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I’m writing this review after covering the Zalman P40 Prism, a cheaper case that remains one of the best I’ve seen from Zalman – and really, in my experience overall. The Zalman Z9 Iceberg MS is a different beast. It’s more expensive, larger, significantly more traditional in design, and far more versatile. Fortunately, it’s still a Zalman product, and with this brand, you usually get more than you pay for when it comes to cases.
Read also: PC case reviews
TABLE OF CONTENTS:
Zalman Z9 Iceberg MS Video review
Specifications
- Dimensions: 496×245×473 mm
- Weight: 9.6 kg
- PSU length: up to 270 mm
- Video card length: up to 390 mm
- Cooler height: up to 185 mm
- Storage support: up to 5 (2x 3.5‘ + 3x 2.5’)
- Fan support: up to 7
- Liquid cooling support: up to 360 mm at the top/front
- 200 mm fan support: yes, up to 2 at the front
- PCIe expansion slots: 7+3
- RGB hub present: yes
Market position
How much does this unit cost exactly? Just under $120. It’s slightly cheaper than the P40 Prism and clearly emphasizes different design aspects. The focus on those aspects will be discussed later.
Compatibility
To start, this is still a mid-tower case, weighing 9.6 kg without any additional components, with dimensions of 478 × 245 × 496 mm. It also supports tall CPU coolers, up to 185 mm in height.
The power supply can accommodate units up to 270 mm in length. Graphics cards can be installed up to 390 mm long, with integrated support that allows for adjustable height. The case provides 7 horizontal and 3 vertical PCIe slots.
Fan compatibility is extensive. The case can accommodate up to seven fans: six 120 mm and one 140 mm. If all fans are 140 mm, the total drops to six. However, a more notable feature is the front panel’s ability to support two 200 mm fans, each 25 mm thick. Interestingly, Zalman doesn’t offer such fans, though similar models exist from other brands, such as the Thermaltake Pure 20.
Another practical aspect is the support for liquid cooling radiators. The case can accommodate radiators up to 360 mm both at the top and front. According to the manual – or rather, the lack of any warning to the contrary – it should be possible to install two 360 mm radiators simultaneously without interference. Alternatively, you could fit two 200 mm fans along with a single 360 mm radiator, which also provides flexible cooling options.
In terms of storage compatibility, the case demonstrates an efficient approach to expanding drive support without significantly altering its form factor. It can accommodate up to five drives: two 3.5-inch and three 2.5-inch. The 2.5-inch drives mount on a bracket behind the motherboard tray, which itself supports E-ATX, ATX, mATX, and Mini-ITX motherboards.
The 3.5-inch drives are installed in cages at the bottom of the case, near the power supply. One issue I encountered is that the upper cage had a component box stuck firmly inside; placing it in the lower cage would likely have avoided this problem. The included accessories comprise a manual, a set of screws, cable ties, a speaker buzzer, and four USB port covers.
Zalman Z9 Iceberg MS peripherals
Starting with connectivity, the case offers five USB ports on the top panel: two USB 2.0, two USB 3.0 (5 Gbps), and one USB-C (10 Gbps). There are also separate audio jacks, which are less common these days, along with dedicated buttons for power, reset, and lighting control.
The lighting and reset buttons are located next to each other and share an identical design, which isn’t ideal, though it’s a minor issue.
Lighting and cooling
A more significant point is the number of fans included. The case comes with four Zalman ZH1425BSL-SLD 140 mm RGB fans, featuring sleeve bearings, a maximum speed of 900 RPM, and a noise level of only 22 dBa. As a reminder, there are four of them.
Additionally, the case includes a well-implemented lighting system via a built-in hub, offering extensive customization options. The hub supports not only RGB effects but also power delivery for up to six fans in total.
Design features
Finally, the case’s main distinctive feature is worth highlighting. The name “Iceberg” comes from the unique shape of the front metal mesh. Behind it is an additional mesh filter. The RGB lighting diffuses through this design in a visually striking way, which is particularly noticeable.
The top dust filter comes with a rigid frame, while the bottom filter is mounted on sliding rails. I had expected a magnetic design like the one in the P40 Prism, but the implementation of compatibility with large power supplies is already impressive – the hard drive cage simply slides to the side and is secured with additional screws.
Conclusions
In summary, the Zalman Z9 Iceberg MS is less ambitious and revolutionary than the P40 Prism. However, it avoids any unpleasant surprises or noticeable design oversights. Overall, the implementation is either very solid or close to optimal in most areas. My only remaining wish is support for 420 mm radiators, but beyond that, the Z9 Iceberg MS performs well in all aspects.
Read also:
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Where to buy Zalman Z9 Iceberg MS