Thursday, October 13th 2011
Zalman Announces CNPS12X High-End CPU Cooler
Zalman announced its latest high-end CPU air cooler, the CNPS12X. This beast was first shown to public at this year's Computex trade-show, back in early June. Between then and now, the CNPS12X got some important retention module changes that make it fully compatible with the upcoming LGA2011 socket on which "Sandy Bridge-E" Core i7 processors are based, as well as AMD AM3+ and FM1. Measuring 151 x 132 x 154 mm (L x W x H), and weighing exactly 1 kg, the CNPS12X uses a design that's essentially identical to that of the NH-D14 from Noctua, that of two fin stacks. It's just that the stacks here are somewhat circular in shape, and that the CNPS12X uses three fans: an intake (before the first stack), a conveyer (between the two stacks), and an exhaust (after the second stack). All three fans are 120 mm in size, and are illuminated by blue LEDs.
The fans seem to be using 3-pin (voltage) method of speed control. Supplied with the cooler are three RC5 intermediate resistors, which make the fans spin at speeds between 850 and 1100 RPM with as low as 22 dBA noise output. Without the RC5, the fans spin between 950 and 1200 RPM, with at least 24 dBA noise output. The heatsink is made almost entirely of dark nickel-plated copper, with certain aluminum parts. Heat is conveyed to the two copper fin stacks by six nickel-plated copper heat pipes, that make direct contact with the CPU at base. Zalman did not give out pricing and availability information.
The fans seem to be using 3-pin (voltage) method of speed control. Supplied with the cooler are three RC5 intermediate resistors, which make the fans spin at speeds between 850 and 1100 RPM with as low as 22 dBA noise output. Without the RC5, the fans spin between 950 and 1200 RPM, with at least 24 dBA noise output. The heatsink is made almost entirely of dark nickel-plated copper, with certain aluminum parts. Heat is conveyed to the two copper fin stacks by six nickel-plated copper heat pipes, that make direct contact with the CPU at base. Zalman did not give out pricing and availability information.
65 Comments on Zalman Announces CNPS12X High-End CPU Cooler
Except for size there is nothing wrong so far that I can see except the base plate that touches the cpu. Nice works Zalman. :rockout: 98/100
Also, I wish people would stop putting leds in things! Or if they do add a damn switch to turn them off.
Love how the heatpipes make contact with the cpu. <3
Looks impressive.
PERFORMANCE FIGURES PLZKTHX.
Still, purty though.
As long as the LEDs aren't in you face bright, it should be fine.
From what I see the LEDs are the moody darker blue that Zalman tends to use.Red will look good with AMD Graphics Cards :P
But I see one of the roughest surfaces I have seen.
Yeah the CPU will probably touch at only 40-50% of the base.
But you can see a massive ripple affect and a "stamped" on affect at to the base of the CPU that doesn't look smooth at all, like ripple in a wave :eek:
but it looks impossible since the hsf is round like basket ball
Enough ranting though, I'm surprised that they went to the DTH style of heatsink bases. It does look like it needs some smoothing out, the nickle plating probably has something to do with why it looks so rough. Personally I love the way it looks and I really look forward to some reviews and comparisons.