. It attaches directly to the back panel, without any additional frames.

Screw mounting of optical drives; For them, the kit includes a considerable number of screws with plastic thumb heads.

Before installing a 3.5-inch hard drive, you need to screw four rubber pads onto it, the cylindrical part of which fits into the grooves of the basket and secures the drive (note that there are a lot of pads in the kit: enough to install five drives). In the user manual, the manufacturer calls these pads antistatic, although they rather act as shock absorbers; however, due to them, there is no thermal contact between the disk body and the metal of the basket. The fixation is not reliable enough, and therefore you can additionally secure the disk with a screw; In this case, we will get at least some heat dissipation, but we will reduce the shock-absorbing properties of the linings.

The drive is inserted only from the left side, and its interface connectors can be oriented either left or right by installing the pads accordingly. In the first case, to access these connectors, it is enough to remove only the left side cover of the case, and in the second, the cables can be hidden behind the motherboard substrate. It is better to use SATA cables with an L-shaped connector, since there is still space for a straight connector.

An adapter is installed in one of the 5-inch bays, in which you can screw 2.5- or 3.5-inch devices, including those with access to the front panel. Let us remind you that on the right side of the motherboard substrate there is space for another 2.5-inch HDD or SSD; Of course, you don’t need to remove the motherboard itself to attach such a drive.

Almost all edges of the chassis are rolled, which reduces the possibility of injury to the assembler's hands.

Pleasant little things include a fairly rich set of fasteners, as well as the presence of an extension cord for powering the processor (useful if the power supply has short corresponding wires).

Testing the efficiency of the housing ventilation system

The last stage of the research is testing using software that heavily loads various computer subsystems, which, in turn, causes quite powerful heat generation. This way you can evaluate the capabilities and performance of the case cooling system.

The test bench configuration and testing procedure are described in the corresponding methodology.

The cooling system copes with fairly powerful configurations without any problems, however, its efficiency is not too high - after all, the case has four fans installed. The result obtained is inferior to some dual-fan systems and only slightly better than some single-fan systems. The temperature of the hard drive strongly depends on the speed of the front fan: if there is airflow, the temperature of the drive remains within normal limits, but it is still not worth using this case to create multi-disk systems.

Noise level measurement and vibration assessment

The noise level is measured in accordance with our methodology using a VShV-003-M3 sound level meter in a soundproofed room with a typical noise level of 20 dBA. During the measurement, all electrical appliances in the room are turned off.

In this case, we emulated a desktop placement of the case, when the distance from the center of the front panel to the user’s head is about 0.3 meters.

When measuring the noise level, an interesting detail was revealed: when the standard regulator reduces the voltage on two connected fans, they reduce the rotation speed, but the noise level does not change very noticeably. The main problem was the howling side fan, which most likely had a manufacturing defect; The unregulated rear fan also contributed. Given a desktop location, the noise level of the case cooling system is predominantly above average; when the side fan is turned off and the regulator is set to the minimum position, the noise level approaches the average level, and when the rear fan is turned off, the noise level is about 27 dBA, which can already be considered unnoticeable based on typical room background noise levels and taking into account noise from stock cooling systems. However, this housing is not suitable for use in habitable premises at night and for systems that require high-quality sound and noise optimization.

Assessment of consumer qualities

The main advantages of the case include its atypical design and fairly good equipment for a budget solution. On the other hand, the design of the case has some shortcomings (or features) that impair its consumer qualities. The cooling system looks somewhat illogical, consisting of four fans and a control controller, but the latter is designed to connect only two fans. The fans used are also not the most successful, but they have non-switchable backlighting.

The hard drive bay is not implemented in the most successful way, both from the point of view of ease of assembly and from the point of view of the efficiency of cooling the drives, although there is no need to exaggerate here - there are much worse options.

Enthusiasts, and even just lovers of good hardware, are unlikely to be interested in this case, but for those who simply need the case as a box in which they can “put” the computer components and forget about them for the next three years, the case may be a good choice , especially if you are lucky with a competent assembler who can correctly configure the cooling system.

Positioning and conclusions

If we consider the case as a budget one, then its design and equipment can be considered quite decent: four USB ports, standard places for installing 2.5-inch drives (albeit not the most convenient), the ability to neatly arrange cables behind the motherboard substrate, not the poorest set fasteners and accessories. All this will allow you to use the case to create a good “workhorse” designed for solving a wide range of tasks (primarily office work).

However, the model is clearly not suitable for building a modern high-performance computer: although there are many USB ports, they are all USB 2.0; There is neither an eSATA connector nor a dock with external access for quickly connecting drives. Instead of all this, they offer a redundant set of fans with a primitive controller, the real benefit of which is very doubtful; the same can be said for a digital thermometer.

Separately, it is necessary to mention the abundance of backlighting, which, moreover, cannot be turned off. Of course, a finished computer, sparkling with blue lights, in a store window attracts the eye; but in a workplace, even at home, such illumination can quickly become boring: blue light, although not as annoying as red, still does not evoke the most life-affirming associations. Imagine: a blue glow emanates from under the computer desk... not everyone will immediately guess that there is only a system unit located there.

It’s good that the manufacturer has provided for modification of the Z9 without any frills; the only pity is that the price difference between the Z9 and Z9 Plus is very small.