Zalman Z9 NEO

Darksaber · May 27, 2016

The Zalman Z9 NEO aims to offer a diverse and useful feature set and good looks and liquid-cooling compatibility, all at an affordable price. Add the fact that it comes equipped with a whooping 5 (!!) fans and it just got even more interesting, while the choice between a black or white version does not help curb the expectations we have diving into this review.

Show full review

Caring1 · May 27, 2016

I read the review of this case 1.5 months ago on another site, it's still good value for money.

HD64G · May 27, 2016

Great review. And since I own this specific product for 3 weeks now in black I can easily say that it's the best vfm case I have ever seen. I hope more manufacturers make such affordable and quality cases.

Jack1n · May 27, 2016

I was really surprised by the low price after seeing the quality.

DeathtoGnomes · May 29, 2016

at first i thought it was a review about a microwave and then it was a paper shredder. The white and black color theme, plus the power panel location just threw me off. If it wasnt for the blue lighting I would have stuck with a paper shredder. :laugh:

HD64G · May 30, 2016

DeathtoGnomes said:
at first i thought it was a review about a microwave and then it was a paper shredder. The white and black color theme, plus the power panel location just threw me off. If it wasnt for the blue lighting I would have stuck with a paper shredder.

Agreed on the white model but the black one is very nice at the eye :toast:

Ruru · May 30, 2016

Looks great for its price :toast:

Bjørgersson · Jun 6, 2016

Is it just me or this case is pretty much an NZXT rip-off?

gasolin · Jun 12, 2017

I have to say because they desided to use 4 molex fans made me return it, it's such a shame that you can't adjust fan speed to the speed you prefere,cool pc or silent.

DeathtoGnomes · Jun 12, 2017

gasolin said:
I have to say because they desided to use 4 molex fans made me return it, it's such a shame that you can't adjust fan speed to the speed you prefere,cool pc or silent.

What? Since then does molex connectors matter? You can replace the fans OR connectors easily or even buy adapters to the other 3 or 4 pins connectors. Plus, you can buy drive bay fan controllers for 4 to 6 fans with or without LED display. Returning a case just because of the fan connectors is the most silly thing I heard in a long time. I dont buy a case just because it has lotz-of-fans, more often than not, they are el-cheapo fans anyways.

gasolin · Jun 12, 2017

Makes no sence to buy a case to run 4 fans at max rpm all the time

Buy new fans? Why buy a case with 5 fans if you buy new fans? Why not buy a case with not so many fans and buy the fans you need? The price would be the same as replacing the stock fans.

You cant't just get molex to 3 or 4 pin adapter and not a y splitter. It just isn't something you can get in any stores that sell computer parts.

Where do you buy a fan controller for 4 molex fans?

Molex fans are a strange decision since you can't adjust fan speed, i didn't noticed them being 4 pin MOLEX before i got the case.

DeathtoGnomes · Jun 14, 2017

gasolin said:
Makes no sence to buy a case to run 4 fans at max rpm all the time

Buy new fans? Why buy a case with 5 fans if you buy new fans? Why not buy a case with not so many fans and buy the fans you need? The price would be the same as replacing the stock fans.

You cant't just get molex to 3 or 4 pin adapter and not a y splitter. It just isn't something you can get in any stores that sell computer parts.

Where do you buy a fan controller for 4 molex fans?

Molex fans are a strange decision since you can't adjust fan speed, i didn't noticed them being 4 pin MOLEX before i got the case.

Really now, ever heard of modding? There are a bunch of modding communities that deal with these issues. Some very basic search skills will open up a whole new world to you.

I did a simple search "molex to 3-pin" and found this in one click >

https://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod..._3_pin_fan_adapter-_-9SIACJ453E3330-_-Product.

try searching for "fan controller". Once you have an adapter you can use any Y splitter.

Also might wanna visit the ghetto mods thread here for more ideas of what can be done with a few active braincells.

Ruru · Jun 14, 2017

Who anyway uses the stock fans? Almost always they suck. I sold my Phanteks fans immediately and installed my own ones (2x Jonsbos, Bitfenix and a Phobya one)

DeathtoGnomes · Jun 14, 2017

9700 Pro said:
Who anyway uses the stock fans? Almost always they suck. I sold my Phanteks fans immediately and installed my own ones (2x Jonsbos, Bitfenix and a Phobya one)

It depends if those stock fans are just some generic brand or decent quality. Everyone has their own preferences when it comes to brand names. I wonder if Phanteks doesnt use the same fans in every case. My Primo case came with SP fans and they perform very well. I used only Phanteks SP in my case, and havent had any issues, not with noise either.

System Name	Meshlicious Monster
Processor	Intel Core i5-10600T
Motherboard	MSI Z490I Unify
Cooling	NZXT Kraken Z53 with 2x Noctua Redux 1300 RPM PWM fans
Memory	ADATA 16 GB 3200 Mhz DDR4
Video Card(s)	MSI GeForce RTX 3070 Gaming X Trio
Storage	TeamGroup 1TB NVMe SSD
Display(s)	Asus ProArt 27" 1440P, 75Hz
Case	ssupd Meshlicious with mesh side panels
Power Supply	Fractal Design Ion 660 W Platinum ATX
Mouse	Corsair Dark Core RGB Pro Wireless
Keyboard	Microsoft Sidewinder X4 Keyboard
Software	Windows 10 Home

System Name	Lenovo ThinkCentre
Processor	AMD 5650GE
Motherboard	Lenovo
Memory	32 GB DDR4
Display(s)	AOC 24" Freesync 1m.s. 75Hz
Mouse	Lenovo
Keyboard	Lenovo
Software	W11 Pro 64 bit

Processor	AMD Ryzen 5 5600@80W
Motherboard	MSI B550 Tomahawk
Cooling	ZALMAN CNPS9X OPTIMA
Memory	2*8GB PATRIOT PVS416G400C9K@3733MT_C16
Video Card(s)	Sapphire Radeon RX 6750 XT Pulse 12GB
Storage	Sandisk SSD 128GB, Kingston A2000 NVMe 1TB, Samsung F1 1TB, WD Black 10TB
Display(s)	AOC 27G2U/BK IPS 144Hz
Case	SHARKOON M25-W 7.1 BLACK
Audio Device(s)	Realtek 7.1 onboard
Power Supply	Seasonic Core GC 500W
Mouse	Sharkoon SHARK Force Black
Keyboard	Trust GXT280
Software	Win 7 Ultimate 64bit/Win 10 pro 64bit/Manjaro Linux

Processor	AMD Ryzen 7 5800X
Motherboard	B550 Aorus PRO V2
Cooling	Corsair H115i RGB Platinum
Memory	Gskill Trident Z Neo 3600 2x16GB
Video Card(s)	MSI RTX 3070 Trio X
Storage	WD Blue SN550 1TB NVME/Teranova 1TB Sata/WD Blue SN580 2TB NVME
Display(s)	Dell AW3423DWF
Case	Corsair 4000D Airflow
Audio Device(s)	Schiit Audio Modi+\Magni+
Power Supply	Corsair HX850i
Mouse	Logitech G502 Lightspeed
Keyboard	SteelSeries Apex Pro
Software	Windows 10 Pro

System Name	Dumbass
Processor	AMD Ryzen 7800X3D
Motherboard	ASUS TUF gaming B650
Cooling	Artic Liquid Freezer 2 - 420mm
Memory	G.Skill Sniper 32gb DDR5 6000
Video Card(s)	GreenTeam 4070 ti super 16gb
Storage	Samsung EVO 500gb & 1Tb, 2tb HDD, 500gb WD Black
Display(s)	1x Nixeus NX_EDG27, 2x Dell S2440L (16:9)
Case	Phanteks Enthoo Primo w/8 140mm SP Fans
Audio Device(s)	onboard (realtek?) - SPKRS:Logitech Z623 200w 2.1
Power Supply	Corsair HX1000i
Mouse	Steeseries Esports Wireless
Keyboard	Corsair K100
Software	windows 10 H
Benchmark Scores	https://i.imgur.com/aoz3vWY.jpg?2

Zalman Z9 NEO

Darksaber

Senior Editor & Case Reviewer

Caring1

HD64G

Jack1n

DeathtoGnomes

HD64G

Ruru

S.T.A.R.S.

Bjørgersson

gasolin

DeathtoGnomes

gasolin

DeathtoGnomes

Ruru

S.T.A.R.S.

DeathtoGnomes

System Name	4K-gaming
Processor	AMD Ryzen 7 5800X @ PBO +200 -20CO
Motherboard	Asus ROG Crosshair VII Hero
Cooling	Arctic Freezer 50, EKWB Vector TUF
Memory	32GB Kingston HyperX Fury DDR4-3466
Video Card(s)	Asus GeForce RTX 3080 TUF OC 10GB
Storage	A pack of SSDs totaling 3.2TB + 3TB HDDs
Display(s)	27" 4K120 IPS + 32" 4K60 IPS + 24" 1080p60
Case	Corsair 4000D Airflow White
Audio Device(s)	Asus TUF H3 Wireless / Corsair HS35
Power Supply	EVGA Supernova G2 750W
Mouse	Logitech MX518 + Asus ROG Strix Edge Nordic
Keyboard	Roccat Vulcan 121 AIMO
VR HMD	Oculus Rift CV1
Software	Windows 11 Pro
Benchmark Scores	It runs Crysis

Processor	AMD Ryzen R7 5700X
Motherboard	MSI B550 Gaming Plus
Cooling	Alpenföhn Dolomit Premium
Memory	Kingston Fury Beast 16 GB
Video Card(s)	Asus RTX 4070 Dual OC 12 GB
Storage	Kingston Fury Renegade 1 TB, Western Digital Red 2 TB
Display(s)	Dell G2724D
Case	Fractal Design Meshify 2 Compact
Audio Device(s)	Asus Xonar DSX + Microlab B-77
Power Supply	Seasonic Focus GX-550
Mouse	Zowie ZA11
Keyboard	Endorfy Thock TKL Brown
Software	Windows 10 Pro

Processor	Ryzen 7 7700
Motherboard	Asrock B650 PG LIgtning
Cooling	artic freezer 36
Memory	G.Skill Flare X5 DDR5-6000 - 32GB - CL30
Video Card(s)	ASUS Dual GeForce RTX 4070 EVO
Storage	1x2tb KC3000 & 2tb samsung 970 evo plus, 2 x 2 tb external usb harddrives
Display(s)	LG 32GP850, IIyama G2470HSU-B1
Case	Corsair 5000D airflow tg
Audio Device(s)	Marantz PM 6007 Triangle Esprit Titus Ez
Power Supply	Corsair RM850X White
Mouse	Logitech G PRO Superlight
Keyboard	Corsair K70 RGB TKL Champion
Software	Windows 11 64 bit, Free bitdefender