Zalman CNPS10X Quiet

Darksaber · Oct 17, 2009

The Zalman CNPS10X Quiet takes the CNPS10X Extreme and pairs it with a silent fan for all those users who want the cooling performance of a tower cooler in combination with silence. We crank up the heat to see if the CNPS10X Quiet can stay cool when it counts.

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Inioch · Oct 26, 2009

Nice review with great pictures. Am I blind, or where there no test system specs in the review? I like seeing the hw things are tested on.

Omega · Oct 26, 2009

I also miss the test system specs table.

And is that some kind of a mistake with CoolerMaster V10 results for stock idle/load?
Same temps, and very low temps never the less would mean you have a perpetum mobile under the cooler, not an cpu.

If I may suggest moving the test system to LGA 1156/1336 platform, or at least get Phenom II X4 965 model. Older bins are known for their buggy temp. sensor.

Other than that, great review, love the clean pictures.

angelkiller · Oct 26, 2009

Yes, the CPU in use was not mentioned. But if you look closely at the pic when the thermal grease is applied, you can see the little codes or whatever on the CPU itself. It's a Phenom II 955. This is also consistent with the stock speed of 3.2GHz.

But I would have to disagree with some of the conclusions made in the article.

CNPS10X Quiet article said:
the CNPS10X Quiet was 9 degrees hotter than the V10 which isn't bad considering the V10 uses a thermoelectric module to help it along.

This makes it seem like the V10 is an amazing cooler because it has the help of a TEC. In fact, it's not really that great. The pelt doesn't help with cooling very much. (In fact, IMO the V10 is full of fail) So saying it's 9 degrees worse than an average heatsink... hm.

CNPS10X Quiet article said:
Pros: Good Price

$57 is a good price? The $40 CM V8 outperforms this thing in every test except for an idle test where they tied. So it has worse performance than a cheaper product. Good price?? If I had $57, I'd get a TRUE or Baram, which are both cheaper and will pretty much eat the CNPS10X. This is the same as every other Zalman product: Overpriced for the performance.

newtekie1 · Oct 26, 2009

I don't know if Zalman has changed their fan controller any, but it looks like they haven't. If that is the case, it should be noted that high speed on the fan controller is not full speed for the fan. The only way to get full speed from the fan is to plug it directly into a 12v source.

The last Zalman fan controller I used only put out about 10.5v when set to the highest setting.

pantherx12 · Oct 26, 2009

I like the look of the cooler, but Angelkiller is right, a xigmatek 1283 puts this thing to shame and is cheaper.

WarEagleAU · Oct 26, 2009

Xigmatek does, but this is Zalmans take on the tower type coolers. Seen reviews for their whole line of 10x coolers in two magazines and really for the price, Noctua and TRUE out do it.

Easo · Oct 26, 2009

Now someone say me, why the hell did i buy Asus Triton 88? Yeas, it cools well, looks cool, you can hit a man hard with it if needed, but its loud and expensive... xD I have to run it at 60% so that i cant hear it

Jstn7477 · Oct 26, 2009

newtekie1 said:
I don't know if Zalman has changed their fan controller any, but it looks like they haven't. If that is the case, it should be noted that high speed on the fan controller is not full speed for the fan. The only way to get full speed from the fan is to plug it directly into a 12v source.

The last Zalman fan controller I used only put out about 10.5v when set to the highest setting.

I have a CNPS10X Extreme and it has a completely different fan controller with programmable settings. Not sure what the max voltage is. Also, I think this is a different, newer revision of the CNPS10X Quiet. I have the "better" Extreme model that I bought in August and it has nickel-plated copper heat pipes and base and I believe only 4 heat pipes.

newtekie1 · Oct 26, 2009

Jstn7477 said:
I have a CNPS10X Extreme and it has a completely different fan controller with programmable settings. Not sure what the max voltage is. Also, I think this is a different, newer revision of the CNPS10X Quiet. I have the "better" Extreme model that I bought in August and it has nickel-plated copper heat pipes and base and I believe only 4 heat pipes.

I know the Extreme uses a different/new fan controller, but it looks like from the review that the Quiet uses the standard fan controller Zalman has been using for years since the CNPS7000 days. If that is the case, it won't allow the fan to run at full speed.

Jstn7477 · Oct 26, 2009

newtekie1 said:
I know the Extreme uses a different/new fan controller, but it looks like from the review that the Quiet uses the standard fan controller Zalman has been using for years since the CNPS7000 days. If that is the case, it won't allow the fan to run at full speed.

Yes, I believe that they still use the Fan Mate 2 for the "lower-end" stuff.

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Zalman CNPS10X Quiet

Darksaber

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Jstn7477

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