Legit Reviews

I was looking at this in the store because I like my SI-120 but it's so damn big with the fan mounted on it. zit takes up half the case.

I like the looks of the Zalman better but only one fan? I don't know why but I assumed there were 2 fans (one on each side). I sent a note to Zalman to consider this in their next incarnation along with the ability to reverse the fans to make it customizable to different set ups. Not only would it increase the cooling but it would reduce the noise because you could run the fans at a lower speed.

Anyone using one of these?

I personally haven't used the Zalman cnps9500 LED... but I did read a review about it in this months Maximum PC, It got a 10 out of 10 KICK ASS rating!

Benchmark scores are as follows

AMD FX-55-----Zalman 9500-----Stock Cooler
Idle
Fan Low------------35c-----------------N/A
Fan High-----------33c----------------- 40c
100% Load
Fan Low------------49c-----------------N/A
Fan High-----------45c------------------54c

Intel LGA775 3.6GHz
Idle
Fan Low------------37c------------------N/A
Fan High------------35c-----------------44c
100% Load
Fan Low-------------51c-----------------N/A
Fan High------------46c-----------------63c

Hope this helps!

Yeah, I read that as well. I don't put too much stock in the mag reviews. It's gotten some decent reviews. I'm going to stick with the behemoth Si-120 because it's quiet and does a great job cooling. 2 out of 3 ain't bad I guess!

X-Bit Labs did a review on this cooler too:
http://www.xbitlabs.com/articles/cooler ... s9500.html

I think it's pretty decent, but if you already have the XI-120, you might as well just stick with that. I think the Zalman is a little overpriced.

Just my $0.02 worth...

just change the fam on your Si-120!!!!!
the Si-120 with a good fan will beat the zalman for performance!

IF you want low noise, then get a fan controller and run the HSF fan off that!

It's not the noise I hate (I have a Panaflo - can't hear it) but the size. You can hardly see my mobo under there! I have a feeling it's contributing to my case temps as well by blocking the air flow.

that hsf IS one of the best!!! I have a feeling if you get a zalman, your cpu and case temps may stay the same....I suspect you need another cooling fan in your case! Myaby do a mod, and cut a 80mm blowhole on top?

I don't want to see you wasting you money for 1 or 2 degrees!


If it aint broke, don't fix it!

Nah, if I do anything I'll go the water route (PJ's got me thinkin' about the corsair). I do think the Si-120 is one of the best air coolers going. My case temps are good but ya know, we are always striving for better. Why? I dunno

I feel your pain buddy ;)

I've got a thermaltake aquarius 2 and it works totally fine.

I've got the Zalman 9500................ Super silent cooler, but not the best performance out there.............. It's a real eye catcher though. If I was to do it again, I'd look for a bit more performance for my money as I just started OC'ing and the Zalman doesn't hold up to that well.

I really think they should have 2 fans in that thing...

There's no real need as the rear case fan acts as the second rear fan. Between the high and low fan settings there is like 1c differance in load temps, but the noise level really goes up. So a good exhaust fan is all the extra cooling the thing needs, I'm running 2 Papst 4412 F/2GL at 7v just to keep things quiet.....................

I have the CNPS7000a-Cu and I love it. It keeps the CPU cool at a low fan speed even under a full gaming load. It's very heavy but I've brought this PC to QuakeCon two years in a row now and not had a problem. Whenever I build my next system, definitely a Zalman CPU cooler.

Don't know if that helps, but I've been very happy with my Zalman.

Tempesta wrote:I have the CNPS7000a-Cu and I love it. It keeps the CPU cool at a low fan speed even under a full gaming load. It's very heavy but I've brought this PC to QuakeCon two years in a row now and not had a problem. Whenever I build my next system, definitely a Zalman CPU cooler.

Don't know if that helps, but I've been very happy with my Zalman.

Heavy? I thought those were heavy at first..until I felt an XP-90C and then a BigTyphoon.

The Zalmans aren't really top of the line anymore. Sure, they look ok, but Thermalright, Scythe, and Thermaltake all have better coolers than the top Zalman.

Hi I am Sandman and new to the forums , am upgrading to a P5P800Se with a P-4 Prescott 630 3.0 gig 775 socket and plan to use the new Zalman Cnps9500 because i heard how hot these prescott chips run so we will see how it works I have read great revies on the Zalman. Will leave somefeedback on the setup once I get up and running . Do not plan to OC

doghucat wrote:Hi I am Sandman and new to the forums , am upgrading to a P5P800Se with a P-4 Prescott 630 3.0 gig 775 socket and plan to use the new Zalman Cnps9500 because i heard how hot these prescott chips run so we will see how it works I have read great revies on the Zalman. Will leave somefeedback on the setup once I get up and running . Do not plan to OC

Welcome to the forums!!!!

Please do post your impressions on that heatsink.....reviews are 1 thing...but it's always good to hear peoples personal opinions too...!

What else is going into this new system?

doghucat wrote: Do not plan to OC

then why spend money? for stock settings the stock cooling is good enough

BTW, I have the asus starice blue and I think it's better because it has a shroud which prevents the heat from spreading and channels it out right out of my case:

The system will have a thermaltake Tr2 430 watt ps, 1 gig Kingston Ram, 9200 ati pro, soundblaster live 5.1 sound card . WD 40 gig 7200 rpm jb, and a 20 gig WD jb 7200 hd, cdrw Lite-on 52-32-52, Lit-on Dvd cd-rw combo burner model 1633 Nero Burning room, Windows XP, ZA, Norton , front and rear case fans, round ide cables , In an A-Open full tower case right now I have a CUV266 Asus Mobo and a P-3 1 gigCoppermine in this unit just upgrading to the new P-4, so I can tranfer this P-3 to take the place of my wifes that has been up and running with no problem since 2001 which has a cubx with a 650 coppermine P-3 overclocked to 805 with 512 ram and a ati 9000 vidio card and some other goodies amd try and E-bay the old cubx and P-3 650 with the 512 ram and the isa US robotics fax modem.

Sounds like an upgrade was long needed / wanted...lol

From a 1G P3 to a P5P800Se & Intel 630 = night & day!!!