Zalman Z-Machine X7 Full Tower Case Review

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Zalman Z-Machine X7 Full Tower Case Review
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By David Ramsey

Manufacturer: Zalman Tech Co, LTD
Product Name: Z-Machine X7 Full Tower Aluminum ATX Case
Model Number: Z-Machine X7
UPC: 823844208634
MSRP: $299.99

Full Disclosure: Zalman provided the product sample used in this article.

The days of the giant ATX gaming system are behind us, surely. A single-slot mITX system is smaller and less expensive than a full-sized ATX system, and modern video card performance precludes the need for SLI or Crossfire X for the vast majority of users. What, then, are we to make of Zalman’s massive Z-Machine X7 computer case? This is the largest case Benchmark Reviews has seen since the Cooler Master Cosmos: at x by y by z inches and weighing in at almost 40 pounds empty, this glass and aluminum monster will make its presence known with the help of a plethora of RGB fans and lighting effects.

Features & Specifications

• Full aluminum chassis with tempered glass side panels
• Room for six 3.5″ drives and five 2.5″ drives
• Integrated ZM-MFC5 fan and lighting controller
• Dimensions (L x W x H): 612 x 230 x 587mm
• 8 + 2 PCI slots
• Power supply cover with lighted logo

Let’s take a look at this case in the next section…

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Closer Look: Zalman Z-Machine X7
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Yes, this is one big chassis. If you’re building an Intel X299-based system with an EATX motherboard, this is your case. With the smoked glass side panels removed, we can see the massive interior. As is the fashion, there are no accessible drive bays at the front of the machine. Then again, with this case Zalman has redefined what the “front” is. What we’d normally think of as the front is a featureless expanse of brushed black aluminum, broken only by a single thin LED strip near the top.

Accessories and documentation are rather skimpy: a manual on the integrated RGB fan controller, a ziplock baggy with screws and cable ties, and a fold-out Quick Guide are all you get. Zalman includes twelve of the special thumbscrews to secure the glass side panels, although they are large, hard to lose, and only eight are needed. They include no extras of the eight tiny, easy to lose rubber grommets that sit between the glass panels and their mounting pegs.

The left side of the case is the new front. At the upper right, Zalman has integrated their ZM-MFC5 RGB fan controller. Capable of controlling 8 fans (with two four-channel knobs) and two standard RGB LED strips, the ZM-MFC5 needs only a single four-pin Molex connector for power. Below the ZM-MFC5 Zalman has placed microphone and speaker connectors and four USB 3.0 ports with removable rubber covers. Power and reset buttons are located just to the right.

While the top of the case might appear to be solid, it’s really just a cover over venting holes on the top. You might be tempted to slide your hands in here and use it as a handle to lift the case. Don’t. The 2mm aluminum is too thin to serve as a handle, even for the empty case.

Although it’s not obvious, there’s a removable bracket inside the top of the case, with mounting points for 3x120mm fans.

The bottom of the case is also raised for the power supply air input. It’s an odd design, though: the rubber feet are less than 1/4 inch tall, and the air intake through the non-removable filter would be easily blocked if the case were sitting on a carpeted floor. Taller feet and a slide-out filter would be a better solution.

On the inside of the case, the RGB LED strip that lights the logo in the power supply cover is visible.

The aluminum panel comprising the front of the case secures via six snap-in connectors, which pass through and hold the plastic air filter frame. The front panel is thin enough that I had to be careful not to bend it when pulling to release the snap connectors.

Let’s look at more aspects of this case in the next section.

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Full Tower ATX Case Detailed Features
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The Zalman Z-Machine X7 case sports a full 8-slot design for easy accommodation of multiple video cards. A giant access hole in the motherboard tray should make attaching cooler backplates easy.

If you’re using a single video card with a PCI-E extension cable, Zalman has provided a special mounting bracket at the bottom of the case so the vertically-mounted card will show nicely through the smoked glass side panels.

In addition to the single 120mm RGB exhaust fan, Zalman also equips the Z-Machine X7 with three 120mm RGB intake fans. Since the front panel is solid metal, these fans intake are through the side. The metal front panel is an odd choice since it means the fans’ lighting effects can only be seen through the side panel.

The X7 will accommodate all the storage you want, as long as it’s not of the 5.25″ variety, with five mounting plates for 2.5″ drives and six slide-in trays for 3.5″ drives. The bottom front fan is positioned to provide some airflow for any 3.5″ drives. 5.25″ optical drives are obsolete, apparently, and not supported.

Have a giant, heavy graphics card, perhaps with a third-party air cooler? No worries: these adjustable supports can be positioned to hold up the front part of the card.

There are six slide-out sleds with integrated snap pins for tool-less installation of 3.5″ drives; there are also mounting holes for 2.5″ drives. While the drive sleds slide out easily, the mounting frame for the sleds is riveted into the chassis.

I’d like to see more than 7/8″ of clearance for cables behind the motherboard tray, especially since the glass side panel means your cable routing skills will be on full display. Still, it’s not too bad.

OK, it’s time to build a system in this case…

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Zalman Z-Machine X7 System Build
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The only way to really evaluate a computer case is to build a system in it, so let’s get started. The X7 is really designed for a custom water cooling loop, but a removable radiator bracket in the top of the case can handle up to a 360mm all-in-one cooler’s radiator as well.

 

Although the adjustable video card supports are a nice touch, using them will likely interfere with at least some of the SATA ports on ATX motherboards:

The power supply bay is rather cramped. There’s only about 10″ of space between the rear of the case and the non-removable 3.5″ drive bays; Zalman specifies a maximum power supply length of 180mm, which means that larger, higher end power supplies simply won’t fit. This is a surprising limitation considering the type of system this case is intended for, and could have been addressed by making the 3.5″ drive bays removable.

No such space considerations affect the motherboard compartment. Even with this full ATX ASUS X99 Deluxe motherboard, two full sized NVIDIA graphics cards, a massive air cooler, and all associated cabling, more than half the interior space is empty. And unlike some cases, an EATX board wouldn’t block the nearest cable routing openings. The extra space is designed for reservoirs, pumps, radiators, and the other parts of a custom water cooling system.

The five 2.5″ drive sleds on the rear of the motherboard tray are easy to use. They slip off rubber grommets for easy drive installation…

…and the rubber grommets elevate the bracket enough to alleviate a common problem: not enough space for a SATA power supply cable!

You will need to ensure a 4-pin Molex power cable is available to plug into the red connector, since this is what powers all the included fans and RGB lighting. I would have preferred a SATA power cable here.

I’ll present my final thoughts and conclusion in the next section.

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Full Tower Computer Case Final Thoughts
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It’s nice to see a case aimed at builders interested in “mega systems” with EATX motherboards and a custom water cooling loop or two; I can’t imagine this demographic represents more than a single-digit percentage of the very few people who still like to build their own systems, so bravo to Zalman for making this case.

It’s a dramatic-looking case, too. Take some care with the neatness of your build and you’ll have a system that will cause anybody who sees it to stop and stare. You can use the integrated fan and LED controller to set the color of the interior lighting as well as choose a lighting “effect” ranging from color cycling to “breathing”. Of course to make the best impression you’ll want this giant chunk of glass and aluminum on top of your desk.

All that said, I think Zalman made a number of missteps in the design of this case. The vast majority of computer cases sell for well under $100; at the $300 level, things like non-removable filters and a general lack of configurability are surprising oversights. For example, if the 3.5″ drive bays could be removed from their existing location and mounted in the main compartment, it would solve any issue with large power supplies and make better use of the extra space in the main compartment. Competitive cases like Cooler Master’s MasterBox cases offer multiple ways to configure the case interior, which is a real advantage for custom builds. Additionally:

• Why the glass panel for the right side of the case, and a solid metal panel for the front? Even the neatest black wiring on the back of a black metal motherboard tray isn’t visually interesting. Having a front glass panel would show the front LED fans to better effect, too. This is the design of the Corsair Crystal 460X RGB case and I’m puzzled as to why it wasn’t the design here.
• Not only is this case very heavy, but there’s really no easy way to carry it, especially with the glass panels on. Once your system is built, I’d recommend getting a friend to help move it with the panels off. Once it’s in its final location, install the panels. Whatever you do, never lift the case by the convenient-looking “handle” at the top– the 2mm aluminum is simply too thin to support the weight of the case.
• Also, don’t set this case on carpet, since the 1/4″ rubber feet will sink into the carpet, bringing the bottom of the case– and the power supply air intake– down onto the surface of the carpet.
• This case is designed for big systems that could be reasonably expected to require big power supplies, but the power supply space precludes the use of anything larger than the standard ATX power supply size.

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Zalman Z-Machine X7 Conclusion
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The Zalman Z-Machine X7 computer case certainly has its good points: its massive size provides room for virtually any system you’d want to build, and the design makes it pretty easy to build in. Tempered glass side panels, integrated RGB lighting, and a versatile fan and light controller give this case real flair.

But it feels to me more like a first- or second-generation prototype rather than a finished product. A non-removable power supply air filter; a design that precludes placing the case on a carpeted floor, fixed 3.5″ drive bays whose position limits power supply choices, and a solid metal front panel but a glass right side panel are all design choices that seem out of place in a finished case at this price point. System builders looking at $300 cases have a number of choices, many of which have none of these drawbacks..

Zalman’s made a strong start with this case, and builders looking for a case that can easily swallow a custom water cooling loop should give it a look. But a few simple changes would make it a much more compelling product.

Pros:

+ Massive case for massive systems
+ Integrated LED fans and lighting, with integrated controller
+ Quality aluminum and tempered glass construction
+ Good 2.5″ drive mounts

Cons:

– Lacks 5.25″ optical drive bays/mounts
– Very heavy with no good way to carry
– Fixed 3.5″ bays limit power supply space
– Power supply ventilation compromised by non-removable filter and inadequate clearance from ground

Ratings:

• Performance: 8.75
• Appearance: 9.25
• Construction: 8.50
• Functionality: 8.00
• Value: 8.00

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Final Score: 8.50 out of 10.
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