Introduction

Our sample was provided by MadMoxx. Thank you.

From the manufacturer Zalman:

Packaging

Box contents:

• Front Heatsink Assembly
• Eight VGA Ramsinks
• Brace Plate
• Instruction Manual
• One bag of assembly parts: Two Nipples (A), Two Nipples (B), Four Bolts (A), Four Bolts (B), Six rubber Rings
• Thermal Paste
• Zalman Sticker
• Fan power connector

The contact surface of the cooler clearly shows how the cooler is built. The fins of the central part are made of copper, the outer fins are made from aluminium. This mixed metal approach helps save cost and weight, while still maximizing cooling performance. Zalman also offers the VF700-Cu which uses full-copper instead of the aluminium fins, but at a higher price. A review of the VF700-Cu will follow soon.

The base finish is very flat and reflective. The 'knife test' shows only little light shining through.

Installation

The installation process is very easy now, compared to previous products. Looks like Zalman has listened to the complaints. There are still very similar looking components which are easy to confuse. However, if you read the manual before starting the assembly, and make sure you understand exactly where all parts are going, you should be fine.

The manual could be improved a bit. Even though I suspected that you have to put a rubber washer between screw and PCB on each side, it took me a few minutes of looking to verify this from the images in the installation guide. [Matt sent word that his manual specifically says that the rubber washer needed to be on both sides of the PCB.]

The cooler uses no heatpipes which means it can be running in any possible up/down configuration. The only important thing is that hot air can somehow get away from the cooler, preferably through a case exhaust on the backside.



The included ramsinks are rather small, there is still plenty space left under the cooler. On the backside there is even more space, so I wonder why Zalman chose to use such small ramsinks. A reason is probably cost, since the same ramsinks are already sold with the ZM-80D.