FrostyTech.com Mk.II Synthetic Thermal Heatsink Test Results Results based on readings from a 38x38mm copper interface die with 125W heat load on the Mk.II Test Platform. Thermal Test values for each heatsink were calculated by determining the rise over ambient temperature at time of test. Information on Frostytech's test methodology is available here. Socket 939/940/754 compatible CPU heatsinks
manufacturer:	model no.:	*fan speed:	125w thermal test (°c)	noise level (dba)
AVC	Z7U7414001 (stock AM2)	high	17.0	63.0
Noctua	NH-U12		17.5	45.4
Gigabyte	G-Power Pro	high	18.6	71.9
Noctua	NH-U9		18.8	58.4
Apack	Zerotherm BTF90		20.5	52.1
Coolermaster	Hyper6	high	20.5	54.7
Apack	Zerotherm BTF80		21.3	51.9
Thermaltake	Venus 12	high	21.7	68.1
Cooljag	SFO-Q	high	22.2	60.6
ASUS	Starice	high	22.8	67.4
Zalman	CNPS9500 AM2	high	23.0	53.2
Arctic Cooling	Freezer 64 Pro		23.2	50.9
Coolermaster	Aquagate Mini	high	23.2	59.2
Thermaltake	Polo 735	high	23.4	68.0
Cooljag	SFO-H	high	23.6	60.6
Alpha	PAL-8150		23.7	58.9
Zalman	CNPS9500 LED	high	23.8	50.3
Verax	Helado		24.3	36.3
AVC	Z7U3301001 (stock 939)	high	24.6	59.9
Zalman	CNPS8000	high	24.8	57.4
Gigabyte	3D Cooler-Ultra	high	24.8	63.0
OCZ	Tempest		26.0	51.6
Scythe	Shogun	high	26.0	45.9
EKL	V8	high	26.3	57.5
Gigabyte	3D Rocket-Pro	high	26.9	56.7
Gigabyte	3D Cooler-Pro	high	27.0	62.5
Spire	SP601B3		28.3	48.9
Ajigo	MF064-074	high	28.8	60.3
Gigabyte	3D-Rocket		28.9	50.7
Zalman	CNPS9500 AM2	low	29.2	36.0
Vantec	Mach1	high	29.2	56.9
AVC	Z7U7414001 (stock AM2)	low	29.6	48.1
CoolJag	SFO-D(18SC)		29.6	64.0
Zalman	CNPS9500 LED	low	29.7	36.2
Arctic Cooling	Alpine 64		30.5	43.9
Zalman	CNPS7000A-Cu	high	30.3	45.2
Dynatron	SK-V24		30.3	56.4
Verax	Quattro 1	high	30.7	55.4
Zalman	CNPS7000-Cu	high	31.0	45.2
Coolermaster	Hyper48		31.7	43.6
Scythe	Kama SCKK1000		31.9	47.5
Scythe	Samurai SCSM1000	high	32.1	51.6
Zalman	CNPS7000B-CU	high	32.3	44.9
Thermaltake	Silentboost K8		32.3	49.7
Jetart	JAX801		33.2	53.5
Dynatron	A22		34.5	44.5
nPowertek	NPH K8-1		34.6	52.2
Ajigo	MF043-044 (stock 754)		35.0	45.4
Arctic Cooling	Silencer 64 Ultra TC		37.5	55.5
Gigabyte	NeonCooler 8-BL		37.7	42.0
Titan	TTC-K8ATB/825/SC		38.7	63.1
Zalman	CNPS8000	low	39.0	36.4
Zalman	CNPS7000A-Cu	low	41.0	32.7
Zalman	CNPS7000-Cu	low	41.8	33.5
Evercool	K802-715		42.1	51.5
Spire	SP741B3		43.2	45.6
Zalman	CNPS7000B-CU	low	44.9	33.2
Evercool	Magic Cooler		46.6	55.5
ASUS	Starice	low	92.4+	34.4
			125w thermal test (°c)	noise level (dba)
*heatsinks are ranked according to the 125w thermal test results column (rise over ambient temp.). low temperatures with low noise levels are considered best. for reference heatsinks with variable-speed fans, only the high speed (12v) fan test result is included in the comparison sheet; more detailed results reside in each specific heatsink review.

With a 125W heat load applied by the FrostyTech synthetic thermal test platform, the Zalman CNPS8000 heatsink yields a rise above ambient temperature its slowest fan speed of 39.0°C, with just 36.4 dBA noise. When the CNPS8000 fan speed is increased from 1400RPM to 2600RPM, the heatsink posts better results as would be expected. The full speed test produces about 57.4 dBA noise, but the rise above ambient temperature result drops to 24.8°C.

If we examine the thermal test results for the Zalman CNPS8000 heatsink we can see that the best results are obtained by running its fan at full speed, but even then it isn't able to best all of Zalman's previous heatsink models as its CNPS8000-nomencalture seems to suggest. Yet at the lowest fan speed setting, and hence quietest operating mode, the CNPS8000 does run very slightly better than the CNPS7000-series.

The socket AM2 Zalman CNPS9500 AM2 heatsink operates with lower running temperatures and noise at full speed by way of comparison.

The stock AMD Athlon64 X2/FX heatsink shipped in many retail boxes is the Asia Vital Components Z7U7414001. In our tests we can see that AVC's heatsink is able to produce lower temperatures at its lowest fan speed setting, but with 11 decibels more noise.As a heatsink, the Zalman CNPS8000 maintains great temperatures at full speed, but it is not the best socket AM2 solution in Zalman's arsenal of coolers. At a reduced fan speed the Zalman CNPS8000 heatsink is near whisper quiet, and comes into its own with some satisfactory thermals and very low sound levels. This is really a heatsink ideal for small form factor chassis when run at its lowest fan speed and hence most quiet setting. Given its compact size, the Zalman CNPS8000 heatsink does fairly well in this regard as compared to some of the other coolers in FrostyTech's reference list.

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