A Closer Look - Outside

Right out of the box, all smooth parts have an additional layer of protection in the form of a thin plastic sheet. You will find such a sheet on the window and front and top panel of the Z9 NEO.

Zalman designed the chassis with straight lines and edges in mind. While it is not symmetrical, the black front panel is covered nicely by the white door, creating a nifty contrast of colors. Those who opt for the black variant of the Z9 NEO will also experience it, but not with the same predominance as with the lighter variant.


The door swings open from the left to reveal the drive bays and a large air vent for the fans in front. Things look quite normal in the rear since Zalman put the PSU bay on the bottom.


Both sides of the Z9 NEO are flat, but you will find a well-designed window on the main side, which goes well with the chassis's overall design. It is just big enough to reveal the motherboard area, which makes it small enough to keep most of the external drive bays hidden. We will see how well it fares at the end of this review. Zalman has also silk-screened the model name onto the side panel, which is a nice touch.


Taking a closer look at the front, the air vent behind the door can only be removed after you jank the entire front panel off to get to the frame. Above it are the two 5.25" drive bays, which are becoming quite the rare sight these days.


Turning the unit around, the PSU bay at the bottom comes with two sets of mounting holes, so you may place the unit with its fan facing up- or downward. Above the bay are the seven motherboard expansion slots, each protected by its own removable, reusable cover. All the way in the top is a pre-installed 120 mm exhaust fan with white blades.


In the top is a partly covered opening. Made up of small slits, it allows for hot air to exit through the Z9 NEO's top with the help of two pre-installed 120 mm fans there. However, you may also pull this cover off to maximize airflow. The I/O has been placed along the front's edge at the top and consists of two USB 3.0, a pair of USB 2.0, and the usual audio plugs. Zalman covered the USB ports with rubber plugs, which is quite the nice touch. A small reset and large, square power button complete the I/O.