E8400 Stock fan vs Zalman CNPS7000C-Cu

I have the option of using the 4 pin stock cooler or an old 92mm Zalman CNPS7000C-Cu (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835118047) heatsink with 3 pins and a manual speed controller. I'm not sure which one is the better choice for me. Is that fourth pin that the Zalman is missing made up for by the manual control device? I don't really know anything about how to control fan speeds and such so I like the idea of my motherboard doing that for me. However, if the benefits of manual control combined with a better aftermarket cooler are worth it, I can definately learn how to go manual.

(The link in my post is for a re-release of the same model; mine's about 4 or 5 years old.)

The 4 pin header is a PWM(pulse width modulation) header that will accept a 3 pin or a 4 pin fan. If you want the fan speed to be modulated by the motherboard, then you need a 4 pin PWM fan. I personally find it less objectionable to hear a constant fan speed, so a 3 pin fan is ok by me.

The zalman is a pretty cooler, but there are some better units around. Look at the xigmatek S1283
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6835233012

the easiest way to find out which is better for your setup is going to be try them both. Check the stats of your processor in a hardware monitor program such as O.C.C.T. or hardware monitor or Core Temp. Test them both at load and at idle the best one will or should be apparant.