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Zalman CNPS14X Lower Noise Heatsink Review
Zalman CNPS14X Lower Noise Heatsink Review
  80%   
Abstract: In any event, the stock Zalman CNPS14X heatsink comes with a single 120mm PWM fan nestled away in the center of two aluminum fin towers. The 120mm fan runs at 1350-900RPM and the two towers are connected to a copper base plate by no less than six, 6mm diameter copper heatpipes.

 Manufacturer  Category  Published  Author 
Zalman   Cooling / Heatsinks   Oct 13, 2012   Max Page  

Home > Reviews > Page: 360° View - Zalman CNPS14X Heatsink

360° View - Zalman CNPS14X Heatsink


Information on Frostytech's test methodology is available here.

The 120mm PWM fan at the center of the CNPS14X spins at 1350-950RPM and draws power from a single 4-pin motherboard fan header. Each of the six, 6mm diameter copper heatpipes are soldered to the copper base plate and extend from the base up to the top of the twin towered, 157mm tall heatsink. Each aluminum fin measures 0.4mm thick and is spaced ~2.0mm apart.

The fin stacks are 140mm wide, 48mm deep and the first fin is elevated 40mm above the CPU socket. Heat pipes are positioned side-by-side at the base plate and rise up through the fins on a 10mm pitch. The base incorporates a 5-2mm thick copper base plate.

The usable area of Zalman's CNPS14X copper base plate is 34x35mm. Looking from the top down we can see the center 120mm PWM fan, the black plastic support which joins the two fin towers together and the two rows of copper heatpipes.

Base Finish and Flatness

Flipping a heatsink over to inspect the business end is often a simple indicator of overall cooler quality. More practically speaking, a heatsink is in many ways only as effective as the contact it makes with the processor - the flatter and smoother the better. Base finish is one of the criteria that Frostytech measure in the course of evaluating heatsinks, and it involves two distinct aspects. Surface Finish is the first; this is calculated with the aid of Surface Roughness Comparator that has a cross section of common machine surface finishes and their numerical surface roughness equivalents in microinches. The second is Surface Flatness. This is tested with an engineers straight edge or proven flat surface, in two axes.

The base of the Zalman CNPS14X heatsink is perfectly flat in both axes. The copper base plate has a smooth, machined finish which is very slightly ridged. Surface roughness is at or better than ~32 microinches, which is excellent.

Next up, Frostytech heatsink sound level measurements

 Previous Page ° ° Next Page 

Table of Contents:

 1:  Zalman CNPS14X Lower Noise Heatsink Review
 2: — 360° View - Zalman CNPS14X Heatsink
 3:  Heatsink Sound Level Comparison
 4:  AMD Heatsink Temperature Comparisons
 5:  Intel Heatsink Temperature Comparisons

List all Zalman heat sinks that Frostytech tested?

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