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Date: June 2nd, 2006
Article by: Joe Anderson (Hardware Reviewer)
Edited by: Nathan Glentworth (Owner / Head Editor)
Product was submitted by: Zalman USA
<--SHOP FOR A HOME THEATER PC CASE HERE

 

CONCLUSIONS AND AFTERTHOUGHTS

In typical Zalman fashion, the HD160 HTPC case comes to the market with impressive design elements, a rich feature set, outstanding materials and build quality, and the best cooling performance I've seen in this type of chassis. More importantly for a niche product like this, the HD160 can do its job in virtual silence. The HD160 also lets the builder choose components based on specifications, not size. A remote control and VFD panel are just icing on the cake for this product.

There are, however a few warts on this beauty. The first is the price. Careful shopping will get you one of these babies for around $250 US, which puts it near the top of it's class, pricewise. Granted, the remote and VFD would set you back around $125 if purchased separately, but the price is still hard to swallow. Fortunately, it also performs at the top of its class. Secondly, software support is lacking; a detailed manual would have been a great addition. I would also like to have seen a third 80mm fan included and I'd like to see a better design for the 24-pin power adapter. Then there's the whole Windows XP Media Center Edition thing.

In the final analysis, though, the good overcomes the not-so-good and I'm so impressed with the quality and features of Zalman's HD160, that I'm giving it a Top Rank award. For the builder who demands quality and flexibility in a HTPC case, this may be just the ticket.

Pros:

- It's big!
- Impressive fit and finish
- Exudes quality
- Superb design
- Elegant look
- Good ventilation
- Roomy (for an HTPC chassis)
- Supports use of full-size components
- VFD display
- Card reader included
- Remote included
- Stealth optical drive feature
- Very quiet
- Volume Knob

Cons:

- It's big!
- It's expensive!
- 24-pin adapter
- Windows Media Center needed for full functionality
- Third fan should be included
- No instructions for the VFD/IR software

 

 

If you have any further questions about this HTPC case, please feel free to post them in out friendly forums HERE.