From the left...
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The left panel of the Fatal1ty FC-ZE1 is where things start to get a bit different.
The panel itself is made from the same solid aluminium and is non-removable, fixed to the chassis through two non-maintenance hinges at the back.
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Featuring a pre-fitted window, mounted from the inside using small plastic washers to secure it in place, the window itself is disappointingly thin Perspex, which is odd considering the strength and quality of the rest of the outside.
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The door itself is held in place using a simple sliding latch mechanism, although this is not enough to keep the door secure in the long term so a couple of thumbscrews are used on the front edge of the panel.
We found these screws caused damage to the side panel even in the short time we had the chassis. Not only that, but we couldn’t figure out why Zalman decided to start using silver screws all of a sudden, surely black would have been more appropriate, right?
Another issue we discovered with the Fatal1ty FC-ZE1’s door was that it’s not very easy to remove, if at all.
When building a system most people tip the chassis on its side. With the Fatal1ty FC-ZE1 doing this put a lot of pressure on the hinges, something a quick-release hinge system would have easily avoided.
Normally at this point we would tell you the right-hand side is nothing to shout about, but this time it’s different…