Zalman CNPS9500 LED CPU Cooler

One of the first companies that comes to mind when you think of high-quality aftermarket CPU coolers is Zalman. They have been producing some of the best performing CPU coolers for about 6-7 years, starting all the way back with their CNPS2000 and CNPS3000 product lines in the late 90s. I have only used a handful of their products in the past, with my recent experience using the CNPS7000B-AlCu and then most recently getting a chance to work with the CNPS9500 LED. The CNPS products are Zalman's top-of-the-line Computer Noise Prevention System components, which means they are all specifically designed to offer high levels of performance while maintaining a quiet sound level during operation. In my experience, Zalman has done a great job with their CNPS line of CPU coolers and my testing of the CNPS9500 LED showed that it is no exception.

Look and Feel

The CNPS9500 LED is a 100% copper heatsink with a 92mm clear-colored fan. While copper heatsinks are generally more expensive than aluminum based heatsinks, the copper material is more efficient than aluminum at transferring heat away from the CPU - and thus copper based heatsinks nearly always offer better performance.

Attached to the heatsink base are 3 curved heatpipes that form a unique design that allows more efficient heat transfer than traditional designs. I do not understand the thermal dynamics behind the design, but Zalman claims their patent-pending design allows the 3 curved heatpipes to transfer as much heat as 6 traditional heatpipes. Finally, the differentiator between the CNPS9500 LED and other CNPS9500 models (such as the AT model and the AM2 model) is that blue LED lights around the fan are used to add some "bling" to the appearance of the CNPS9500 LED.

The size of the CNPS9500 LED is quite large at 3.35" x 4.41" x 4.92" (L x W x H), and it weighs in at 530g. Because of the large size and heavy weight, be sure to check the motherboard compatibility list at Zalmans website before deciding to order this CPU cooler.

Top view of the CNPS9500-LED	Closeup view of the cooler standing upright	Package contents

Features

The following feature list is directly from the Zalman website. One important feature to note is the CPU compatibility - both single-core Intel and AMD CPUs, as well as dual-core Intel and AMD CPUs, are supported.

1) 100% copper heatsink with aerodynamically optimized tunnel design for maximum cooling

efficiency.

2) Innovative and patented, curved heatpipe design for a heat transfer capacity of up to 6 heatpipes with the use of just

3) Optimized heatsink layout for maximum cooling efficiency with minimal materials.

4) 0.2mm ultra-slim fins for minimized weight and reduced airflow resistance.

5) Ultra quiet CNPS 92mm opaque fan with blue LEDs.

6) Aerodynamically optimized heatsink for smoother airflow and minimal noise.

7) Compatible CPUs (Refer to 7. Compatible CPUs on page 3. for more information.)

- Intel : All Dual Core Pentium CPUs (Socket 775),
All Pentium 4 CPUs (Socket 775/478)

- AMD : All Dual Core AMD Athlon 64 X2 CPUs (Socket 939),
All Sempron/Athlon 64 CPUs (Socket 754/939/940)

8) Adjustable fan speed controller (FAN MATE 2) enables control of noise and fan speed.