14 DAY TRIAL // Since Titan Technology already covered the CPU cooling segment, Zalman has taken it upon itself to offer something on the desktop case front, revealing the Z11 and Z11 Plus.
For those that haven't spotted it yet, Titan Technology released the Siberia TTC-NC55TZ(RB) CPU cooler, an item with a very unusual shape.
Zalman cannot really claim to have given its new cases something similar, but that doesn't really take away from the newcomers' worth.
At first glance, the Z11 and Z11 Plus aren't all that different from each other.
In fact, they are identical, save for the I/O (input/output) panels built into their fronts: the Zalman Z11 has four USB 2.0 ports, while the Z11 Plus has two USB 2.0 and two USB 3.0 connectors.
That said, both siblings feature the mid-tower form factor and measure 260 (W) x 498 (H) x 525 (D) mm, which is the same as 10.23 x 19.60 x 20.66 inches.
Also, they weigh 7.3 kilograms and are constructed out of steel (for the structure) and plastic.
Micro ATX and ATX motherboards are supported, as are graphics adapters from all series and manufacturers, provided they are no longer than 290 mm.
Furthermore, Zalman went ahead and implemented an anti-vibration rubber stand for the PSU (power supply unit), an acrylic side window and tool-free mounting for all drive bays.
Speaking of drive bays, there are five 3.5-inch trays, one 2.5-inch compartment and four exposed 5.25-inch bays.
Other specifications include four fans and a pair of pre-drilled holes at the back, allowing the installation of watercooling systems.
For customers that want to know exactly what they are getting into in terms of default cooling, there are two 80mm fans on the side, one 120mm fan at the front (it even has blue LEDs) and a similar one at the top, plus a 120mm spinner at the back (this one lacks lights).
Prospective buyers have two weeks to decide whether or not Zalman's inventions are worth their price. The Z11 will sell for 69.90 Euro ($90) and the Z11 Plus carries a tag of 79.90 Euro ($105.26).
