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Comparison Zalman Z3 black vs Zalman Z1 black

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Zalman Z3 black
Zalman Z1 black
Zalman Z3 blackZalman Z1 black
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from £50.91 
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Featuresgaminggaming
Form factorMidi TowerMidi Tower
Mountverticalvertical
Motherboard support
ATX /micro-ATX, mini-ITX/
ATX /micro-ATX, mini-ITX/
PSU form factorATX (regular)ATX (regular)
Computer case
Dimensions (HxWxD)430x192x465 mm432x199x457 mm
Graphics card max lenght360 mm360 mm
Fan max height160 mm160 mm
Weight6 kg
Materialsteelsteel
Rubber feet
Side panelremovableremovable
Storage
PSU
PSU mountbottombottom
5.25" bays22
3.5" external bays11
3.5" bays44
internal 2.5" compartments11
Expansion slots77
Screwless
Cooling
Fans total32
Fans (back)1х120mm1х120/90/80mm
Fans (front)2х120mm1х120mm
Fans (top)2х120mm
Fan mounts total52
Dust filter++
Liquid cooling support
Connectors and functions
Placementon top of the caseon the front
Fan controler
USB 2.022
USB 3.2 gen111
Audio (microphone/headphones)
More features
Front panellatticelattice
More features
hidden wiring
CPU cooling mount window
hidden wiring
CPU cooling mount window
Color
Added to E-Catalogmarch 2014january 2014

Rubber feet

The presence of rubberized legs in the design of the case.

These feet absorb vibrations generated during operation of the computer (mainly due to the operation of fans and optical drives), thereby reducing noise levels and providing additional comfort. Rubberized feet are especially desirable if the computer is placed on a table (on a tabletop or in a dedicated compartment on a table) or on a hard floor.

Fans total

The more fans provided in the design, other things being equal, the more intense the cooling will be and the more powerful (and, accordingly, “hot”) hardware can be placed in the case without the risk of overheating. For everyday tasks, a case with one, two or three factory fans is enough. At the same time, when comparing, it is worth considering not only the number, but also the performance characteristics of the fans (diameter, speed). Also note that there are cases without fans on the market with free space for fans, which allows, if necessary, to supplement the cooling system and improve its performance.

Fans (back)

The number of fan slots on the back of the case, as well as the size of the fans that these slots are designed for. The presence of the fans themselves in the kit should be specified separately.

The larger the fan, the more advanced it is considered: a large diameter allows you to work efficiently at relatively low speeds, which reduces the noise level and energy consumption. Case fans are available in several standard diameters; specifically for the rear panel, the size up to 92 mm is considered relatively small, 120 mm — medium, 140 mm — large.

Most often, the holes for installing fans are designed for one specific size, however, there are also “multi-size” seats, for 2-3 options in diameter.

Fans (front)

The number of fan slots on the front of the case, and the size of the fans these slots are designed for. The presence of the fans themselves in the kit should be specified separately.

The larger the fan, the more advanced it is considered: a large diameter allows you to work efficiently at relatively low speeds, which reduces the noise level and energy consumption. Case fans are available in several standard diameters; specifically for the front panel, the size up to 92 mm is considered relatively small, 120 mm — medium, 140 mm — large, and in the most advanced solutions, fans of 180 mm or even more can be installed.

Also note that most often the holes for installing fans are designed for one specific size, however, there are also “multi-size” seats, for 2-3 options. Moreover, these options may differ both in diameter and in quantity: for example, it may be possible to install two 140 mm fans or three 120 mm fans.

Fans (top)

The number of fan slots on the top side of the case, and the size of the fans these slots are designed for. The presence of the fans themselves in the kit should be specified separately.

The larger the fan, the more advanced it is considered: a large diameter allows you to work efficiently at relatively low speeds, which reduces the noise level and energy consumption. Case fans are available in several standard diameters, and the seats under them can be designed for both one and several sizes — for example, 120 / 140 mm. At the same time, in some models, the available number of seats also depends on the chosen size: for example, there are gaming cases where you can install either one 180 mm fan or four 120 mm fans at once.

Fan mounts total

The total number of places for installing fans provided in the chassis design.

The more performant the system, the more components it includes — the more powerful cooling it will need; therefore, the number of places for fans, usually, is directly related to the size and purpose of the case. It is also worth considering that with the same number, the installation location of individual fans may be different — behind, on the side, on top, etc.

Placement

The location of the front set of connectors provided in the case. Such connectors can be located on the front panel, on the side wall or in the upper part of the case. The first two options are found in all case form factors (see above), while the top placement is considered optimal for tower solutions, originally designed for installation under the table.

Fan controler

The ability to manually control the rotation speed of the fans installed in the case.

This function allows you to adjust the operation of the fans to the specific situation. For example, in cool weather with a light load, you can reduce the speed (or even turn off the fan altogether), reducing power consumption and noise level, and increase it when starting a demanding game. Also note that there are software tools that allow you to automatically adjust the speed of the fans; so that instead of manual control, this function can be entrusted to automation.

The fan control system is usually equipped with the most advanced case models.
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