Zalman HD-160 and Accompanying Products
by Joshua Buss on March 31, 2006 12:05 AM EST- Posted in
- Cases/Cooling/PSUs
Introduction
It hasn't been that long since we last examined the HTPC scene, and afterwards, we were starting to wonder if anyone knew just exactly what it took to engineer a perfect HTPC case. We say this not because the last four cases we reviewed were poor performers, but simply because it seems like each one managed to just barely miss something that, when it comes right down to it, is pretty important in an home theater case.
Zalman hasn't had much of a history in case design per se, but their presence in the cooling industry is now practically ubiquitous. Starting especially with the fantastic 7000 series CPU coolers, and also with the outlandishly extreme TNN500A 100% passive case, they've made a name for themselves as the forefront proponents of silent computing.
Now going directly after the HTPC market, Zalman has recently released the HD-160 case, a moderately sized, mid-to-high priced, 100% aluminum ATX compatible chassis available in black and silver, and accompanying our review of the case, we'll be looking at their latest power supply, the ZM460-APS, their latest CPU cooler, the CNPS-9500, and their popular GPU cooler, the VF700-Cu.
First, we'll examine the case and test it using the same hardware that we've used to test our other HTPC cases, but then we'll switch our standard ATX test bed's CPU and GPU coolers for Zalman's and analyze how the performance changes.
For more information on the HD-160 and the other products in this review, please check out Zalman's website.
It hasn't been that long since we last examined the HTPC scene, and afterwards, we were starting to wonder if anyone knew just exactly what it took to engineer a perfect HTPC case. We say this not because the last four cases we reviewed were poor performers, but simply because it seems like each one managed to just barely miss something that, when it comes right down to it, is pretty important in an home theater case.
Zalman hasn't had much of a history in case design per se, but their presence in the cooling industry is now practically ubiquitous. Starting especially with the fantastic 7000 series CPU coolers, and also with the outlandishly extreme TNN500A 100% passive case, they've made a name for themselves as the forefront proponents of silent computing.
Now going directly after the HTPC market, Zalman has recently released the HD-160 case, a moderately sized, mid-to-high priced, 100% aluminum ATX compatible chassis available in black and silver, and accompanying our review of the case, we'll be looking at their latest power supply, the ZM460-APS, their latest CPU cooler, the CNPS-9500, and their popular GPU cooler, the VF700-Cu.
First, we'll examine the case and test it using the same hardware that we've used to test our other HTPC cases, but then we'll switch our standard ATX test bed's CPU and GPU coolers for Zalman's and analyze how the performance changes.
(TL: Tool-less, TS: Thumbscrews, SS: Standard Screws)
For more information on the HD-160 and the other products in this review, please check out Zalman's website.
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SonicIce - Saturday, April 1, 2006 - link
yeah i was just joking around man. you did a good job reviewing it the way you did.JoshuaBuss - Monday, April 3, 2006 - link
Thanks man, I never am sure on these little 'comments' sections.. I tend to get a lot of crap here.. haha.I kinda guessed that you were joking actually, but wanted to take the time to clarify why exactly I cable it the way I do anyway. I suppose for a lot of people, they might've read your post and NOT thought it was meant in jest.
4AcesIII - Friday, March 31, 2006 - link
Thermaltake's Mozart and Bach cases have that thing beat hands down at less money. And why not tell us that the vfd and remote are farmed out to Imon by Soundgraph? Anyone notice how the vid cooler eliminates use of slot next to video? If you're going to do that why not get something that puts the hot air out the back like some other after market vid coolers do? This is nothing other than a big black box with alot of stuff bought from others to put into and with it and not especially attractive either but that sorta follows Zalman's history in my opinion. Go ahead and buy it if you want a Yugo get something else if you want quality.segagenesis - Friday, March 31, 2006 - link
I think this is the HTPC case I've been waiting for. Screw how big it is... I want as quiet as possible.topher42 - Saturday, April 1, 2006 - link
Take a look at the OrigenAE X11.ScarletGrayFire - Friday, March 31, 2006 - link
It's about time we have an HTPC case capable of quietly cooling a high-performance HTPC! This case fits right in the audio rack, and with three 80mm fan locations and enough room for a quiet CPU HSF, one can run an Athlon FX CPU with a state of the art video card. Also, an Arctic cooling vga cooler will push some of the heat in the PCI card area out the back of the case. Word is that this case is actually manufactured by OrigenAE.mbhame - Friday, March 31, 2006 - link
Those pictures are awful. What gives??JoshuaBuss - Friday, March 31, 2006 - link
care to elaborate? any particular pics? I thought most turned out very good actually..?Howard - Friday, March 31, 2006 - link
It's spelled "exemplary", and I only see 3 discrete copper heat pipes (re: Zalman 9500).JoshuaBuss - Friday, March 31, 2006 - link
Thank you. I don't know what I was thinking.. I knew it was three all along..heh.