Zalman z9 black case. Review and testing of the Zalman Z9 NEO Plus case: the middle class as it is. Testing the effectiveness of the chassis ventilation system

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

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

By launching a passively cooled TNN heavyweight to the market, the company has proven that it is truly capable of completing the segment with unique and quiet enclosures. Subsequent representatives, represented by the Z-Machine series, held the leading positions in various ratings for a long time and were considered the standard of a solid gaming case.

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

Dimensions (edit)

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

Appearance

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

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

Design

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

The other side of the case is completely deaf and does not differ in any way from the general stylistics of the model. Both doors are attached using special slots in the chassis and screws on the back of the Zalman Z9 U3. The instruction provides for a simple dismantling of the side covers by means of a recess where the fasteners with a plastic knurled head are located in the rear of the case.

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

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

Control Panel

On the left side of the panel, you can see a digital display with a temperature sensor and a control wheel for the rotation speed of the cooling screws. Manufacturers have heeded the feedback from users about the lack of USB outputs and equipped the panel with four 2.0-type ports. Version "YUSB" 3.0 is absent in the model as a class, which is very upsetting, so you have to carry out an additional upgrade of the case in order to avoid problems of synergy with connected gadgets and especially with external hard drives.

The middle part of the control panel is reserved for the microphone and headphone outputs. The board supports world standards such as АС`97 and HAD. On the right side there are hard disk operation sensors and a "sleep" / restart button. All control indicators, buttons and ports are signed, so it is quite difficult to make a mistake and miss.

Front Panel

On the top of the Zalman Z9 U3 there is a power supply button in the typical brand style - a 45-degree bend and nice diode sensors that light up with a bluish glow when the computer is turned on.

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

Rear panel

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

I am glad that "Zalman" has not forgotten about the liquid cooling system, having provided holes for the outlet of the hoses. They, as it should be for such systems, are under the fan in the amount of two pieces, closed with special inserts in the form of rubber petals. The diameter of the cooling holes assumes the hose is no more than 18 mm in diameter, but it can be increased up to 20 mm by removing the rubber insert.

Zalman Corps Z9 U3 stands on four plastic legs, where at the ends you can see rubber inserts that do not allow crawling over the surface and additionally dampen vibration.

Internal structure

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

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

Zalman Z9 U3 has an advanced cable management system that provides wire routing for motherboard, which largely allows you to free up space inside the case and, as a result, provide more efficient airflow from dust and other polluting factors. Positive reviews users allow us to conclude that the system justifies itself 100%.

Cooling system

Zalman engineers once again deserve all sorts of praise for providing the Z9 case with a powerful and quiet cooling system. Its main components are branded fans, which are "scattered" around the entire perimeter of the Zalman Z9 U3. It is better to review and install standard fans in conjunction with cooling systems for the video card and processor, because due to the specifics of these elements, the suction or exhaust properties of each blower will be adjusted separately. That is, taking into account the active or passive cooling of each peripheral device, you can set the "blowing" or "blowing" of the blades.

Summarizing

Undoubtedly, the Z9 U3 model can be attributed to the segment of gaming cases. Existing system cooling will cope even with several powerful video accelerators. Modding enthusiasts will love the unit thanks to the blue LEDs scattered throughout the case and fans, while overclockers will appreciate the model for its thoughtful layout and the same impeccable cooling system.

• sophisticated and eye-pleasing design;
• build quality and materials at a high level;
• built-in thermometer and reobass;
• the ability to install additional fans and other chassis upgrades;
• there are dust filters on all inlets;
• the hard drive mounts are equipped with good anti-vibration pads.

• the backlighting of the fans can be turned off only in a "rough" way (dismantling the diodes);
• the rotation speed is controlled by the reobass for only two fans out of all possible.

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

South Korea knows how to create not only worthy 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 greatly 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 is called elite products in most stores, which is fundamentally wrong. The manufacturer positions its brainchild as a high-quality product (note that a lot of elite products, when examined in detail, turn out to be low-quality or have limited functionality). Therefore, Zalman products should be treated like any other on the market.

The small number of body modifications on the Russian market is due not to the limited number of batches, 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, backlighting and always have a control panel with a thermometer. But the Germans prefer that the case does not emit a single sound and does not flicker like a Christmas tree, respectively, for their market the Koreans have released a completely different, unique model of the case.

First meeting

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

Inside, in addition to the device itself, the owner will not find anything, but after removing it from the box, he will find that all parts for the case, instructions and manufacturer's brochures are inside a spacious block. It should be noted that Zalman instruction Z9 is complete and has 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.

Build quality

It should be noted right away that all modifications of the Z9 line have the same devices and differ only in appearance, and, accordingly, in price. The case, made of steel, has a huge weight (7.5 kilograms without the 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 vibrations during operation. For the owner, this is a guarantee of noiselessness, since many cheap cases are capable of resonating with the fans installed in the system and emitting a specific noise.

The buyer will also like the absence of a cutting edge on all steel elements of the Zalman Z9. Assembling the computer will be much more efficient if the user is not afraid to cut their hands on the edges of the case. As you might expect, the manufacturer used a welded joint only when creating the load-bearing part of the body, all other parts can be removed - a usual constructor, 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. Still, this panel needs to be given worthy attention. The fact is that additional interfaces in the form of audio and USB connectors have a number of advantages over the contacts located on the motherboard.

It's about durability. For Zalman Z9 Plus, the connection of external interfaces is a priority, and the manufacturer tried to make sure that the connectors do not get jammed during operation (controllers of their own design are used). By the way, the panel has a USB 3.0 interface, which is rarely found in cheap Chinese cases.

About hard drives

A removable basket for installing magnetic disks will definitely delight the owner, however, it is not so easy to deal with it. It is the description of its installation that is described in the manual on just one page. The main thing here is to keep a record of the screws and monitor their standard size, so that after installing the disks in the basket of the Zalman Z9 case, you can correctly mount the device. Difficulties are possible, and if they arise, you should refer to the video instructions that can be found in the media.

The only drawback in dealing with hard drives found in Zalman enclosures is the inability to install SSDs in the basket. You can, of course, connect a disk and leave it hanging on the wires in the Zalman Z9 system unit, but this is somehow wrong. Upon a detailed examination of the case, after removing the second protective cover, the user may find a strange cell at the level. Many for some reason think that this is a connector for a cooler (it is original to cool the video card from the back side). This is actually a niche for SSD storage. Albeit one, but 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, are capable of emitting a loud hum. It all depends directly on the user. V original state 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 system operation when the computer is first started. This is not difficult to do - the resonance is clearly captured by the human ear.

In the future, during operation, you need to monitor the operation of the cooling system and timely lubricate the fan bearings (2 times a year exactly). Yes, it is time-consuming, 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, pour in two drops of machine oil, put the plug back in place and fix the sticker in its original position.

Manufacturer flaw

Without deviating from the topic of cooling, it is worth discussing the location of the Zalman Z9 case. The photo in the instructions for the device informs the owner that fresh air is entering the system from below. But small plastic legs will not allow you to do this 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 retaining baffle for fixing the power supply. It is simply screwed onto the body, as is done in cheap devices. This is also wrong. The PSU itself is not going anywhere, but the 120mm fan built into it will create vibration that can be audible (the power supply case can drum on the bottom of the case). Be sure to install rubber gaskets under the power supply unit.

System assembly

Assembly difficulties can arise only when installing the motherboard. For unknown reasons, the manufacturer chose to make a non-removable carrier platform for installing the baseboard. Although, of course, this is not for everybody. Some people like to mount in a case, others prefer to mount all components on a table. In any case, the Zalman Z9 must be connected to the main power system inside the case.

It should be noted that the device comes with a large set of screws and adapters for mounting. You should not be upset if you find 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 hurt to assemble and connect the Zalman Z9.

Finally

In general, the impressions of the body of the Korean giant Zalman are positive. Ease of assembly is excellent: all the necessary components are removed, nothing rumbles inside, there is no need to break out partitions, and the metal itself does not have a cutting edge. Sophisticated ventilation, using the laws of physics, perfectly drives fresh air throughout the 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. After analyzing the review carried out by the Zalman Z9 case, we can safely conclude that this is one of the few devices that is really made for the convenience of the user, and is not just another toy for beauty.

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

The outer case can be appreciated in the attached video.

Layout

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

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

Air is vented 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 at the rear of the chassis.

There are four slots for 5.25-inch devices, but only the bottom three have an outlet, and the top slot is occupied by a panel with connectors and indicators. It is also provided for the installation of one 3.5-inch device with an exit to the front panel.

The hard drives are installed in a cross cage with five slots for 3.5-inch drives; 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 a case without additional costs: one in the existing adapter of the 5-inch bay, and the second in the most unexpected place - on the right side of the motherboard substrate there are four lugs with holes for fastening screws. Of course, such places are not easily accessible; but it's good that at least some possibility of installing 2.5-inch drives is provided as standard, especially since its price is cheap. But there are no docks with external access for quick connection of drives - they are, of course, more convenient, but they also affect the price much more.

The chassis 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 (packaged 8.4 kg).

We measure the chassis is 0.6mm steel and the removable side panels are 0.8mm. A significant part of the left panel is occupied by ventilation holes, in addition, there are two small windows covered with transparent plastic; therefore, the use of a 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 over by weight. Both of them are bordered by a frame beveled to the edges, the surface of which is matte and slightly rough, and therefore well conceals handprints. But hardly 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 with connectors and indicators adjoining it in front.

At least half of the surface of the front part of the case is covered with a fine metal mesh: these are 5-inch slot covers 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 beveled backwards), so it will be noticeable and easily accessible in any position of the case - even on a table or under a table. It also has a built-in blue indicator.

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: oblong indicator of HDD activity (red), below it is the Reset button of the same shape; then a vertical block of two USB 2.0 connectors; then 3.5mm headphone and microphone jacks, another block of two USB 2.0; at the end of the row is a temperature indicator and a fan speed controller. We will tell you more about the last two below.

Note also that the presence of four USB connectors in this configuration does not guarantee the possibility of connecting four devices, if at least two of them are of decent size; but you will definitely be able to connect a couple of "fat men".

Pressing the Reset button is unlikely to work by accident, but you can't say that about Power: it has practically no free wheel, and you can turn off the computer with a light touch.

The front of the top panel forms a shallow "trough" that will most likely be used for storing small items such as paper clips. In principle, there is nothing particularly wrong with this: the metal mesh that covers the upper fans has small enough holes into which only something like a pin or a needle can fall through.

Ventilation system

Zalman, a well-known manufacturer of cooling systems, has richly equipped the Z9 Plus case with 12 cm 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 back 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 both from the motherboard and using the controller in the case, the regulator of which is displayed on the front panel of the case. True, the controller allows only two fans to be connected, and its functions are primitive: you can manually change the rotation speed by adjusting the supply voltage, but the brightness of the backlight also changes. The controller does not monitor the rotation speed.

But there is a temperature sensor connected to the controller with long wires; the measured value (in degrees Celsius) is only displayed on a digital display, without affecting the operation of the fans. It is impossible to fix the sensor directly on the vital components of the computer (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 still find out the temperature at the workplace ...

The manufacturer also took 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, two 120 or 140 mm fans are provided, in the center of the lower plane of the chassis - one 120/140 mm, on the left side wall - two 120 mm. But there are no self-tapping screws for fastening them.

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

Note also that the mesh covers of the 5-inch slots of the front panel are equipped with foam inserts.

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

Of the additional ventilation holes, in addition to the 5-inch slots in the blanks, there is a vertical perforated strip in the rear wall of the chassis and a series of slots in the bottom of the case, under the power supply installation site. There is no cut on the bottom edge of the front panel, which makes it easier to remove.

Assembling the system unit

The side covers are fastened with the usual system of grooves and combs, and are fixed with pairs of screws with plastic knurled heads. To facilitate the removal of the covers, there is a stamped protrusion at their rear end.

Six brass hex motherboard racks are already installed; if this turns out to be not enough, you can add additional ones from the kit of fasteners. The hole on the rear panel for the I / O ports of the motherboard does not have a cap, but the slots for expansion cards will have to be freed by breaking out the disposable caps. Fastening of such boards is screw; the use of a screwdriver when installing screws interferes with the edge of the chassis, in which there is no cutout.

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

The cables from the front connectors are shielded, connected with monolithic connectors (for audio there are both HD Audio and AC'97). Since these connectors, as well as buttons and indicators are attached to a separate unit, their cables will not interfere with the removal of the top and bezel.

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

In addition, the decorative plugs of the front panel itself, made entirely of metal mesh, have very tight clamps, and it is better to remove them from the inside by removing the panel itself. Recall that there is a button and a power indicator on it; however, the long wires running from them will not prevent the panel from being pushed back a sufficient distance. These wires are also equipped with connectors, so the panel can be removed altogether.

The top panel will have to be removed only to install an additional fan or service the existing one. It is fastened with eight plastic latches, the layout of which is given in the instructions; but to remove this cover, you will have to remove the bezel too (or at least slightly push its upper edge forward).

For neat cable routing, the motherboard has three rectangular cutouts without rubber seals; You can fix the bundles of wires with the supplied nylon ties, attaching them to the stamped ears in the backing.

Of course, when choosing a power supply unit, one should be guided by a model with a wire length sufficient for "hidden" laying.

However, the gap between the backing and the side panel is small, and if the cables are not routed neatly enough, it will be inconvenient to install the right side cover.

The left cover, despite the abundance of holes, snaps into place without distortions and unnecessary efforts.

The power supply can also be installed after the motherboard; it was already noted that it can be placed both up and down with a fan. It attaches directly to the rear panel, without any additional frames.

Fastening of optical drives is screw; for them, the kit contains a considerable number of screws with plastic knurled heads.

Before installing the 3.5-inch hard disk you need to screw four rubber pads to it, the cylindrical part of which fits into the grooves of the basket and fixes the disk (note that there are many pads in the kit: enough to install five disks). The manufacturer in the user manual calls these pads antistatic, although they rather act as shock absorbers; however, because of them, there is no thermal contact of the disc body with 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 kind of heat dissipation, but we will reduce the shock-absorbing properties of the linings.

The disc is inserted only from the left side, and its interface connectors can be oriented both to the left and to the 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 room for the straight connector end-to-end.

An adapter is installed in one of the 5-inch bays, in which you can use screws to secure 2.5- or 3.5-inch devices, including those with an exit to the front panel. Recall that on the right side of the motherboard substrate there is room for another 2.5-inch HDD or SSD; Of course, you don't need to remove the motherboard itself to mount such a drive.

Virtually all chassis edges are seamed to reduce the possibility of injury to the assembler's hands.

A rather rich set of fasteners, as well as the presence of an extension cord for powering the processor (useful if the power supply unit has short wires) is a pleasant trifle.

Testing the effectiveness of the chassis ventilation system

The last stage of the research is testing with software tools, which heavily load various computer subsystems, which, in turn, causes a fairly powerful heat release. Thus, you can assess the capabilities and performance of the case cooling system.

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

The cooling system copes without problems with sufficiently powerful configurations, nevertheless, its efficiency is not very high - after all, four fans are installed in the case. The result obtained is inferior to some two-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: in the presence of airflow, the temperature of the drive remains within the normal range, but you should not use this case to create multi-drive systems.

Noise measurement and vibration assessment

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

In this case, we emulated 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.

An interesting detail came to light during the noise level measurement: when the standard regulator lowers 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 has a factory defect; the unregulated rear fan also contributed. Under the condition of a desktop arrangement, the noise level of the case cooling system is mainly at a level 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 unobtrusive against the background of the typical level of background noise in the room and taking into account the noise from the drainage cooling systems. However, this housing is not suitable for operation in habitable premises at night and for systems that provide high-quality sound and noise optimization.

Evaluation of consumer qualities

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

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

Enthusiasts, and just lovers of good hardware, are unlikely to be interested in this case, but for those who just need a case as a box into which they can “fold” computer components and forget about them for the next three years, the case can 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 substrate, not the poorest set of fasteners and accessories. All this will make it possible to use the case to create a solid "workhorse" designed to solve a wide range of tasks (primarily an office plan).

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 no eSATA connector, no dock with external access for quick connection of drives. Instead of all this, a redundant set of fans with a primitive controller is proposed, the real benefit of which is highly questionable; 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, the finished computer, sparkling with blue lights, is eye-catching in the shop window; But in the workplace, even at home, such illumination can quickly get bored: although blue light is not as annoying as red, it still evokes not the most life-affirming associations. Imagine: a blue glow emanates from under the computer desk ... not everyone will immediately guess that there is only a system unit located there.

It's good that the manufacturer has provided for a 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

⇡ Packaging and equipment

Zalman Z9 NEO Plus comes in a simple cardboard box with a schematic of the case on the front, the model name and a listing of its features at the bottom.

Packaging inside a cardboard box is also quite typical: two foam inserts fix the body, 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 a quick guide.

Everything is like any other budget case.

Country of manufacture of the case - China, warranty - 2 years. Zalman Z9 NEO Plus cannot be called a novelty - it is an update of a model that has been released in one form or another since spring 2016. The predecessor of the Plus modification - the Z9 NEO - is available in most retail stores at a price of 3,500 rubles. That is, the most that neither is middle class.

⇡ D design and dimensions

The Zalman Z9 NEO Plus looks pretty conservative. In its design there are no 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.

The materials used in the case are 0.6mm 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, then its left panel is entirely made of matte transparent plastic and is fastened with four thumb screws, and the right panel is made of metal and is completely blank.

The slots on the top and left of it are more decorative, since no air flow through them is felt.

The solid front panel of the case has a barely noticeable textured pattern, reminiscent of a rough polish. It opens to reveal a metal dust filter, followed immediately by the fans. Where do they get the air from? Who knows where, but certainly not from the narrow side slots.

The top bezel can be removed to allow more airflow from the chassis from the top fans.

The lower dust filter can also be removed. True, it slides back, which, as you know, is inconvenient.

The body stands on four 23 mm high legs with oval rubber feet.

On top of the front panel of the Zalman Z9 NEO Plus, there is a backlit power button, a Reset button, two USB 3.0 connectors and the same amount 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 overlooked. But the price here is different, of course.

⇡ Internal structure

The front panel of the case is hinged and held closed by magnets. A plastic grill and two 5.25-inch bay covers are visible underneath.

Two-millimeter sound insulation is glued to the door itself. There is practically no gap between the door and the ventilation grill.

The entire front panel is secured with plastic clips with latches. Removing it reveals a metal dust filter and disposable 5-inch bays.

The top panel is also held on the same plastic clips. Removing it, you can see a metal chassis with a frame on which two 120mm fans are mounted, oriented with the impellers for blowing.

Let's take a look at the Zalman Z9 NEO Plus without side panels.

The main working area of ​​the enclosure looks spacious, any part is easy to access. Here you can place Mini ITX, Micro ATX and ATX motherboards. Large E-ATXs will also fit, but will block openings for cables that have to be routed in some other way. There is also a window in the pallet for installing or removing a processor cooler without removing the motherboard from the case.

At the front, in the upper part of the case, there are two bays for 5.25-inch devices.

Both baskets are removable, they can be easily dismantled from the body and, if desired, not returned back.

For 3.5-inch drives, the case also has two bays, this time with a removable plastic sled.

They can also accommodate 2.5-inch drives, and two more slots for drives this format is located 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 baskets in 5.25-inch bays, which can accommodate two 3.5-inch drives or two 2.5-inch drives.

The case is designed for the installation of power supplies up to 200 mm long. The power supply is fixed in a standard way- screws to the rear wall.

The power supply is fan-mounted downward to draw in fresh air through the built-in dust filter.

As for video cards, the length of the case can even accommodate 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 pieces. The slots are covered with mesh straps that are secured with plastic sheathed thumb screws.

At the end of the internal inspection of the Zalman Z9 NEO Plus, we note the presence of five holes for cable routing with rubber plugs, as well as a large number of ordinary holes and metal jumpers for laying cable ties.

⇡ Cooling system and equipment options

Zalman Z9 NEO Plus is equipped with five 120mm fans at once. Two fans are installed on the front wall and work for blowing into the case.

In turn, two more 120mm fans are installed on the top wall of the case, and one on the back. This trio works by 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 sleeve bearings, and their speed is constant at 1200 rpm. The rear fans differ from the front ones in a transparent casing and impeller, as well as in the presence of backlighting.

No fan speed control is provided in the Zalman Z9 NEO Plus, and the fans are connected via a serial connection of five PATA-type connectors, which are then connected to the power supply.

We 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 LSS does not exceed 55 mm.

⇡ Assembly

Fundamentally, the assembly process of components in 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 enclosure wall or elsewhere. It remains only to place the power supply and connect everything with cables.

In the upper part, the case is still cramped, and if you install an LSS radiator with fans there, then the additional power cables will not be connected to the motherboard at all. However, for mid-range configurations, the Zalman Z9 NEO Plus may well fit. However, we even managed to accommodate such a supercooler as the Phanteks PH-TC14PE in it, although its height exceeds 160 mm for Zalman.

Of course, the transparent side cover rested against the supercooler fans, but, bending slightly under the pressure of the screws, still covered the system unit. The assembled and working Zalman Z9 NEO Plus looks quite modern and interesting, despite the most common shapes and simple materials.

During the day, and especially at night, the attention of guests and friends will certainly be attracted by the illumination of the fans, which are visible through the transparent side panel of the case.

⇡ Testing

We tested the efficiency of cooling the components in the case of the Zalman Z9 NEO Plus system unit using a test configuration consisting of the following components:

• motherboard: (Intel X299 Express, LGA2066, BIOS 0802 dated 09/15/2017);
• CPU: Intel Core i9-7900X 3.3-4.5 GHz (Skylake-X, 14 nm, U0, 10 × 1024 KB L2, 13.75 MB L3, TDP 140 W);
• CPU cooling system: (two Corsair AF140 Quiet Edition at 700-1080 rpm);
• thermal interface:;
• video card: (GV-N1080G1 GAMING-8GD) 8 GB 1696-1835 (1936) / 10008 MHz;
• RAM: DDR4 4 × 4 GB Corsair Vengeance LPX 2800 MHz (CMK16GX4M4A2800C16) (XMP 2800 MHz / 16-18-18-36_2T / 1.2 V or 3000 MHz / 16-18-18-36_2T / 1.35 V);
• system disk: Intel SSD 730 480 GB (SATA III, BIOS vL2010400);
• disk for programs and games: Western Digital VelociRaptor 300 GB (SATA II, 10,000 rpm, 16 MB, NCQ);
• archive disk: Samsung Ecogreen F4 HD204UI 2 TB (SATA II, 5400 rpm, 32 MB, NCQ);
• sound card: Auzen X-Fi HomeTheater HD;
• control and monitoring panel: Zalman ZM-MFC3;
• hulls:
  • Zalman Z9 NEO Plus (five 120mm 1200 rpm fans);
  • CHIEFTEC GP-01B-OP (three 120mm fans at 800 or 1200 rpm);
  • Thermaltake Core X71 [five at 900 rpm];
• Power supplies:
  • be quiet! Straight Power 10 500W CM (0.5 kW, 80 Plus Gold), 135mm fan;
  • Corsair AX1500i Digital ATX (1.5 kW, 80 Plus Titanium), 140mm fan.

To increase the heat dissipation of the processor and increase the dependence of its cooling efficiency on case ventilation, we overclocked the CPU to 4.4 GHz with an increase in voltage Motherboard BIOS boards to 1.125 V (with LLC 4), and the frequency of the RAM was increased to 2.933 GHz with a significant decrease in the main timings. The video card worked at its nominal frequencies without manually adjusting the speed of the cooling system fans.

Cooling efficiency testing was conducted under the management operating system Microsoft Windows 10 Pro using a complex load from simultaneous activity of three programs for about 30 minutes. The central processor and RAM were loaded with cyclic testing of the 7-Zip 17.01 beta x64 archiver benchmark, using all 20 processor threads, with a dictionary size of 32 MB. In turn, the video card was loaded 35 cycles of the Fire Strike Extreme stress test from the 3DMark package version 2.4.3819 64. Finally, one of the hottest 3.5-inch hard drives (Western Digital VelociRaptor) warmed up in Average Read Access mode from the disk test AIDA64 Extreme utilities. Temperature readings were monitored using the HWiNFO64 v5.60-3280 and newer software.

The room temperature during the tests was controlled by an electronic thermometer and ranged from 22.8 to 23.1 degrees Celsius. We measured the noise level of the enclosures with an OKTAVA-110A electronic sound level meter, fixed on a tripod at a distance of 70 cm from the case of the system unit. The lower limit of measurements of this sound level meter is 22.0 dBA.

We will compare the Zalman Z9 NEO Plus with the one we recently tested, as well as our reference Thermaltake Core X71. The hero of today's article was tested in two modes: in standard form, that is, with the front panel closed and the top frame installed, as well as with the front panel open and the frame removed.

First, let's look at the results of testing the temperature regime of components assembled in three cases of system units.

It is hardly surprising that in the standard operating mode - with the front panel closed and the upper frame installed - the Zalman Z9 NEO Plus takes the last places in three of the four controlled parameters. There is simply no place for air to enter the case, so Zalman with its five 120 mm fans loses to the same CHIEFTEC with three of the same fans. Moreover, if we compare these cases at the same fan speed, then in terms of the temperature of the graphics processor, Zalman yielded seven degrees Celsius at the peak of the load, in terms of heating the GPU of the video card - four degrees Celsius, and for the two remaining temperatures, two degrees Celsius.

To improve the efficiency of cooling components inside the Zalman Z9 NEO Plus, a simple action will help - just open the front door and at the same time remove the frame from the top of the case. This allows you to play at once four degrees Celsius in terms of the CPU temperature, a couple of degrees on the video card and VRM circuits, and on the hard drive - as much as five degrees Celsius. Since the HDDs are installed immediately after the front lower fan, the opening of fresh air has the greatest effect on them, although the drives in our case heat up the least of all the components.

Now let's check the noise level of the Zalman Z9 NEO Plus.

Well, from five 120mm fans at 1200 rpm, installed inside a plastic and thin steel box without serious soundproofing, you could hardly expect anything else. More specifically, the Zalman Z9 NEO Plus is uncomfortable in terms of noise in normal operation and even more uncomfortable when the front door is opened.

⇡ Conclusion

The Zalman Z9 NEO Plus case is a typical representative of the mid-range MidiTower cases. It is compatible with the most popular segment motherboards ATX form factor and smaller motherboards, supports the installation of long video cards and not too high tower coolers, it can also be installed in a sufficient number of drives and liquid cooling systems for such configurations. The case also has cable management and even front and bottom dust filters. Finally, the Z9 NEO Plus has a transparent sidewall and fan lighting with a pretense of modding.

But the Z9 NEO Plus also has problems, most often inherent in cases in this price range. Five 120mm fans without speed control make this model quite noisy. In addition, we noted shortcomings in the organization of air flows. However, in such cases, as a rule, top configurations are not assembled, and this Zalman will cope with components of the middle class without problems. However, we will not be mistaken if we say that any user would certainly like to have a case with a reserve for the future, and most certainly this case should not make noise. However, the final choice, as always, is yours.

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

The product was originally designed for those who value high performance, high quality and a reasonable cost of the case. We decided to check if Zalman succeeded in making it happen.

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

Zalman Z9 Specifications

Exterior of the case

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

In the photo above, you can see the front and left side of the Zalman Z9. The body looks quite stylish - it combines rigor, solidity and a kind of "sporty" element. The matte surface is painted black, in some places you can see glossy inserts that make the case even more attractive. Fortunately, the "glossy madness", kitsch and tastelessness inherent in some (even more expensive!) Similar products are completely absent here. The efforts made by Zalman to make the case look decent are quite noticeable.

The picture of the front part shows that all the requirements for cooling the interior of the case have been taken into account - pay attention to the unobtrusive letter "Z" formed in the lower part of a kind of "petals" that rise above the front panel, at the same time creating a pleasant asymmetry. On the upper part of the "facade" you can find a button for turning on the computer, just below there is an input-output panel with various ports and sockets.

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

Before us is the back of the Zalman Z9 case. A pre-installed 120-mm fan is visible behind the ventilation holes, under which Zalman has prudently placed two holes covered with rubber rings - as you might guess, they will serve for the SVO pipes. Also here you can mark 7 seats for PCI cards and an empty hole for mounting the power supply, which is supposed to be placed on the bottom of the case.