Zalman's revised HSF

[Buddy J]

The CNPS9700NT (http://www.frostytech.com/articleview.cfm?articleID=2221) gets a few cosmetic tweaks and a sweeter fan. If you're noise conscious, it's worth a look.

[Leonardo]

If you're noise conscious....get another heatsink. I've owned several Zalman coolers, including the CNPS 9500 and CNPS 9700NT. The 9700NT is not quiet at all once the fan speed gets above about 75% of maximum RPM. The good news though, at least on the system I have the 9700 installed in, is that there is no increase in CPU core cooling past the 75% RPM rate anyway. The 9500 I previously had was not quiet either. Zalman's designs for their high-end CPU coolers are very good, but unfortunately do not incorporate 120mm low RPM fans. Until that happens, the Zalman units will continue to be buzzy. Speaking of buzz - most of the buzz about Zalman being quiet is a carryover from about five years ago when Zalman actually was a leader in high performance yet quiet cooling. That reputation is no longer deserved, in my opinion.

In the 9700's class, I would recommend coolers in this order (sorry if I left out your favorite):

Thermalright Ultra 120 Extreme
Thermalright Ultra 120 or Tuniq Tower 120
Scythe (newest large tower - forgot name, which changes every few weeks, it seems)
Zalman 9700/NT

Interesting - what the decibel levels were recorded by Frostytech. According to them, the Zalman 9700/NT is in the top tier of quiet, high performance heat sink/fan units. Perhaps in decibels, they are accurate. Certainly, I've never performed precise sound measurements. I can only offer my subjective report. I guess this is a sound frequency issue, rather than loudness issue. But I can say this: the 9500 and 9700NT I've used were noticeably noisier than the several other high-end coolers I've used. The 9700NT, to my unaided ear, at 75% RPM is about the same as one of my Tuniq Tower 120s at 100% RPM.

[Snarkasm]

I gotta try out these Thermalright 120s. I'm barely hitting 60 at 3.6GHz on my q66 with the Scythe Infinity, but it's never at the top of the list. Makes me wonder what I'm missing.

[Leonardo]

I'm barely hitting 60 at 3.6GHz on my q66That's pretty good! Not like you've got much if any headroom left on that Q6600 anyway. Temps on 6600 rigs are 59-62, the clock frequencies ranging from 3.3 (B3) to 3.5GHz (G0). Unfortunately, my Q rigs are in the warmest room in the house, which 6 or 7C warmer than the coolest room. Nothing I can do about it at this time.

[Snarkasm]

Oh, I know, remember? I blew out the mobo trying to get it any higher ;) But lower temps will always be nicer and maybe contribute to a longer life. No reason not to check 'em out if I ever have the opportunity, is all I meant.

[Leonardo]

Just read lots of reviews. There are many, many heatsink reviews out there, but few that compare all or even most of the heavy hitters side by side.

[Thrax]

Everyone and their mother needs to buy a Thermaltake A2029 fan and a Thermalright Ultra 120 Extreme. If you want air-cooling that'll rupture your ear-drums, turn the integrated pot up to full. If you want a 3.7GHz Core 2 Duo to run at 59C at full load on a hot day, leave it on medium RPM. If you want 3.4GHz and a fan you can't hear, leave it on low RPM.

Everyone who wants speed or solace deserves these two products together.

[CB]

My mother has an iMac because it's purple. :( That product would do her no good.

[Thrax]

You could duct-tape it to the case. It'd be the most useful part of it!