It can handle long graphics cards and has seven expansion slots

Oct 7, 2013 10:37 GMT  ·  By

Zalman could have made a clamoring, loud press release about its newest desktop PC case, since there definitely seems to be enough reason to use it in gaming systems, but it decided against it.

Maybe it's because the ZM-Z1, as Zalman's enclosure is called, lacks LED-lit fans. These days, gaming enclosures have at least one colorful spinner, so Zalman may have figured it wouldn't bother shouting from the rooftops about a chassis that doesn't have any.

There are fans of course, one on the front (120 mm diameter, for intake) and one at the back (like the other one, but for exhaust). They just don't glow in the dark.

Nevertheless, the newcomer is more than large enough for gaming systems, and even has an all-black color theme (both inside and outside).

Zalman ZM-Z1 has a pair of 5.25-inch drive bays, for optical drives, fan controllers, external drive cages, etc.

Four 3.5-inch bays exist as well, along with a drive tray for 2.5-inch HDDs and SSDs.

Not the most expansive of storage options, and you won't be able to, say, install a water cooling system if you also want an optical drive, but at least there's enough space for good graphics cards.

Since Zalman's case measures 199 (W) x 432 (H) x 457 (D) mm (7.83 x17 x 17.99 inches), there is room for video boards of 360 mm length (14.17 inches).

And with seven expansion slots available, that means it's possible to have more than one card easily, and maybe a sound or network board besides that. It all boils down to whether customers buy a micro-ATX or ATX motherboard.

Finally, there is an I/O panel at the front of the case, with two three USB ports (one USB 3.0, one two USB 2.0) and audio jacks. Sadly, no price has been revealed.