Best Heatsyink

JEDIYoda

Lifer
Jul 13, 2005
33,986
3,321
126

BonzaiDuck

Lifer
Jun 30, 2004
16,817
2,142
126
CNPS-7700-Cu weighs over 950 grams
CNPS-7700-Cu has a thermal resistance of 0.19 C/W
XP90 weighs less than 370 grams
XP90 has a thermal resistance of about 0.18 C/W
XP120 weighs about 375 grams
XP120 has a thermal resistance of 0.167 C/W

New development by ThermalRight:
SI-120 weighs about 400 grams
SI-120 has a thermal resistance of 0.14 C/W

Zalman makes nice stuff, but so far the CNPS-9500-LED looks like all hype. Where are the reviews with the thermal resistance results?

The obvious choice, assuming it doesn't interfere with motherboard or graphics card, is the SI-120. If it does interfere with motherboard or graphics card, then XP-90.

XP120 is also second-best. By adding a little weight, however, the SI-120 is a significant improvement on a cooler that is otherwise the best performing light-weight cooler in the market.
 

BonzaiDuck

Lifer
Jun 30, 2004
16,817
2,142
126
SI-120 Review, OverClockers.com, Joe Citarella, August 27, 2005

The numbers, compared with another independent review at HartWare.de, are a dead certainty. The two sets of test results are consistent to within tenths of a degree Celsius, and Citarella's actual measurements and extrapolations are confirmed by the German article's listing of test-bed, room-temperatures and load temperatures.

Compare that certainty with the "certainty" that the CNPS-9500-LED performs better than the SI-120, or that it will even ship this month (I keep checking references, sources and resellers.)

I would say either go ThermalRight, or wait. But if you wait, there are all sorts of outcomes with potential to make you regret it.

Sometimes, you just need a good cooler "right now."