home Internet Installing your zalman z11 plus. Best-seller? A detailed review of the Zalman Z11 Plus case. Noise level measurement

Installing your zalman z11 plus. Best-seller? A detailed review of the Zalman Z11 Plus case. Noise level measurement

The hero of our today's review appeared quite quietly. Zalman engineers took the chassis of the "people's" Z9 and added a number of significant external modifications. We are pleased to present you the result of their work. Meet one of the world's first reviews Zalman hulls Z11 plus.

Model
Type of shell	middle tower
Dimensions, mm	498(H) x 260(W) x 525(D)
Material	Steel, 0.6/0.8 mm
Weight, kg	7,4
Color	Black
Form Factor	ATX / Micro ATX / Mini-ITX
Devices 5.25"	4
Devices 3.5" external	1
Devices 3.5" internal	7
Supported number of expansion cards	7
Fans	1x 120 mm frontal 1x 120 mm rear 1x 120mm bottom 2x 80 mm side 2x 120 upper (1 x installed)
Interface connectors	2x USB 2.0, 2x USB 3.0, mic in and headphone out

Contents of delivery

The case comes in a fairly large cardboard box. The packaging is quite simple. Of the useful, it is worth noting only a table of technical characteristics on one of its sides.

The delivery set also does not strike the imagination. In a special plastic bag, the user can find the following:

extension cable for additional power supply of the processor;
instruction manual;
one plug for expansion cards with a hole;
one ordinary plug;
a set of screws of various shapes;
a set of plastic ties;
a set of seals and screws for mounting drives.

Appearance

Compared to its predecessor, Zalman Z11 has significantly increased in size. Its dimensions are 260 (W) x 498 (H) x 525 (D) millimeters. But the weight, judging by the characteristics table, increased slightly - 7.4 versus 7.2 kilograms. In general, there is little in common between the cases, except for the lattice plugs on the front panel that are identical in shape and location and the nameplate with the company name.

Before us is a classic monoblock design with a rather aggressive, but not pretentious appearance. There are absolutely no smooth lines in its design. It somehow even resembles some supercars.

The design of the case with protruding "cheeks" equipped with ventilation holes is not new, this solution is used by many manufacturers in cases of medium and below average price categories.

However, Zalman managed to do the impossible: the Z11 is the first case of its kind that does not look like a child's toy.

On the left side face there is a trapezoidal acrylic window. For the sake of the overall design, it is made convex. Ventilation grilles are present only on a plastic ledge at the bottom of the case, and this suggests that the side fan is located there.

The right side face is less interesting. Apart from the previously mentioned plastic protrusion, there is nothing on it.

The side covers are fastened with four screws (two for each) with a massive plastic head.

Between the mounting holes of the panels there are metal protrusions designed to help in the dismantling of the side walls. These grips cope with their task, but nothing more.

The back panel is nothing special, standard set elements - a 120 mm fan grill, a pair of holes for the outlet of CBO hoses, seven plugs for expansion cards and a hole for mounting a power supply.

The front panel is more interesting. The basis is a plastic frame, which protrudes noticeably forward in the upper part of the case, creating some kind of visor. Plugs for 5.25” mesh metal devices are attached to it in the upper part. All Bottom part made in the form of plastic ribs, which, as it seemed to us, are trying to evoke associations with the radiator grille in cars.

The top panel strongly resembles that of the Aerocool XPredator Black: the same “scales”, only made of translucent dark plastic and without the ability to open and close them if necessary.

Controls and interface connectors are concentrated closer to the front panel. There is a pair of USB 2.0 and 3.0, as well as headphone and microphone jacks. The power button is placed in the most visible place. Sad as it may seem, but her example clearly shows the victory of appearance over common sense. Most of the decorative elements of the case are made of practical matte plastic. But there was a place for gloss. Where do you think? That's right, near the power button, where the likelihood of fingerprints and dirt is most likely. A little further behind the power button is a completely incomprehensible design element, namely, a recess made of the same glossy plastic. Dust will collect in this place just with a bang.

On the bottom panel there is a power supply vent, covered with a removable mesh, which, judging by the structure, is designed to protect not so much from dust as from lint and animal hair. Approximately in the middle is a hole for mounting a 120mm fan, covered with a dust filter. Massive plastic feet with a soft rubber base are installed almost on the very edge of the chassis, which gives the case considerable stability.

According to the results external review I can safely say that I liked the case. That's only if the plastic sidewalls were a little narrower.
Internal organization

Having removed the sidewalls, the first thing we understand is why the developers placed such wide plastic elements on the sides: full-fledged 80mm blowing fans are hidden behind them. The practicality of such a solution is questionable. Cool air entering through the front panel is immediately picked up by the side fans and carried out of the case.

The internal layout is painfully familiar - Zalman engineers decided not to reinvent the wheel and used the Z9 chassis in the Z11 design, with all the advantages and disadvantages of the latter.

A characteristic feature of this layout is that the motherboard tray does not reach the bottom of the case. The main bearing element, in addition to the outer walls, is a rack for drives and external devices 5.25" format.

The motherboard tray has a medium-sized hole designed to make life easier for builders when installing CPU cooling systems with reinforcement plates. There are a number of holes for cable management. In addition, the pallet has a special seat for installing a 2.5" drive and a lot of protrusions for fixing plastic ties. All of these studies have the potential to help the user navigate perfect order in the system block. On the other hand, a lot of holes had a negative impact on the rigidity of the motherboard tray - when pressed, it plays noticeably.

The power supply unit is installed at the bottom, and its installation is possible in two different positions. The ventilation holes for it are made in the form of peculiar slots in the bottom panel of the case, the area of \u200b\u200bwhich is very small, which can potentially cause problems with some power supplies when installed with a fan down. Plugs of expansion cards are breakable. Quite strange for a modern case of the middle price category.

The hard drive rack can hold up to five 3.5" drives. In addition to the side fans mentioned earlier, the drives are cooled by a 120 mm Carlson with blue backlight mounted on the front panel.

Between the rack for drives and the power supply, the user can fix another "hundred and twenty".

The total number of seats reaches seven pieces, three of which are located in the zone of the greatest possible accumulation of warm air. There are two places on the top panel, one of them is already occupied by a 120mm backlit fan. On the rear panel is another 120 mm device with a white impeller.

The case allows you to install up to five 5.25-inch external devices. There is also a seat for one external 3.5” device. Screwless mounting systems are not provided, the devices must be fixed in the old fashioned way, with screws.

The front of the case can be removed to access the front fan dust filter.

Most of the grille on the front panel is made of translucent dark plastic, which during operation is a kind of light diffuser for the illuminated front fan.

In some cases, when dismantling the front panel, it is necessary to completely pull out the wires coming from the controls. In Z11, engineers took care of solving this problem. The wires of the power button and the power indicator are made composite.

In general, the internal layout of the case produces mixed impressions. On the one hand we have whole line good points: a well-thought-out cable management system, quick and easy access to components, as well as potentially effective system ventilation. On the other hand, some design flaws, such as the fragility of some chassis elements and a rather strange PSU ventilation grille, slightly spoil the overall impression.
Assembly

During the assembly process, there were several points that are worth mentioning. The design of the case provides for laying the additional power cable for the processor behind the motherboard tray. There is a possibility, but the implementation frankly let us down. It turned out that the wires must be laid before the motherboard is installed, otherwise, the latter will block most of the hole in the tray and push anything in there will be impossible.

Installing hard drives, according to the instructions, is quite simple. It is necessary to fix the appropriate screws with rubber seals on the drive...

... and install this design in the seat. But it was not there. In our sample (not intended for sale, it should be noted), the distance between the walls was greater than necessary and it was possible to fix the disk only after a slight deformation of the rack and loosening the fixing screws on the drive.

The expansion cards are fastened with screws, and if you use a screwdriver, this is not very convenient.

The rest of the assembly went smoothly. The cable management system impresses with its simplicity and efficiency. Even a PC built in haste looks immaculate.

Overall cooling systems will fit into the case without any problems. The convex window in the side cover will be opposite the processor socket, providing enough room for maneuver. But not all video cards will fit - the maximum allowable length is 290 millimeters.

Both USB 3.0 connectors on the top panel are designed to connect to the rear ports of the motherboard.

Test configuration

The following components were used in the test bench:

processor: AMD Phenom II X4 970 (3.5 GHz, 6 MB);
motherboard: MSI 890FXA-GD70 (AMD 890FX);
cooler: Zalman CNPS10X Perfotma (1500 rpm);
memory: Kingston KVR1333D3N9K2/4G (2x2GB, DDR3-1333);
video card: MSI N560GTX Ti Twinfrozr II/OC (N560GTX);
hard drive: Samsung HD252HJ (250 GB, 7200 rpm, SATA2);
multifunction panel: AeroCool MODERN-V Black;
power supply: Zalman ZM500-GS (500 W).

The comparison was made with the components indicated above, placed outside the case.

Thermal sensors of the multifunctional panel were installed on the VRM, northbridge and memory heatsinks. The temperatures of the CPU, graphics adapter and HDD were taken using special utilities. Used OS Windows 7 Home Premium. The following components were used to load the corresponding components: OCCT 3.1.0 test, FurMark 1.8.2 and Aida 64 EE 1.70.1400 package. The rotational speed of the case fans was fixed at their nominal values. All components worked at the settings and frequencies recommended by the manufacturers.

Test results

As you can see in the graph, the use of five fans at once had an extremely favorable effect on the temperature regime of the installed components.

During testing, it became clear why there is a "bath" made of glossy plastic on the top panel of the case - you can put an external drive with USB interface or some mobile device. Convenient and practical, given the complex shape of the top cover.

conclusions

Zalman is associated with many as a manufacturer of cooling systems with a spectacular appearance and hi-end cases. But it also has more affordable solutions, the cost of which is not much different from the products of even lesser-known brands. Expanding the line of relatively inexpensive cases, the company's engineers revised the design of the new device, it became more aggressive, although the forms remained as strict as before. The Z11 model has become taller and wider, which is not suitable for everyone, especially the latter, because 260 mm for the average computer desk too much.

On the other hand, the design of the case is much more interesting and attractive than many other solutions with “burdocks”. If there additional side elements seem alien, then here they are in perfect harmony, adding "sportiness" to the product. Yes, in general appearance well designed, every detail is thought out to the smallest detail. Zalman Z11 will certainly remind you of itself in a home interior, but it is unlikely to catch the eye, unlike some colorful cases. It is worth mentioning the price, which, according to preliminary data, will be $85 and $95 for the regular and Plus versions, respectively. And with such a cost, the case has almost the best ratio prices and opportunities today.

Testing equipment was provided by the following companies:

AMD- AMD processor Phenom II X4 970;
Eletek - Zalman Z11 Plus case, Zalman ZM-500GS power supply, Zalman CNPS10X Performa cooler, AeroCool MODERN-V Black multifunction panel;
MSI - MSI 890FXA-GD70 motherboard and MSI N560GTX Ti Twinfrozr II/OC graphics card.

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Product Mentions 1

1 - Complete set. Appearance.

Contents of delivery

The case comes in a fairly large cardboard box. The packaging is quite simple. Of the useful, it is worth noting only a table of technical characteristics on one of its sides.

The delivery set also does not strike the imagination. In a special plastic bag, the user can find the following:

Extension cable for additional power supply of the processor;

Operating Instructions;

One plug for expansion cards with a hole;

One regular plug;

A set of screws of various shapes;

A set of plastic ties;

A set of seals and screws for mounting drives.

Appearance

Before us is a classic monoblock design with a rather aggressive, but not pretentious appearance. There are absolutely no smooth lines in its design. It somehow even resembles some supercars.

The design of the case with protruding "cheeks" equipped with ventilation holes is not new, this solution is used by many manufacturers in cases of medium and below average price categories.

However, Zalman managed to do the impossible: the Z11 is the first case of its kind that does not look like a child's toy.

The right side face is less interesting. Apart from the previously mentioned plastic protrusion, there is nothing on it.

The side covers are fastened with four screws (two for each) with a massive plastic head.

Between the mounting holes of the panels there are metal protrusions designed to help in the dismantling of the side walls. These grips cope with their task, but nothing more.

The rear panel does not stand out in any way, a standard set of elements - a 120 mm fan grill, a pair of holes for the outlet of CBO hoses, seven plugs for expansion cards and a hole for mounting a power supply.

The front panel is more interesting. The basis is a plastic frame, which protrudes noticeably forward in the upper part of the case, creating some kind of visor. Plugs for 5.25” mesh metal devices are attached to it in the upper part. The entire lower part is made in the form of plastic ribs, which, as it seemed to us, with their whole appearance are trying to evoke associations with the radiator grille in cars.

The top panel strongly resembles that of the Aerocool XPredator Black: the same “scales”, only made of translucent dark plastic and without the ability to open and close them if necessary.

Based on the results of an external review, we can safely say that we liked the case. That's only if the plastic sidewalls were a little narrower.

2 - Internal arrangement.

The internal layout is painfully familiar - Zalman engineers decided not to reinvent the wheel and used the Z9 chassis in the Z11 design, with all the advantages and disadvantages of the latter.

A characteristic feature of this layout is that the motherboard tray does not reach the bottom of the case. The main bearing element, in addition to the outer walls, is a rack for 5.25” drives and external devices.

The motherboard tray has a medium-sized hole designed to make life easier for builders when installing CPU cooling systems with reinforcement plates. There are a number of holes for cable management. In addition, the pallet has a special seat for installing a 2.5" drive and a lot of protrusions for fixing plastic ties. All these researches can potentially help the user to put things in perfect order in the system unit. On the other hand, a lot of holes had a negative impact on the rigidity of the motherboard tray - when pressed, it plays noticeably.

The hard drive rack can hold up to five 3.5" drives. In addition to the side fans mentioned earlier, the drives are cooled by a 120 mm Carlson with blue backlight mounted on the front panel.

Between the rack for drives and the power supply, the user can fix another "hundred and twenty".

The front of the case can be removed to access the front fan dust filter.

Most of the grille on the front panel is made of translucent dark plastic, which during operation is a kind of light diffuser for the illuminated front fan.

In general, the internal layout of the case produces mixed impressions. On the one hand, we have a number of positive aspects: a fairly well-thought-out cable routing system, quick and convenient access to components, as well as a potentially effective ventilation system. On the other hand, some design flaws, such as the fragility of some chassis elements and a rather strange PSU ventilation grille, slightly spoil the overall impression.

3 - Assembly. Testing. Conclusions.

Assembly

Installing hard drives, according to the instructions, is quite simple. It is necessary to fix the appropriate screws with rubber seals on the drive...

The expansion cards are fastened with screws, and if you use a screwdriver, this is not very convenient.

The rest of the assembly went smoothly. The cable management system impresses with its simplicity and efficiency. Even a PC built in haste looks immaculate.

Both USB 3.0 connectors on the top panel are designed to connect to the rear ports of the motherboard.

Test configuration

The following components were used in the test bench:

Processor: AMD Phenom II X4 970 (3.5 GHz, 6 MB);

Motherboard: MSI 890FXA-GD70 (AMD 890FX);

Cooler: Zalman CNPS10X Performa (1500 rpm);

Memory: Kingston KVR1333D3N9K2/4G (2x2GB, DDR3-1333);

Video card: MSI N560GTX Ti Twinfrozr II/OC (N560GTX);

Hard drive: Samsung HD252HJ (250 GB, 7200 rpm, SATA2);

Multifunction panel: AeroCool MODERN-V Black;

Power supply: Zalman ZM500-GS (500 W).

The comparison was made with the components indicated above, placed outside the case.

Test results

As you can see in the graph, the use of five fans at once had an extremely favorable effect on the temperature regime of the installed components.

During testing, it became clear what the "bath" made of glossy plastic on the top panel of the case is for - you can put an external drive with a USB interface or some kind of mobile device there. Convenient and practical, given the complex shape of the top cover.

conclusions

Zalman is associated with many as a manufacturer of cooling systems with a spectacular appearance and hi-end cases. But it also has more affordable solutions, the cost of which is not much different from the products of even lesser-known brands. Expanding the line of relatively inexpensive cases, the company's engineers revised the design of the new device, it became more aggressive, although the forms remained as strict as before. The Z11 is taller and wider, which isn't for everyone, especially the latter, as 260mm is way too much for the average computer desk.

On the other hand, the design of the case is much more interesting and attractive than many other solutions with “burdocks”. If there additional side elements seem alien, then here they are in perfect harmony, adding "sportiness" to the product. And in general, the appearance is well developed, every detail is thought out to the smallest detail. Zalman Z11 will certainly remind you of itself in a home interior, but it is unlikely to catch the eye, unlike some colorful cases. It is worth mentioning the price, which, according to preliminary data, will be $85 and $95 for the regular and Plus versions, respectively. And with such a cost, the case has almost the best ratio of price and features to date.

The equipment for testing was provided by the following companies: AMD - AMD Phenom II X4 970 processor; Eletek - Zalman Z11 Plus case, Zalman ZM-500GS power supply, Zalman CNPS10X Performa cooler, AeroCool MODERN-V Black multifunction panel; MSI - MSI 890FXA-GD70 motherboard and MSI N560GTX Ti Twinfrozr II/OC graphics card.

Many manufacturers in the world of the IT industry have sunk into oblivion, most of them simply could not stand the competition. They were taken over by other larger and stronger firms or simply went bankrupt. Old-timers bring up names that many may have never even heard of, such as Epox and Abit. Eh, there were times then, but I think it's time to finish with the memory of the fallen and move on to the current names, those that are still alive. One such office that outlived many is Zalman. Despite numerous rumors of bankruptcy, the company is alive and doing very well, judging by breaking news and because it releases new products. And today we will get acquainted with one of these new products - it will be a case Zalman Z11 Neo.

Packaging and equipment

The case is delivered in a large cardboard box with a black image of the case itself and red inserts. The front and back sides are identical, on them and the sidewalls there is a description of the technical characteristics of the Zalman Z11 Neo.

The case is protected from damage by foam blocks and packed in a bag.

The package contains everything you need to assemble the system in the Z11 Neo case: screws, clamps and a 4 + 4Pin processor power extension cable.

Appearance

The case has a spectacular appearance, and perhaps this is one of the few Zalman products that the designers really tried to create. Although in fact Zalman Z11 Neo is one of the modifications of Zalman Z11.

The case is unusual due to the front panel with extensions in the form of air intakes. It is made of plastic with a metal surface. On top is a bay for an external 5.25" device.

On the reverse side, everything is quite familiar: the power supply is located at the bottom, a 120mm fan is responsible for blowing hot air, there are two slots for coolant hoses, seven expansion slots for PCI-e devices and a slot for the rear panel of the motherboard.

Case extensions from the front panel go to the side walls in the form of plastic inserts. On the left side there is also a convex large darkened window through which the interior of the case is visible. I also want to note that the front panel is made at a slight slope, betraying the aggressiveness of the design.

Thanks to the top and bezels, the case really stands out. The top cover is made of plastic. It has power and reset buttons, audio outputs, a pair of USB 2.0 and a pair of USB 3.0 in two lines between which there is a recess with a glossy surface.

The top cover has a very interesting "inflated" design, it has special ventilation slots made of translucent dark plastic.

At the bottom of the case there are four legs with a rubber surface, removable dust filters are also provided there.

There is an 80x80x15mm fan on the side covers in extensions on both sides, which is connected via a standard MOLEX. These fans are silent and serve to cool the hard drive cage.

Having removed the covers, we see the internal space of the case, which is not much different from ordinary modern ATX cases.

The panels are made of good plastic, there are no complaints about its quality. Removing them is quite simple, no special effort is required, they are attached to the latches.

Having removed the plastic panels in front of us, it’s an ordinary case at all, although by ordinary, I mean a well-thought-out cooling system, cable management and removable baskets.

On the reverse side there are places for PSU cables, protrusions for cable ties to lay everything neatly and there is a seat for a 2.5” drive.

A removable plastic dust filter is installed on the front panel.

Below, under the power supply, there are rubber feet, and in the base under the motherboard, in the lower part, there is a hole into which the wires from the PSU are removed.

Storage baskets are removable. Three 3.5”/2.5” drives can be installed in each, but in a special plastic sled.

Behind the drive cages there is room for two 120mm fans. One of them is already pre-installed, it is marked ZA1226CSL and has a blue backlight, it is powered via a MOLEX connector.

A pair of 120/140mm fans can be installed on the top wall, while the fan mount itself is raised a little, this is done to install a SZhO radiator. From the factory, one 120mm backlit fan is preinstalled on the top wall, which is connected via a 3-pin connector, its marking is ZA1226CSL SL.

On the back wall there is another fan ZA1226CSL, but already devoid of backlight.

If you look closely, you can find a pleasant surprise in the form of additional places for installing 3.5 "/2.5" drives, they are hidden in two internal 5.25" bays.

The wires for connecting the front panel are long, they can easily reach the connection point.

System assembly

It is difficult to find any special differences from the assembly in other ATX cases, we can say that the location of the holes in the motherboard tray is convenient, the wires are easily threaded. Assembly in the Zalman Z11 Neo is quite enjoyable. You can install a long power supply up to 220mm. The length of the video card, taking into account the installed basket, is 285mm, without it up to 400mm. The CPU cooler can be installed up to 175mm high. All edges of the metal structure are qualitatively processed. The plastic slide slides in and out easily.

On the reverse side, you can carefully thread all the wires, securing with the clamps included in the kit, for accuracy.

Testing

Test stand:

CPU: Intel Core i7 [email protected] 1.2v;
CPU Cooling: NoctuaNH-C14S;
Motherboard: ASUS Rampage IV Gene, LGA 2011, X79;
Video card: GTX 66 0;
RAM: 4Gb Kingston HiperX Predator 2666Mhz;
Hard Drive: Western Digital WD3200YS
Power supply: Corsair AX760i 760W.

Test Methodology

We will warm the system for 10 minutes using LiNX 0.6.5. and Furmark in windowed mode at 1920x1080p. The ambient temperature is 27 degrees.

Monitoring was carried out using the following programs: RealTemp 3.70, GPU-Z, HWMonitor.

The noise level was measured using a digital sound level meter with a measurement range of 30-130 dB from a distance of 10 cm. The noise level in the room is 30-31.5 dB.

The fan installed on the CPU cooler ran at 700 rpm. The video card fans did not spin up more than 2400 rpm. The cooling systems of the processor and video card themselves worked very quietly.

The fans installed in the case ran at 1200 rpm (120mm) and 1600 rpm (80mm). Two of the 120mm ones could be adjusted using the motherboard, but the front fan was connected via MOLEX, and its adjustment was not possible. Therefore, it was decided to conduct testing in the mode of maximum performance of the cooling system.

Conclusion

Zalman Z11 Neo turned out to be beautiful, quite high-quality and with a good possibility of expanding the cooling system. In this case, you can install 8 pieces of 3.5 / 2.5 "drives, there is also a separate place for one 2.5" drive. It is possible to install a long video card.

For its money - 3500-5000r, Zalman Z11 Neo is a worthy candidate for purchase. The only disappointing thing is the noisy fan that doesn't adjust automatically, but that's not a problem.

Pros:

Affordable cost
Good cooling expansion capability
Quality level is good
Nice appearance

In this review, we will focus on the case, which will be an interesting solution for both gamers and modding enthusiasts. The history of this device dates back to 2012, because it was then that its predecessors, the ZALMAN Z11 and Z11 Plus, were born. They had an aggressive design, clearly distinguishing them from other gaming models. The novelties offered excellent opportunities for organizing effective cooling of the internal space (including the possibility of installing two-fan air coolers), and the presence of blue illumination and an acrylic window on the side panel made it possible to enjoy the view of the components in the dark. The difference between them was the presence on the interface panel of the ZALMAN Z11 Plus model of two pairs of USB 3.0 and USB 2.0 ports instead of four standard 2.0 connectors in ZALMAN Z11.

Another platform model was ZALMAN Z11 Plus HF1. In fact, it is a ZALMAN Z11 Plus solution, but instead of a blue backlight, the manufacturer used red LEDs here. So there is no need to talk about any really fundamental differences between the above three models.

But a few years later, ZALMAN revised its vision of an aggressive hull by introducing the . She got rid of the ventilation grill at the bottom of the front panel, and her shape became smoother. Nevertheless, this did not deprive the case of attractiveness, and in terms of practicality for the user, it boasts a number of positive changes. For example, unlike its predecessors, which allow you to install video cards up to 290 mm long, the new product can accommodate solutions over 400 mm long. At the same time, the body itself has become even somewhat more compact. About what other changes have befallen the ZALMAN Z11 gaming line with the advent of the model with the prefix "NEO", we will definitely tell in the current review.

Specification

Manufacturer and model
Frame size
Supported Motherboard Form Factors

				1 x 5.25” (external) 8 x 3.5”/2.5” (internal) 1 x 2.5” (internal, behind pallet)
Expansion card slots
Maximum graphics card length	With baskets installed
	Without baskets (according to our measurements)			400 mm (430 mm)
Maximum CPU cooler height (according to our measurements, taking into account the bulge of the acrylic window)				175 mm (185 mm)
Maximum power supply length
				2 x audio outputs (headphones, microphone)
Pre-installed fans			On the front
			On the back panel
			On the top panel
			On the side panels
Possibility to install fans			On the front
			On the back panel
			On the top panel	2 x 140mm / 2 x 120mm
			On the sidebar
			On the bottom panel	1 x 140mm / 1 x 120mm
Power Supply
materials		Front and top panels, lining on the sidewalls
				Steel thickness 0.73 mm
		Side panels		Steel 0.65 mm thick
Case dimensions				515 x 205 x 465 mm
Net weight)
Products webpage

Packing and scope of delivery

The novelty comes in a cardboard box, which provides quite a lot of information about the device placed inside, despite the simplicity of design. So, the front side in black and white shows the appearance of the case, listing its most important advantages in English. Already in eight languages (including Russian) this information duplicated on one of the sidewalls, while the second provides a fairly detailed specification of the device.

Inside the box, the case is fixed with foam inserts, and a plastic bag protects the novelty from moisture. The kit also comes with a number of components that will be useful during the assembly of the system. In total, the ZALMAN Z11 NEO package includes the following components:

a set of screws and stands for installing the motherboard;
a set of screws for fixing the power supply and drives;
plug in the expansion slot;
extension cable for supplying additional power to the CPU;
5 cable ties;
manual.

Such a large number of supplied screws should be enough to install all necessary components, including multiple drives. And convenient cable ties will allow you to collect used cables into groups for more accurate laying.

Appearance

ZALMAN Z11 NEO is an extraordinary solution, which is distinguished by many interesting exterior elements, which we will introduce you to in detail below. Gamers who are the main target audience novelties, this design will definitely appeal to you.

Unlike ZALMAN Z11 Plus, where the bottom of the front panel was decorated with a ventilation grill, the novelty received a more strict appearance due to the use of plastic with a metal-like finish. Thus, practicality was sacrificed for design.

But the intake of cool air from the front is still carried out with the help of nozzles, which also play a significant role in giving the case an aggressive look, while slightly increasing its width.

A 120mm ZALMAN ZA1225CSL fan with blue LED illumination is responsible for air supply. It is based on plain bearings (Sleeve Bearing). The turntable is powered by a 3-pin cable and is less than 2W (12V @ 0.16A). The rotation speed of the blades turned out to be at the level of 1130 rpm, which is quite a comfortable indicator in terms of the generated noise.

You can also install another 120-mm fan here, and a removable dust filter is responsible for cleaning the forced air.

Despite the rather large dimensions, the ZALMAN Z11 NEO case is equipped with only one external compartment for 5.25-inch devices, which effectively opens when the spring-loaded cover is shifted down. There are no external bays for 3.5-inch devices at all.

The back side of the novelty has a familiar layout. The bottom location of the power supply, seven expansion slots (with disposable plugs), two holes for CBO hoses and a 120mm fan - everything is done in the good traditions of gaming cases. But here, too, the solution from ZALMAN can be recognized by a very specific shape of the top panel.

The fan on the rear panel is represented by a 120 mm ZALMAN ZA1225CSL model, the originality of which is ensured by the use of a white impeller. According to its characteristics, it is similar to the solution used on the front wall of the case, but it is made of opaque plastic and lacks LED illumination. According to the results of the measurement, it rotated somewhat faster - at a speed of 1330 rpm.

The bottom of the ZALMAN Z11 NEO body is distinguished by the presence of two dust filters, which can and should be removed for regular cleaning. One of them is designed to clean the air that enters the power supply through a perforated area measuring 10 x 8 cm. The second is useful when installing an additional 140- or 120-mm turntable on the bottom.

When using a long power supply (in our case, models with a length of 193 mm), it will no longer be possible to mount a turntable here. But the very fact that the novelty can accommodate even the most dimensional power supplies up to 250 mm long pleases.

Along the edges of the bottom panel there are plastic legs 20 mm high with a rubber base 3 mm thick, which prevents the case from sliding and scratching the surface on which the system unit is placed.

One of the most interesting in the novelty is precisely top panel. It is made of plastic and has an original shape inherited from its predecessors. Closer to the back is a perforated grille and plastic fins. The latter are placed at an angle. On the one hand, this allows them to collect dust falling on the case, and on the other hand, not to prevent cool air from entering inside.

Also, a 120-mm ZALMAN ZA1225CSL turntable is fixed under the ribs, which is completely similar to the model located on the front panel. However, if you wish, you can install one more of the same fan, two 140mm solutions or a CBO radiator up to 280mm long.

The top panel itself can be removed and disassembled without much difficulty, which greatly facilitates its cleaning.

Closer to the front panel of the ZALMAN Z11 NEO there is a glossy area designed to accommodate a smartphone or a portable drive. On both sides are the controls and components of the interface panel, represented by a reset button, two pairs of USB 3.0 and USB 2.0 ports, as well as two 3.5 mm audio jacks.

In the center, directly above the front panel, is the power button. It has a nice blue glow, which you can appreciate a little further in the corresponding subsection.

For fans of modding, on the left side panel there is an acrylic window measuring 31 x 30.5 cm, through which it is convenient to observe the work of components. Therefore, when choosing them, you can look for more interesting solutions that can create a proper ensemble that will not be ashamed to show to friends and relatives.

The sidewalls themselves are fastened with shaped screws, and for their easy removal there are vertical protrusions in the back. The plastic top and front panels are fixed using standard latches.

The side nozzles, which also have practical benefits, give a very spectacular appearance to the novelty. So, low-profile 80-mm fans ZALMAN ZA0815ASL (12V; 0.08A) 15mm thick. Unlike the other three turntables in use, which use a 3-pin connector, these solutions are powered by a 4-pin peripheral interface (Molex). Thus, three connectors per motherboard and one PATA connector on the power supply should be enough to connect all the pre-installed elements of the ZALMAN Z11 NEO cooling system.

Internal organization

The chassis and all metal elements on it are covered with matte black paint, so that they blend perfectly with plastic parts. Inner space visually divided into the left part, intended for installation system board and the power supply, and the right one, which contains bays for drives and other devices.

There are two drive cages for installing drives, each of which can accommodate three devices. Fixing 3.5-inch solutions in them is carried out using screwdriverless clamps, while 2.5-inch media will have to be fixed using the supplied screws. The baskets themselves cannot boast of good rigidity (when the drive is installed, this feature becomes less noticeable), and when they are attached, there is a slight backlash.

Therefore, if you are not going to create file storage inside ZALMAN Z11 NEO, then one or even both baskets can be removed. In this case, you can use the metal brackets located in the two lower 5.25-inch bays, which are designed to install 3.5- and 2.5-inch media. However, here their fastening is provided exclusively with screws. And the absence of baskets will allow you to install video cards up to 430 mm long (in the original layout, this value is limited to 270 mm).

On the bottom, at the place where the power supply is installed, there are four hills with gaskets fixed on top, which reduce vibrations transmitted to the case.

The set of wires for connecting the front panel includes an HD Audio header, connectors for connecting power / reset buttons and LED indicators, a 4-pin peripheral connector, as well as cables for connecting USB 3.0 and USB 2.0 ports.

On the pallet, you can see a small perforation, which is located just at the place where the 2.5-inch drive is attached. As you can see, in total, the novelty allows you to install three media without the use of baskets, however, already with the help of complete screws.

The assembly of the system inside the ZALMAN Z11 NEO occurs without any special difficulties and complications, which is facilitated by the presence of free space for laying wires behind the chassis tray. And the cutout in the latter allows you to install and remove overall cooling systems without dismantling the motherboard.

The design itself has sufficient rigidity, all parts fit well, and there are no gaps and backlashes. Considerable size of the case allows you to install in it both overall video cards up to 430 mm long and large processor coolers up to 175 mm high (185 mm taking into account the bulge of the acrylic window). So almost all the components available on the market should fit inside the novelty without any problems.

LED backlight

At night, the tested case pleases the eye with a pleasant blue glow emanating from two turntables (top and front). Power luminous flux quite enough to illuminate the components placed inside, so that the acrylic window may well fulfill its role in the evening. The blue riot is diluted only by a small red indicator under the top of the front panel, informing about the activity hard drive.

Testing

When testing, the Stand for testing Corps was used
Choose what you want to compare ZALMAN Z11 NEO with

We tested the novelty with all pre-installed turntables. The speed of the top and front fans is 1130 rpm, the rear fan is 1330 rpm, the side fans are 1000 rpm.

The presence of five turntables, as we expected, had a good effect on the temperature of the components used. The interesting design of the top panel also played its role, which does not interfere with the removal of heated air at all. Therefore, in general, the novelty demonstrated low temperature performance of components. First of all, we note a slight heating of the hard drive, which is explained by the proximity of the front turntable. But the most interesting thing is the temperature of the video card - even at full load it did not heat up above 71°C, while inside many cases of a similar size this figure is in the range of 72 to 80°C. Therefore, ZALMAN Z11 NEO is a good candidate even for installing a bundle of several video cards, not to mention a single adapter.

conclusions

The idea of creating a gaming case with an aggressive appearance a few years ago was embodied in the ZALMAN Z11 / Z11 Plus / Z11 Plus HF1 models, and now, with noticeable changes, it has found its way into the solution we tested. What has changed in the manufacturer's approach during this time? Let's see.

The first thing that catches your eye is a very noticeable difference in the appearance of the novelty when compared with its predecessors. The tested body can still be called aggressive to a certain extent, but if earlier it was daring muscle cars, now we have something more like a Nissan GT-R. Yes, some traits are recognizable, and succession can be determined from them. These are the side "nozzles", and the top ribbed panel, and the side wall with a transparent window, and a pleasant blue LED glow. But there are also many changes. The grille at the bottom has disappeared from the front panel, as well as the vast majority of external compartments. The wall itself received a stylization “under the metal”, although it remained plastic. And inside the design, the stationary drive rack has been replaced by two removable baskets, so that video adapters over 400 mm long can be accommodated in the case.

The cooling system of the review hero consists of five pre-installed fans that provide good cooling internal components. Therefore, even when installing powerful components, you are unlikely to have to fork out for additional turntables. Although there are enough places to install the latter. And the top panel allows, if desired, to install even a CBO with a radiator up to 280 mm long. So a high-performance gaming system will feel quite comfortable here.

We did not find any obvious shortcomings in ZALMAN Z11 NEO. Its design is of high quality, without unnecessary gaps and sharp edges, and also has good rigidity. As features worth paying attention to, we note only insufficiently rigid baskets for drives. But, as we already wrote, most users will be able to do without them, as the case offers three more seats for media. Therefore, for the average gamer or modding enthusiast, the tested novelty will become good decision to assemble a beautiful system that will delight the eye even in the dark.

Advantages:

original design;
good cooling of components;
high-quality assembly of the chassis, processing of the edges of the panels and painting of the body;
good body rigidity;
the ability to install long video cards (up to 270 mm by default or up to 430 mm with the drive cage removed) and high processor COs (up to 175-185 mm);
Availability transparent window on the sidebar;
the presence of blue LED-backlight of two turntables;
the presence of five pre-installed fans;
the ability to install additional fans and a CBO radiator up to 280 mm long;
the presence of dust filters on the front and bottom panels;
the ability to install up to 9 drives;
the ability to remove storage baskets;
the presence of screwdriverless mounts in trays for 3.5-inch drives;
the presence of two USB 3.0 and two USB 2.0 connectors on the front panel;

Sea Sonic Electronics

for provided for test bench equipment.

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The South Korean company Zalman is a well-known manufacturer of computer components on the world market. But lately, his name has been popping up in the news columns, largely due to the cases he produces, the range of which, until recently, was modest.

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Not so long ago, the Zalman Z9 Plus case was tested in the laboratory, which left a lot of positive impressions. Despite its age, it is still popular among users because it has a very good price/performance ratio.

In February 2012, the company announced the Zalman Z11 Plus model, designed to replace the "nine". The expected continuation of the line received a number of changes compared to its predecessor, while retaining its best features. Whether this is so will become clear in the upcoming testing, which became possible thanks to close cooperation with our partner, the Regard company.

As usual, the first thing to do is to start the review by examining the packaging of the case and the accessories that come with it.

Packaging and equipment

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The box in which Zalman Z11 Plus is packed has average dimensions: 540 x 305 x 590 mm (L x W x H). The weight is approximately 8.5 kg. The packaging design is made in the "cardboard" style: unpainted cardboard with a black-and-white picture of the case on the front side, to put it mildly, is not impressive. However, the Z9 predecessor was packaged in a similar box. What else to expect from a budget product?

Both sides of the box are labeled with different Technical information, as well as a description of the various "chips" of the product. In eight languages, including Russian. In addition, the sides are equipped with traditional carrying handles. Not too much weight of the product will allow you to transport the box in your hands.

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

All scratched parts of the case are initially sealed with a protective film. This applies to the side acrylic transparent window, the glossy recess on top and the front ventilation grille, also partially glossy.

Accessories are placed in a transparent plastic bag. It is located inside the case, fastened to the hard drive cage. The bag is made of rather thick polyethylene and opens with a sliding latch like a zipper.

Inside, you can find several more nested bags that contain various mounting hardware, rubber anti-vibration pads for hard drives, an extension power cable for the processor, two slot covers, and a user manual written in English and Korean. The Russian language, unfortunately, is not in the manual, but the instructions are illustrated in great detail and it will not be difficult to figure out "what and how".

Below you can find a detailed list of accessories supplied with the case. The kit includes:

Screws for fastening drives;
Silicone gaskets for drives;
Hexagonal racks for fixing the system board;
Screws for fixing the system board;
Screws for fastening the power supply;
Thumb screws for mounting 5.25" devices;
ATX12V processor power cable extension (30 cm);
Two plugs for expansion slots;
Plastic ties for wires;
User's manual.

As you can see, the bundle is not too rich, but everything you need to build a computer is present. Separately, I would like to pay attention to the eight-pin extension cable for the 12-volt processor power cable (ATX12V). Its length is 300 mm, the wire is enclosed in a black plastic braid. In some cases, it's irreplaceable. A problem may arise when insufficient length of wire from the power supply does not allow the "cord" to be routed behind the system board tray (cable management). In this case, such an adapter will help out.

Just about the complex. Programs. Iron. Internet. Windows

Installing your zalman z11 plus. Best-seller? A detailed review of the Zalman Z11 Plus case. Noise level measurement

Packaging and equipment

Appearance

System assembly

Testing

Test stand:

Test Methodology

Conclusion

Pros:

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Packaging and equipment

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