Zalman 6000 Series

[IceCreamMan]

Any of you folks tried the Zalman 6000 series coolers yet?
(See the Mikhailtech article)

I love what AMD has done for our price/performance ratios,
but I find myself saying "Eh?" a bit too often of late...

In short, I was wondering if anyone could provide a testimonial?

 

[IceCreamMan]

So nobody's interested in a quiet PC?

 

[kgraeme]

Sure we are, but the Zalman's have always been more hype than performance. I even got wrapped up in the hype a while back.

An Alpha PAL8045 with a quiet fan works quite nicely.

 

[Egrimm]

Quiet pc's are interesting, but Zalman's hsf's haven't been performing that well so far. As kgraeme said it's been more hype and good looks (the flower shape looks nice and different, just like TTs orbs, to name other fancy looking hsf's that doesn't perform that well). I agree with him, I'd take a PAL8045 with a slow fan instead (and no, has nothing to do with me already having an Alpha).

 

[IceCreamMan]

Thanks, guys. I appreciate your feedback. Somewhere or other I got the impression that those thick pins on the Alpha wouldn't work well without a screamer of a fan.

 

[Egrimm]

No, the PAL8045 works great with a slow fan. If you use a fan of about 20db you still get good cooling and being silent. You could even use a slower fan, the 12db Papst fan for example, and still get reasonable temps I guess.

 

[Migroo]

I am using one of those Zalman 6000 coolers.

I have very poor airflow throughout the case however at the moment (2 x 12 db Papst case fans) - that yeilds CPu temps of 55 idle and 59 load.

When I had my 2 noisy Sunon 80mm case fans with the Zalman cooler temps were more 45 idle and 50 load.

I like the cooler - I dont have a problem with temps under 65 degrees.

Only problem now is that my hard drive is too noisy!

 

[IceCreamMan]

Thanks for the feedback, Migroo.
Is that your Athlon XP you're talking about?

I was thinking the 6000 ACLU with some slight modifications might work well:
1) Replace the 92mm fan with a Panaflo 120 L1A and possibly
2) Drill out a vent in the side of the case over the fan & CPU to provide a flow of cooler air.

Currently I have quite a few fans going, but most of them are quiet.
The big noisy is a Delta 80x38 attached with an adapter to my CAK38.
I have it toned down a little with a rheostat, but it still howls.
I get case temps under 30° C and CPU temps in the 40's at full load, but talking on the phone in the same room is painful.

 

[Migroo]

Hi IceCreamMan

Sorry I forgot the most important part!

Yes, its an Athlon XP 1700+ running at 140 FSB (1540 MHz) with Artic Silver 2.

I'm using the stock 92mm fan for the Zalman.

Your ideas are good, but I dont think you'll need an L1A - experiment though

Migroo

 

[Ionizer86]

For a quiet comp, I'd get an AX7 and toss on a quiet fan like the L1A or the 29dBa YSTech one.......or.......if you're obsessed with quietness, the 12dBa Pabst fan (though in that case, your HDD, VGA fan, and northbridge fan may be noisier than the CPU fan).

 

[Migroo]

<< the 12dBa Pabst fan (though in that case, your HDD, VGA fan, and northbridge fan may be noisier than the CPU fan). >>



Very true...

 

[Auric]

The difference between many heatsinks is just airflow. Most concentrate it with high RPM fans. The Zalman flowery ones are better suited as passive heatsinks or where you have created substantial airflow through the case (in effect making a big duct out of it).