Zalman GS1000 Professional Full-Tower Enclosure Review

A Detailed Look – the Outside

The Zalman GS1000 full-tower enclosure uses hybrid construction, which results in a sturdy case, however at the expense of weight.  The exterior of the GS1000 features two large brushed aluminum side panels and plastic trim in a combination of high-gloss and brushed aluminum finishes that looks great together.  The clean lines, rounded edges and elegant styling are sure to appeal to a large enthusiast market.


Both of the side panels are removable and are secured with two spring-loaded, captive thumb screws.  They also have molded handles on the back to make removal and installation even easier – very nice!  The overall fit and finish is excellent.


The front of the GS1000 enclosure features a high gloss black (or Titanium) contoured bezel that contains four external 5.25” drive bays on top.  All of the bays are fitted with bay covers, two of the bays have 3.5” bay device adapters installed inside, and one 3.5” bay cover is provided.  A large On-Off button is located at the top of the front panel.


Located at the bottom of the front panel are two square drive bay doors that hide the HDD bays.  The doors include ventilation slots to let air inside the enclosure and are trimmed with brushed aluminum plates.  The two doors open and close smoothly at the touch of a finger. 


Each HDD bay can hold three 3.5” HDDs and the lower bay is fitted with a hot-swap rear connector panel.  Individual HDDs mount in simple pull-out trays that feature tool-less, vibration dampening mounts.  All totaled the GS1000 enclosure can hold up to eight internal 3.5” HDDs.