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
Zalman case The Z9 Plus 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 for back wall 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 substrate motherboard There are four lugs 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 connectors 2.0; 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.
Note also 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 the 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 disc (note that there are a lot of pads in the kit: enough to install five discs). 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 study is testing using software, heavily loading 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 in this case We emulated the 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.
While 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.
Compartment for hard drives It was 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 disk cooling, 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 worthy: four USB port, standard places for installing 2.5-inch drives (albeit not the most convenient), the ability to neatly arrange cables behind the motherboard, not the poorest set of fasteners and accessories. All this will allow you to use the body to create a high-quality " workhorse”, designed to solve a wide range of problems (primarily office ones).
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 what is just located there system unit.
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.
Specifications
| Model name | Zalman Z9 NEO Plus |
| Type of shell | MidiTower |
| Dimensions (H × W × D), mm | 490 × 205 × 482 |
| Weight, kg | 6,7 |
| Side panel | Transparent matte plastic |
| Color | Black |
| Material | Steel, ABS plastic |
| Standard cooling system | Front fans (intake): 120 × 120 × 25 mm (model Zalman ZA1225ASL, 1200 rpm, 2 pcs.). Rear and top fans (exhaust): 120 × 120 × 25 mm (Zalman ZA1225CSL model, 1200 rpm, 3 pcs.) |
| Drive bays | 2 × 5.25 2 × 3.5 4×2.5 |
| Expansion slots, pcs. | 7 |
| Motherboard Compatibility | 6.7 × 6.7 ( Mini ITX), 9.6 × 9.6 (Micro ATX), 12 × 9.6 (ATX) |
| I/O ports | USB 3.0 × 2, USB 2.0 × 2, HD Audio × 1 |
| Power supply support | Any PS2 compatible power supply |
| Maximum length of power supply, mm | 200 |
| Maximum cooler height, mm | 160 |
| Maximum length of video cards, mm | 400 |
| Dust filters, pcs. | 2 (front and bottom) |
| Possibility of installing fans | Front Panel: 2 × 120 mm. Top panel: Back panel: Base: Reverse side panel: |
| Possibility of installing radiators | Front Panel: from 120 mm to 240 mm; Top panel: Back panel: Base: |
| Additional (features) | - soundproofing of the front cover; - opportunities for cable management; - top and rear fans with lighting |
| Manufacturer's warranty, years | 2 |
| Country of Origin | China |
| Minimum retail price, rub. | 4 160 |
⇡ Packaging and equipment
Zalman Z9 NEO Plus comes in a simple cardboard box with a schematic image of the case on the front side, the model name and a list of its features at the bottom.
The packaging inside the cardboard box is also quite typical: two foam inserts secure the case, which is additionally sealed in a plastic bag.
The Zalman Z9 NEO Plus package includes five plastic ties, a set of screws and bushings, a speaker and brief instructions.
Everything is like any other budget case.
The country of manufacture of the case is China, the warranty is 2 years. Zalman Z9 NEO Plus cannot be called a new product - it is an update to a model that has been produced in one form or another since the spring of 2016. The predecessor of the Plus modification - Z9 NEO - is available in most retail stores at a price of 3,500 rubles. That is, the very middle class.
⇡ D design and dimensions
Zalman Z9 NEO Plus looks quite conservative. Its design does not have bright, eye-catching details, lacquered surfaces or chrome inserts. Everything is very simple and even standard for MidiTower cases. However, see for yourself - perhaps you will have a different opinion.
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The materials used in the case are 0.6 mm steel and ABS plastic. The height of the Zalman Z9 NEO Plus is 490 mm, the length is 482 mm, and the width is 205 mm. The device weighs only 6.7 kilograms.
If you look at the case from the front, its left panel is entirely made of matte transparent plastic and is secured with four thumbscrews, while the right panel is made of metal and is completely solid.
The slots on top and to the left of it are largely decorative, since no air flow is felt through them.
The solid front panel of the case has a barely noticeable textured pattern, reminiscent of rough polishing. It opens, and behind it you can see a metal dust filter, and immediately behind are the fans. Where do they get air from? Who knows where it came from, but certainly not from the narrow side slits.
The top bezel can be removed to increase airflow from the top fans out of the case.
The lower dust filter is also removed. True, it extends back, which, as you understand, is inconvenient.
The case stands on four 23 mm high legs with oval rubber supports.
On top of the front panel of the Zalman Z9 NEO Plus there is a backlit power button, a Reset button, two USB connector 3.0 and the same number of USB 2.0 - all four are covered with rubber caps, as well as connectors for a microphone and headphones.
In general, the build quality of the case and the materials used in it are not bad, although the difference with higher-end products cannot be ignored. But the price here is different, of course.
⇡ Internal structure
The front panel of the case is hinged and held closed by magnets. Underneath you can see a plastic grille and two covers for 5.25-inch bays.
Two-millimeter sound insulation is glued to the door itself. There is practically no gap between the door and the ventilation grille.
The entire front panel is secured with plastic latches with locks. If you remove it, you can see a metal dust filter and disposable plugs for five-inch compartments.
The top panel is also held in place by the same plastic clips. Removing it, you can see a metal chassis with a frame on which two 120 mm fans are mounted, with their impellers oriented towards exhaust.
Let's look at the Zalman Z9 NEO Plus without side panels.
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Main work zone The case looks spacious and every part is easy to access. Here you can place motherboards of Mini ITX, Micro ATX and ATX form factors. Large E-ATX will also fit, but will block the holes for cables that will have to be routed some other way. There is also a window in the tray for installation or removal CPU cooler without removing the motherboard from the case.
On the front, at the top of the case, there are two compartments for 5.25-inch devices.
Both baskets are removable, they can be easily removed from the case and not returned if desired.
For 3.5-inch drives, the case also has two compartments, this time with removable plastic slides.
They can also install 2.5-inch form factor drives, as well as two more seats for drives of this format is on the vertical partition of the case.
Thus, the total number of 2.5-inch drives in the Zalman Z9 NEO Plus can reach four. Moreover, to install drives, you can use cages in 5.25-inch bays, where you can place two 3.5-inch drives or two 2.5-inch drives.
The case is designed to accommodate power supplies up to 200 mm long. PSU is fixed in a standard way- screws to the rear wall.
The power supply is installed with the fan down so that it takes in fresh air through the built-in dust filter.
As for video cards, the length of the case can accommodate even 400 mm models, and the general configuration can be seen in the following diagram.
The number of slots for expansion cards in the case is standard - seven. The slots are covered with mesh strips that are secured with plastic-sheathed thumbscrews.
At the end of the internal inspection of the Zalman Z9 NEO Plus, we note the presence of five holes for routing cables with rubber plugs, as well as large number regular holes and metal jumpers for laying cable ties.
⇡ Cooling system and equipment options
Zalman Z9 NEO Plus is equipped with five 120 mm fans at once. Two fans are installed on the front wall and blow into the case.
In turn, two more 120 mm fans are installed on the top wall of the case, and one on the back. This trio works on blowing out of the body.
Thus, the air flow pattern in the Zalman Z9 NEO Plus should be something like this.
True, we have certain doubts about the efficiency of the front fans due to their proximity to the blank front cover...
All fans are based on plain bearings, and their speed is constant and equal to 1200 rpm. The rear fans differ from the front fans in their transparent housing and impeller, as well as the presence of backlighting.
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The Zalman Z9 NEO Plus does not provide any fan speed adjustment, and the fans are connected through a serial connection of five PATA-type connectors, which are then connected to the power supply.
Let us add that in this case you can install liquid cooling systems with radiators up to 240 × 120 mm in size on the front or top wall, if the total thickness of the liquid cooling system does not exceed 55 mm.
⇡ Assembly
Fundamentally, the process of assembling components in the Zalman Z9 NEO Plus does not differ from assembly in other cases, and there are no unique features here as a class. 3.5-inch drives are installed in plastic baskets with rubber holders, and this is done without screws at all.
2.5-inch drives are installed on the partition of the case or somewhere else. All that remains is to place the power supply and connect everything with cables.
The upper part of the case is still cramped, and if you install a radiator with fans there, you won’t be able to connect additional power cables to the motherboard at all. However, for mid-range configurations, the Zalman Z9 NEO Plus may well be suitable. However, we even managed to place such a super cooler as the Phanteks PH-TC14PE in it, although its height exceeds the 160 mm rating for Zalman.
Of course, the transparent side cover rested against the supercooler fans, but, bending slightly under the pressure of the screws, it still covered the system unit. Assembled and working, the Zalman Z9 NEO Plus looks quite modern and interesting, despite the most ordinary forms and simple materials.
Both during the day and especially at night, the attention of guests and friends will definitely be attracted by the illumination of the fans, which are visible through the transparent side panel of the case.
We tried to make the description as good as possible so that your choice would be unmistakable and informed, but... We may not have used this product, but only touched it from all sides, and after you buy it, try it out, your review can make this world a better place, if your review is really useful, we will publish it and give it You have the opportunity to make your next purchase from us using the 2nd column.
ZALMAN Z series Z9 NEO - Excellent
5 Klimov Alexander Evgenievich 15-02-2019
ZALMAN Z series Z9 NEO
Advantages:
Convenient case, plenty of space inside, cooling and lighting at a high level.
Flaws:
No
ZALMAN Z series Z9 NEO PLUS — Beautiful, ergonomic.
5 Tarasov Vadim Viktorovich 04-02-2019
Device owner rating: ZALMAN Z series Z9 NEO PLUS
Advantages:
quality workmanship, 5 fans, convenient location of the power button, hidden wiring
Flaws:
except that the rubber plugs for the usb slots on the front will definitely get lost))
ZALMAN Z series Z9 NEO — Poor cooling with original coolers
3 Grenadersky Dmitry Geroldovich 01-05-2018
Device owner rating: ZALMAN Z series Z9 NEO
Advantages:
Design, lighting, ergonomics
Flaws:
The air inside the case seems to be standing still!
ZALMAN Z series Z9 NEO — Excellent case, very roomy, good cooling system out of the box
5 Elizarov Evgeniy Anatolievich 13-09-2017
Opinion of a potential buyer
Advantages:
Very roomy a large number of complete fans, bottom location of the power supply and a box covering it, which gives a plus to aesthetics. It is convenient to organize cable management; there are many eyelets in the necessary places and rubber plugs. It is possible to install a dual-fan SVO, which makes this case even more attractive, especially for gaming solutions. If desired, you can remove the drive mounts.
Flaws:
The Standard ATX motherboard covers 2 holes for wires. If you want to reduce noise, you will have to tinker, but not much. Fans out of the box can be strongly drawn to the case and, because of this, make more noise than we would like. A simple solution is to unscrew and screw the noisy fan back on. In most cases it helps reduce noise. And if you are not too lazy to install vibration-absorbing pads, everything will be chocolate.
ZALMAN Z series Z9 — Delight!!! more and unnecessary
5 Gutsalenko Stepan Vyaeslavovich 05-08-2017
Device owner rating: ZALMAN Z series Z9
Advantages:
the ventilation is excellent, there is plenty of space inside, the quality of the material is at the ZALMAN level, this evokes respect for the manufacturer, a lot of little things related to cleaning have been thought out, three years ago I bought myself exactly the same block, and it made me so happy that the next time I assembled another car I could choose a block was obvious, there is nothing superfluous and everything you need is there
Flaws:
were not detected by me!
ZALMAN Z series Z9 U3 — Good case (5 out of 5)
3 Paul 07-03-2017
Device owner rating: ZALMAN Z series Z9 U3
Advantages:
1) Excellent purging; 2) Possibility of installing 5 coolers; 3) Informative and convenient front panel; 4) It looks solid, even the plastic elements look like metal.
Flaws:
1) Mediocre wire management out of the box; 2) The wire plugs are not made of very high quality, but this does not interfere with the matter :)
ZALMAN Z series Z9 U3 — Effective and convenient
5 Oleg 28-01-2016
Device owner rating: ZALMAN Z series Z9 U3
Advantages:
It looks very decent, the quality is at the level - both outside and inside. Quiet enough even with standard fans. The buttons and sockets are well located - dust does not settle or become clogged. When assembling, the hands are not cut - the edges are processed and painted.
Flaws:
The little things are nitpicking - I didn’t have to check, sharpen or resolder anything
ZALMAN Z series Z9 U3 — great case for a great price
5 Stakhovich Alexander Anatolievich 26-09-2015
Device owner rating: ZALMAN Z series Z9 U3
Advantages:
About 2 months of use have passed since purchase. First of all, I liked the delivery through the Major Express company. Now to the point. The case is very quiet, the blue light from the fan illumination does not disturb at all at night, the appearance of the case is excellent. Someone complained that the knockout plugs in the case at the back cannot be closed, but everything is perfectly closed with the plugs included in the kit, the cable management is very convenient and well thought out. The edges of the case are machined, it is impossible to cut yourself during assembly. The dust filter on the front side deserves all praise, the only thing is that dismantling it for cleaning is a little difficult (you have to remove the front panel every time), but this is rather nitpicking.
Flaws:
I didn't notice it during use.
ZALMAN Z series Z9 U3 — Great case!
5 Sergey 24-06-2015
Device owner rating: ZALMAN Z series Z9 U3
Advantages:
Dust filters, design, transparent wall. I bought it before the New Year, here. Assembled, installed, beauty! I remove and clean the filters once every three months, there is no dust in the system unit!
Flaws:
The second fan from the top is not installed from the factory.
The Zalman Z9 case for a long time 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 | |
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| 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 price, $ | 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 mirror painting gray, which 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 into right side(the recess for 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 attach a 3.5″ HDD and two more 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 undoubted progress compared to previous version 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, a new version 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 there is no parameter in the motherboard UEFI responsible for managing USB powered, 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:
- CPU: 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 heavy loads on the components, remove the front dust filter, remove the top decorative rim and perhaps completely cut off the top cover over the fans, 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, possible installation air defense systems to the front and back panel. 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 not very good system ventilation, which will cause the system components to heat up more. For most ordinary users This isn't a deal-breaker, but for enthusiasts who are struggling to get every degree of control out of their overclocked system, it can be a stumbling block.
In general, I liked the updated Zalman Z9 Neo based on the totality of its parameters, and therefore it can be recommended for purchase when assembling any computer systems, with the exception of the hottest configurations.
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 product High Quality(note that many elite products, when studied in detail, 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 so much space inside, but everything free space given 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 appearance, and accordingly, the 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 displays USB interface 3.0, which is rare 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 original condition the entire cooling system operates at the same frequency and by controlling the resistor on the control panel, the owner will have to adjust the fan speed to the operation of the system when starting the computer for the first time. 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, carpet). 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.