When it comes to lower-noise heatsinks, there are dozens of models vying to replace the stock coolers tossed in with each boxed Intel/AMD processor. Competition is great, but in
the course of reviewing the hundreds of heatsinks that have crossed Frostytech's test bench we've
learned two important rules. 1) you can never tell how a
heatsink will perform just by looking at it, 2) there is no pinnacle, each
and every heatsink can be refined and improved in some way.
The real trick is to find the heatsink manufacturer
that tweaks and refines its coolers with each successive generation. Zalman long
ago established a reputation for continual fine tuning, and now another Korean
thermal solutions manufacturer is picking up the torch; Apack Zerotherm.
Apack's
new Zerotherm ZF120 heatsink is a refined version of the Zerotherm Nirvana 120, but this is no simple fan switch
out - the ZF120 is rebuilt from the heatpipes up. The result is an Intel &
AMD compatible heatsink which offers substantially lower temperatures at its
lowest and quietest fan speed, and a slight edge at full tilt that may bring it
into the Top 10
heatsink list.
The Zerotherm ZF120 heatsink stands 154mm tall and weighs
around 670grams, it accomodates a single 120mm PWM fan that spins at
~1300-1800RPM. It makes use of four copper heatpipes soldered to a blocky copper
base to conduct heat to the swagged aluminum fins. The fan is held on with wire
clips, and thin rubber strips can be used to isolate it from the metal fins to
stem potential vibration. The heatsink is compatible with socket 775 Intel Core
2 Duo/Quad CPUs, and all socket 754/939/940/AM2+ AMD Athlon64/Phenom processors.
It's rated cooling capacity is "over 150W", so there isn't a CPU
out there right now it can't be used with. Apack Zerotherm's ZF120 heatsink retails for
about $39CDN ($39USD) online.
Zerotherm FZ120 Heatsink
|
 | |
 |
| HEATSINK SPECSHEET |
| Manufacturer: Apack
Zerotherm |
| Model No.: FZ120 |
|
Materials: Aluminum fins, copper heatpipes, copper/aluminum base. |
| Fan Mfg: Silentmatic co.
Ltd. SFA1225MU |
| Fan Spec: 1300-1800RPM,
12V, 0.22A |
| Fan Dim: 25x120x120mm |
| Heatsink & Fan Dim:
154x84x126mm |
| Weight: 670 grams |
| Includes: LGA775 and K8
socket mounting hardware, thermal compound, fan clips,
instructions |
Compatible with Sockets: 754/939/940/AM2/AM2+, LGA775 |
| Est. Pricing: $39USD ($39CDN) | |
Unlike the
Nirvana 120, the Zerotherm FZ120 is thankfully
not entirely plated in dark nickel... that rather thick metal coating may look great, but it can
decrease the efficiency of the heatsink. Another change was an increase in fin surface area, 6827cm2 up from 6748cm2 for
the Nirvana 120 model.
We should also
note that the specs for the Apack Zerotherm ZF120 list a 1100-1800RPM range in
speed for the 120mm Silentmatic co. Ltd. SFA1225MU PWM fan supplied. In the
Frostytech labs we
observed the low end of that scale to be 1300RPM, so that figure is quoted
in this review.
A couple thin padded strips are supplied with the fan,
and these are intended to be stuck right onto the fins at either edge of the fan.
If you don't hear any metal rattling, they can be left off. The
heatsink works with 120mm sized fans only, which are held in
position with wire clips that slide into a notch punched in each
fin. It's easy to pop the fan in and out, and the clips won't
fall out onto the motherboards' electrical circuits either.
Installation
Hardware
Apack
Zerotherm ZF120 heatsink is compatible with Intel socket 775 and AMD socket
754/939/940/AM2+ processors. The CPU cooler has different brackets for each CPU
platform, each is screwed onto the die-cast aluminum base of the
ZF120 heatsink with a small machine screws. The socket 775 clip uses four
spring tensioned captive screws and a metal rear-support bracket to install.
Users will have to remove the motherboard from the computer for installation,
but once done swapping out CPUs isn't problematic. An adhesive on the support
bracket holds it in place. All that's required is a phillips screw driver.
The AMD
bracket works with the center lug on socket AM2 and socket 754/939/940 heatsink
retention frames, so it's a little easier to work with. The only step required
is to attach it to the bottom of the Zerotherm FZ120 heatsink. Regardless of the
orientation of the AMD processor socket on the motherboard, the clip can be
fixed to the heatsink so the FZ120 heatsink exhausts towards the back of the PC
chassis.
FrostyTech's Test Methodologies are outlined in detail here if you care to know what equipment is
used, and the parameters under which the tests are conducted. Now let's move
forward and take a closer look at this heatsink, its acoustic characteristics,
and of course its performance in the thermal tests!
93%
