Zalman Z9 Neo Plus ATX Computer/PC Case with 2 x120mm Fan Included(Front), 1x 120mm Blue LED Fan Included (Rear) 2 x 120mm Blue LED Fan Included - White

Great functional design, color scheme and setup, makes an attractive case on a par with other cases twice the price!

Top quality and great airflow for cooling my custom rig

It's been awhile since I shopped for a gaming computer case and the modern case market has shifted drastically from what I look for in a PC case. The absence of 5.25" external bays in favor of massive air cooling doesn't have any appeal for me as someone who doesn't prioritize insane clock speeds or dual GPU configurations. I prefer versatility and the only cases I found that seemed to meet my requirements (mid-tower, windowed side panel, at least one 5.25" bay, and a complete set of USB 2 and 3 headers) was the Cougar MX330 and this. Having more external bays and a clean white aesthetic, I was drawn to the Z9 Neo Plus in the end.Upon getting it, it it is truly a minimalist's flight of fancy. Clean, simple lines give the case a pure elegance. I've never owned a white computer case before and I don't know what took me so long because I like the vibe it gives off. This is the second case I've owned with a front door and it does a much better job than the Raidmax Smilodon in that it has magnetic clasps and the door doesn't drag on the floor like that case did, making it easy to open and keeping it closed. The Z9 Neo Plus has a full-sized clear side panel as opposed to a standard case panel with a window like the Z9 Neo, which is what drew me to this model over that one. Like most modern cases, the power supply and HDD bays are hidden under a shroud at the bottom of the case and are accessed from the opposite side. The interior feels roomy and there are plenty of fans if you're into air cooling (one on the rear, two on the ceiling, and two on the front). The USB ports are vertical so included are little port covers to protect them from dust. I had a lot of trouble pulling them out (to the point I had to jam a screwdriver into one of the ports to free its port cover and managed to punch a small hole in the cover) but if you put them in and leave them in without applying a lot of force then they stay put and are easily removable.Now...for the missteps. While the case looks sharp and is a complement to any room it sits in, the actual feel of the materials used for the case leaves a fair bit to be desired. The side window is an acrylic panel, not tempered glass. While not as heavy, it feels less premium and I would say is harder to clean than a glass panel (one of the questions above claims it is a glass panel and I am here to tell you that is inaccurate). The screws used to hold in the side window don't feel quite right (I thought they were plastic but they seem to metal, if the sound of them dropping onto a glass table is any indication) and the side panel can be difficult to reattach unless you lean the case back or just down on its side entirely. The padding used around the outside edge of the side window is thin and poorly glued, feeling as though it'll peel off eventually (it is also not cut very evenly, causing some overrun around the outside lip of the side window). The front door is a glossy plastic, which is decent (if somewhat easily damaged; mine has a scuff on it but it's difficult to see unless you look right up at the front) but the actual face of the case has a cheap, grainy, plastic-y feel to it. The fan grille below the 5.25" drive bays also flexes a fair bit and the plastic used for the whole front of the case is very light. The top of the case is also plastic, not aluminum, and the only aluminum pieces are the rear and opaque side panel. The 5.25" bays were more snug than I'm used to, requiring a lot of force to really squeeze my Blu-Ray burner into it. Finally, the front panel header wires seem like they're mounted too low and putting the 5.25" drive into the top bay appears to stretch them (I may move the BD burner down a bay to give the headers more clearance and put something shorter in the top bay).EDIT FOR THE ABOVE: I found out that if you remove the front face and the top, there is a hole through which to thread the front panel connectors along the top of the frame, meaning they don't have to be run down the back where the BD drive is. If you do this, you can mount things in the top 5.25" bay without facing any interference.So my verdict is as long as you can get past the weak construction quality of the case, you'll be getting a fine addition to your gaming environment in the Z9 Neo Plus. The side panel looks beautiful, especially if you light up the inside of the case with some RGB effects, and the glossy white door is smooth and simple. Just don't be surprised when you actually put your hands on it if you feel a little underwhelmed.

Zalman makes great computer cases. I purchased both Z9 neo and Z9 neo plus and I love them both.