The
Zalman brand name is one that computer enthusiasts can easily identify with high quality, high performance cooling solutions. Since the forming of the company in 1999, the designs put out by Zalman have always been able to stay at the cutting edge of component cooling, while also offering a refined style that makes their products easy to identify by site alone.
One of their latest products, the CNPS8000 Low Profile Heat Pipe CPU Cooler, follows the same basic formula Zalman has developed for their products. It has a very unique design, with some of the basic elements that identify it as a Zalman product, and in this review we will establish whether the CNPS8000 has the same excellent cooling performance that should also be expected from a Zalman cooler.
Before jumping into the heart of the review, let's take a look at some of the published data from the review sponsor's website.
Features and Specifications (as provided by the Sharka Computers website):
Features:
» Noiseless and vibration-free operation in Silent Mode.
» Optimum performance and quick heat dispersion achieved with the use of 4 heat pipes.
» Optimized fin design for lightness and higher performance.
» Ultra quiet 92mm fan.
» Compatible with slim and low profile computer enclosures.
» Adjustable fan speed controller (FANMATE 2) included.
Specifications:
» Dimensions: 108 x 108 x 62.5mm (L x W x H)
» Weight: 350g
» Base Material: Pure Copper
» Heat Sink Material: Pure Aluminum
» Dissipation Area: 2,815cm2
» Fan:
» Bearing Type: 2-Ball
» Speed: Silent Mode 1,400 RPM +/- 10% | Low -Noise Mode 2,600 RPM +/- 10%
» Noise Level: Silent Mode 18.0 dBA +/- 10% | Low -Noise Mode 30.0 dBA +/- 10%
CPU Support:
» AMD: All Socket 754, 939, 940, and AM2
» Intel: All Socket 775
Package Includes:
» CNPS8000
» Thermal Grease
» FANMATE2 (Fan Speed Controller)
» Cable for FANMATE2
» Mounting Clips
» User's Manual
Listed in the specifications above, and as we will see in the review, this isn't your typical heatpipe cooler. Many on the market today are massive towers that use up just about every inch of air space above the processor socket. The CNPS8000 is only 62.5mm tall, which is quite compact, and tells me that this cooler could find its way into a greater name of cases, including small form factor systems and slim desktops, and HTPCs.
