Zalman GS1000 - Review

Zalman is best known for its extensive lineup of quiet CPU and GPU coolers. But over the last few years, Zalman has also expanded its family of products with power supplies, input devices, cases, and even some 3D monitors. 1 took a look at Zalman's lat*est full tower enclosure, the GS1000.

Although the GS1000 doesn't break much new ground in terms of features, Zalman has made some subtle design deci*sions that differentiate this case from many other "boutique" enclosures. To keep costs down, Zalman chose to use a combination of aluminum, steel, and plastic to construct the GS1000.


Aesthetically, the different materials and textures worked together well, but I found the plastic edge trim and top panel were prone to fingerprints. That's a minor quibble though, as the fingerprints can be cleaned from the surface quite easily.

Zalman also configured the fan locations in this case in a rather unique way. Two 120mm ans are mounted at the cop and back, exhausting air from the case. Iliere are three more fan positions available {one at the top arid two at the bottom), but none of them are in the traditional intake position at the lower front of the case, Instead, die bottom half of the front bezel and bottom of the case have ventilation holes where air is drawn in from the negative pressure produced by the exhaust fans. Somewhat surprisingly, given Zalman's track record tor producing quiet computing products, the stock faas included with die GS 1000 were noisy. I wouldn't call them loud, but they did produce a noticeable hum that was easily audible.

At the top of the case, a small hinged panel hides a pair of USB ports. Fire Wire port, and headphone and microphone jacks. The back of die case has predrilled holes to accommodate tubing for a watercooling kit. There's a small handle attached to the removable PSU mount, so yanking a PSU out of its bottom-mounted position is about as simple as can be.


The side panels of the case also feature handles and permanently attached spring-loaded thumbscrews that simplify getting inside the GS1000. Once inside, the GS 1000 has an open, expansive interior that was easy to work with. There are holes on the motherboard tray designed for neat cable routing, and the case also has a hot-swappable SAT A backplane with dampened hard drive mounts that slide into and out of the case via the front panel.

It's not an all-aluminum beauty, and its stock fans were noisier than I would have liked, but for under 200 bucks, Zalman has a solid product in the GS1000.

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