43384
Mention of products 1
1 - Equipment. Appearance.
The hero of our today's review appeared quite quietly. Zalman engineers took the chassis of the “people’s” Z9 and added a number of significant external modifications. We are pleased to present the result of their work to you. Meet one of the world's first reviews of the Zalman Z11 Plus case.
Contents of delivery
The case comes in a fairly large cardboard box. The packaging is quite simple. The only useful thing worth noting is the table technical characteristics on one of its sides.
The scope of delivery is also not amazing. In a special plastic bag the user can find the following:
Extension cable additional food processor;
Operating instructions;
One plug for expansion cards with a hole;
One regular plug;
Set of screws of various shapes;
Set of plastic ties;
A set of seals and screws for mounting drives.
Appearance
Compared to its predecessor, the Zalman Z11 has significantly increased in size. Its dimensions are 260 (W) x 498 (H) x 525 (D) millimeters. But the weight, judging by the characteristics table, increased slightly - 7.4 versus 7.2 kilograms. In general, there is little in common between the cases, except for the lattice plugs on the front panel that are identical in shape and location and the nameplate with the company name.
What we have before us is a classic monoblock design with a rather aggressive, but not pretentious appearance. There are absolutely no smooth lines in its design. It even somewhat resembles some supercars.
The design of a case with protruding “cheeks” equipped with ventilation holes is not new; this solution is used by many manufacturers in cases of medium and below average price categories.
However, Zalman managed to do the impossible: the Z11 is the first case of this kind that does not look like a children's toy.
On the left side edge there is an acrylic trapezoidal window. For the sake of the overall design, it is made convex. Ventilation grilles are present only on the plastic protrusion at the bottom of the case, which gives reason to believe that the side fan is located there.
The right side face is less interesting. Apart from the plastic protrusion mentioned earlier, there is nothing on it.
The side covers are secured with four screws (two for each) with a massive plastic head.
Between the mounting holes of the panels there are metal protrusions designed to help in dismantling the side walls. These grips cope with their task, but nothing more.
The rear panel does not stand out in anything special, the standard set of elements is a 120 mm fan grille, a pair of holes for the outlet of air cooler hoses, seven expansion card plugs and a hole for mounting the power supply.
The front panel is more interesting. The basis is a plastic frame, which protrudes noticeably forward in the upper part of the body, creating some semblance of a visor. Plugs for 5.25” devices made of mesh metal are attached to it in the upper part. The entire lower part is made in the form of plastic ribs, which, as it seemed to us, are trying to evoke associations with the radiator grille in cars.
The top panel is very similar to that of the Aerocool XPredator Black: the same “scales”, only made of translucent dark plastic and without the ability to open and close them if necessary.
Controls and interface connectors are concentrated closer to the front panel. Available for USB pair 2.0 and 3.0, as well as headphone and microphone jacks. The power button is located in the most visible place. As sad as it may be, her example clearly shows the victory of appearance over common sense. Most of the decorative elements of the case are made of practical matte plastic. But there was also a place for gloss. Where do you think? That's right, near the power button, where the likelihood of fingerprints and dirt appearing is most likely. A little further behind the power button there is a completely incomprehensible design element, namely a recess made of the same glossy plastic. Dust will collect in this place just like crazy.
On the bottom panel there is a ventilation hole for the power supply, covered with a removable mesh, which, judging by its structure, is designed to protect not so much from dust as from lint and animal hair. Approximately in the middle there is a hole for mounting a 120 mm fan, covered with a dust filter. Massive plastic legs with a soft rubber base are installed almost at the very edge of the chassis, which gives the body considerable stability.
According to the results external review We can safely say that I liked the case. If only the plastic sides were a little narrower.
2 - Internal structure.
Having removed the side panels, the first thing we understand is why the developers placed such wide plastic elements on the sides: behind them are hidden full-fledged 80 mm fans that operate as a blower. The practicality of such a solution is questionable. Cool air entering through the front panel is immediately picked up by side fans and carried outside the case.
The internal layout is painfully familiar - Zalman engineers decided not to reinvent the wheel and used the chassis from the Z9 in the design of the Z11, with all the advantages and disadvantages of the latter.
A characteristic feature of this arrangement is that the motherboard tray does not reach the bottom of the case. The main load-bearing element, in addition to the external walls, is the rack for storage devices and external devices 5.25" format
The motherboard tray has a medium-sized hole to make life easier for builders when installing CPU coolers with reinforcement plates. There are a number of holes for cable management. In addition, the pallet has a special seat for installing a 2.5” drive and many protrusions for securing plastic ties. All these studies can potentially help the user create ideal order in the system unit. On the other hand, the many holes had a negative impact on the rigidity of the motherboard tray - it plays noticeably when pressed.
The power supply is installed at the bottom, and its installation is possible in two different positions. The ventilation holes for it are made in the form of peculiar slots in the bottom panel of the case, the area of which is very small, which can potentially cause problems with some power supplies when they are installed with the fan down. The plugs for expansion cards are breakable. Quite strange for a modern case in the mid-price category.
Stand for hard drives designed to install five 3.5-inch devices. In addition to the previously mentioned side fans, the 120 mm Carlson with blue backlight installed on the front panel is responsible for cooling the drives.
Between the drive rack and the power supply, the user can attach another “one hundred and twenty”.
The total number of seats reaches seven, three of which are located in the area of the greatest possible accumulation warm air. There are two places on the top panel, one of them is already occupied by a 120mm backlit fan. On the rear panel there is another 120mm device with a white impeller.
The case allows you to install up to five external 5.25-inch devices. There is also a seat for one external 3.5” device. Screwless fastening systems are not provided; devices must be secured the old fashioned way, with screws.
The front of the case can be removed to access the front fan dust filter.
Most of the grille on the front panel is made of translucent dark plastic, which during operation acts as a kind of light diffuser for the illuminated front fan.
In some cases, when removing the front panel, it is necessary to completely pull out the wires coming from the controls. In Z11, engineers took care of solving this problem. The wires of the power button and power indicator are made composite.
In general, the internal layout of the case produces mixed impressions. On the one hand, we have a number of positive aspects: a fairly well-thought-out cable routing system, quick and convenient access to components, as well as a potentially effective ventilation system. On the other hand, some design flaws, such as the flimsiness of some chassis elements and the rather strange power supply ventilation grille, slightly spoil the overall impression.
3 - Assembly. Testing. Conclusions.
Assembly
There were a few things that came up during the build process that are worth mentioning. The design of the case provides for laying the additional processor power cable behind the motherboard tray. There is an opportunity, but the implementation frankly let us down. It turned out that the wires must be laid before installing the motherboard, otherwise the latter will block most of the hole in the tray and it will be impossible to insert anything there.
Installing hard drives, according to the instructions, is quite simple. It is necessary to secure the corresponding screws with rubber seals on the drive...
...and install this structure into the seat. But it was not there. In our sample (not intended for sale, it should be noted), the distance between the walls was greater than necessary and it was possible to secure the drive only after slight deformation of the stand and loosening of the mounting screws on the drive.
The expansion cards are secured using screws, and if you use a screwdriver, this is not very convenient.
Otherwise the assembly went smoothly. The cable routing system pleases with its simplicity and efficiency. Even a PC assembled in haste looks impeccable.
The case can accommodate large cooling systems without any problems. The convex window in the side cover will be opposite the processor socket, providing ample room for maneuver. But not all video cards will fit - the maximum allowable length is 290 millimeters.
Both USB 3.0 connectors on the top panel are designed to connect to the rear ports of the motherboard.
Test configuration
The following components were used in the test bench:
Processor: AMD Phenom II X4 970 (3.5 GHz, 6 MB);
Motherboard: MSI 890FXA-GD70 (AMD 890FX);
Cooler: Zalman CNPS10X Performa (1500 rpm);
Memory: Kingston KVR1333D3N9K2/4G (2x2GB, DDR3-1333);
Video card: MSI N560GTX Ti Twinfrozr II/OC (N560GTX);
Hard drive: Samsung HD252HJ (250 GB, 7200 rpm, SATA2);
Multifunctional panel: AeroCool MODERN-V Black;
Power supply: Zalman ZM500-GS (500 W).
Comparisons were made with the above-mentioned components located outside the housing.
Thermal sensors of the multifunction panel were installed on the VRM, northbridge and memory heatsinks. CPU temperatures graphics adapter and HDD were removed using special utilities. Windows 7 Home Premium OS was used. To load the corresponding components, the following were used: OSST test 3.1.0, FurMark 1.8.2 and the Aida 64 EE 1.70.1400 package. The rotation speeds of the case fans were fixed at their nominal values. All components operated at the manufacturer's recommended settings and frequencies.
Test results
As can be seen in the graph, using five fans at once had an extremely beneficial effect on temperature conditions installed components.
During testing, it became clear why there was a “bath” made of glossy plastic on the top panel of the case - you can put an external drive with a USB interface there or some other mobile device. Convenient and practical, given the complex shape of the top cover.
conclusions
Many people associate the Zalman company as a manufacturer of cooling systems with a spectacular appearance and hi-end cases. But it also has more affordable solutions, the cost of which will not differ much from products even less famous brands. Expanding the line of relatively inexpensive cases, the company's engineers revised the design of the new device; it became more aggressive, although the shapes remained as strict as before. The Z11 model has become taller and wider, which is not suitable for everyone, especially the latter, because 260 mm is too much for the average computer desk.
On the other hand, the design of the case is much more interesting and attractive than many other solutions with “burdocks”. If there the additional side elements seem alien, here they are in perfect harmony, adding “sportiness” to the product. And in general appearance Well designed, every detail is thought out to the smallest detail. Zalman Z11 will definitely remind you of itself in your home interior, but it is unlikely to catch your eye, unlike some colorful cases. It is worth mentioning the price, which according to preliminary data will be $85 and $95 for the regular and Plus versions, respectively. And with such a price, the case has almost best ratio prices and opportunities today.
Equipment for testing was provided by the following companies: AMD - AMD processor Phenom II X4 970; Eletek - Zalman Z11 Plus case, Zalman ZM-500GS power supply, Zalman CNPS10X Performa cooler, AeroCool MODERN-V Black multifunctional panel; MSI - motherboard MSI board 890FXA-GD70 and MSI N560GTX Ti Twinfrozr II/OC video card.
- October 9, 2012We bought two of these for work and were pleasantly surprised by the very low noise level, considering that it has five of its own fans, and we also shoved in hefty wind blowers for CPU and video. There was no need to install a separate air vent on the screws; they are already well ventilated there.
There were no problems with assembly, nor with operation. Definitely worth the money.
Advantages:
Quiet
-stylish
-excellently ventilated
Flaws:
The front panel is very inconvenient to remove, but this is a problem for many people
Period of use:
a few months
33 0Svyatov Alexander
- December 7, 2013I am very pleased with the case. Someone says that it is noisy, I don’t know, I probably haven’t seen quiet buildings. There were 4 computers, this one was the fifth. The ones that were there before were louder, and then there were a maximum of 3 fans. This one has 4 of them + CPU cooler + power supply, and it’s really quiet :)
The most important thing is to drive your wife away during assembly so that she doesn’t tear it off protective films, I really want it :)
Some write that the top tray gets scratched quickly. I have a universal film for phones and tablets, I just cut it out and pasted it inside, the main thing is matte :) Looks mm.
Overall, I'm very pleased with it. I looked at the reviews for a long time and thought about whether to take it or choose another one. Glad I made the right decision :)
Advantages:
1) Price. For this price, I couldn't find anything better :)
2) Appearance. Not for everyone, but everyone who saw it liked it. Even grandma praised him :) My wife also said that he was ugly and looked like Darth Vader. I bought it, turned it on, she fell in love with it :)
3) Illumination from the front and top. Not too bright, not too dim, moderate :)
4) Everything inside is as easy to place as two fingers. There is a cutout on the back, under the processor, it’s convenient to install and remove the cooler, now you don’t have to remove it along with the motherboard :) All wiring can be done behind the mother, so all the wires are hidden :) It’s spacious in itself.
Doesn't vibrate from hard drive, placed on elastic bands and a latch, convenient :)
5) Not a bad set :)
6) There are filters everywhere until there is a hint of dust inside :)
Flaws:
1) My case seems to be newer. USB 3.0, not like before, had to be connected from behind to the mother, but it was already tailored to the connector on it inside. But it wasn’t done very well and the first time I bent the contact on my mother, I straightened it. It fits into her a little tight. These wires are made of oak, I thought the connector would completely rip off, but no, it turned out fine :) The kit comes with a plug, just for those USBs that go to your mother, with cutouts, ugh, it would be better if they put a simple plug and ok, there would be 2 pieces :)
But this is most likely not a drawback, since you can still connect, the main thing is to be careful :)
2) Bulky, it won’t fit into everyone’s desk, it’s better to compare the dimensions with the desk in advance. :) And again, it can be considered a disadvantage.
3) The gloss quickly collects dust, but again, not such a terrible drawback :)
Period of use:
less than a month
47 1vivaldiv
- October 19, 2012I recommend. Efficient in terms of cooling, the air from the bottom and front flows up and back. Thick 2TB&3TB hard disks do not rise above 26C. The CPU heatsink is always cold. The air is quickly carried upward from the video card by two 120 mm fans.
The front cover is quite easy to remove. Use pliers to squeeze out the clips, squeezing them lightly. At first I didn’t know how to remove the lid - it fits very tightly. And then I thought of it.
Advantages:
(subjective - what was important to me)
1. Roomy and big
2. Excellent internal cooling, lots of fans
3. presence of usb 3.0
4. An interesting place to mount the SSD - behind the motherboard and anti-vibration mounts for the HDD
Flaws:
1. USB 3.0 - they “guessed” to make it in the form of an extension cable
2. The noise level of the built-in fans is disappointing
3. Turned off the strange fans for the HDD in the “cheeks” of the case
Period of use:
a few months
19 0jujubee
- April 8, 2013excellent case for the average gaming computer. The OCZ550FTY unit looks great.
For office work, such a garland is unnecessary, serious gamers will find a better thread, but this option is also very good.
Advantages:
Beautiful! glows - even with a glowing power supply - the light is dim and does not hit the eyes. The built-in fans work perfectly - I installed another one so that it does not disappear + video + percent noise level dvd drive in idle mode. in short, I expected it to be much louder, it doesn’t interfere at all
large, comfortable, practical - if not a super gaming computer (not all video cards will fit in length), everything is assembled in a simple way. The instructions are detailed, the kit includes bolts and screws for all occasions and with a large margin. USB3 connections on the panel
and for all this happiness the price is just a gift - I took it for 2.3
screws with rubber bands for hdd - do not make noise and are easy to install
Flaws:
Considering the advantages and price - there are none. except that the shortcomings of the body could have been made longer - for large videos. Considering that he is already not small, 5 cm would not make a difference. DVD-ROM in the upper compartment - hidden under the visor - it is not visible - just to the touch. It’s not very clear why you should make USB3 connections in this way - through the inside they come out and connect to back wall the uterus and the plugs themselves are large..... well... the glossy plastic on the facade and the pocket on top attract dust, a high-quality matte one would look better. The power supply is from below, you can place it with the nozzle down (there are slots there, but not many) - if the nozzle is up like mine, there is a risk of dropping something there. Well, these are all minimal shortcomings.
the case is designed to stand on the floor, the USB wires stick out like horns on top) and the case itself is not small
Period of use:
less than a month
16 0Zmeyara96
- February 6, 2013It’s depressing that there’s no reo-bass like on model 9, at least, but these are toys :)
the case is beautiful, the material is steel 0.8 for that kind of money is rare now, it’s massive, it won’t vibrate, of course putting it on the table is too much, but that’s why the choice fell on it, I wanted a steel one and with exits from the top not on the face, and this is the ideal option.
although I had to tinker with the assembly once
Bottom line: for 2800 I got a good and easy-to-assemble and easy-to-use case
Advantages:
Material steel
Price
Spacious
Beautiful
Convenient HDD installation
HDD with anti-vibration bolts pleased
Flaws:
I assembled 3 computers in Z11, including myself, no shortcomings were identified
Period of use:
a few months
14 0Merinov Oleg
- May 21, 2013This is my first system unit with a start button and main USB inputs microphone and headphones are located on top. Let me tell you this is very convenient.
Works quietly. I didn’t overclock anything, the hardware is powerful, there’s no need for it. Therefore, I cannot fully evaluate how the cooling system works. The only thing I can say about the ventilation is that it works quietly.
Advantages:
Stylish. Comfortable. Quiet. Chill.
Flaws:
Except that USB connection 3.0 through the "back".
Period of use:
more than a year
13 0Daedric89
- November 4, 2012Collected new computer, I didn’t think that the asus hd 7950 would be so long, in the end I replaced the Zalman z9 with this one, I don’t know how I didn’t notice it before, it’s much nicer IMHO.
Vidyukha fit right in, rested against the basket, but didn’t have to bend anything. The Scythe Mugen 3 cooler fit in without any problems, although due to the memory radiators it was possible to install only one cooler on it, for exhaust. I’m very pleased with the case, it’s almost inaudible, beautiful blue lighting, conveniently located USB connectors!
Advantages:
Quiet
Spacious
Beautiful
Stylish
Inexpensive
Flaws:
The HDD basket could be removable, although for the money this is not such a big drawback.
Period of use:
less than a month
18 1Anonymously
- February 24, 2012At full load, the gtx570 does not heat above 70 degrees. In the previous case (inwin), under many hours of load it warmed up to 88.
There is a 4-pin connector (Molex) on the rear and side coolers.
I won’t say that the case is quiet, but taking into account the fact that the coolers are running at full speed, it is quiet.
Advantages:
Well-thought-out case with good cooling and cable management.
There are 5 fans in the case. 1 at the back, 1 at the front, 1 at the top, and 2 at the sides. The top and front glow blue.
Flaws:
The metal is a little thin, but now almost all new cases are like that.
Period of use:
less than a month
67 8popaukropa
- January 28, 2013For anyone who cares about ventilating the system unit, this is it. You can also connect 2 fans, it will be a hurricane.
Advantages:
The main advantage is 5 built-in fans, which work very quietly.
Then the price
Well, an important detail is its size - the Radeon HD 7950 fits with a margin.
The 750 W unit also fit into my home.
There are a lot of bolts and rubber gaskets for hard drives, with the help of which you can easily stick and pull out these hard ones, and not worry about holding bolts.
Flaws:
One of the disadvantages is the location of the USB ports - they are located on the panel at the top, because of this the wire at the gamepad bends. and Some strange USB3 connection - two cords are pulled out of the case through a special one. holes and are pushed into the back panel - as I understand it, these are adapters.
Period of use:
a few months
10 0taxikoman
- June 18, 2012It ventilates well, after 6 months of use, there is minimal dust inside, good equipment, the standard coolers are not as noisy as I thought, I didn’t even have to change them. I was pleasantly pleased with the protruding side window, thanks to it the V8 cooler fit in
Advantages:
Price (bought for 2600)
Quality
Pretty cool
Appearance
Flaws:
too small
USB 3.0 output is quite clumsy, I didn’t like it
Period of use:
a few months
21 2avari3v
- November 2, 2013The optimal choice of case in the category up to 75 cu. I recommend
Advantages:
Hi all! I bought the Z11 Plus after reading your reviews. Thank you!
The latest information is this: (it looks like they have already fixed the jambs)
1) 5 fans are already installed!!!
2) USB 3.0 is plugged into the mother!!!
3) Power button - yes, it is connected separately - this is in the instructions. Doesn't bother you
4) Quiet
5) Cold, i5-3570k 25-30 degrees
6) Big
7) Comic appearance - but this is very good for fans
8) Screws for Plextor M5s are suitable (there are also 3 types of screws)
9) Anti-vibration-noise gaskets for screws
10) The size is good - a little larger than the standard Midik
10) Funny money - there is no one close for 2200 (the closest one is for 4k)
Flaws:
The instructions incorrectly show how to insert the HDD - I had to think for 15 minutes))
Period of use:
less than a month
14 1Noyt
- August 23, 2012I bought this case today and I couldn’t be happier with it, it took me almost an hour to assemble it, lay out the wires (fortunately there’s a lot of space), the most important thing is that it has original, quiet coolers, which made me happy, I’m 100% happy with the purchase, I recommend it.
Advantages:
Price
-view
-quality
-cooling
-I note that the coolers in it are very quiet, --- pleasant sound of air flow
Flaws:
Period of use:
less than a month
27 3Soft Ali
- July 7, 2013I bought it a year ago and I’m still happy with the purchase.
Very comfortable and well thought out case. After a year of use, there is almost no dust inside. Everything gets caught on the dust filters.
Not a body, just a pleasure. I recommend to everyone!
Advantages:
A beautiful, bright, ergonomic and inexpensive case with everything you need.
Flaws:
Micro problem with USB 3.0, which is described in the review below. It can be treated by purchasing a “braid” for 200 rubles.
Period of use:
more than a year
8 0Anonymously
- June 9, 2012I bought it for 2400, came home and immediately started assembling it, transferring everything from one system unit to a new one. It all took about 30 minutes.
I was pleased with the purchase. Fits perfectly into the style of the monitor and speakers :)
Advantages:
Design
- Cooling system
- Brand :)
- Possibility to hide wires in a compartment behind the motherboard.
- Availability of USB 3.0 on the front panel.
- Cool fastening of hard drives (first time I became acquainted with this principle of fastening)
Flaws:
I don’t know what disadvantages an iron box might have, perhaps its dimensions.
I have it in a compartment in my desk, it fits right in :)
Period of use:
less than a month
26 4dambas7
- August 7, 2015I have been the owner for more than half a year. What prompted me to suddenly write a review: I decided to clean the insides, because... in the previous building (Thermaltake Mambo), cleaning once every six months was strictly mandatory - everything was covered in dust, slag and tar. I opened the Z11, expecting the same thing, but no - everything is pristinely clean, sparkling with copper and light bulbs. The first time is such a miracle. I washed the filters (lower and front), that's all for cleaning.
Advantages:
Volume, everything fits without problems. The cooler (I don’t remember which one exactly, but not small, twice the volume of the boxed one) stood up, there was room for all video devices, HDD (3 pieces) for the eyes.
- separate mounts for SSD - turned out to be extremely convenient
- silent operation of standard “propellers”
- convenient to remove wires
Flaws:
are missing.
Period of use:
a few months
9 0IBURZUMI
- April 10, 2012"Zalman Z11 Plus" This is a case that truly deserves attention; for its price you cannot buy anything more adequate.
Advantages:
This product has 5 most important advantages at once: ergonomic appearance, price, quiet operation, excellent ventilation of the system and ease of use. I was also pleased with its mounting system for 3.5-inch devices, namely the ease of installation.
Flaws:
I know only one drawback of this case: the easily scratched glossy surface has not yet been discovered
Period of use:
less than a month
52 11Petrov Alexander
- September 21, 2013Great box! I didn't expect to find something worthwhile for that price. The only drawback was that the power button did not work; to activate it, you have to remove the front part of the box and insert the contacts. An incomprehensible solution in my opinion... At least it was possible to insert it right away, otherwise I killed my whole brain) Although, maybe this is written in the instructions)
In conclusion, I want to say that this is, if not the most, then one of best options for its Price/Quality indicator! I recommend it to everyone!
Advantages:
Quiet
-Beautiful (neon lighting)
-Excellent potential for improving your computer
Flaws:
For me personally, the power supply located at the bottom became a drawback, because my unit does not reach the motherboard: D
If we take modern power supplies, then everything is ok)
Period of use:
a few months
13 2Shumkin Ivan
- May 5, 2014Judging by the reviews, many have a problem with removing the front part of the case. After reading the instructions and doing everything as written there, everything can be easily and simply removed. We press a little from above, grab it from below, then give a sharp jerk and everything comes off easily, nothing breaks.
Advantages:
Cable management
Excellent cooling
Convenient HDD installation
Nothing rumbles, nothing resonates
Flaws:
It is not possible to connect the connector to the motherboard power supply if the motherboard is already installed
Period of use:
less than a month
5 0VandaXyi
- February 24, 2013It is beautiful and very roomy. Take it, you won't regret it.
Advantages:
Beautiful. Spacious.
Flaws:
My vidyukha fit into the butt, but if you look at the size of the vidyukha, it’s the other way around. My video card is a powercolor radeon hd 7990 (if anyone is interested, you can look at its dimensions)
Period of use:
less than a month
8 1Anonymously
- February 6, 2013The HDD temperature does not rise above 28 degrees.
Advantages:
Big
Beautiful
Good cooling and fairly quiet
Flaws:
Didn't notice
Period of use:
less than a month
7 1mel-u
- March 21, 2013In general, for its price it’s simply not possible to find a better one (IMHO) and the front cover is difficult to unfasten, but it doesn’t bother me, I’m obviously not going to take it off every day. The Coler Master V6, which is tall, fit right next to it!! 165mm!! I’ll also consider this a PLUS, although I had to file the window leg a little, but it took 3 minutes with a file =) In general, I advise you to take it, there’s nothing to think about.
Advantages:
Price
-Quality
-Design
-3 standard propellers =)
-Fits 165MM Coler Master V6
-Convenience of cable channel
-Dust filter on the bottom
Flaws:
Standard bolts did not fit into the SSD adapter from OCZ, I had to finish it by hand.
-Front USB 3.0 connects to the rear panel, not directly to the MP.
Period of use:
less than a month
4 0Kurashov Vladislav
- May 4, 2015Overall, a good model for 3000 rubles. Original coolers are immediately discarded.
Advantages:
1. Wires behind the motherboard
2. A huge 29cm video card fits in
3. Easy access to 3.5" racks
4. Darth Vader
5. Bottom location of the power supply
6. SSDs fit perfectly on one side at 5.25"
7. Meshes
8. And of course the price
Flaws:
1. Disgusting coolers included, it would be better not to include them and make the price lower.
2. Visor. You can't put anything in the top 5.25" slot; the visor will get in the way.
3. The 170mm radiator did not fit. Moreover, if the window were 1 cm higher, then everything would be perfect.
Period of use:
less than a month
4 0kdcorp
- March 2, 2014Overall I liked the case. I bought it for 2500. The price/quality ratio is excellent. True, recently it has risen in price by almost a thousand rubles. There are no major shortcomings, only minor shortcomings.
Many people have a problem with removing the front panel, I also struggled with it at the beginning, you have to push down on it and pull it towards yourself, then it can be easily removed. The cable for powering the processor must be laid before installing the motherboard, then this will be problematic. The Zalman company found the rear cooler in a trash heap, and it was sent there; it’s not clear why the side fans are needed.
The DVD drive fits perfectly into the top compartment, the visor does not interfere.
Advantages:
Price.
Design.
Spacious.
Dust filters.
Bottom power supply.
USB 3.0-2.0 connectors on the top cover.
HDD fastening via rubber gaskets.
Possibility of installing up to 7 fans and water cooling.
The convex transparent side wall allows you to install a large processor cooler.
Bath on top for external HDD.
Soft blue illumination from two silent fans.
Flaws:
USB 3.0 is connected with two thick cords to the back wall of the motherboard! Well, we need to come up with something like this in a modern building. But judging by the reviews, there seem to be cases with normal connections. Noisy rear fan.
Period of use:
a few months
7 1Chukhrov Zhenyok
- August 26, 2014Very good body, beautiful, comfortable!
Advantages:
Very beautiful lighting, 2 usb 2.0 and 2 usb 3.0 on the front panel, glass on the side wall, 5 coolers included (very quiet)
Flaws:
Period of use:
less than a month
4 0Anonymously
- November 12, 2014My version, hf1, with red backlighting gives the body an even more aggressive and menacing look, thanks to which (and powerful filling) was nicknamed by his friends the Devil (demon, etc.).
Calmly (3-4 cm margin) I placed the 970th gtx from msi. The illuminated msi emblem is clearly visible through the window).
It turned out to be impossible to remove the basket for hard drives and other things, because of this it was a little inconvenient to route the wires, but this is not at all critical.
About the top panel - in my case, all the connectors on it are connected directly to the motherboard. And the space between the ports is great for putting a flash drive or phone there.
Advantages:
Spacious.
- Beautiful, very menacing design.
- Convenient top panel.
- 5 fans.
- Window.
- Backlight.
- Rich equipment (lots of bolts, rubber bands, clamps).
- A lot of space for hard drives and other things (it turned out to be unnecessary for me).
Flaws:
Fixed basket for hard drives, discs, etc.
- Removing the front panel is a bit problematic.
- A bit heavy.
Period of use:
less than a month
5 0Gabdrakhimov Marat
- June 25, 2014I bought the case due to the inability of the old one to cope with cooling. I wanted to build a medium-power computer for video editing. And at the same time small in size. After purchasing a video card, without which I simply could not cope with my nerves during editing, it turned out that my small case was not able to provide cooling for either the processor or, especially, the video card. The production capacity and small dimensions did not stick together for me and I had to buy a Zalman Z11.
Overall, I'm pleased with the body. He copes with his task perfectly. I'll give you just one number. My processor temperature dropped by 5-7!!! degrees. Everything is ventilated perfectly.
In short - a good case.
Advantages:
1) Big.
2) Cold.
3) Looks very menacing and stylish.
4) Well thought out air circulation.
5) Lots of hard drive slots.
6) The fact that the power supply is on the bottom is certainly more convenient than on the top.
7) The price is very good compared to others.
Flaws:
1) The only thing that is cracking is the rear fan. I'm thinking about changing it.
2) Front fan with 3-pin connector. The rest of the fans are Molex connectors, invented before the birth of Christ.
3) I suffered with the front panel. It was scary to break. Down and on yourself... :)
4) The side fans look so cheap that I didn’t want to connect them. But they don't seem to make any noise.
5) In the kit, according to the instructions, large “star-shaped” bolts for fastening hard drives were stated. I never found them. I secured it with what I had on hand.
6) The body itself is quite large. Check to see if it fits where it needs to be.
7) After the first opening, I found some debris inside the case. Definitely not from the body - I examined everything carefully. Why weren't they removed? However, this did not affect the assembly in any way.
Period of use:
less than a month
9 2caermorhen90
- March 10, 2013Wow... Wow... and what a beauty... Those were my words when I assembled it. It has no equal in the price category up to 3.5 thousand rubles.
Advantages:
Cheap, high quality, COLD.
Flaws:
I wouldn’t find any shortcomings, even if it cost twice as much, there simply aren’t any!
Period of use:
a few months
5 1Anonymously
- November 12, 2012Quiet, roomy, excellent cooling (fx4170 4.6 works with a standard (!) cooler), its design is beautiful. It doesn't look like a bloated toy, but rather a solid contraption under the table))
The front panel is a bit difficult to remove. More precisely, it's scary. It feels like I’m about to break it, but no, I took it off and installed it twice, no problems.
IMHO the best for this price.
Advantages:
Quiet, roomy, excellent cooling, design, price.
Flaws:
Lack of a speaker (although maybe there should be one on the mother...
Period of use:
less than a month
7 2Semiletov Alexander
- December 16, 2013I took this case so as not to have problems with really bad cases from a number of “creepy” companies, the names of which I will not list, so as not to create anti-advertising. I also took a power supply unit from Zalman for this case, so that all the equipment was from the same company.
Advantages:
quite large and roomy, equipped with a lot of coolers, well ventilated, I don’t care about the appearance, but I want to note the funny design and lighting, several options for mounting the Power Supply, if you assemble a home PC without much sophistication, then everything you need will fit into this monster and you won’t need any additional ventilators , because it already has 5 pieces of knobs (80 and 120 mm), the ATX format motherboard fits there like a toy, lost in space
Flaws:
as such, I cannot note that avid hardcore gamers will swear at supporting only those graphics cards that do not exceed 290mm in length
Period of use:
less than a month
6 2Anonymously
- April 5, 2013very happy with the purchase.
Advantages:
excellent build quality
beautiful stock coolers that also work great
Convenient cable routing behind the side wall
Flaws:
I didn’t find it, except that if you installed the motherboard and then wanted to connect the 8-pin connector, you’ll have to remove it again, because. the head will not fit between the motherboard and the case. one of the reviews wrote about this.
Period of use:
less than a month
2 0Prochkaylo Alexey
- February 8, 2015I've wanted this case for a long time. And then the moment came when I bought it for myself. Assembling the system for me personally was a pleasure. Everything is intuitive, the front panel can be removed quite easily. In one rather serious review I read that the rubber bands for the HDD are not the right size and do not fit into the slide, they say you have to bend the HDD basket. Nonsense. Reviewers screwed the rubber bands on with the wrong side (the wide side of the rubber band should be towards the HDD)
I immediately upgraded and bought myself three 140mm backlit turntables from CoolerMaster, and sold the standard noisy fans. Now it's quiet and cold. The size of the case is quite large; it may not fit into some baskets in your tables. Take it into account when choosing. I placed my modem on the upper scales, now the escaping air blows through it too. By the way, my system is not hot, so the air does not reach extreme temperatures.
Advantages:
Price, appearance, cable management system, anthers
Flaws:
Well, if only the included fans (those with backlighting) and size (but not for me). Perhaps small holes for air intake by the power supply.
Period of use:
a few months
2 1Anonymously
- June 11, 2015The best case, very high quality materials, good fans, good air circulation, very roomy, full ATX.
There is a USB 3.0 interface on the front side
I spent a long time choosing a case, finally found this one and fell in love!
A video card 680 gtx, radeon r9 280x fits, and there is also a large tower on the processor, no problems!!!
When laying wires, go online and see how to do it correctly! After which the picture inside the power supply and the temperature change) In general, it’s worth the money, more advanced users may find mistakes, but personally I’m happy with it. When overclocked, the case fans get quite noisy.
The system turned out to be very quiet! The on/off difference cannot be discerned in a quiet room (unless you turn on the front blade..)
The following equipment was assembled:
Perc I7-6700k
+Noctua NH-U tower (very quiet!)
+PSU Corsair RM550 (fan only works under load)
+Video MSI GTX970 100ME (fans do not work without load)
Advantages:
Beautiful design (did not disappoint)
+Air circulation
+Possibility of installing additional fans
+USB 3.0 ports on the front panel (connect to the motherboard!!! And not to the rear inputs, as some users write!)
+The window provides additional width for installing a cooler (Noctua NH-U14s 165mm included!!!)
+Additional quiet side air injection fans (for disks)
+Potential for SVO (but not for any model!)
+Filter for air intake from dust
+Quiet system
Flaws:
Given their size, they could have added +5 mm so that 165mm coolers would fit in with even more confidence!
- the frontal fan is quite noisy. Suitable motherboards ATX, mATX;
Period of use:
a few months
0 0Odyakov Alex
- March 3, 2018I'm here for those who are wondering, "But...
Flaws:
The body is too bulky in width. These bulges on the front are superfluous for fans. As are the valves themselves. But the taste and color. Due to the width, it may not fit into your computer desk. If you have it.
The hero of our today's review appeared quite quietly. Zalman engineers took the chassis of the “people’s” Z9 and added a number of significant external modifications. We are pleased to present the result of their work to you. Meet one of the world's first reviews of the Zalman Z11 Plus case.
| Model | |
| Type of shell | Middle Tower |
| Dimensions, mm | 498(H) x 260(W) x 525(D) |
| Material | Steel, 0.6/0.8 mm |
| Weight, kg | 7,4 |
| Color | Black |
| Form factor | ATX / Micro ATX / Mini-ITX |
| 5.25" devices | 4 |
| 3.5" external devices | 1 |
| 3.5" internal devices | 7 |
| Supported number of expansion cards | 7 |
| Fans | 1x 120 mm front 1x 120 mm rear 1x 120 mm lower 2x 80 mm side 2x 120 top (1 x installed) |
| Interface connectors | 2x USB 2.0, 2x USB 3.0, microphone input and headphone output |
Contents of delivery
The case comes in a fairly large cardboard box. The packaging is quite simple. The only useful thing worth noting is the table of technical characteristics on one of its sides.
The scope of delivery is also not amazing. In a special plastic bag the user can find the following:
- CPU auxiliary power cable extension;
- operating instructions;
- one plug for expansion cards with a hole;
- one regular plug;
- a set of screws of various shapes;
- a set of plastic ties;
- a set of seals and screws for mounting drives.
Appearance
Compared to its predecessor, the Zalman Z11 has significantly increased in size. Its dimensions are 260 (W) x 498 (H) x 525 (D) millimeters. But the weight, judging by the characteristics table, has increased slightly - 7.4 versus 7.2 kilograms. In general, there is little in common between the cases, except for the lattice plugs on the front panel that are identical in shape and location and the nameplate with the company name.
What we have before us is a classic monoblock design with a rather aggressive, but not pretentious appearance. There are absolutely no smooth lines in its design. It even somewhat resembles some supercars.
The design of a case with protruding “cheeks” equipped with ventilation holes is not new; this solution is used by many manufacturers in cases of medium and below average price categories.
However, Zalman managed to do the impossible: the Z11 is the first case of this kind that does not look like a children's toy.
On the left side edge there is an acrylic trapezoidal window. For the sake of the overall design, it is made convex. Ventilation grilles are present only on the plastic protrusion at the bottom of the case, which gives reason to believe that the side fan is located there.
The right side face is less interesting. Apart from the plastic protrusion mentioned earlier, there is nothing on it.
The side covers are secured with four screws (two for each) with a massive plastic head.
Between the mounting holes of the panels there are metal protrusions designed to help in dismantling the side walls. These grips cope with their task, but nothing more.
The rear panel does not stand out in anything special, the standard set of elements is a 120 mm fan grille, a pair of holes for the outlet of air cooler hoses, seven expansion card plugs and a hole for mounting the power supply.
The front panel is more interesting. The basis is a plastic frame, which protrudes noticeably forward in the upper part of the body, creating some semblance of a visor. Plugs for 5.25” devices made of mesh metal are attached to it in the upper part. The entire lower part is made in the form of plastic ribs, which, as it seemed to us, are trying to evoke associations with the radiator grille in cars.
The top panel is very similar to that of the Aerocool XPredator Black: the same “scales”, only made of translucent dark plastic and without the ability to open and close them if necessary.
Controls and interface connectors are concentrated closer to the front panel. There are a pair of USB 2.0 and 3.0, as well as headphone and microphone jacks. The power button is located in the most visible place. As sad as it may be, her example clearly shows the victory of appearance over common sense. Most of the decorative elements of the case are made of practical matte plastic. But there was also a place for gloss. Where do you think? That's right, near the power button, where the likelihood of fingerprints and dirt appearing is most likely. A little further behind the power button there is a completely incomprehensible design element, namely a recess made of the same glossy plastic. Dust will collect in this place just like crazy.
On the bottom panel there is a ventilation hole for the power supply, covered with a removable mesh, which, judging by its structure, is designed to protect not so much from dust as from lint and animal hair. Approximately in the middle there is a hole for mounting a 120 mm fan, covered with a dust filter. Massive plastic legs with a soft rubber base are installed almost at the very edge of the chassis, which gives the body considerable stability.
Based on the results of the external review, we can safely say that we liked the case. If only the plastic sides were a little narrower.
Internal organization
Having removed the side panels, the first thing we understand is why the developers placed such wide plastic elements on the sides: behind them are hidden full-fledged 80 mm fans that operate as a blower. The practicality of such a solution is questionable. Cool air entering through the front panel is immediately picked up by side fans and carried outside the case.
The internal layout is painfully familiar - Zalman engineers decided not to reinvent the wheel and used the chassis from the Z9 in the design of the Z11, with all the advantages and disadvantages of the latter.
A characteristic feature of this arrangement is that the motherboard tray does not reach the bottom of the case. The main supporting element, in addition to the external walls, is a rack for drives and external devices of 5.25” format.
The motherboard tray has a medium-sized hole to make life easier for builders when installing CPU coolers with reinforcement plates. There are a number of holes for cable management. In addition, the pallet has a special seat for installing a 2.5” drive and many protrusions for securing plastic ties. All these studies can potentially help the user create ideal order in the system unit. On the other hand, the many holes had a negative impact on the rigidity of the motherboard tray - it plays noticeably when pressed.
The power supply is installed at the bottom, and its installation is possible in two different positions. The ventilation holes for it are made in the form of peculiar slots in the bottom panel of the case, the area of which is very small, which can potentially cause problems with some power supplies when they are installed with the fan down. The plugs for expansion cards are breakable. Quite strange for a modern case in the mid-price category.
The hard drive rack is designed to accommodate five 3.5-inch devices. In addition to the previously mentioned side fans, the 120 mm Carlson with blue backlight installed on the front panel is responsible for cooling the drives.
Between the drive rack and the power supply, the user can attach another “one hundred and twenty”.
The total number of seats reaches seven, three of which are located in the zone of the greatest possible accumulation of warm air. There are two places on the top panel, one of them is already occupied by a 120mm backlit fan. On the rear panel there is another 120mm device with a white impeller.
The case allows you to install up to five external 5.25-inch devices. There is also a seat for one external 3.5” device. Screwless fastening systems are not provided; devices must be secured the old fashioned way, with screws.
The front of the case can be removed to access the front fan dust filter.
Most of the grille on the front panel is made of translucent dark plastic, which during operation acts as a kind of light diffuser for the illuminated front fan.
In some cases, when removing the front panel, it is necessary to completely pull out the wires coming from the controls. In Z11, engineers took care of solving this problem. The wires of the power button and power indicator are made composite.
In general, the internal layout of the case produces mixed impressions. On the one hand, we have a number of positive aspects: a fairly well-thought-out cable routing system, quick and convenient access to components, as well as a potentially effective ventilation system. On the other hand, some design flaws, such as the flimsiness of some chassis elements and the rather strange power supply ventilation grille, slightly spoil the overall impression.
Assembly
There were a few things that came up during the build process that are worth mentioning. The design of the case provides for laying the additional processor power cable behind the motherboard tray. There is an opportunity, but the implementation frankly let us down. It turned out that the wires must be laid before installing the motherboard, otherwise the latter will block most of the hole in the tray and it will be impossible to insert anything there.
Installing hard drives, according to the instructions, is quite simple. It is necessary to secure the corresponding screws with rubber seals on the drive...
...and install this structure into the seat. But it was not there. In our sample (not intended for sale, it should be noted), the distance between the walls was greater than necessary and it was possible to secure the drive only after slight deformation of the stand and loosening of the mounting screws on the drive.
The expansion cards are secured using screws, and if you use a screwdriver, this is not very convenient.
Otherwise the assembly went smoothly. The cable routing system pleases with its simplicity and efficiency. Even a PC assembled in haste looks impeccable.
The case can accommodate large cooling systems without any problems. The convex window in the side cover will be opposite the processor socket, providing ample room for maneuver. But not all video cards will fit - the maximum allowable length is 290 millimeters.
Both USB 3.0 connectors on the top panel are designed to connect to the rear ports of the motherboard.
Test configuration
The following components were used in the test bench:
- processor: AMD Phenom II X4 970 (3.5 GHz, 6 MB);
- motherboard: MSI 890FXA-GD70 (AMD 890FX);
- cooler: Zalman CNPS10X Perfotma (1500 rpm);
- memory: Kingston KVR1333D3N9K2/4G (2x2GB, DDR3-1333);
- video card: MSI N560GTX Ti Twinfrozr II/OC (N560GTX);
- HDD: Samsung HD252HJ (250 GB, 7200 rpm, SATA2);
- multifunctional panel: AeroCool MODERN-V Black;
- power supply: Zalman ZM500-GS (500 W).
Thermal sensors of the multifunction panel were installed on the VRM, northbridge and memory heatsinks. The temperatures of the CPU, graphics adapter and HDD were taken using special utilities. Windows 7 Home Premium OS was used. To load the corresponding components, the following were used: OSST test 3.1.0, FurMark 1.8.2 and the Aida 64 EE 1.70.1400 package. The rotation speeds of the case fans were fixed at their nominal values. All components operated at the manufacturer's recommended settings and frequencies.
Test results
As can be seen in the graph, the use of five fans at once had an extremely beneficial effect on the temperature conditions of the installed components.
During testing, it became clear why there was a “bath” made of glossy plastic on the top panel of the case - you can put an external drive with a USB interface or some kind of mobile device there. Convenient and practical, given the complex shape of the top cover.
conclusions
Many people associate the Zalman company as a manufacturer of cooling systems with a spectacular appearance and hi-end cases. But it also has more affordable solutions, the cost of which is not much different from the products of even lesser-known brands. Expanding the line of relatively inexpensive cases, the company's engineers revised the design of the new device; it became more aggressive, although the shapes remained as strict as before. The Z11 model has become taller and wider, which is not suitable for everyone, especially the latter, because 260 mm is too much for the average computer desk.
On the other hand, the design of the case is much more interesting and attractive than many other solutions with “burdocks”. If there the additional side elements seem alien, here they are in perfect harmony, adding “sportiness” to the product. And in general, the appearance is well designed, every detail is thought out to the smallest detail. Zalman Z11 will definitely remind you of itself in your home interior, but it is unlikely to catch your eye, unlike some colorful cases. It is worth mentioning the price, which according to preliminary data will be $85 and $95 for the regular and Plus versions, respectively. And with such a price, the case has almost the best price-to-feature ratio today.
Testing equipment was provided by the following companies:
- AMD - AMD Phenom II X4 970 processor;
- Eletek - Zalman Z11 Plus case, Zalman ZM-500GS power supply, Zalman CNPS10X Performa cooler, AeroCool MODERN-V Black multifunctional panel;
- MSI - MSI 890FXA-GD70 motherboard and MSI N560GTX Ti Twinfrozr II/OC video card.
Like its predecessor, from which the new product does not differ much in design, the Zalman Z11 Neo is made in the Mid Tower format. It allows you to install motherboards of form factor up to ATX inclusive and up to eight drives. One of the main advantages of this case promises to be the cooling system: the Z11 Neo can accommodate eight fans, five of which are already installed by the manufacturer. The latter looks especially generous.
Finally, let's study the noise level of the Zalman Z11 Neo. A comparison will be made with the noise characteristics of an open stand (Open Stand on the graphs). Sound pressure measurements were carried out using all five standard fans in the case at their nominal speeds (~1200 rpm). "Spinner" CPU cooler rotated at the standard 1200 rpm, the video card fans were at ~750 rpm (17%), and the hard drive operated without load.
Sound pressure was measured with a Becool BC-8922 digital sound level meter. The background noise level in the testing room was ~25 dB. Sound pressure measurements were taken from a distance of 1 m from system unit, since it is at this distance from the computer that the user is most often located. The sound level meter was located in front of the system unit, offset to the left by 45 degrees.
The sound level meter used (model 8922) guarantees an error of no more than half a decibel, but only in the range of 30 dB. So the values produced by them below this mark should be treated only as indicative.
You can see the test results in the graph below.
In terms of noise, the Zalman Z11 Neo showed an average result. The case cannot be called quiet - the five standard fans still make their presence felt. But you can’t call it noisy either - being a meter away from the system unit is quite comfortable, but it is still advisable to reduce the rotation speed of the case fans. It's a pity that the Z11 Neo is not initially equipped with a reo-bass.
When actively moving the hard drive heads, no low-frequency rumble is observed - only a typical crackling sound is heard. Vibration transfer to the supporting surface is present, but not strong.
Let's summarize. Without exaggeration, the Zalman Z11 Neo case deserves praise: it pleased us with the cooling efficiency, especially of the video card, which is one of the important factors for a gaming PC. Significant advantages also include two separate removable hard drive cages with the ability to rearrange them. And of course, one cannot ignore the good cooling system of the case, the presence of five fans as standard, as well as the ability to place a thick radiator on the top panel.
As for the shortcomings, no significant disadvantages were found in the Zalman Z11 Neo. One could find fault with little things like disposable plugs for expansion slots, but this is a trifle, especially considering the not too high cost of the Zalman Z11 Neo - about 4,500 rubles in Moscow retail at the time of publication of the article (December 2015).