Zalman CNPS7000-Cu CPU Cooler Review
By: Reynold Thompson

When the Zalman CNPS7000-Cu in its plastic clam shell arrived I had no choice but to stop what I was doing and immediately install it into the machine. The heatsink was very well recognized at Comdex and was very 'visually attractive' in the package.

Upon opening it up I found that all possible components for mounting the heatsink/fan were included i.e. mounting/thumb screws, thermal grease.

What I found particularly interesting was the Rheostat (Fan Mate 1) included with this fan/heatsink. The rheostat allows users to change fan speed, and the Fan Mate 1 is designed to handle 6Watts. This is a perfect combination for controlling temperature and noise.

Installation of the Zalman CNPS7000-Cu was a snap - it took approximately 5 mins to completely install it. I found the lapping on the underside of the heatsink to be very smooth, ensuring great contact with the CPU. I could not locate a place for the Fan Mate to be readily accessed from the outside of the case without some sort of mod involved however.

I also noticed that the heatsink felt a little heavier than the usual, and on double checking the Intel retainer specifications I found out the heatsink is approx. 473g heavier than recommended. Zalman suggests that this is safe, and should only be an issue when moving the computer around.

On the first run I found the Zalman CNPS7000-Cu to be a lot more efficient than the original Intel heatsink and fan. As I checked the BIOS at idle I noted there was 5 degree temperature drop at a lower speed than with the Intel 3200rpm fan which saw temperatures in the range of 35-40 degrees.

At the boot of the operating system temperatures hovered around 40 degrees, and under full load rose to 42 degrees with 3DMark 2003. I know any Intel P4 user will appreciate that. Overclocking temperatures were also kept to minimal values. At 2400rpm fan speed I was able to reach even higher clock speeds than was possible before, but the best part was that there was no noise.

The Zalman CNPS7000-Cu noiseless heatsink is the first step in having a quiet pc. I know I appreciate it immensely now. My personal airplane (PC) cooling has left to never return. The CNPS7000-Cu is a perfect noiseless solution for any pc, and it comes highly recommended by me.