| Zalman CNPS9900 LED CPU Cooler
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Conclusion:
The performance of the Zalman CNPS9900 LED CPU cooler is definitely impressive. With that fan at full speed it was able to drop the test system's CPU temperature below the results achieved with a handful of other coolers. Unfortunately it was fairly loud while doing so.
Dropping the fan speed is the obvious solution, and doing so will allow you to find the perfect balance between cooling performance and noise production. Knocking a little over 20% off the speed makes the CNPS9900 quiet enough to not be heard inside a closed case, and still produces temperatures that are better than the other coolers tested. Cutting the fan speed in half makes the noise nearly impossible to hear in an open case, and the CPU temperatures are still quite respectable.
While the cooling performance makes the Zalman CNPS9900 LED quite appealing, my enthusiasm for it was reduced due to a variety of installation issues. Installing this cooler is a bit of a balancing act, and a few more refinements would make the process much easier and quicker. In addition, I found tightening the mounting screws wasn't all that easy since the fins overhang the screws and force you to come in at an odd angle. Finally, the most significant installation issue was that two of the three motherboards that were used with the CNPS9900 had components that interfered with the CNPS9900 LED retention bracket. The bracket seems to stick out farther than any other cooler I have used, and it wound up bumping into a capacitor and the mounting clip for a (stock) northbridge cooler.
Finding a price is still a bit tricky, as this is a brand new product. I didn't find it at any of the online shops I usually check, and estimates seen elsewhere predict that this will cost at least $70 US, perhaps a bit more. That is quite a bit of money, and if the estimates are even close to being accurate then there are plenty of other options to consider for less money.
If the installation had gone better, the performance, appearance, and potential for low noise operation of the Zalman CNPS9900 LED CPU cooler would have easily carried it to the "Highly Recommended" award. With some question as to just how many motherboards it may really be compatible with, in the end it earns the "Recommended" award.
Pros:
» Great cooling performance
» Can still perform very well with fan turned down for low noise operation
» Big, but not too big
» LED lighting is subtle
» Includes a bottle of Zalman's Super Thermal Grease
» Hardware included for LGA 1366 processors
Cons:
» Installation could be easier:
» A bit of a balancing act
» Cooling fins obscure mounting screws
» Potential for interference with motherboard components
» Loud with fan at or near full speed
» On your own for fan speed control
Special thanks to Zalman for providing the Zalman CNPS9900 LED 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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