• Cooling zalman z9. Case Zalman Z9 Plus: budget option with plenty of fans. Noise measurement and vibration assessment

    The Z9 Plus from Zalman is a budget ATX midtower designed for the gamer and hobbyist market. The company has long specialized in quiet, user-demanded devices with high-end, high-heating hardware.

    Zalman Z9 Plus Design Review

    A quick look at the case measuring 207 x 464 x 504 mm and weighing 7.2 kg is enough to understand who made it. The manufacturer's name is heavily used in its design. A large Z can be seen at the bottom of the front panel, covering the area with a 120mm blue-lit fan. This is done not only to mask part of the cooling system, but also to circulate air.

    Those who can't give up on outdated technology will be pleased to know that there is space for a floppy drive between the fan and three 5.25" mesh-covered bays. A factory-installed 5.25" to 3.5" adapter is installed in the case serves to protect the drive.

    Zalman decided to give the front of the Z9 Plus a few extras. On the left is a digital indicator connected to a thermal sensor that can be placed anywhere inside the case to give the user an idea of ​​the heat level. A little lower is a dual-channel controller that can ensure the quietest operation of the fans or their overclocking if necessary.

    On the right is the first set of USB 2.0 ports, while another set sits on the other side of the 3.5mm headphone and microphone jacks with HD audio or AC '97 support. This separation of USB ports allows you to install large flash drives that can be used simultaneously with other USB devices without blocking them. On the right are a hard drive activity light and a reset button with a power switch (higher center).

    You can remove the front panel of the Zalman Z9 Plus Black by pulling it from the bottom and then from the sides. In the upper right corner are two small pins that can be detached to remove the cover completely. Zalman made them different to ensure correct connection. Each of the 5.25" bay covers is equipped with a removable dust filter.

    Side panels

    Turning the ATX Zalman Z9 Plus case counterclockwise reveals the left panel, which is held in place by two black screws. The capital letter Z is also visible here. At opposite corners of the surface, there are two small windows, between which there is a large diagonal grid with another 120mm LED fan in the lower left corner. An additional cooler can be installed in the upper right side for additional cooling, but even without it, the open space should allow enough fresh air to flow into the case so that the temperature of the heating remains under control.

    The right cover of the Zalman Z9 Plus is solid and has no channels to hide cables behind the motherboard.

    Back panel

    Holes for connectors are made at the back from top to bottom motherboard with 120mm non-illuminated fan. Just below it, there are two passages with rubber gaskets - a plus for those who wish to take advantage of external water cooling. Then there are 7 removable covers for PCI cards, a small hole covered with a mesh and a place for the power supply at the bottom, which has now become the norm for amateur and gaming cases.

    Up and down

    A convenient small tray with the name of the manufacturer is installed at the top in front. It should be useful for those owners of portable devices (MP3 players, digital cameras or Cell Phones), which regularly leave them on the case. Directly behind the tray, you can see a mesh grill that hides a 3rd pre-mounted 120mm LED fan. There is also a place for another cooler, which, if necessary, must be installed by the user himself.

    From the bottom, the case is equipped with four rectangular rubber feet that raise it above the base and prevent slipping. There is also a removable filter for the last 120mm fan and holes for cooling the power supply.

    Internal organization

    By removing the panels, you can access the inside of the case. On the left front are 5 hard drive bays that rotate 90° with 5.25" bays above them. On the bottom are spaces for a 120mm fan and power supply. Above is the motherboard tray. Cable management areas are on the right, in the CPU area a hole was cut out to make it easier to change coolers, and in the upper left corner there is a passage for the power cable.

    The interior space is a bit on the small side, but not cramped, capable of accommodating 29cm graphics cards. This does not take into account the existence of graphics cards, the power to which is supplied in close proximity to hard drives. Connecting at this location reduces the overall allowable length, so larger video cards must meet this condition.

    Some may wonder: what is the purpose of the mesh area under the cutout for the processor? While the right side panel is completely clean, underneath is what is becoming more and more popular with case builders - mounting points for 2.5" hard drives or SSDs behind the motherboard tray.

    Equipment

    Complete materials are supplied in a large sealed bag. The kit includes an 8-pin 12V expansion cable, metal and plastic head screws, additional motherboard standoffs, rubber washers and screws to secure hard drives and absorb vibration generated by them, small clamps, and a user manual.

    Everything looks great so far, but how will the installation work?

    Installation

    First-timers seeing the Zalman Z9 Plus Black case won't be sure where they should start. First of all, they face two problems.

    One of them is that the frame is not exactly square. When installing the motherboard, it can be aligned with the stands, but it doesn't exactly align with the rear I/O panel. The discrepancy is small, but enough to cause concern. After mounting graphics and network cards, users find that they do not line up properly.

    At the same time, to install the video card in place, you have to push it to the hole for the PCI slot and hold it there until it enters its slot. The same has to be done with the network card, but to a greater extent, since it is located farther from the lower PCI-E slot. Both components are installed, but a lot of effort is required for the first PCI-E slot as it blocks the GPU and the NIC does not seem to make good contact.

    The second problem arises when mounting SSDs behind the motherboard tray. The four tabs that the screws go through are too tight. You have to bend them with your hands so that the drive fits. This pliability, combined with expansion card installation problems, makes me think that the Zalman Z9 Plus case may have warped. But the packaging is in near-perfect condition and comes with styrofoam end caps to protect the case during shipping.

    Ease of installation

    The Zalman Z9 Plus case is delivered unassembled. All front panel cables are long enough to connect to the motherboard, even for the inconvenient audio jack at the back of the board. The design of the hard drive installation system is also pleasing. It is one of the most reliable items that users have ever dealt with and does not require additional tools. The screws are threaded through rubber washers and secure the drive to the side. The drive then slides along the rails into the bay, where plastic clips hold it securely in place.

    Between the motherboard tray and the right cover there is a space a little over a centimeter wide. According to user reviews, after installing all the components, this panel is hardly put in place.

    Testing

    A 20-minute OCCT run based on a GPU test at base and overclock, which peaked at 1020 MHz core and 1200 MHz memory at +0.025V boost using the TriXX utility, yielded the following results. During idle, the processor temperature remains at +33 °C. This is in line with the performance of the Lian Li PC-50WB case. The temperature of the GPU in idle mode and under load is +44 ° C and +86 ° C, respectively. During overclocking, the temperature of the GPU reaches +45 ° C at idle and +91 ° C at full load. Again, the specifications of the Zalman Z9 Plus Black are completely in line with Lian Li.

    Advantages

    For under $70, the Zalman Z9 Plus offers a lot of the right stuff for a midtower in this price range. It is roomy enough not to feel cramped. The hard drive mounting system is incredibly good, and the temperature gauge and front panel controller are nice additions. There are enough free bays and space for additional fans in future expansions. There are no sharp edges - hands will not suffer during installation. And for those who want to install a higher-level cooling system, an external water cooling connection is provided. A huge marketing advantage of the model is its noiselessness. Indeed, when the case fans are turned on, the noise of the processor cooler at idle is clearly audible. The body of the Zalman Z9 Plus is black inside and out, which enhances its appearance.

    Flaws

    Build quality is worrisome in the sense that some components don't line up properly and the 2.5" drive mount can be easily bent by hand. In addition, the Zalman Z9 Plus case is missing a few things, but it does have a couple extras. The filter is missing. the power supply fan and the PCI slot covers cannot be reused.These are functional features that are available on cheaper models.Since most fans of temperature monitoring use software, it would be possible to sacrifice the indicator on the front panel in favor of these necessary components.

    Conclusion

    Summing up, we note the following. Judging by customer reviews, the Zalman Z9 Plus is a solid case that, for the average user, should provide everything you need to create a high-performance and quiet system.

    When building a relatively inexpensive PC, it is more important to be able to meet a limited budget and at the same time get a functional and productive computer. Therefore, most often in this situation, the buyer is forced to save on secondary PC components, focusing on the main components: processor, motherboard, video card. Case Z9 Neo Plus White from Zalman, the cost of which is Russian market is democratic 4500-5000 rubles, can become the basis of a productive and beautiful PC.

    A key feature of this case is a thoughtful design and the ability to install liquid cooling systems. A completely transparent plastic window, branded backlit fans and a white body color make the Zalman Z9 Neo Plus White more attractive against the dark models of classic cases.

    Specifications

    Packaging and equipment

    The Z9 Neo Plus White comes in a large cardboard box that is predominantly black and white. gray color. The packaging itself from the side faces has illustrations of the case, its name and information about the main features. The color of the case inside the box is marked with a special marking sticker.


    From the end of the package we can see brief information about the product in 10 languages, including Russian. Here, in the upper part, you can find small stamped cutouts, pressing the cardboard in which we get something like handles for transferring packaging.

    Specifications Zalman Z9 Neo Plus White are listed on the other side of the package and are presented here in the form of a small table.

    The Zalman Z9 Neo Plus White case itself is protected from scratches by a transparent plastic bag during transportation, and from mechanical damage by foam modules on both sides.

    Zalman Z9 Neo Plus White package includes:

    • user guide;
    • five ties for fixing cables;
    • a set of mounting screws for assembly;
    • speaker to connect to the motherboard.

    Appearance

    When unpacking the Z9 Neo Plus White, you can see that the glossy parts of the case are carefully protected by films. The entire front panel, the dark frame of the top panel and the transparent window are made of glossy plastic in this case. The dimensions of the Z9 Neo Plus White are 205x490x482 mm in width, height and length, respectively. Body weight - 6.9 kg.

    In the production of the Z9 Neo Plus White case, metal and plastic were used, and the bet on the external design was made on the play of white and black colors. Of the external parts, in addition to the body frame itself, only the right cover is metal. All other panels are made of plastic. It goes without saying that calling card Z9 Neo Plus White is a transparent plastic window, thanks to which you can always admire the components installed inside the case.

    There are a number of gill holes on the front of the Z9 Neo Plus White and on the top. Their purpose is dual, since they serve both to decorate the case and for ventilation.

    General appearance Z9 Neo Plus White is closer to a strict and concise design. This picture is formed largely due to chopped edges and a minimum of additional elements.


    At the front of the Z9 Neo Plus White there is a flip-out panel, inside which you can see two 5.25-inch slots for optical drives and a grille panel for air intake by case fans.

    The folding panel itself is attached to the case with plastic hinges, and for soft contact with the case, softening legs are located on its surface at the top and bottom. In addition, the entire interior of this panel is equipped with soft sound-absorbing material.

    On the top of the Z9 Neo Plus White, we can see the controls and front case connectors.

    On the left corner is a large power button with a backlight frame. On the right, there is a Reset button, headphone and microphone jacks, two USB3.0 ports and two USB2.0. All USB ports are equipped with rubber plugs.


    The top panel of the Z9 Neo Plus White is interesting with a decorative translucent black frame, which, thanks to backlit fans, glows spectacularly at night. The bottom of the case is equipped with four plastic legs with rubber pads. The latter are designed not only to protect the floor from scratches if suddenly the case needs to be moved, but are also designed to dampen vibration.


    The Z9 Neo Plus White has a bottom-mounted power supply, which most often has a positive effect on the organization of cooling inside the case. The back panel itself has a classic design and many holes for ventilation.

    At the top of the rear panel of the Z9 Neo Plus White, you can see a seat for a case fan with a size of 120x120 mm. Here, a branded backlit fan is already included in the configuration of this model. For expansion cards Z9 Neo Plus White has 7 slots. The panels themselves, covering the holes for expansion cards, are removable and are fastened with screws from the inside of the case.


    The seat for the power supply is located at the bottom, and the power supply itself must be installed with the fan down. Therefore, there are many holes in the bottom of the Z9 Neo Plus White. To minimize the ingress of dust into the PC case and inside the power supply, an anti-dust filter with a plastic frame is installed on the outside of the bottom of the Z9 Neo Plus White.


    Internal structure

    The most interesting thing about the Z9 Neo Plus White is, of course, inside. This case, despite the low cost, has enough flexible functionality to organize a good cooling system. Inside the Z9 Neo Plus White, an ATX, micro-ATX and mini-ITX form factor motherboard can be installed, as evidenced by the information on the inside of the case.

    Taking advantage big picture, we see that five proprietary fans are installed inside this case, three of which are backlit. Another important point that the Z9 Neo Plus White has is the foam sizing of the left frame of the case, thanks to which vibration and rattling of the transparent plastic window are excluded during PC operation.


    To accommodate optical drives Z9 Neo Plus White has two landing baskets of 5.25 inches. Of course, the same baskets can be used for fan control panels or for 3.5(2.5) inch drives through adapters.

    WITH right side Z9 Neo Plus White has a small niche for organizing cable management. The inner wall of the case itself has many holes, five of which are equipped with rubber frames. In addition, some of the holes for cable routing are present in the upper part of the case. There is a large window at the location of the motherboard socket, which will allow you to install processor cooling systems with a backplate without removing the motherboard itself. Many loops are made on the inner wall to fix the cables with ties.


    Two seats for 3.5 inch drives are located at the bottom of the Z9 Neo Plus White case. Here, a metal basket is installed across the body, inside of which there are two plastic containers mounted inside on the chassis. Inside the containers, you can install both classic 3.5-inch HDDs and 2.5-inch mobile drives and SSDs.


    Especially for solid-state drives of the 2.5-inch form factor, there are two seats inside the case on its wall. They are signed like that - SSD, so that even an inexperienced user can understand their purpose.


    Inside the Z9 Neo Plus White, an ATX power supply with a case length of up to 200 mm can be installed. At the same time, it should be noted that for a soft installation of the power supply unit, there are four rubber gaskets on the bottom of the case. This will also protect it from scratches and the overall structure from vibrations and rattling. The entire space for the power supply and 3.5-inch drives is covered from the inside of the case by a metal casing. The casing itself has ventilation holes for drives and a stamped inscription with the name of the manufacturer.


    To connect the front connectors and case buttons, the Z9 Neo Plus White is equipped with four cables: one USB2.0 header, one HD-Audio header, one 19-pin USB3.0 connector and a bunch of Power SW, Reset SW, Power LED, HDD LED connectors.


    Cooling system

    Looking back at the price of the Z9 Neo Plus White, it's worth noting that this case is fairly well stocked with case fans. The manufacturer installed five 120x120 mm fans inside the Z9 Neo Plus White at once: three with proprietary LED backlighting and two ordinary ones.

    The organization of airflow in the Z9 Neo Plus White is also well done - two fans in the front lower part of the case work for blowing in, while one in the back of the case and two in the top work for blowing out heated air. Such a scheme for organizing airflow is considered to be a classic, and in Z9 Neo Plus White it is made according to the rules.

    The fan, which is installed on the back of the Z9 Neo Plus White, has a completely transparent housing and an LED strip on the inside of the housing. The connector for connecting this fan is 3-pin. In place of this fan, a small radiator of a liquid cooling system with a size of 120x120 mm, for example, Zalman LQ310, can be installed.


    In the upper part of the Z9 Neo Plus White, a pair of the same turntables with a size of 120x120 mm is installed as on the back of the case. The only difference between these two fans is the Molex connectors. Otherwise, they have exactly the same design and LED backlight. In place of these fans, it is allowed to install a liquid cooling radiator with a size of 120x240 mm, provided that the thickness of this radiator does not exceed 33 mm.


    The front part of the case is equipped with pairs of 120x120 mm black fans installed on the blower. Simple turntables from Zalman are already used here, without LED backlighting and a transparent case. Both fans have a Molex connection interface. A liquid cooling radiator can also be installed in the front of the case, a maximum size of 140x280 mm is supported.


    In the case of LED fans, the Zalman Z9 Neo Plus White uses the same manufacturer's ZA1225CSL model with sleeve bearings. These fans with a current strength of 0.28A have an operating life of up to 50,000 hours and a moderately quiet operation.

    Fans in black color marked ZA1225ASL, which work on blowing, are also based on a sleeve bearing. However, their declared service life is somewhat less and amounts to 30,000 hours. With a current strength of 0.16A, the manufacturer claims a rotation speed of 1200 rpm.


    Test bench and backlight

    To assemble the system and test the Zalman Z9 Neo Plus White case, we used:

    • processor Intel Core i7-7700k OEM 4.5GHz 1.15V;
    • motherboard ASUS STRIX Z270-E Gaming;
    • thermal paste Gelid GC-Extreme;
    • cooling system Deepcool ASSASSIN II;
    • video card MSI Radeon RX 570 Gaming X 4Gb;
    • RAM Corsair Vengeance LPX DDR4-2666 8Gb*2;
    • Corsair HX 750 Platinum power supply;
    • hard drive Western Digital WD Green 3Tb.

    Thanks to competent assembly and neatly laid wires inside the Zalman Z9 Neo Plus White case, you can get quite a pretty picture. The reason for this order, it is worth recognizing, lies precisely in the tested building. The metal casing at the bottom of the case makes the power supply, along with wires, and the hard drive seem to be hidden in this niche. At the same time, we did not have to worry about the drive, since the front bottom fan just blew the installed hard drive.

    Thanks to the many well-thought-out holes in the inner wall of the Zalman Z9 Neo Plus White case, almost all the wires were brought to the main compartment exactly where it is needed. The only exception was the 19-pin USB3.0 cable for the front connectors of the case, but here the reason lies more in the unusual location of this connector on the ASUS STRIX Z270-E Gaming motherboard. The fact is that in most motherboards, the 19-pin USB3.0 connector is located in the area of ​​\u200b\u200bthe main 24-pin power connector of the motherboard. In our test board ASUS STRIX Z270-E Gaming, the manufacturer decided to move it down, so the connected cable looks a bit strange.

    Cooler Deepcool ASSASSIN II with a height of 167 mm, which can rightly be called "monstrous", fit inside the case without any problems. At the same time, the transparent cover of the case was easily closed, and the heat pipes of the cooler did not even reach it. For a video card, the Zalman Z9 Neo Plus White has a headroom of as much as 400 mm, so our test MSI Radeon RX 570 Gaming X 4Gb video card stood up absolutely calmly.

    However, despite all these positive aspects, it is worth recognizing that the Zalman Z9 Neo Plus White case has restrictive geometric parameters. And all of them are associated with the installation of liquid cooling systems - this applies to installation on top and in front of the case.

    When installing the LSS from above, its entire structure should not exceed a thickness of 58 mm. Considering the standard thickness of most fans is 25 mm, it turns out that the coolant radiator should not be thicker than 33 mm. Otherwise, such a liquid cooling system will block access to the motherboard seat.

    Even greater restrictions on the installation of LSS are in the front of the case. The free space between the front wall and the metal podium is so small that only a coolant radiator will fit in the lower part, and a 25 mm fan will no longer fit. In this case, the user can either use the LSS with one fan installed in the upper part of the radiator, or use a low-profile fan with a case thickness of no more than 12 mm at the bottom. There are such fans on sale, so this limitation is quite surmountable.

    When turned on, thanks to the LED lighting of the three included fans, the picture inside the Zalman Z9 Neo Plus White becomes even prettier. Of course, this is not the case when all the decoration inside the PC shimmers with all the colors of the rainbow from expensive RGB fans, but considering the Zalman Z9 Neo Plus White costs less than 5000 rubles, the available backlight is more than worthy of attention.

    With closed transparent plastic window Zalman Z9 Neo Plus White takes the following form. Due to the fact that the window itself has no frames and is fastened with four self-tightening screws along the edges of the case, everything inside is visible.

    At night, because of the LED fans, the picture inside the Zalman Z9 Neo Plus White looks even more expressive.

    General view of the Zalman Z9 Neo Plus White case with backlight at night.

    The backlight also received the front connectors of the case, so finding their position in the dark will not be difficult either when connecting a headset or microphone, or when installing USB devices.

    Testing

    Considering that four out of five complete fans of the Zalman Z9 Neo Plus White case have a Molex connector, and another 3-pin, the rotation of these turntables was not adjusted, and they worked only in normal mode. The fans of the Deepcool ASSASSIN II CPU cooler were fixed at ~1000 rpm. Testing was carried out in a room with an ambient temperature of 25 degrees Celsius.

    To create a load on the cores Intel processor Core i7-7700k we used the Prime95 program. The MSI Radeon RX 570 Gaming X 4Gb graphics card was warmed up by multiple runs of the 3D Mark FireStrike Extreme benchmark. A Western Digital WD Green 3Tb hard drive has been put into operation with a copy operation a large number files from one logical drive to another.

    The entire complex of loads on components was carried out simultaneously to create the highest possible temperature inside the case. However, we also tested this test stand outside the housing to compare the results of the obtained temperatures. In both cases, temperature monitoring was performed using the AIDA64 utility.

    The results obtained allow us to say that the installation of components inside the Zalman Z9 Neo Plus White case slightly increases their temperature regime during load. So, for example, the hard drive did significantly reduce its temperature under load by 7 degrees Celsius. Here, as we see it, the close location of the standard lower fan in the front of the case, installed directly opposite the drive basket, affected. The hardest thing inside the Zalman Z9 Neo Plus White was the video card, the temperature of which inside the case increased immediately by 5 degrees Celsius. For other components, no significant changes in temperature were observed.

    Conclusion

    The case of Zalman Z9 Neo Plus White made a good impression on us, and largely due to its beautiful appearance: a large transparent window, backlit fans and thoughtful design. In this case, you can find many good engineering solutions, thanks to which the assembly can be done neatly, and the installed components will be cooled efficiently. I was pleased with Zalman Z9 Neo Plus White also with five fans in the kit at once and a competent organization of airflow.

    But, like some other models, this case has several shortcomings and children's sores, the presence of which on the Zalman Z9 Neo Plus White may raise questions. Perhaps the most basic question of any user will be caused by all five complete fans that do not have the possibility of PWM adjustment. And the second question that will definitely arise among supporters of liquid cooling systems is how to install the coolant cooler along with its standard fans on the front panel of the case. In the case of standard fans with a thickness of 25 mm at the bottom of the case, this is simply not possible. In either case, the Zalman Z9 Neo Plus White case justifies its beautiful appearance and affordable price.

    Pros:

    • stylish and cute appearance;
    • large transparent window;
    • thoughtful and convenient design of the inner wall for cable management;
    • a solid supply of space for installing large coolers and long video cards;
    • five complete fans, including three with illumination;
    • the possibility of installing coolant radiators on top and on the front of the case (with a reservation on compatibility);
    • simplicity and ease of assembly;
    • the basket with 3.5-inch drives is successfully blown by the bottom fan of the front panel.

    Minuses:

    • inability to PWM-adjust the bundled fans;
    • easily soiled case white color, easily scratched glossy panel;
    • only two places for 3.5 inch drives;
    • the coolant cooler with standard fans will not fit on the front panel of the case at the bottom.

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

    A small number of case 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, of course, a control panel with a thermometer. But the Germans prefer that the case does not make a single sound and does not flicker, like Christmas tree, respectively, for their market, the Koreans released a completely different, unique case model.

    First meeting

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

    Inside, in addition to the device itself, the owner will not find anything, but, having removed it from the box, he will find that all spare parts for the case, instructions and advertising booklets of the manufacturer are inside the spacious block. It is worth noting that the Zalman Z9 manual is complete and has a Russian translation. Mounting the motherboard, connecting interface connectors, installing drives and fixing the power supply - everything is described in detail in the manual and accompanied by color drawings.

    About build quality

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

    The buyer will also like the absence of a cutting edge on all Zalman Z9 steel elements. Assembling a computer will be much more efficient if the user is not afraid to cut their hands on the edges of the case. As expected, the manufacturer used a welded joint only when creating the bearing part of the hull, all other parts can be removed - a regular 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 connectors and USB ports have a number of advantages over the contacts located on the system board.

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

    About hard drives

    A removable basket for installing magnetic disks will definitely please 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 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 working with hard drives, which was found in Zalman cases, is the inability to install SSD drives in the basket. You can, of course, connect the 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 cooler connector (to cool the video card reverse side- original). In fact, this is a niche for an SSD drive. Albeit one, but still nice.

    Cooling system

    A review of the Zalman Z9 case may give the owner the idea 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 on the user. In the initial state, the entire cooling system operates at the same frequency and by controlling the resistor on the control panel, the owner, when the computer is first started, will have to adjust the fan speed to the operation of the system. It is not difficult to do this - the resonance is clearly captured by the human ear.

    In the future, during operation, it is necessary to monitor the operation of the cooling system and lubricate the fan bearings in a timely manner (twice a year for sure). Yes, it takes time, but, on the other hand, these actions will save the owner from noise or failure of coolers. Nothing complicated - open the Zalman Z9 case, remove the sticker, pry off the valve with a needle and remove it, pour in two drops of engine oil, put the plug back in place and fix the sticker in its original position.

    Manufacturer's defect

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

    The Black case does not have a pressure baffle for fixing the power supply. It is simply screwed to the body, as is done in cheap devices. This is also wrong. The PSU itself isn't going anywhere, but the 120mm fan built into it will create vibration that can be audible (the PSU case can drum on the bottom of the case). Be sure to install rubber gaskets under the PSU.

    System assembly

    Difficulty in assembly can only arise when mounting the motherboard. For unknown reasons, the manufacturer chose to make a non-removable carrier platform for installing the base board. Although, of course, this is an amateur. Some people like to mount everything in the case, others prefer to mount all the components on the table. In any case, the connection of Zalman Z9 to the main power system still needs to be done inside the case.

    It is worth noting that the device comes with a large set of screws and adapters for mounting. You should not be upset if an excess of consumables is found during the assembly process. It's just that the manufacturer gave the user spare screws. True, as the owners of the case note in their reviews, the manufacturer saved on rubber gaskets. Still, 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, impressions of the case of the Korean giant Zalman are positive. The ease of assembly is excellent: all the necessary components are removed, nothing inside rumbles, there is no need to break out the 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 of 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 beauty toy.

    The Korean company Zalman is a well-known manufacturer of computer components in the world market. Founded in 1999, it is primarily dedicated to the development and production of various cooling systems, focusing on quietness and convenience. And although until recently, Zalman practically did not develop its presence in the segment of computer cases, this did not prevent it from mastering a new direction in a short time. Let the assortment cannot boast of a variety of models, but all of them definitely deserve attention.

    At one time, with the release of the TNN series heavyweight case (with completely passive cooling of the “iron filling”), Zalman proved that it can really create unique and quiet solutions. And the subsequent representatives of the Z-Machine line have long been for me the standard of the right gaming case.

    Last summer, overclockers.ru readers got acquainted with one of the company's top models - Zalman GS1200, which left a very pleasant impression after testing. Now we will talk about the budget solution of the same manufacturer - Zalman Z9 Plus, the “tower” of the Midi Tower form factor. The case is positioned as a gaming solution, but it has a number of useful "gadgets".

    Let's start the review of Zalman Z9 Plus, as usual, by examining the packaging of the case and the accessories that come with it.

    Packaging and equipment

    The box in which the manufacturer placed the Zalman Z9 Plus has quite impressive dimensions. Its dimensions are 510 x 280 x 570 mm (L x W x H). Weight - 8.4 kg. The color of the package is made in a "cardboard" color scheme, with a black fill present in the lower part. The case itself is displayed on the front side, the manufacturer and model are indicated.

    The sides of the package are equipped with carrying handles. However, these are more likely not even handles, but just holes made. But in any case, moving the box with their help does not cause much difficulty.

    Brief information regarding the main specifications cases are displayed on the side in eight languages, including Russian. On this, perhaps, all useful information is exhausted.

    Inside the box, the case is packed in transparent polyethylene and sandwiched between two foam dampers-clamps that protect it from mechanical damage. The location of the product in the box is with the front panel up.

    Accessories are placed in a transparent plastic bag. It sits inside the case, clipped onto the hard drive cage.

    The package is made of rather thick polyethylene and opens with a special zipper. The manufacturer's attention to detail and convenience is worthy of respect.

    Inside, you can find several more nested bags that housed various mounting hardware, rubber anti-vibration pads for hard drives, a 12V power cord extension, and a user manual in English and Korean. Russian language, unfortunately, is missing. But the instruction is illustrated in great detail and it will not be difficult to figure out “what and where”.

    Separately, I would like to pay attention to the eight-pin extension cable for the twelve-volt power supply wire (ATX 12V). Its length is 345 mm, it is enclosed in a black plastic braid. In some cases, it's irreplaceable. Often a problem arises when too short length power supply wires does not allow laying a 12 V "cord" behind the tray for the motherboard (if there is a cable management system in the case). In this case, a similar extension adapter will help out.

    As you can see, the equipment does not shine with sophistication, but everything you need is present. See below for a list of accessories that come with the case. The kit includes:

    • A bag with a set of screws and anti-vibration pads for mounting hard drives;
    • A bag with a set of screws for fixing the motherboard and expansion devices;
    • Bag of twelve screws securing 5.25" knurled devices;
    • Adapter-extension wire 12 V power supply 345 mm long;
    • User manual in English and Korean.

    Appearance and design

    Design Zalman Z9 Plus - quite a typical "medium tower" (form factor ATX Middle Tower), its dimensions: 504 x 207 x 464 mm (L x W x H). The case weighs impressively for its size - 7.2 kilograms. But this can only be attributed to the pluses, since the increased mass allows you to better dampen vibration. Externally, the Z9 Plus looks a bit bulky.

    The chassis of the case, as well as the side panels, are made of steel with a thickness of 0.8 mm. All edges are carefully rolled, it is almost impossible to cut yourself when assembling a computer. The front and top panels are trimmed with fairly high-quality decorative plastic.

    The Zalman Z9 Plus only comes in one color option - black. Outside, it is painted with black matte paint, rough to the touch.

    The Z9 model with the “Plus” suffix differs from the “usual” one by a transparent, slightly curved outward window in the main case door, in the middle of which there is a relatively large ventilation grill. Hole diameter - 5.5 mm. There is no protection against dust here, which is fraught with its rapid accumulation inside the case if the room is dusty.

    The other side is completely deaf and does not stand out in any way. Both doors are held by special grooves in the chassis of the case, they are additionally screwed from the end with screws with a plastic knurled head, two pieces per side. To facilitate the removal of the panels, there is a notch in their rear part.

    We have tried to make the description as good as possible so that your choice is unmistakable and conscious, but since we may not have exploited this product, but only felt it from all sides, and after you buy it, try it in work, your feedback can make this world a better place, if your feedback is really useful, then we will publish it and give it you the opportunity to make the next purchase with us on the 2nd column.

    ZALMAN Z series Z9 NEO - Excellent

    5 Klimov Alexander Evgenievich 15-02-2019

    ZALMAN Z series Z9 NEO
    Advantages:
    Comfortable body, plenty of space inside, cooling and lighting at a height.
    Flaws:
    No

    ZALMAN Z series Z9 NEO PLUS - Beautiful, ergonomic.

    5 Tarasov Vadim Viktorovich 04-02-2019

    Owner rating: ZALMAN Z series Z9 NEO PLUS
    Advantages:
    workmanship, 5 fans, convenient location of the power button, hidden wiring
    Flaws:
    except that the rubber plugs of the usb slots in the front will definitely be lost))

    ZALMAN Z series Z9 NEO — Poor cooling with native coolers

    3 Grenadersky Dmitry Geroldovich 01-05-2018

    Owner rating: ZALMAN Z series Z9 NEO
    Advantages:
    Design, lighting, ergonomics
    Flaws:
    The air inside the case seems to be worth it!

    ZALMAN Z series Z9 NEO — Great case, very roomy, good cooling system out of the box

    5 Elizarov Evgeny Anatolievich 13-09-2017

    Opinion of a potential buyer
    Advantages:
    Very roomy, a large number of complete fans, the lower location of the power supply and the box covering it, which gives a plus to aesthetics. It is convenient to organize cable management, there are many eyelets in the right places and rubber plugs. It is possible to install a dual-fan CBO, which makes this case even more attractive, especially for gaming solutions. If desired, you can remove the mounts for drives.
    Flaws:
    Standard ATX motherboard covers 2 holes for wires. If you want to reduce the noise, you have to tinker, but a little. Fans out of the box can be strongly attracted to the case and, because of this, make more noise than we would like. The simple solution is to unscrew and screw on the noisy fan again. In most cases, it helps to reduce noise. And if you are not too lazy to put vibration-absorbing pads - everything will be chocolate.

    ZALMAN Z series Z9- Delight!!! more and unnecessary

    5 Gutsalenko Stepan Vyaeslavovich 05-08-2017

    Owner rating: ZALMAN Z series Z9
    Advantages:
    the ventilation is excellent, there is a lot of space inside, the quality of the material is at the ZALMAN level, this inspires respect for the manufacturer, a lot of little things related to cleanliness are thought out, three years ago I bought myself exactly the same block, and so he made me happy that the next time I assembled the next car, the choice of block was obvious, there is nothing superfluous and there is everything you need
    Flaws:
    I have not been found!

    ZALMAN Z series Z9 U3 — Good case (5 out of 5)

    3 Paul 07-03-2017

    Owner rating: ZALMAN Z series Z9 U3
    Advantages:
    1) Excellent purge; 2) Ability to install 5 coolers; 3) Informative and convenient front panel; 4) Looks solid, even plastic elements look like metal.
    Flaws:
    1) Mediocre management of wires "out of the box"; 2) The wire plugs are not very high quality, but this does not interfere with business :)

    ZALMAN Z series Z9 U3 — Effective and comfortable

    5 Oleg 28-01-2016

    Owner rating: ZALMAN Z series Z9 U3
    Advantages:
    Looks very dignified, the quality is at the level - both outside and inside. Pretty quiet even with stock fans. Buttons and sockets are well located - dust does not settle and does not clog. When assembling, the hands are not cut - the edges are processed and painted.
    Flaws:
    Little things at the level of nit-picking - nothing had to be checked, sharpened and soldered

    ZALMAN Z series Z9 U3 — great case for a great price

    5 Stakhovich Alexander Anatolievich 26-09-2015

    Owner rating: ZALMAN Z series Z9 U3
    Advantages:
    It's been about 2 months since I bought it. Firstly, I liked the delivery through Major Express. Now to the point. The case is very quiet, the blue light from the backlight of the fans does not interfere at all at night, the appearance of the case is on top. Someone complained that the knock-out plugs in the case cannot be closed at the back, and so everything is perfectly closed with the plugs from the kit, the cable management is very convenient and thoughtful. The edges of the case are machined, it is unrealistic to cut yourself during assembly. The dust filter on the front side deserves all praise, its only dismantling for cleaning is a little difficult (you have to remove the front panel every time), but this is more of a nitpick.
    Flaws:
    During the operation did not notice.

    ZALMAN Z series Z9 U3 — Excellent body!

    5 Sergey 24-06-2015

    Owner rating: ZALMAN Z series Z9 U3
    Advantages:
    Dust filters, design, transparent wall. Bought before the new year, here. Collected, installed, beauty! I remove the filters and clean them every three months, there is no dust in the system unit!
    Flaws:
    The second fan from the top is not installed from the factory.

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