Local Pc store sales keep recommending Zalman

[TidusZ]

Anything I've ever heard about Zalman has been that there hsf's are overpriced, perform poorly, but look nice. However, on two seperate occasions with two different sales reps, they both were really pimping the Zalman heatsinks. The second time, I was talking to this guy about cooling and I think it was obvious to him that I knew what I was talking about, and then he went and pimped their zalman heatsinks. I didn't wanna tell him that they are overpriced garbage so I just said well, they are nice looking heatsinks I'll give you that.

Am I correct to believe that Zalman heatsinks are more of a moneysink? Do you think these guys are getting a fat commission off these things, or are they simply sadistic? One sales guy there tried talking me into a 1000w p/s for a build I was doing w/ q9550 + 4850 and 1 hdd etc. He claimed to have one himself. I did a silent facepalm. Sometimes the trip there is worth it just to hear these things.

 

[Corporate Thug]

I don't think they are exactly garbage. They do a good job of quite air cooling for people who don't necessarily overclock.

 

[theAnimal]

The only reason to buy a Zalman is if you like the way they look.

 

[PCTC2]

Originally posted by: theAnimal
The only reason to buy a Zalman is if you like the way they look.

QFT.

Edit: To clarify, they do cool well, but as VirtualLarry said, they don't get the best performance:cost ratio. I had the Copper CNPS9700LED and it was able to bring my E6400 up to 3.6GHz @ 1.55vCore at decent temperatures, but it was more expensive than similar performing coolers, but I liked how it looked, and it had the Zalman brand name.

 

[starfireone]

Zalman heatsinks are worthless junk. Steer away fast.

 

[VirtualLarry]

I don't think that Zalmans are all bad. Their all-copper models actually cool pretty well. My friend had one on an OCed Q6600, and temps were better than I expected, given that cooler.

The problem is, that all comes at a price, and it does seem that Zalmans (decent ones) are overpriced, compared to how well they cool. The newer heatpipe and even newer HDT coolers do a much better job at a much cheaper price.

Zalman still has a decent name brand associated with it though.

 

[RallyMaster]

Zalman is like Bose. Not exactly the best of performers but definitely carry a premium price tag.

 

[LOUISSSSS]

Zalman heatsinks are decent, but they're overpriced IMO. They're NOT like Bose. They actually perform well and don't try to trick the customer out of performance by cheating

The store shouldn't constantly be recommending Zalman, why don't you ask them if its better than a TRUE? if they do call them stupid

Again, looks up reviews to see how well they compare with other coolers

 

[imported_wired247]

Zalmans had their moment. At one time around the socket 478 to lga775 transition zalmans were one of the best, if not the best performing out there IIRC.

My guess is those PC "experts" have gotten complacent that they know what's best... maybe they had good knowledge at one point but just haven't done their research for a good 4 years.

And don't get me wrong, it's not like Zalmans don't work. they are still pretty quiet too.

 

[zagood]

Originally posted by: wired247
Zalmans had their moment. At one time around the socket 478 to lga775 transition zalmans were one of the best, if not the best performing out there IIRC.

qft. Thermalright was back and forth with them with the XP-120 and XP-90's...but once they went beyond 4 heatpipes the game changed and Zalman still hasn't come up with any new designs (WE CAN MAKE BIGGER FLOWERS!) that are as effective as the competition.

Their older VGA coolers are still very effective though, both the vf-700 and vf-900 are great for most midrange cards out there.

 

[Zap]

Originally posted by: wired247
My guess is those PC "experts" have gotten complacent that they know what's best...

That's my guess too. Many "experts" find what works for them and then stick with it to the exclusion of anything else. The "I only use this, everything else is junk" syndrome.

 

[RaySuave]

Just as an FYI.....Check out page 15 of this review on CPU coolers for the LGA1366 socket. This page is rating the CPU fans based on the performance of their stock kit. The Zalman does well in this criteria. On the next page, the reviewer tests each cooler using a high out put fan, the Zalman's fan cant be replaced so it wasn't on one of the tests. The next page the reviewer tests each cooler using the same high out put fan in an overclocked snenario with the Zalman included with its stock fan.

http://benchmarkreviews.com/in...&limit=1&limitstart=14

 

[JEDIYoda]

Originally posted by: starfireone
Zalman heatsinks are worthless junk. Steer away fast.

You have no clue what you are talking about@@!!!
So be quiet!!

 

[AmberClad]

Out of curiosity, what store was this?

At MicroCenter, they do stock a large number of Zalman heatsinks. They did also have Tuniqs though, last time I checked.

 

[TidusZ]

Originally posted by: AmberClad
Out of curiosity, what store was this?

At MicroCenter, they do stock a large number of Zalman heatsinks. They did also have Tuniqs though, last time I checked.

Canada Computers. The best hsf they carry imo is the vendetta 2.

 

[TidusZ]

Originally posted by: RaySuave
Just as an FYI.....Check out page 15 of this review on CPU coolers for the LGA1366 socket. This page is rating the CPU fans based on the performance of their stock kit. The Zalman does well in this criteria. On the next page, the reviewer tests each cooler using a high out put fan, the Zalman's fan cant be replaced so it wasn't on one of the tests. The next page the reviewer tests each cooler using the same high out put fan in an overclocked snenario with the Zalman included with its stock fan.

http://benchmarkreviews.com/in...&limit=1&limitstart=14

So in that first benchmark the zalman, at similar pricing, is neck and neck with a fanless TRUE 120? That's all I need to see. Unless that's with the new TRUE which I guess comes with a fan from the pictures I've seen (neither of my 2 did). Then its not as bad but 8c warmer with the overclock and a decent fan is not a small difference.

The big story there is how well the prolimatech megahalem performs.

 

[SonicIce]

They're well built and come with high quality fans. The prices are the same as any other except for the really high end ones. I really like the VF900 cooler for videocards.

 

[CurseTheSky]

Their $60-70 coolers are on par with some better-designed (though perhaps not better manufactured) $25-30 coolers. Most of the HDT coolers with bolt-through mounting should wipe the floor with Zalman's high end stuff.

 

[lopri]

Maybe they get commissions per sales. Zalman makes quality products butit hasn't been innovative on HSF designs. It did bring out some good products on GPU cooling, PSU, and case fronts, though.

 

[SonicIce]

Originally posted by: CurseTheSky
HDT coolers with bolt-through mounting

what are these

 

[Zap]

Originally posted by: SonicIce

Originally posted by: CurseTheSky
HDT coolers with bolt-through mounting

what are these

HDT? Heatpipe Direct Touch?

 

[junkyardDawg]

Newegg has got the 9700 zalman for about $40 shipped, seems like decent bang for your buck, especially if looks and silence are important

 

[LOUISSSSS]

Originally posted by: junkyardDawg
Newegg has got the 9700 zalman for about $40 shipped, seems like decent bang for your buck, especially if looks and silence are important

the tuniq tower @ $50 is a better deal and better cooler
the xigmatek S1283 $ 27 AR is also a better deal (even if you buy a bolt thru kit for it)

 

[pm]

Originally posted by: TidusZ

Originally posted by: RaySuave
Just as an FYI.....Check out page 15 of this review on CPU coolers for the LGA1366 socket. This page is rating the CPU fans based on the performance of their stock kit. The Zalman does well in this criteria. On the next page, the reviewer tests each cooler using a high out put fan, the Zalman's fan cant be replaced so it wasn't on one of the tests. The next page the reviewer tests each cooler using the same high out put fan in an overclocked snenario with the Zalman included with its stock fan.

http://benchmarkreviews.com/in...&limit=1&limitstart=14

So in that first benchmark the zalman, at similar pricing, is neck and neck with a fanless TRUE 120? That's all I need to see. Unless that's with the new TRUE which I guess comes with a fan from the pictures I've seen (neither of my 2 did). Then its not as bad but 8c warmer with the overclock and a decent fan is not a small difference.

The big story there is how well the prolimatech megahalem performs.

The Ultra 120 isn't fanless. From the article:

The Thermalright Ultra-120 eXtreme is an old crowd favorite, and matched with a (finally) included 120mm fan it does very well.

 

[IlllI]

i seem to recall the zalman 7700 being pretty good and quite popular due to how well it performed.