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The Zalman P40 DS case already made a strong positive impression on me simply through its name. However, this impression became even more grounded after reviewing the Zalman Alpha2 A36 DS liquid cooling system, since the DS index stands for “Digital Screen” – and in Zalman cases, a display usually implies accessible and versatile functionality. However, unlike the Z10 DS, the P40 DS turned out to be significantly less… and at the same time significantly MORE interesting and promising. How is that possible? I’ll explain.
Read also: All PC case reviews
TABLE OF CONTENTS:
Technical specifications
- Form factor: ATX Mid-Tower
- Weight: 8.7 kg
- Dimensions: 452×235×492 mm
- Motherboard support: ATX / mATX / Mini-ITX
- Top fan support: 3×120 mm / 2×140 mm
- Side fan support: 3×120 mm
- Rear fan support: 1×120 mm
- Bottom fan support: 3×120 mm
- Included side fans: 3×120 mm
- Rear fans included: 120 mm
- Radiator support: up to 360 mm (top/side)
- Maximum PSU length: 180 mm
- Maximum graphics card length: 420 mm
- Maximum CPU cooler height: 165 mm
- Storage drive bays: 2×2.5‘ or 3.5’ + one 2.5″
- PCIe expansion slots: 7
- Front panel: power button, reset button, audio jack, 2×USB Type-A 5 Gb/s, USB-C 10 Gb/s
Zalman P40 DS Video review
Positioning and Price
The price of the Zalman P40 DS in both available color options – white and black – is around $155. For a mid-tower case, this is already quite a high price point, considering that many full-tower models are available in the same range. However, even the Z10 DS was not significantly more expensive, despite also being a mid-tower model.
So get ready – you’ll have to pay extra for the additional configuration. However, the base package is already fully complete. I’m referring both to the packaging in soft expanded polypropylene foam and to the contents of the transparent plastic accessory box. Specifically: screws, cable ties, riser standoffs, motherboard spacers, a glass cleaning cloth, and even a graphics card support bracket.
Design (and Namu)
Next – honestly speaking. I would like to say that the Zalman P40 DS has at least some unique vibe or character in either color option, but it doesn’t. On a surface level, it is a fairly standard aquarium-style case. In fact, it is very similar to the P40 Namu.
The similarity is conceptual – glass on the front, glass on the side, tool-less mounting with easy and convenient removal. It comes with four included fans on hydrodynamic bearings: three reverse-blade units and one standard fan. The overall capacity remains the same – up to ten 120 mm fans in total, while 140 mm fans can only be installed at the top, and only up to two units. As a result, the radiator support is also limited to a maximum of 360 mm.
A large number of other details are also very similar to the P40 Namu. The expansion slots are unscrewed in the same way. Cable management is equally spacious. The same 6-position RGB hub is used – it also does not support fan power delivery, but it offers plenty of lighting modes, and it can be turned off by holding the button.
The front I/O panel is identical as well – two 5 Gbps Type-A ports, one Type-C port, and a combined mini-jack audio connector. The reset and power buttons are exactly the same in both shape and layout. The storage mounting plates are also fully identical: one is located at the top, while the other is positioned at the bottom, outside the PSU chamber, and requires access from underneath for removal.
The dust filters are designed in the same way as well. There are none on the side panel at all – only metal perforation is used there. At the top, there is a soft magnetic filter. At the bottom, however, the design is less convenient: it is also magnetic, but lacks finger notches, which would make removal easier. To remove it without risk of damage, the most reliable method is to unscrew the HDD mounting plate, slide the filter toward the rear of the case, and then remove it carefully.
Even the dimensions are similar – 452×235×492 mm. However, PSU compatibility is slightly different, supporting units up to 165 mm instead of a 150 mm limit. And that’s about it for differences here. The weight is also different – 9.1 kg instead of 8.7 kg. Otherwise, the compatibility remains comparable: CPU coolers up to 165 mm in height, and GPUs up to 420 mm in length (Blaze it-level clearance included).
Differences (Display)
So it’s clear that the main difference between the Zalman P40 DS and the Zalman P40 Namu lies in the lower panel configuration. Instead of the wooden insert with the I/O panel relocated to the side, and minimal perforation on the top and bottom, the P40 DS moves the front I/O to the front panel. The side panel is replaced with a solid surface featuring a 9-inch TFT display.
This display requires connection via an internal USB 2.0 header on the motherboard, but it does not require SATA power, unlike the hub, which does. However, the screen does not function properly without installing proprietary software specifically designed for the Zalman P40 DS. It is also worth noting that this software is not universal across Zalman products – each display-equipped case that requires drivers relies on its own dedicated application.
Still, the functionality is quite solid. You can set a custom background, including video, and add a wide range of widgets. The display itself is a TFT panel with not the best viewing angles – contrast noticeably shifts depending on perspective. However, as an additional monitoring accessory for key system parameters, including local weather based on location, the Zalman P40 DS performs well and feels genuinely useful in this role.
It is also worth noting the usual difference between the black and white versions. In both cases, when the display is active, it looks good – largely because the background image can be customized according to personal preference.
However, in the off state the screen is black rather than grey – unlike the P50 DS, which we will get to later – so on the white version it looks quite out of place. The same applies to the black fan hub, although at least that one is normally hidden and not as visually exposed.
Zalman P40 DS usage experience
Now – about stability. During the driver installation on the laptop I used with a USB adapter from the Zalman Alpha2 360 DS, the laptop itself ran out of power. As a result, the drivers were installed incorrectly, and the display started behaving erratically. No need to laugh – during power outages something like this can easily happen on your own system as well. The issue was that the screen kept turning on and off repeatedly and was not properly detected in the software.
And once I reattached the film and decided to put the case back together, I connected the display again – and it started working perfectly. I also noticed that the more firmly and securely you plug the connector into the header, the higher the chance that there will be no glitches and everything will work correctly right away. Updating the display drivers is also not a bad idea – just in case.
As for versatility, the conclusion is fairly obvious. You cannot remove this mini-screen and mount it on the side like in the Z10 DS. Nor can you, as with the Alpha2 DS, rotate it toward yourself to reduce TFT color distortion and viewing-angle issues.
But you can still customize it quite well. And if your case is positioned flat on the desk, not angled toward you but placed perpendicular to your line of sight, then everything works fine. Additional information never hurts.
Conclusions
The overall conclusions for this model are as follows. The Zalman P40 DS Black/White feels significantly more versatile than the Z10 DS, and also more versatile than the Zalman P40 Namu – but it comes at a higher price. The display integrated into the lower section requires dedicated software, but it is functional and visually impressive.
This case allows building a very powerful system with good airflow, but it is still a mid-tower with clear limitations, so this should not be forgotten. Nevertheless, for users who see clear value in a built-in display, it is a solid recommendation.
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Where to buy the Zalman P40 DS