Conclusion:

The Zalman Z9 Plus mid-tower case is exactly what we expect from a Zalman product. It is well built, with a sleek design that has a flawless finish. Almost every desired feature is taken into account; there is a hole in the motherboard tray to accommodate CPU cooler installations, as well as anti-vibration hard drive mounts, cable management features, a built-in fan controller, a temperature gauge, plenty of fans, and the interior paint job matches the exterior. The numerous fans pre-installed in the Zalman Z9 Plus are all nearly silent, despite moving a decent volume of air.



There are a few things that would have been nice; but they might increase the cost of the unit. While there are plenty of USB 2.0 ports, having a front panel USB 3.0 port would be nice. Being able to turn off the LEDs on system fans is a new trend I would have liked to have seen followed on this case. Finally, making the case tool-less would be nice. A screwdriver will be needed for more than installing the motherboard with the Z9 Plus.

The only concern I have with the Zalman Z9 Plus case is the expansion slots. As they are physically attached to the case, they need to be removed before the motherboard is installed. There are no additional covers provided in the event that the wrong one is removed, or too many are removed. If a system is built, and then down the road a new add-in card is needed, it is difficult to remove another cover without removing the motherboard.

A quick price check on the Bigbruin.com shopping engine shows the Zalman Z9 Plus starting around $63.00. Checking other places like Newegg.com shows it for sale for slightly more. This is cheap for a mid-tower case that offers so many user friendly features and refined touches!

In the end, the Zalman Z9 Plus mid-tower case earns the Bigbruin.com "Recommended" and "Good Value" awards for its build quality, features, and low price.



Pros:

» Built in fan controller and temperature display
» Accepts large video cards
» Great cooling options
» Dedicated SSD mount
» Anti-vibration mounts for hard drives
» Large hole to access CPU cooler back-plate
» Painted inside and out
» Silent

Cons:

» No USB 3.0
» No replaceable expansion slot covers
» Not tool-less

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