Performance
Full-tower chassis rarely struggle with keeping our overclocked Core i7-3570K processor running cool during a demanding Prime95 stress test. The Zalman H1's four fans are providing a good supply of clean air and there's very little separating the various chassis on show.
The gap widens when examining graphics-card temperature, where unobstructed front-to-back airflow, or a side fan, can make a big difference. The H1 delivers perfectly acceptable results, but the chassis is off the pace and this could be attributed to the front panel's limited mesh sections. Even with the front vent pushed open, the front 200mm fan will inevitably remain stifled.
There's no sound-dampening material on the H1's side panels, so our noise readings came as a pleasant surprise. Zalman's pre-installed fans run very quietly when set to the lowest available speeds via the I/O panel, and when idle, the PC can barely be heard. Noise levels do of course rise when gaming - the dual graphics cards are to blame for that - but the H1 still does well to soak-up vibration and unwanted noise.
