Which Zalman Cooler

you can check in : http://www.frostytech.com/permalinkArch.cfm?NewsID=81089

Imo the Zalman CNPS10X line is much better for thermal performance and cheaper.
The ZALMAN CNPS10X Performa cools better then the top of the line Zalman CNPS9900MAX of that design and is alot cheaper.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835118059
http://www.xbitlabs.com/articles/coolers/display/arctic-freezer-13-zalman-cnps9900-max_6.html
I can think of quite a few coolers that outperform Zalman CNP coolers considering how much they cost.
The Performa is the best price/performance cooler Zalman offers.
Google reviews for it = it's a winner.

Zalman doesn't currently have a cooler in the top 10 or 15. What are you putting it on ? If it is a AMD K8 or Intel LGA 775 I'd look at frostytech.com whose tests are based upon those platforms.

http://www.frostytech.com/testmethod_mk2.cfm

If you are using 1155/1366 platform, I'd look at benchmarkreviews whose last full roundup was Q3 2010:

http://benchmarkreviews.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=447&Itemid=62

Quote:

1st tier

Prolimatech Megahalems
Thermalright Venomous-X RT
Scythe Mugen 2 SCMG-2100
ProlimaTech Super Mega
Cogage Arrow
ProlimaTech Armageddon
Thermalright Ultra-120 eXtreme
Cogage TRUE Spirit
Xigmatek Balder SD1283
SilenX Effizio EFZ-120HA4
Titan FENRIR TTC-NK85TZ

2nd tier

Noctua NH-D14
Zalman CNPS10X-Performa
Coolink Corator-DS Heatsink
CoolAge CA-X120TF Wind Tunnel
Tuniq Tower 120 Extreme
Thermolab BARAM
Xigmatek Thor's Hammer S126384
Scythe Yasya SCYS-1000 Cooler
Noctua NH-U12P
Cooler Master V6 GT Heatsink
Thermaltake Contac-29 CLP0568
Zalman CNPS10X-Quiet

Since then, the following have been tested:

http://benchmarkreviews.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=721&Itemid=62&limit=1&limitstart=5

The Prolimatech Genesis is looking attractive but I haven't seen it in US yet.

i'll be using a 2500k

also if i choose the cnps10x performa

a)what do you recommend for fans
b)are there blue led fans that will give me good performance
c)will my G SKill X series ram be obstructed
d) what kind of temps will i see at idle and load, no o.c


and holy crap, as i write this, something in this computer(not the same one im looking to buy a cooler for) is louder than an airplane

The 9900Max is better than the CNPS10X Performa and is Slightly better than the Noctua NH-D14. But yes, overpricets @ $80. Newegg had the -b on sale for $65 - bought it - not installed yet.

I5-750 @ 3.3. 9900max - 46 C vs 48 C for the D-14.

Have the 9700 Installed on My I7-750 @3.2 GHz (Stable up to 3.8). Have no problems with it Load Temps (Prime 95) Winter time Upper 50's, Summer time - Lower 60's

Ref: http://www.guru3d.com/article/zalman-cnps-9900-max-review/7

Also from Link - final words.
Performance overall is very comparable to the performance of Noctua's NH-D14 coolers. That cooler of course is completely silent though. The CNPS 9900 MAX also has a lot of additional capacity, we like that very much. The result as such is that the cooler becomes even more impressive when you start to overclock. In combo with this fan we overclocked our poor little 2.67 GHz processor to 4.2 GHz @ 1.5 volts. At that 1.5 GHz overclock we started to stress all processor cores 100% once again and we did not even reach 65 Degrees C, that is impressive stuff to witness.

Wait, the link is for the 9900MAX, which is a good deal more expensive than the 9700....

And I've been hearing alot of good stuff about the Scythe Mugen 2, are any of these coolers better? The Mugen 2 is also super cheap....

Max1s said:

Wait, the link is for the 9900MAX, which is a good deal more expensive than the 9700....

And I've been hearing alot of good stuff about the Scythe Mugen 2, are any of these coolers better? The Mugen 2 is also super cheap....

I had a CNPS 9900A Which is the 120mm version and now have a Scythe Mugen 2. The Scythe seems to not be cooling as well as the Zalman was by a small degree.
I've been tempted by the 9900MAX instead of the big dual fan/dual radiator designs. It just looks so beautiful too. I had been looking to get the Noctua or Venomous X or Silver arrow when I had some free cash to plunk down. Now I may be leaning to the Max


This is on a 2600K with a P8P67 Pro and CM HAF 932 tower. Currently OC'd to 4.4