Acoustic Samples: Listen to this Heatsink

The CNPS6500Cu comes with the Zalman Fanmate 1 which allows users to control how fast the 92mm fan rotates, and thus how noisy it is. The first recording is a standard 10 sec bit with the fan connected directly to the power supply. The second recording is of the fan connected via the Fanmate 1, and also illustrates what happens when you turn the dial down so the fan makes less noise.

FrostyTech Acoustic Sampling Chamber (~10 sec)
Standard Waveform view. (Listen to an MP3 recording of this heatsink by clicking on the headphones)

You can see the effect visually in the second wave form image, or you can click on the pair of headphones and listen in to each recording separately. Since the Zalman heatsinks all use the same type of fan, each of these recordings applies to all similar flower heatsinks.

Hi to Low Fan Speed Acoustic Sampling Chamber (~10 sec)
Standard Waveform view.

Synthetic Temperature Test Results: *Ranked according to 100W interface die test results.

FrostyTech Synthetic Temperature Test Platform Results
	Mfg.	Model	Ambient Temp.	27mm large copper block		27mm large copper block	Thermal pad	No. Fans	Fan Noise	Clip force
				50W		100W
1	AVC	117140	22.6	37.8		50.4	none	1	med	med
2	Arkua	8568	22.4	37.8		51.7	none	1	med	med
3	Zalman	CNPS5600Cu	22.1	38.3		52.8	none	1	low	easy
4	Zalman	CNPS6500AlCu	23.1	40.3		57.4	none	1	low	easy
5	Vantec	GSN-7025	22.5	41.7		58.5	none	1	med	med
6	Chauh Choung	DTA-478	22.4	42.1		59.0	carbon	1	low	med
7	Intel	Socket 478	22.4	41.8		59.8	carbon	1	low	med
8	Titan	TTC-MT3AB	22.8	41.5		61.2	none	2	loud	stiff
9	Dynatron	DC1206BM-S	22.4	43.2		62.0	none	1	med	med
10	AVC	117160	22.4	42.7		62.2	white pad	1	med	med
11	Vantec	GSN-7015	22.4	47.5		69.0	none	1	loud	stiff
				50W		100W

With only 2 degrees difference (100W test) between the all copper Zalman CNPS6500Cu and the best performing reference cooler we were exceptionally pleased with the results. Taking into consideration that the CNPS6500Cu is designed to be a low noise quiet cooler these results are really impressive. Generally speaking, quiet heatsinks perform quite poorly when stacked up against everyday performance coolers.

Despite the fact that we are looking at a really heavy heatsink, the gains in thermal performance and acoustic levels make the CNPS6500cu probably the best option for the socket 478 Pentium 4 at this time.

The aluminum and copper CNPS6500-AlCu comes up next on the list with a weight of just 440 grams and almost as impressive performance. Note, the tests were conducted with the 92mm fans running at full speed only.

That aside, we are very pleased with the CNPS6500Cu because it is one of the few "great performing, quiet heatsinks" we have had the chance to review. Bottom line, looks good, weighs a ton, and cools exceptionally well for a low noise heatsink!