Performance

To test, I let the computer sit for three minutes then I record idle temperature, next I run SuperPi 16m and Prime 95 for 5 minutes sequentially, I then record load temperature. Testing was done at stock speeds, and overclocked speeds of 4GHz, 4.32GHz, and 4.5GHz.

First off here’s the promised TIM (Thermal Interface Material) comparison:

The Stock TIM isn't all too bad, but using some AS5 can give you some better results. Keep in mind that the AS5 has not set in, both the Stock and AS5 were applied and benched the first time I turned the computer on.

Other Heatsinks:

Seen above is the line up for size of the heatsinks, and a picture of the water cooling assembly. Featured in the picture are as follows: Cooler Master Hyper-6, Zalman CNPS 9500 LED, Gigabyte G-Power, Intel Stock Cooler, and the water cooling is the Cooler Master R80.









As you can see the Intel Stock cooler and the Gigabyte G-Power were out of the game at 4GHz Load, while the Zalman CNPS 9500LED was 1°C to 10°C lower at times compared to the rest of the competition. Where we really see the Zalman and the R80 compete is at the high TDP. At 4.32GHz you can actually see the Zalman CNPS 9500LED losing out to the R80 by as much as 3°C. But when we bump up to more wattage, the Zalman becomes the victor in being the only cooler to keep my processor stable at load at 4.5GHz.
Over 70c I would see some instability with the coolers, but the Zalman CNPS9500LED never ventured that high. This special ability of the Zalman CNPS 9500LED could be used instead of watercooling to even cool high powered TECs.