Zalman Z-Machine LQ1000 Design and Features
We showed a run-down of Koolance’s component prices, so it’s fair to show the same information for Zalman’s LQ1000.
| Component | Part Number | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Case Kit | LQ1000 | $700 |
| CPU Water Block | Included | 0 |
| Pump | Included | 0 |
| Nozzles | Included | 0 |
| Tubing | Included | 0 |
| Coolant | Included | 0 |
| Total Price | $700 |
Zalman’s liquid-cooled case contains all the basic components needed for CPU cooling, and the company also offers water blocks for graphics cards and chipsets. Zalman’s selection of graphics coolers isn’t nearly as extensive or current as Koolance’s product line, but buyers are welcome to mix-and-match various brands of cooling components as desired.
Zalman produces its own cases, and this allowed the company a little more flexibility in design. Manufacturing its own designs also allows Zalman its choice of materials, and the biggest thing that sets these apart from other brands is the extensive use of aluminum plate, rather than thinner sheet.
At only 18 3/8” tall, 19” deep and with front panel ports near the center of its front panel, the Z-Machine is designed specifically for you to place it on a desk. Similar dimensions were common in traditional case designs, but we’ve not seen a performance chassis this slight in a while. Also traditional, the “Power On Top” layout eases cable routing while allowing the power supply’s fan to assist the exhaust fan in removing system heat.
Notice the finish, which is so matte that we had to use special lighting placement to get any reflection from it.
Four thumb screws hold hinged side panels shut. The screw holes are recessed for use with Allen screws, if desired. Deep fins on the rear door hide ventilation slots.
The right side has a matching door on its front portion for easy access to drive screws, but opening it requires an included Allen wrench. The finned rear portion is a removable motherboard tray, held by eight more Allen screws.
The LQ1000 radiator occupies around half of the left-rear door, while a reservoir above it consumes most of the remaining usable space. A 120 mm blue-LED exhaust fan is pre-mounted, while the radiator fan is boxed separately.
The LQ1000 includes a pump rated at a maximum of 300 liters per hour, which is mounted on a noise dampening pad. A support bracket over the top needs to be removed after shipping. Notice that the hose connector at the bottom of the radiator points directly away from the side panel, pushing any coolant line beneath expansion cards. Also notice the short piece of tubing, which is followed by a union and more tubing, but with one clamp missing.
The LQ1000 includes Zalman’s retail-boxed ZM-WB5 CPU water block and installation kit, a 220 mm blue-LED fan, a bottle of coolant and funnel, an Allen wrench, a power supply jumper wire for “burping” the system, installation hardware, and an extra length of silicon hose.
The bottom of Zalman’s ZM-WB5 water block is almost perfectly smooth and appears to be plated in black nickel.
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I don't really see the point of reviewing these serious water cooling solutions if you don't test the additional coolers the companies offer. For example, why not test the Koolance rig with the chipset and graphics card coolers attached? This would have substantially lowered the chipset temperatures. The Koolance case was not designed to air cool internal components like an air cooled case. Koolance systems are for people who want to easily water cool as many components of their system as possible.
Also, you kept mentioning the Koolance's noise at maximum fan levels. In the 7 years I have owned a Koolance system (with CPU, Chipset, SLI Video card and RAM water blocks fitted), I have never seen my Koolance ramp up the fans beyond the low levels.
I purchased the Zalman LQ1000 in early September after reading the positive by xsreviews.co.uk review. Like Tomshardware I also had problems with the motherboard mounting holes and had to bend, twist and force the PCI Express cards into place as well as my PCI Audigy Sound Card. Really poor for a premium priced £400 case. Given that this looks like a general problem it is disappointing xsreviews.co.uk did not mention this and neither does the more recent bit-tech.net review.
Also I contacted Zalman through their web form with the following questions:
1) Looking into the case from the side, the hose coming out of the left side of the pump (factory preassembled), does not have a tube clamp on it. Is this a problem i.e. should this have a tube clamp fitted?
2) The other end of the same hose connected to the nipple near the radiator (factory default) does not have a clamp attached. Should there be one and therefore is it missing?
3) The CPU waterblock comes with Tube Clamp Size A (13.8mmx9.5mm) and Tube Clamp Size B (11.5mm 8mm). Which size tube clamps should I use?
4) The LQ1000-Z Machine manual advises not to use thermal paste with the CPU block. The CPU block comes with thermal paste sachet. Why would I not use thermal paste?
I posed these questions twice during September and have not received a response from Zalman either time. Again not good for a premium priced bit of kit. This lack of customer service would stop me purchasing Zalman again.
Apart from the mounting hole problems the case is superb and quite easy to set-up. It is very quiet and keeps my Q6600 CPU (o/c to 3.2Ghz) at 22C idle or 40C load (hottest core). Although my graphics card is air cooled it gains from the overall low ambient temp in the case. The left panel with the radiator and large fan does let a fair amount of dust in. The case is very heavy, even though it is aluminium.
Update, Zalman support in the UK is via QuietPc.com. So even though I didn't purchase through them they have arranged with Zalman for a new motherboard tray to be sent to me with correctly positioned mounting holes.
So my faith in Zalman customer service has been restored. Zalman never responded to my web form questions which is disappointing though.