Review and testing of the Zalman Z11 Neo case. Zalman Z11 Plus Black Computer Case Positioning and Pins

Manufactured by Zalman, and now we present another sample from this line - the case Zalman Z11 Plus... The chassis is the same for both models, and the differences are mainly related to the external design: the Z11 is clearly designed for those who prefer unusual shapes, and the Z9 looks modest against its background. Like the previous model, the Z11 comes in two versions, differing in equipment - the "top" version contains the word Plus in the designation. But there are also changes here: the Z11 Plus lost the fan controller (in the Z9 Plus it was, albeit a simple one) and a temperature sensor with a digital indicator, but acquired two USB port 3.0, which the Z9 did not have. The number of fans has also changed: 5 standard fans instead of 4.

The Z11 variant differs from the Z11 Plus in the absence of USB 3.0 ports - instead of them there is another pair of USB 2.0, and one of the fans (top) is also missing.

Like the Z9, the Z11 cases should be attributed to the budget, but this did not affect the equipment: we saw a lot of more expensive models from other manufacturers, which were equipped with poorer equipment.

The body is delivered in a box made of ordinary cardboard with a three-color design. Although the gross weight is light, the hand-grip cutouts are not forgotten on the sides.

Layout

Frame Zalman Z11 Plus is a single-volume miditower with bottom PSU, sold separately. Only one color is offered - black.

There are five 5.25-inch slots, all with front-panel access. In one of the slots, you can install a 3.5-inch device, also with an exit to the outside: there is both a corresponding adapter and a plug with a slot.

The hard drives are installed in a cross cage with five slots for 3.5-inch drives. One 2.5-inch HDD or SSD can be installed in the included 5-inch bay adapter and on the right side of the substrate motherboard.

The chassis can accommodate ATX motherboards and increasingly compact options. The choice of video cards is limited to models up to 290 mm long, including an additional power connector if it is located at the end of the board.

The set of accessories is quite rich: a lot of fasteners sorted into bags, replaceable plugs for expansion slots, five disposable cable ties and a power adapter for the processor. And, of course, the instruction - however, we got it without translation into Russian. All this is packed into a convenient case with a clasp.

Design

Case dimensions 498 x 260 x 530 mm (H x W x D) including protruding parts, i.e. slightly more than the Z9, but only due to additional external design elements. The weight of the body itself is 7.4 kg, the set in the package is 9.0 kg.

According to our measurements, the chassis used steel with a thickness of 0.6 mm, the removable side walls are slightly thicker - 0.7 mm. In the left wall there is a window closed with a lid made of transparent but slightly tinted plastic, and this lid is not just a flat piece of plexiglass, but has a complex volumetric shape that can allow installing a larger cooler for the processor. Both the left and right side walls at the front at the bottom have plastic overlays that cover the places where the fans are installed; their shape is also quite complex.

The legs of the case are made in the form of plastic rectangles with rubber inserts, which should provide good shock-absorbing ability.

Talking about the plastic front and top panels of the case, for the third time we must use the words "complex shape": it is difficult to describe it, it is best to just look at the photo. The designers clearly gave free rein to their imagination (of course, within the established budget), and this applies not only to the shape, but even to the color: the lattice parts of the panels covering the backlit fans are made translucent, and all others do not let light through. Most of the surfaces are matte, but, as in the Z9, there are glossy elements, and again, those that will most often be touched by the hands.

5 "slot covers are made of fine mesh metal mesh.

The Power button is located "on the forehead" of the case (a slightly beveled upper part of the front panel), so it will be noticeable and easily accessible in any position of the case - even on a table or under a table. It also has a built-in blue indicator.

The rest of the controls and commutation are located in the front third of the upper plastic panel. Moreover, in the middle there is a shallow niche with a size of 10 × 12.5 cm, in which you can put devices connected with USB cables. To the right of it, closer to the front panel, there are two USB 3.0 connectors (in the Z11 without Plus there are two USB 2.0 ports instead of them), then the Reset button and the red disk activity indicator. On the left side, there are two USB 2.0 connectors and a pair of audio ports. The relatively low height of the case when placed on a desktop will allow you to use the USB ports without getting up. But the HDD indicator will not be visible at the same time, and it is doubtful that it can be seen if the computer is under the table.

Unfortunately, the presence of four USB ports in such an arrangement does not guarantee the possibility of connecting four devices with a noticeable width: the gap between the connectors in pairs is 13 mm.

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

Ventilation system

The Z11 Plus case contains as many as five Zalman proprietary fans.

The front and top ones with dimensions of 120 × 120 mm have a non-switchable blue backlight and are connected with 3-pin connectors to the motherboard (there is no built-in controller, as in the Z9 Plus). Instead, you can put 140mm fans.

The third fan, on the back of the chassis, is also 120 mm, but without illumination and connected to the power supply via a Molex peripheral connector (double, male + female).

Two more small 80mm fans are installed on the side walls in the area of ​​the disk cage. They work on the hood, and outside there are plastic covers that play not only a decorative role, but are also air ducts, directing the air flow from the side fans back, parallel to the side wall. Due to this, the body can be placed close to the wall (relatively close, of course: the overlays on the left and right are wide enough). These fans are also powered through the Molex male + female connectors.

Possibilities for upgrading the ventilation system are to install two more 120- or 140-mm fans: on the bottom of the chassis and the second one at the top.

There are standard filters on the front and bottom. To access the front filter, you will have to remove the front panel - this is not a very laborious operation, but this filter cannot be called a quick release. It is made of a fine-mesh nylon mesh on a plastic frame, and exactly the same protects the place for the optional lower fan from dust. But the holes in the bottom of the chassis under the power supply are covered by a filter of a slightly different design: it is a sheet of thin plastic with small holes. Both lower filters can be easily removed from the outside without opening the case.

The upper filter fans are devoid. This is, though illogical, but, given the cost of the case, a forgivable decision. As for the rear and side fans, they work for the hood, and therefore the absence of filters is quite understandable.

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

Of course, there is a possibility to install fluid systems cooling. Where can we go without it ...

Additional vents, in addition to the 5.25-inch slot blanks, include a vertical perforated strip in the rear of the chassis and slots in the expansion slot blanks.

Assembling the system unit

The side covers are fastened with the usual system of grooves and combs, and are fixed with pairs of screws with plastic knurled heads. The back ends of the covers have stamped finger grip tabs, which helps a lot when removing them: the covers sit very tightly in place.

Some of the hexagonal racks for the motherboard are already installed, but for some reason only four, and five more are in the accessory kit. The slots for the expansion cards will have to be freed by breaking out the disposable plugs. There are caps in 4 out of 5 5-inch slots, and two of them are fastened with screws, and two need to be broken out.

Mounting of optical drives is the most ingenious - with screws on both sides, but 3.5-inch HDD / SSDs are installed more tricky: first, you need to fix four rubber shock absorbers with a T-shaped section on the sides of the drive with long screws so that you can slide it into the slots available in the side walls of the basket. Fixation is made with a plastic latch, additional fastening with screws is not provided, but this is hardly necessary: ​​the drive is held tightly enough.

Of course, such shock absorbers will reduce vibrations from disk drives to a certain extent, but there is no heat dissipation from disk cases on the chassis. However, with as many as three fans serving the disk cage, this is not so critical.

Disks, as in the Z9, are inserted from the left, but the interface connectors can only look to the right, where there is not much space left to the side wall, and SATA cables with L-shaped connectors should be used.

As already mentioned, 2.5-inch drives have not been forgotten either: one can be installed on the back side of the motherboard substrate, fastening with four screws to the existing lugs with holes, for the second there is a place on the adapter of a five-inch slot, in which you can install either 2.5 -, or 3.5-inch HDD / SSD, or 3.5-inch device with front panel output.

There is a large window in the motherboard substrate that allows you to install or remove the processor cooler without dismantling the board itself. The convex shape of the decorative plastic cover covering the window in the left side wall will allow you to choose a processor cooling system with increased dimensions.

Cables from external USB 2.0 and HD Audio connectors are shielded; they are connected to the internal connectors of the motherboard with monolithic connectors. But the way of connecting USB 3.0 connectors is a strange one: to the external ports of the motherboard. Such a decision could be welcomed several years ago, when not all motherboards had internal 19-pin USB 3.0 connectors, and external USB 3.0 ports were not so common, and today this can be explained either by the desire to please the owners of motherboards of past years. or the desire to make it possible to connect external connectors of the case both to USB ports 2.0 and USB 3.0, but do not complete the case with the appropriate adapter.

As a consolation, the manufacturer included an expansion slot cover with a slot covered with a rubber seal, through which cables from the USB 3.0 connectors can be pulled out.

The front panel is secured with six plastic clips and can be removed without much difficulty. The wires leading to the button and indicator located on it are equipped with intermediate connectors, so they will not interfere with the removal of the panel.

The top panel is also fastened with snaps; it will have to be removed only for some manipulations with the fans, but at the same time you will have to "overcome" a thick bundle of cables suitable for it.

Naturally, cables can be routed behind the motherboard backing, for which there are large openings. True, there are no rubber plugs for them, the developers decided to limit themselves to rolling the edges of the holes. Other edges are also rolled up, which may injure the collector.

The power supply can also be installed after the motherboard, with the fan facing up or down. The power supply unit is attached directly to the rear panel, without any additional frames, and on the bottom of the case there are projections for it with rubber shock-absorbing pads.

Measurement of noise level

The measurement of the noise level is carried out in accordance with our methodology using an Oktava 110A-Eco sound level meter in a soundproof room with a typical noise level of 20 dBA. During the measurement, all electrical appliances in the room are turned off.

An autonomous controlled converter was used to regulate the supply voltage of the fans.

When all fans are powered from 5 volts, the noise is low and barely audible in a typical living room during the day. If the case is placed on the floor or on a pedestal under the table, the noise level will decrease a little more, and in this case, the case cooling system can be considered conditionally silent.

When the fans are powered from 7 volts, the noise of the case cooling system can be estimated as reduced relative to the typical noise level for a living room during the daytime, provided that the case is placed on a tabletop and the user is placed in the near field from it. If the case is placed on the floor or on a pedestal under the table, the noise level will slightly decrease, and in this case, the case cooling system can be considered quite quiet.

When the fans are powered from 8.5-10 volts, the noise of the case cooling system can be assessed as average typical for a dwelling during the daytime. A source with a similar noise level will not particularly stand out in a residential, let alone office space. Likewise, when placed on the floor, this noise can be considered reduced.

With a further increase in the supply voltage of the fans, the noise comes close to the ergonomic border of 40 dBA. Noise of this level is already clearly visible in a residential area at a distance of 2-3 meters from the source and is estimated as quite noticeable for a residential area during the daytime, although for an office space such a level may be quite typical when several computers, air conditioning, lighting and other things are operating. equipment. When positioning the measurement microphone according to the typical placement of the user's head in relation to system unit when the latter is placed on the floor, the noise is noticeably reduced. Accordingly, when the case is located on the floor, the noise can be considered average typical for a dwelling in the daytime, which is confirmed by the measurement results. The recorded noise value under such conditions was 34 dBA for the housing positioned on both sides of the microphone (and the user).

Due to the fact that of the four connectors for powering the fans, only two can be connected to the motherboard in order to control the fan rotation speed, and the other two connectors are connected directly to the power supply without the possibility of any adjustment, the user of this case certain inconveniences may arise if you want to reduce the noise level of the standard cooling system relative to the nominal.

The case has side walls with small openings, but there are large ventilation openings at the top and in the front. In this regard, there is no attenuation of the noise arising in the internal volume of the case from the front. But in the case of emulation of floor placement with a shift from the central axis, a slight attenuation of the noise level is recorded, and on the right side of the case, the attenuation is slightly stronger. Nevertheless, one should not count on a significant soundproofing effect.

The acoustic ergonomics of this model are average. For lovers of silence, the case will not fit because of the relatively noisy standard cooling system in the nominal value and the lack of the possibility of regular adjustment of all fans. On the other hand, against the background of powerful components with a stock cooling system, the case will not be a solo element in terms of noise level that needs to be optimized or replaced as soon as possible.

Positioning and conclusions

The conclusions for the Zalman Z11 cases will be about the same as for the Z9: the price / equipment ratio is quite interesting, and the appearance of USB 3.0 ports in the Z11 Plus model makes it even more interesting. Truth, appearance the case has become more "amateur", and if the modest Z9 is quite suitable for the role of a case for an office or multipurpose home computer (provided that the owner accepts blue backlighting or is ready to turn it off along with the fans), then the Z11 clearly claims to be better. How reasonable it is - it is difficult to say without reasoning about the subjectivity of the perception of the design, so let's just estimate the balance of changes in comparison with the Z9 in the price dimension.

The number of fans can again be called excessive: the efficiency of the side fans is questionable, and you have to pay for them in both the Z11 and Z11 Plus versions. It is unlikely that anyone will regret the absence of a controller, to which only two fans could be connected in the Z9 Plus, and a thermometer that performs a more decorative function, but the increase in price compared to the Z9 Plus is regrettable: minus the controller and thermometer, minus one large fan and two small ones, replacing two USB 2.0 ports with 3.0 and redesigning the design resulted in an extra $ 12-14 retail price, which for budget building a lot. There is, of course, a version of the Z11 without Plus, which saves $ 8-10, but at the cost of eliminating the USB 3.0 ports - one of the most useful differences from the Z9 model. In addition, at the time of writing the review, the Z11 was on average, though slightly, but more expensive than not only the Z9, but also the Z9 Plus. Of course, all these arguments are correct only at the time of writing the review: it is possible that in the future the distribution of prices will change somewhat.

Zalman Z11 Plus case provided for testing by the manufacturer

The hero of our today's review appeared rather quietly. The Zalman engineers took the People's Z9 chassis and added a number of significant exterior modifications. We are glad to present the result of their work to you. Meet one of the world's first reviews of the Zalman Z11 Plus case.

Contents of delivery

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

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

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

Appearance

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

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 the middle and lower-middle price categories.

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.

Having removed the sidewalls, first of all we understand why the developers have placed such wide plastic elements on the sides: behind them are full-fledged 80mm fans that work for blowing. 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.

During the assembly process, several points arose that are worth mentioning. The chassis is designed to route the additional processor power cable 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 installing the motherboard, otherwise, the latter will block most of the hole in the pallet and it will be impossible to push anything there.

Test configuration

The following components were used in the test bench:

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

The temperature sensors of the multifunctional panel were installed on the radiators of the VRM, northbridge and memory. The temperatures of the CPU, graphics adapter and HDD were taken using special utilities. The OS was Windows 7 Home Premium. To load the corresponding components, we used the OSST 3.1.0 test, FurMark 1.8.2 and the Aida 64 EE 1.70.1400 package. The rpm of the case fans were fixed at their nominal values. All components worked at the manufacturer's recommended settings and frequencies.

Test results

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

conclusions

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

On the other hand, the design of the case is much more interesting and attractive than many other solutions with "mugs". If there additional side elements seem foreign, 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 definitely remind you of itself in your home interior, but it will hardly catch your eye, unlike some colorful cases. It is worth mentioning the price, which, according to preliminary data, will be $ 85 and $ 95 for a regular and Plus version respectively. And with such a price, the case has almost the best price-performance ratio 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 multifunctional panel;
• MSI - MSI 890FXA-GD70 motherboard and MSI N560GTX Ti Twinfrozr II / OC graphics card.

In this review, we will focus on the case, which will be an interesting solution for both gamers and modders. The history of this device dates back to 2012, because it was then that its predecessors, ZALMAN Z11 and Z11 Plus, were born. They had an aggressive design that clearly set them apart from other gaming models. The novelties offered excellent opportunities for organizing effective cooling of the in-body space (including with the possibility of installing two-fan SVO), and the presence of blue backlighting 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 of two pairs of USB 3.0 and USB 2.0 ports on the interface panel of the ZALMAN Z11 Plus model instead of the four standard 2.0 connectors in the ZALMAN Z11.

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

But after a few years, ZALMAN reconsidered its vision of an aggressive case, presenting a model. It got rid of the ventilation grill at the bottom of the front panel, and its shapes became smoother. Nevertheless, this did not deprive the case of its attractiveness, but from the point of view of practicality for the user, it boasts a number of positive changes. For example, unlike its predecessors, which allow installing 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. What other changes have befallen the ZALMAN Z11 gaming line with the advent of the model with the NEO prefix, we will definitely tell you in the current review.

Specification

Packaging and delivery set

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 colors demonstrates 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 body 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 come in handy 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;
• a plug in the expansion slot;
• extension cable for supplying additional power to the CPU;
• 5 cable ties;
• manual.

So many of the included screws should be enough to install all the necessary components, including many drives. Convenient cable ties allow you to collect the cables used in groups for more accurate laying.

Appearance

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

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

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

Responsible for air supply is a 120 mm ZALMAN ZA1225CSL fan with blue LED backlight. It is based on Sleeve Bearing. The turntable is powered by a 3-pin cable and has less than 2W of power (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 from the point of view of the generated noise.

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

Despite its very large size, 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 slid down. There are no external bays for 3.5-inch devices at all.

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

The fan on the rear panel is represented by the 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 backlighting. According to the measurement results, it rotated a little faster - at a speed of 1330 rpm.

The bottom of the ZALMAN Z11 NEO case is distinguished by the presence of two dust filters that can and should be removed for regular cleaning. One of them is designed to clean the air entering 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.

If you use a long power supply (in our case, a model with a length of 193 mm), you will no longer be able to mount the turntable here. But the fact that the novelty can accommodate even the most bulky power supplies with a length of up to 250 mm is encouraging.

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 new product is the top panel. It is made of plastic and has an original shape inherited from its predecessors. Closer to the rear is the perforated grille and plastic ribs. 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, it does not prevent cool air from entering.

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

The top panel itself can be easily removed and disassembled, which greatly facilitates its cleaning.

Closer to the front panel of ZALMAN Z11 NEO, there is a glossy platform designed for placing a smartphone or portable storage. On both sides of it 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, and 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 the components. Therefore, when choosing them, you can look for more interesting solutions that can create a proper ensemble that will not be ashamed to demonstrate to friends and family.

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

Side nozzles, which are also of practical use, give a very effective look to the novelty. So, low-profile 80-mm ZALMAN ZA0815ASL fans (12 V; 0.08 A) 15 mm thick are hidden under the plastic covers. Unlike the other three current turntables that use a 3-pin connector, these solutions are powered by a 4-pin peripheral interface (Molex). Thus, three connectors on the 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, thanks to which they blend perfectly with the plastic parts. The internal space is visually divided into the left part, intended for installing the motherboard and power supply, and the right, which contains bays for drives and other devices.

There are two baskets for installing drives, each of which can accommodate three devices. Mounting of 3.5 "solutions in them is carried out using screwless fasteners, while 2.5" media will have to be fixed using the supplied screws. The baskets themselves cannot boast of good rigidity (when installing a drive 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 "bays, which are designed to accommodate 3.5" and 2.5 "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, in the place where the power supply is installed, there are four elevations with gaskets fixed on top to reduce vibrations transmitted to the body.

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

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

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

The design itself has sufficient rigidity, all parts fit well, and there are no gaps and backlash. The considerable dimensions of the case make it possible to install both oversized video cards up to 430 mm in length and large processor coolers up to 175 mm in height (185 mm taking into account the convexity of the acrylic window). So almost all the components on the market should fit inside the novelty without any problems.

LED backlight

In the dark, the test case pleases the eye with a pleasant blue glow emanating from two turntables (top and front). The luminous flux is sufficient to illuminate the components placed inside, so that the acrylic window may well fulfill its role in the evening. The blue rampage is diluted only by a small red indicator under the upper part of the front panel, informing about the activity of the hard drive.

Testing

The test bench was used for testing the enclosures
Choose what you want to compare ZALMAN Z11 NEO

We tested the novelty with all pre-installed turntables. The speed of the upper and front fans is 1130 rpm, the rear one is 1330 rpm, and 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. An interesting design of the top panel also played its role, which does not impede the outlet of heated air at all. Therefore, in general, the novelty has demonstrated low temperature performance of components. First of all, we note a slight heating of the hard drive, which is explained by the close location of the front turntable. But the most interesting is the temperature indicator of the video card - even under full load, it did not heat up above 71 ° C, while inside many cases of the same standard size, this indicator is in the range from 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 application in 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 new item when compared with its predecessors. The body tested can still be called aggressive to a certain extent, but if previously they were daring muscle cars, now we have something more like a Nissan GT-R. Yes, some features are recognizable, and by them you can determine the continuity. These are the side "nozzles", and the top ribbed panel, and the side wall with a transparent window, and a nice blue LED glow. But there are also a lot of 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 stylized metal look, although it remained plastic. And inside the structure, the stationary storage rack has been replaced by two removable baskets, so that video adapters with a length of more than 400 mm can be accommodated in the case.

The cooling system of the review hero consists of five pre-installed fans, which provide good cooling of the internal components. Therefore, even when installing powerful components, you hardly 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 flaws in ZALMAN Z11 NEO. Its design is made with high quality, without unnecessary gaps and sharp edges, and also has good rigidity. As features worth paying attention to, we note only the insufficiently rigid storage baskets. But, as we already wrote, most users can easily do without them, since the body offers three more seats for media. Therefore, for the average gamer or modding enthusiast, the tested novelty will become good decision to build a beautiful system that will delight the eye even in the dark.

Advantages:

• original design;
• good cooling of components;
• high-quality chassis assembly, panel edge processing and body painting;
• good body rigidity;
• the ability to install long video cards (up to 270 mm by default or up to 430 mm with the storage basket removed) and high processor COs (up to 175-185 mm);
• the presence of a transparent window on the side panel;
• the presence of blue LED-backlighting of two turntables;
• the presence of five preinstalled fans;
• the ability to install additional fans and an SVO 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 baskets for drives;
• the presence of screwless 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 the equipment provided for the test bench.

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A lot of 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 remember 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 end with the memory of the fallen and move on to the current names, those that are still alive. One such firm that has outlived many is Zalman. Despite numerous bankruptcy rumors, the company is still alive and doing very well, judging by latest news and because it launches new products. And today we will get acquainted with one of these new products - it will be a body Zalman Z11 Neo.

Packaging and equipment

The body is delivered in a large cardboard box with a black image of the body 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 striking look and is arguably one of the few Zalman products that the designers really tried to create. Although, in fact, the Zalman Z11 Neo is one of the modifications of the Zalman Z11.

The front panel with extensions in the form of air intakes makes the case unusual. It is made of plastic with a metal surface. Above is a compartment for an external 5.25 "device.

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

Extensions of the case 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 contains 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 "blown" design; there are special ventilation slots made of translucent dark plastic on it.

There are four rubber-coated feet on the bottom of the case, and there are also removable dust filters.

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

Removing the covers, we are presented with the internal space of the case, which is not much different from the usual modern ATX cases.

The panels are made of good plastic, there are no complaints about its quality. Removing them is quite simple, no special efforts are required, they are fastened with latches.

Removing the plastic panels in front of us is a completely ordinary case, although by ordinary, I mean a well-thought-out cooling system, cable management and removable baskets.

On the reverse side there is space for power supply cables, tabs for cable ties to lay everything neatly, and there is a slot 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 power supply are removed.

Removable storage baskets. Each can accommodate three 3.5 ”/2.5” drives, but in a special plastic slide.

Behind the storage cages, there is room for two 120mm fans. One of them is already preinstalled, it is labeled ZA1226CSL and blue backlighting, power is connected to it via the MOLEX connector.

A pair of 120 / 140mm fans can be installed on the top wall, the mount for the fans itself is raised slightly upward, this is done to install the LSS 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 panel there is another ZA1226CSL fan, but already devoid of backlighting.

If you look closely, you will 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 pallet is made conveniently, the wires are easily threaded. Building in the Zalman Z11 Neo is pretty enjoyable. It is possible to 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 well finished. The plastic slide is easy to slide in and out.

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

Testing

Test stand:

• CPU: Intel Core i7 4960X @ 4.0 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.

Testing methodology

We will heat 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 processor cooler was running at 700 rpm. The fans of the video card did not spin more than 2400 rpm. The cooling systems for the processor and video cards themselves were very quiet.

The fans installed in the case operated at 1200 rpm (120mm) and 1600 rpm (80mm). Two of the 120mm 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 maximum performance cooling systems.

Conclusion

The Zalman Z11 Neo turned out to be beautiful, quite high-quality and with good expandability of 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 quite a worthy candidate for a purchase. The only disappointing thing is the noisy fan that doesn't automatically adjust, but that's not a problem.

Pros:

• Affordable cost
• Good expandability of the cooling system
• The quality level is at a good mark
• Nice appearance

Like its predecessor, from which the novelty does not differ much in design, the Zalman Z11 Neo is made in the Mid Tower format. It allows you to install motherboards form factor up to and including ATX and up to eight drives. The cooling system promises to be one of the main advantages of this case: the Z11 Neo allows you to place eight fans, five of which are already installed by the manufacturer. The latter looks especially generous.

Finally, let's take a look at the noise level of the Zalman Z11 Neo. A comparison will be made with the noise characteristics of an open stand (Open Stand on the graphs). The sound pressure was measured using all five standard fans in the case at their rated speed (~ 1200 rpm). The "spinner" of the processor cooler rotated at the nominal 1200 rpm, the fans of the video card - at ~ 750 rpm (17%), and the hard disk operated without load.

Sound pressure was measured with a Becool BC-8922 digital sound level meter. The background noise level in the test room was ~ 25 dB. Sound pressure measurements were taken from a distance of 1 m from the system unit, since it is at this distance from the computer that the user is most often located. The sound level meter was located in front of the system unit with an offset to the left by 45 degrees.

The used sound level meter (model 8922) guarantees an error of no more than half a decibel, but only in the range of 30 dB. So, the values ​​given to them below this mark should only be regarded as indicative.

The chart below shows the test results.

In terms of noise, the Zalman Z11 Neo showed an average result. The case cannot be called quiet - five standard fans still make themselves felt. But you can't call it noisy either - being a meter away from the system unit is quite comfortable, but it is still desirable to lower the rotation speed of the case fans. It is a pity that the Z11 Neo is not originally equipped with a reobass.

With the active movement of the hard disk heads, low-frequency rumble is not observed - only typical crackling is heard. Vibration transmission to the support surface is present, but not strong.

Let's summarize. Without exaggeration, the Zalman Z11 Neo case deserves praise: it pleased us with the cooling efficiency, especially the video card, which is one of the important factors for a gaming PC. Significant advantages also include two separate removable cages for hard drives with the possibility of rearranging them. And of course, one cannot ignore the good CO of the case, the presence of five fans in the standard configuration, as well as the ability to place a thick LSS radiator on the top panel.

As for the shortcomings, no significant drawbacks were found in the Zalman Z11 Neo. One could find fault with trifles like disposable plugs for expansion slots, but this is a trifle, especially considering the not too high cost of Zalman Z11 Neo - about 4,500 rubles in Moscow retail at the time of publication of the article (December 2015).