ZALMAN CNPS9900LED 120mm 2 Ball CPU Cooler

[Sonokamome]

I was having a chat with someone that was telling me that they had a bad experience with this CPU Fan, currently in the middle of build and I already have this CPU fan in question.

I just wanted to get an opinion from anyone out there of how this fan faired for you.

Thanks in advance.

 

[PCTC2]

Zalman's look cool, but they've stuck with the same basic design for years. Good performers, but not in the league of the current towers out there, and definitely not the best bang for the buck. For an okay performer that looks great, you get Zalman.

 

[jaded25]

Zalman coolers I noticed put out ok performance but its not in the same league as the top of line coolers. I'd say if you could afford it go for a TRUE or Noctua cooler and if your on a budget then go for the S1283.

 

[imported_Scoop]

You already have it? What you can do, is take the shroud off. It'll improve your temperatures and won't be as noisy.

http://www.silentpcreview.com/article901-page8.html

 

[Sonokamome]

I would like to add something else. You see I was thinking of getting the EVGA motherboard that's currently on sale

http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16813188047

But a friend had pointed out that the northbridge would get in the way and make things oh-so-painful when it would come to installing the CPU Fan.

Scoop: Thanks for the tip! I actually was going to do just that as the instructions that came with the Zalman said to actually take the plastic shroud off before installing the fan. But thanks again.

jaded25: I'm actually starting to kick myself for having bought this now. Oh well. It's not like I'm planning to OC.

Another question that I have for all is what is the ideal tempature to have a core i7 idling at ?

 

[PCTC2]

You might be able to get it in there. It might clear it, otherwise, depending on your case airflow, you can have it blow down-up.

Core i7 => 40's idling, up to 75C load.

 

[Sonokamome]

PCTC2: Ah good. Well the case I have sitting around (again slowly building this thing) is the Cosmos 1000
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16811119138

So i could work right? Your suggestion give the airflow path that it's designed for?

 

[PCTC2]

Originally posted by: Sonokamome
PCTC2: Ah good. Well the case I have sitting around (again slowly building this thing) is the Cosmos 1000
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16811119138

So i could work right? Your suggestion give the airflow path that it's designed for?

Yeah. it would work with the top exhaust.

 

[Sonokamome]

PCTC2 So I should just put it the fan in a vertical direction instead of a horizontal (just wanted to clarify)

 

[Rubycon]

Boutique cooler with good performance when compared against stock cooling only. :laugh:

 

[Sonokamome]

Rubycon: Uhmm... I don't understand sorry (^-^);

 

[Rubycon]

Looks good but does not give performance to match looks or price paid.

 

[Sonokamome]

Ah.....well what can I say? Ever since I started this thread I've started feeling like the biggest dick in the Anandtech forums. Oh well.

Maybe somebody is interested in buying? LOL. Just kidding.

 

[WoodButcher]

Originally posted by: Sonokamome
Ah.....well what can I say? Ever since I started this thread I've started feeling like the biggest dick in the Anandtech forums. Oh well.

Maybe somebody is interested in buying? LOL. Just kidding.

Don't feel bad, other forums I see fanboys sing the praises of zalman and quoting 5yr old reviews, that's stupid. Post it on fleabay, it will make someone happy.

 

[Sonokamome]

Anyone know of some good CPU Fans then for the Core i7 then? Not that I will buy it but I want to get a series of suggestions from people.

I mean let's face it, I bought this fan, I might as well use it right?

If it turns out to be okay, as in it cools my CPU to averaging less than 40 degrees, then it's a keeper. If not, it's shopping time.

 

[PCTC2]

Yeah. Just have the fan blowing up instead of toward the back. See if it fits either way with a dry mount without thermalpaste.

In my old E6400 system, I used a Zalman CNPS9700LED because I had a window and it looked nice. It's a nice fan, but don't expect monster OCs on it.

 

[Sonokamome]

PCTC2: I'll take that into consideration thank you. OCing? Well i just came to the conclusion that this fan will do just fine since I won't be doing OC the CPU is fast enough for me as is.

(Because you all have been talking about CPU Fans in the context of the CPU being OCed right?).

Thanks again. I'll either comback to this thread later or start a new one to update the situation to you all.

 

[error8]

Originally posted by: Scoop
You already have it? What you can do, is take the shroud off. It'll improve your temperatures and won't be as noisy.

http://www.silentpcreview.com/article901-page8.html

Red a review somewhere and they were saying that with the shroud on, the temperatures are some 3 C lower. :laugh:

 

[zagood]

Originally posted by: error8

Originally posted by: Scoop
You already have it? What you can do, is take the shroud off. It'll improve your temperatures and won't be as noisy.

http://www.silentpcreview.com/article901-page8.html

Red a review somewhere and they were saying that with the shroud on, the temperatures are some 3 C lower. :laugh:

SPCR tests in an open test bed. In this case, I would think with the shroud removed, "fresh" air would be forced through a larger surface area of the front fins. The one thing I don't like about their heatsink reviews.

http://www.silentpcreview.com/article46-page3.html

 

[imported_Scoop]

Originally posted by: error8

Originally posted by: Scoop
You already have it? What you can do, is take the shroud off. It'll improve your temperatures and won't be as noisy.

http://www.silentpcreview.com/article901-page8.html

Red a review somewhere and they were saying that with the shroud on, the temperatures are some 3 C lower. :laugh:

"With the fan exposed on the sides, the fan has better access to fresh air and there is more space for heat to dissipate."

To me, it makes sense that the heat dissipates better without the shroud trapping the heat inside.