Conclusion:
The Zalman CNPS8000 brings a new look to the heatpipe cooler which could be quiet desirable to many users. A good number of the coolers on the market today are massive towers that may provide excellent, low noise cooling, but their shear size limits the number of systems that can house them. The CNPS8000 is a 108mm square that is only 62.5 mm tall, meaning it should fit in most cases, including slim desktops and HTPCs. The universal design only adds to this broader compatibility, as it will fit AMD Socket 754, 939, 940, AM2 and Intel Socket 775.
The cooling performance of the CNPS8000 at full speed was adequate to keep a hot dual core processor at a safe temperature, even when both cores were loaded to 100%. The noise at full speed was noticeable, but not annoying, and just taking a small percentage off of the speed knocked the noise down nicely without sacrificing too much cooling. The included Fanmate 2 fan controller allows the fan to run at what I would say is too low of a speed. The temperatures experienced at low speed were far too high and could lead to system instability, shutdowns, or perhaps damage.
In addition to the processor getting too hot with the Fanmate 2 set to the lowest speed, I am just not fond of this style of fan controller. I prefer something that is easily accesible from the outside of the case, such as a 3.5" bay device or an expansion slot device. Although it is a nice touch to include a fan controller of any kind, the Fanmate 2 just isn't convenient to use.
The two most serious issues with this cooler were the problems mounting it properly and the odor. While I presume the odor is an isolated incident that could have happened at any stage between manufacturing and my door, it did make completing the review difficult. The mounting issue is harder to dismiss, though. The design of the LGA 775 mounting bracket struck me as poor from the start, and the fact that I had to re-install the cooler several times for it to make uniform contact confirmed my concerns. On top of the fact that the bracket just wasn't robust enough to earn my confidence, it requires you to remove your motherboard, which is an unwelcome step to me (and I assume many other end users).
Sharka Computers sells the Zalman CNPS8000 for $44.95 (US) which is less than most retailers that show up while searching PriceGrabber. If you decide that the CNPS8000 is right for your system, Sharka Computers is a great place to make your purchase.
Pros:
» Decent, low noise cooling performance
» Design provides secondary cooling to motherboard features
» Includes a fan speed controller
» Compatible with AMD Socket 754, 939, 940, AM2 and Intel Socket 775
» Low profile design helps with system compatibility
Cons:
» Zalman Fanmate 2 isn't one of the more convenient fan controllers to use
» Mounting design not particularly robust or convenient
» Must remove motherboard to install
» Had to seat the cooler a few times to get uniform contact with CPU
» Unexplainable, awful stench of body odor
Special thanks to Sharka Computers for providing the Zalman CNPS8000 Low Profile Heat Pipe CPU Cooler to Bigbruin.com for review!
Please drop by the Bigbruin.com Forum and feel free to post any comments or questions.
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