Zalman CNPS-10X Quiet Cooler Detailed

[btarunr]

Zalman is readying another CPU cooler in its 10 series, a successor to CNPS-9900. The company broke away from the trademark copper-fin ring design it used for CNPS-9300, 9500, 9700, and until lately, 9900. After the introduction of the CNPS-10X Extreme, the company disclosed the CNPS-10X Quiet. The differences between the two lie in the construction. The CNPS-10X Quiet uses lesser number of aluminum fins, a good 33% of which are anodized with the Zalman blue theme colour, and holds a simpler PWM controlled fan. The cooler measures 135 x 100 x 160 mm, and weighs 750 g. The 120 mm fan attached to it uses a simpler clip-based retention mechanism, it spins at speeds between 700 and 1400 rpm, with a maximum noise level of 26 dBA. The cooler constuction involves a pre-lapped copper CPU contact block, from which five copper heatpipes convey heat to a vertical aluminum fin array - the design standard of today. Its retention module consists of a bolt-through kit. The package includes a tube of Zalman's ZM-STG2 thermal compound. The cooler is compatible with all standard desktop sockets of today, including Intel LGA-1366, LGA-1156, LGA-775, AMD AM3/AM2+/AM2, and 939. The cooler will hit stores at an estimated price of under 50 Euro.



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[Weer]

Are they really finally getting into the high-end cooler market?

 

[btarunr]

Are they really finally getting into the high-end cooler market?

Yes, adapt or perish. There's a higher model than this (the Extreme, follow the link).

 

[t77snapshot]

Wow Zalman is stepping it up a notch....but why only 1400 max rpm's? I know they want to keep the noise level down, but I think it should run at least 2100 rpm max with the option of lower speeds.

 

[Mussels]

that actually looks pretty good, i'd like TPU to review that and the extreme version.

t77: its the quiet version, so it needs a quiet fan. end of story really.

 

[t77snapshot]

t77: its the quiet version, so it needs a quiet fan. end of story really.

Sorry I always have something to argue about, just a bad habit Anyways your could always throw on a different fan

 

[Mussels]

Sorry I always have something to argue about, just a bad habit Anyways your could always throw on a different fan

or buy the extreme version, and get a fan + controller with it

(this isnt an argument... its a picking on zalman event)

 

[BazookaJoe]

Zalman have been a major player in the high-end cooler market for quite some time now - what cave do you live in?

I ran an OC'd Q6600 for over a YEAR on a standard Zalman all copper 12CM "ORB" design cooler flawlessly.

And I had modded the fan on that to run off the 5v line at a constant 900rpm with NO problems after a year of Supreme commander'ing.

PPL need to dig their heads out once in a while.

Zalman may not be dominating the market - but they pioneered most of the technology we use today - half the other venders got where they are by leaning on Zalman's advances, and mayhaps if some ppl hadnt spent the last 2 years fapping to "hanna montanna" they might know this.

I am generalising of course...

 

[Mussels]

bazooka, you might want a better example, or specify clocks/volts/temps.

Since my Q6600 could run stable 3GHz on the STOCK cooler, you're kinda not saying much.

Zalman havent been in the top 5 coolers for a very long time.

 

[OnBoard]

The blue fins are a nice touch. I can see other companies copying that.

Now that the got rid of the excessive copper, prices should be more reasonable and they may get back in the game.

I did however like when I still had CNPS9500 as CPU cooler and VF900 as GPU cooler, all that copper looked nice Think I even had a Zalman NB cooler.

 

[Weer]

Yes, adapt or perish. There's a higher model than this (the Extreme, follow the link).

But they should have adapted years ago. Now it's too late.. everyone wants a TRUE.

 

[btarunr]

But they should have adapted years ago. Now it's too late.. everyone wants a TRUE.

If it performs well, everyone will want Zalman again. It's called competition.

 

[Mussels]

If it performs well, everyone will want Zalman again. It's called competition.

i wish they could improve the flower design more, it was handy having a CPU cooler that also cooled ram + NB.

 

[hat]

Good cooler... however I would still prefer a good Xigmatek with bolt-thru

 

[HellasVagabond]

Zalman and High end does not compute for me....
They were always more about the appearence of their products rather than performance.
However it will be good if they manage to make something nice.

 

[WarEagleAU]

Are they really finally getting into the high-end cooler market?

You mean to tell me they weren't before? Their 9500 was priced decently ($50-$60) and after that the 9700 on up was well over $70. To me they have always been in the high end. However, they are not using all copper, which is more money and are using aluminum fins (not bad mind you) and are charging more it seems. Of course, I could be reading that wrong.

 

[Mussels]

You mean to tell me they weren't before? Their 9500 was priced decently ($50-$60) and after that the 9700 on up was well over $70. To me they have always been in the high end. However, they are not using all copper, which is more money and are using aluminum fins (not bad mind you) and are charging more it seems. Of course, I could be reading that wrong.

and that $60 cooler was beaten by a cheaper xigmatek...

expensive coolers dont mean they're good - and zalman has had terrible price to performance (at least here in Au)

 

[AltecV1]

thats a funny looking cooler(the blue stripe) but it should go well with a gigabyte mobo

 

[leonard_222003]

Zalman have been a major player in the high-end cooler market for quite some time now - what cave do you live in?
QUOTE]
I think it's the other way , never heard about Scythe Ninja/Mugen/Infinity , Thremalright ultra 120 extreme , Cooler Master V8 , V10 , Thermolab Baram and others ?
In air coolers category zalman is almost history for enthusiast for some time , watercooling si probably where the high end is for Zalman , still they are expensive and average , no better quality no better nothing , it's just more expensive for no reason , well maybe because it's called Zalman.

 

[trt740]

Finally maybe the old Zalman is back in the game

I remember when they were the top dog until Thermalright and A/C came in and kicked their butt. I could never understand why they could fire back with a matching cooler, and just looking at this cooler you can tell they are back in the game. Man great job Zalman where have you been?