United Kingdom
Catalog   /   Computing   /   Components   /   Computer Cases

Comparison Zalman Z9 black vs Aerocool Aero-800 black

Add to comparison
Zalman Z9 black
Aerocool Aero-800 black
Zalman Z9 blackAerocool Aero-800 black
from $89.51 up to $101.08
Outdated Product
from £78.93 
Outdated Product
TOP sellers
Main
Five fans. Transparent sidewall. Casing for cable management. Noise-absorbing pads for HDD. Four USB ports.
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)490x205x482 mm501x200x476 mm
Graphics card max lenght400 mm390 mm
Fan max height160 mm155 mm
Weight6.8 kg6.15 kg
Materialsteelsteel
Sidewall thickness0.8 mm0.55 mm
Rubber feet
Lighting typebacklit fanbacklit fan
Lighting colourblue
Side panelremovableremovable
Storage
PSU
PSU mountbottombottom
5.25" bays22
3.5" bays42
internal 2.5" compartments4
/2 convertible from 3.5"/
Expansion slots77
Screwless
Cooling
Fans total52
Fans (back)1x120mm1х120mm
Fans (front)2x120mm
2х140mm /2х120mm/
Fans (top)2x120mm2х120mm
Fan mounts total55
Dust filter++
Liquid cooling support
Liquid cooling system
Liquid cooling (rear)120 mm
Liquid cooling (front)280 mm
Liquid cooling (top)240mm
Liquid cooling mounts3
Connectors and functions
Placementon the fronton the front
USB 2.022
USB 3.2 gen122
Audio (microphone/headphones)
More features
Front panellattice
Side panel window++
More features
front panel
removable HDD cage
hidden wiring
CPU cooling mount window
 
 
hidden wiring
CPU cooling mount window
Color
Added to E-Catalogmarch 2017february 2016

Graphics card max lenght

The maximum length of a graphics card that can be installed in this case.

Modern mid-range and top-end video cards with high performance often differ in considerable length, which is why such a card can not fit into any case. So before collecting components, it is worth evaluating the length of the proposed graphics card and choosing a case in which it is guaranteed to fit. This forethought is useful anyway, but it's especially true if you're building a system that requires a powerful graphics adapter, such as a high-end gaming PC or 3D design workstation.

Fan max height

The highest cooler height allowed for this case.

In this case, we mean a cooler used to cool the processor — such a component is found in the vast majority of modern PCs. Height is measured relative to the motherboard.

Sidewall thickness

The thickness of the side walls used in the case. When choosing a thickness, manufacturers have to compromise between several points at once. On the one hand, thin walls are inexpensive and heat dissipates faster through them, which has a positive effect on cooling efficiency. On the other hand, powerful systems inevitably require thick walls, otherwise the case may simply not withstand the weight of advanced high-performance components. Thirdly, steel is a fairly durable material even with a relatively small thickness. In light of all this, in most models this indicator does not exceed 0.70.8 mm, and more often it is about 0.50.6 mm.

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.

Lighting colour

For more on decorative lighting in general, see Light Type above. Here we note that it can have different shades, and sometimes several options are indicated in the characteristics at once. If these options are listed through "and" (for example, "red, blue and green") — this means that this model contains all the specified colours, and the user can switch between them at his discretion. If the shades are listed through “or” (for example, “red, blue or green”), this means that this model is available in several versions that differ in the colour of the backlight.

Special mention is the "RGB" option. This is the name of the most advanced backlight, the shade of which can be chosen at your discretion. However the original RGB backlighting is capable of simultaneously displaying only one of several basic colours (white, yellow, green, red, blue or purple); nevertheless, even these possibilities are enough to customize the appearance of the case and apply various effects (such as backlight synchronization — see below).

And relatively recently, an even more advanced type of adjustable systems has appeared — ARGB backlight. The key difference between ARGB and classic RGB is the possibility of simultaneous operation of diodes of different colours. In other words, classic RGB lighting can display only one colour at a time, while ARGB can display several colours, which provides additional effects. Also, ARGB lighting is connecte...d using a 3pin 5v connector, while regular RGB uses a 4pin 12v connection. It can be represented by various types of illumination. So, ARGB is often integrated into the cooling system, the front panel and magnetic LED strips, which the user can mount at his discretion. To control the backlight, a special controller is usually provided, and buttons or controls for switching the illumination operation modes are placed on the interface panel. In some cases, the backlight is controlled by the motherboard, through a special connector. Many ARGB systems support the ability to fine-tune through specialized software.

3.5" bays

The number of internal 3.5" form factor bays provided in the design of the case. Such bays, in accordance with the name, are intended for internal components, mainly hard drives and some SSD modules; to access them, the case must be disassembled.

Theoretically, the number of bays corresponds to the maximum number of drives that can be installed in the chassis. However, in fact, the best option is to install drives through a single slot to ensure efficient cooling. Accordingly, it is best to select a case in such a way that the number of internal 3.5" bays is twice the expected number of hard drives.

internal 2.5" compartments

The number of internal 2.5" bays provided in the case design.

Such bays are mainly used for installing internal hard drives and SSD modules; The 2.5" form factor was originally created as "laptop" form factor, but recently it has been increasingly used in components for full-size PCs. At the same time, when evaluating the number of these bays, note that drives are recommended to be installed through a slot; so in Ideally, the number of bays should be twice the planned number of drives.

Also note that some cases use combined bays: initially they have a size of 3.5", but if desired, they can be converted to 2.5". These bays count towards both 3.5-inch and 2.5-inch slots. In fact, this means that the total number of available slots is not always equal to the sum of the number of both. For example, a case with 10 3.5" bays and 6 2.5" bays can have 4 combined bays, and the total number of slots in this case will not be 16, but only 12.

Screwless

The ability to use special latches (instead of screws) to mount peripheral devices in 3.5" and 5.25 bays, as well as cards in expansion slots. This screwless mounting greatly simplifies the installation and replacement of system components.

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.
Zalman Z9 often compared
Aerocool Aero-800 often compared