Comparison Zalman R1 vs Zalman Z3 black

The direction in which the body is facing. This parameter is indicated only for models that have a certain specialization and differ markedly from general-purpose cases.

— Gaming. Cases designed for high-performance gaming computer systems. They usually have numerous openings for expansion slots and bays for drives (see the corresponding paragraphs), as well as advanced options for installing cooling systems — many “seats” for fans, the ability to use liquid cooling (see “Liquid cooling support”) and etc. In addition, they often stand out due to their design: they can be equipped with decorative lighting, transparent windows, etc.

— HTPC. Enclosures for PC multimedia orientation, the so-called Home Theater Personal Computer (HTPC). The characteristic features of such cases are compact size, the presence of additional buttons on the front panel for controlling multimedia (and sometimes a sensor for the remote control) and an advanced design.

The type of illumination provided in the body design.

The backlight plays mainly a decorative role, it gives the computer an original appearance, which is appreciated by fans of external tuning. Lighting can be mounted separately, but it is easier to purchase a case where it was originally provided. The types of illumination can be as follows:

— Illuminated fan. One or more coolers are illuminated, facing the side or top surface of the case.

— Cases with backlight. Separate parts of the body are illuminated, usually from the inside, in such a way that the illumination can be seen through a transparent window / windows or a lattice surface. Sometimes external lighting can be provided.

There are cases in which both types of illumination are provided simultaneously. And for office needs , cases without backlight are suitable.

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.

This feature is indicated for housings that normally allow the installation of liquid cooling systems(LCS). Such systems are extremely efficient, but complex and expensive, so they are mainly used in high-performance PCs, for which traditional coolers are no longer enough. Note that theoretically, liquid cooling can be installed in almost any case; however, if support for such cooling is not initially provided in the design, this can be very difficult. So if you initially plan to use LSS, you should choose a case for which support for this function is directly claimed.

The presence of a viewing window on the side panel of the case, allowing you to see the “filling” without opening the case. It gives the case a stylish appearance; in addition, it allows you to install a lighting system inside, which is appreciated by gamers compared to case models without a window.

The materials for manufacturing the windows on the side panel are:

- Acrylic. Acrylic or plexiglass is an inexpensive material of relatively light weight, which, however, actively collects scratches and can be deformed when exposed to high temperatures.

- Strained glass. Tempered glass panels have excellent transparency, are resistant to scratches and are easy to clean from dirt. At the same time, they weigh a lot and can break to pieces if not handled carefully.

- Metal grid. Wire mesh is a simple type of window material used on the side panel of a cabinet. It allows air to pass through and provides additional heat removal from the internal components of the system unit; dust can leak through the mesh overnight.

— Front Cover. A flap cover that entirely or partially conceals the front panel. It gives the computer a neat appearance by hiding ports and external slots under a uniform surface and serves as childproof protection.

— Panel Display. A display on the front or side panel of the case used to show various service information: current CPU frequency, system temperature data, cooling mode, etc. Various important data can be displayed independently of what happens in the software part of the computer.

— Graphics Card Holder. A structural solution for supporting the graphics card inside the case. Specialized stands or holders prevent the graphics adapter from sagging over time and reduce the strain on the PCI-E slot of the motherboard. The fact is, many modern graphics card models have significantly increased in weight — holders are designed to compensate for their heaviness. Stands are available as built-in solutions or standalone accessories that can be installed inside the case independently.

— Side Panel Lock. A special lock on the removable side panel of the case. Such a lock prevents unauthorized access to the internal space of the system unit.

— Noise Insulation. The presence of additional noise insulation in the case. This can be a special coating on the interior sid...e or other, more specific solutions (e.g., damping systems on "mounting spots" for individual components, reducing the level of vibrations transmitted to the case). In any case, this feature helps reduce the noise level emitted by the system — sometimes quite significantly.

— Removable HDD Cage. The presence of a removable cage under the internal peripherals of 3.5" form factor (in most cases these are hard drives, hence the name) in the case design. This cage facilitates assembly because removing and installing a hard drive is much easier than securing it in a non-removable slot inside the case; this aspect is particularly useful if the system plans to install multiple hard drives.

— HDD Docking Station. Built-in docking station for quick connection of internal hard drives. In fact, this feature allows connecting an internal HDD as an external one: the docking station port is located outside the case and equipped with quick-connect fasteners for convenient connection.

— Hidden Cable Routing. The ability to route cables from the power supply on the reverse side of the motherboard (considering the main side where the processor and expansion card slots are located). Thus, the main "mobo" side is freed from cables, positively affecting cooling efficiency.

— Cooling System Installation Window (CS) for the processor. The presence of a separate window in the case opposite the CS mounts for the processor. The fastening system is located on the reverse side of the motherboard, and usually, replacing it requires removing the entire "mainboard"; the CS installation window frees the user from this necessity and significantly simplifies the installation and replacement of CS.