Just a recommendation - Zalman CNPS9500

Ken · 7 Feb 2006 at 04:58

Hi,

I have been using the cooler supplied with the 4400+ since August. Now I like my computer silent so it and the two Vantec Stealth case fans were at 7V. The CPU temperature with both cores folding was 72C! Not good at all of course and I wanted to invest in a decent cooler but my money went towards other components since then as it was stable.

Having now replaced it I can see that the copper is very poor quality judging from its light weight nature and lack of mirror finish on the bottom of this stock cooler. The thermal paste had solidified and turned crusty around the edge of the core!

I bought the Zalman CNPS9500 about two weeks ago and must say I'm very impressed. Load temperature is now 48C with the case temperature at 42C (all fans at 7V still). Well worth the money. I was also looking at the SI-120 and Arctic Cooling Freezer 64 Pro but I didn't want to run into compatiblity issues due to the tall heatspreaders on my memory.

Time to start overclocking.

Ken · 7 Feb 2006 at 05:14

My only gripe is the fan is off centre and I had to give it a nudge as it was catching on the fins.

http://www.silentpcreview.com/article267-page2.html

On our sample, the fan was slightly off-center. This has no practical downside, but it suggests that the manufacturing process by which the heatpipes are formed probably isn't quite perfect yet.

mattup · 7 Feb 2006 at 07:57

I have a gripe with the CNPS9500. After a while due to temp fluctuations and stresses the contact area on the bottom of the cooler has warped. This has resulted in the contact area being roughly 25% of the surface area.

My temps are now too high being 40c idle and 55c loaded.

My Si120 and 120 Stealth should arrive this morning. I will post results post testing.

It seems the only difference in our systems is the graphics card. I guess that will be your next upgrade! The ram as you rightly say can give issues with various m/bs but should work ok on my system with the Si120.

King_Boru · 7 Feb 2006 at 08:08

I cant fault it. It can keep an overvolted x2 (1.6v) under 60c on FULL load which for an air cooler is pretty good.

mattup · 7 Feb 2006 at 08:32

Yep you are right thats good. Keep an eye on your temps if they creep up place a straight edge across the contact area @90 degrees to the heat pipes and see if it is still flat. Mine lasted 6 months. RMA time I think.

If you read this review they have the same issue.

http://www.frostytech.com/articleview.cfm?articleid=1851&page=2

Matt

King_Boru · 7 Feb 2006 at 08:54

I wont be keeping it for 6 months. going to go watercooling once the finances lean in my favor. new born babies + keeping the missus happy is quite hard. and having already booked my holiday to canada this christmas has taken a large chunk out of computer fund.

Ken · 7 Feb 2006 at 09:20

Yeah, I read about the not so flat surface...
http://www.bit-tech.net/hardware/2005/08/18/zalman_asetek_cooler/2.html

I still went ahead and bought it hoping the problem was limited to a certain batch of the Zalmans. Well, I'll keep an eye over the temperatures over the coming months.

Nah, I've spent enough on this system and I'm happy with it. I'll probably build a whole new system next year when Socket AM2 has matured etc.

mattup · 7 Feb 2006 at 11:56

Si120 arrived with the Vantech Stealth 120 all installed, don't tell the wife I also got the side fan panel for my Akasa 62! Temps have dropped from 41 to 35 idle and 60 to 50 both cores loaded. The warped CNPS9500 was having a dramatic affect on my temps. Just need to get a fan that gives better flow than the Stealth and 3.0Ghz is just round the corner!

Matt