Computer Case Zalman S3

8 places for fans. Large air intake with dust filters on the top cover. Side window. 4 compartments 2.5.

Midi Tower gaming case, positioned by the manufacturer in the middle price segment. The system unit is designed to install an ATX motherboard and in total is designed to create a fairly powerful gaming PC. As a graphics adapter, you can use a graphics card up to 330 mm long. CPU cooler height up to 156mm. The ventilation system has 8 seats: 3 on the front panel, 1 on the back, 2 from the bottom and 2 from the top, but only 1 rear fan is included in the standard package of the system unit.

One of the main features of the Zalman S3 case is the spectacular front panel — the front of the system unit is decorated with a brushed metal insert, and the side is transparent, opening up a good overview of the computer's hardware. The case allows you to use 2 3.5" hard drives and the same number of 2.5" memory devices. It is possible to install 7 PCI-E expansion cards. The power supply is installed from below. The case itself is mounted on sufficiently high rubberized legs. If the user does not seem to have enough air cooling capacity, the system unit provides the ability to install two liquid cooling circuits at once.

Versatility

Zalman S3, as you might guess from the name, is part of the “Z” line, which has proven itself well over the past couple of years due to its good price-performance ratio and functionality. It is interesting in that it is one of the few modern gaming cases that do not have RGB lighting.

Strict and in a good old-fashioned way

In terms of design, the S3 is the exact opposite of gaming electronics. Nothing glows, does not stick out in different directions and does not shimmer in the sun in several colours. Instead of flashy colours, there is a solid black colour, instead of decorative patterns and large logos, there is a minimalist brushed metal front panel. Only a transparent side wall hints at the gaming nature of the case, which opens up a view of the interior of the computer. Sometimes the thought creeps in that the design of the S3 was done by a prim English lord, who thought that the case could easily fit into any interior.

High build quality and materials

The build quality and thoughtfulness of the internal structure deserve a solid five. The black-painted metal looks expensive and strong, there is no backlash or dangling, there is a large cutout for the air intake with a dust filter on top. The case provides the bottom location of the power supply, so models with short wires may not be suitable. The maximum allowable length of a graphics card is 330 mm, and the height of the CPU cooler should not exceed 156 mm, that is, there is enough headroom for a powerful modern graphics card and a fairly large cooler. The ventilation system has 8 seats: 3 on the front panel, 1 on the back, 2 from the bottom and 2 from the top, and 4 2.5 format compartments can be noted from the unusual. The only thing that can be scolded here is the heap arrangement of the mounts for the cooler. If you put ordinary 25 mm coolers facing the front cover, then the distance between them and the wall will be only 1 cm. And they will have to suck in air through a tiny gap.

Fits into any interior

In general, the system unit is designed to create a fairly powerful gaming PC and is not suitable only for ultra-powerful overclocker builds. But the matter is not limited to games alone, such a model will surely appeal to designers, animators, graphics specialists and anyone who wants to pack powerful hardware in a strict and stylish box. There are not so many such universal options on the market, and you don’t really want to pack iron for 3K dollars in a simple office building.