Zalman CNPS9500 LED CPU Cooler Conclusion

Performance
To measure the performance of the CNPS9500 LED I used the temperature readings from SpeedFan as well as the BIOS temperature readings. Load tests were conducted by running Folding@Home as well as a game (either Quake 3, Quake 4 or RTCW: Enemy Territory) simultaneously for at least 1 hour. Room temperature was consistently between 70-74 degrees Fahrenheit (about 21-23 degrees Celcius).

Also, since sound level is an important aspect to consider for any aftermarket CPU cooler, measurements were taken at the lowest fan speed setting (1400 RPM) and at the highest fan speed setting (2450 RPM). The fan speed is easily adjustable using the included Fan Mate 2 fan controller, which is a nice addition to the package. Testing was performed on my Asus A8V-Deluxe motherboard and socket 939 Athlon64 3200+ CPU running at stock 2.0 GHz, and at an overclocked speed of 2.4 GHz.

A lot of people will compare an aftermarket CPU cooler to the stock AMD or Intel CPU cooler and measure the difference in performance. I felt that a more typical real-world scenario of upgrading to the CNPS9500 would be useful, since just about any aftermarket CPU cooler will perform better than the stock cooler. To test this scenario, I compared the performance of the CNPS9500 LED to the performance of the CNPS7000B-AlCu both at stock CPU speeds and at overclocked CPU speeds. Given that the CNPS9500 is a successor to the CNPS7000 product line, the testing will show how much of a drop in CPU temperature you should expect if you are upgrading to the new CNPS9500.

Test results showed that the CNPS9500-LED provides quite a bit of improvement over the CNPS7000B, especially when overclocking. At an overclocked speed of 2.4 GHz, a difference of 7 degrees is quite a bit of improvement over the CNP7000B. And this is with the fan speed set to low, which is even more impressive. At the low fan speed the CNPS9500-LED is almost inaudible.

With the fan speed cranked up to high, the results are even more impressive. The CNPS9500-LED delivered a 5 degree lower temperature at stock CPU speed and a 9 degree lower temperature at the overclocked CPU speed. This is a huge difference in the world of CPU heatsinks and well worth the upgrade if you are planning to overclock and want top-of-the-line air cooling. The noise level at full fan speed is still very quiet and is barely perceptible with the other case fans running, and is not loud by any means. Unless you have similarly quiet case fans and PSU fan, the CNPS9500 will not add to the noise level of your PC.

CPS9500-LED installed	Blue lights add some bling	Side view of the CNPS9500-LED

Zalman CNPS9500-LED CPU Cooler

Pros: Excellent performance, near-silent operation at low fan speeds, compatible with nearly all CPU types, all installation and mounting clips / brackets are included, easy installation on S939 motherboards.

Cons: Pricey

The Verdict: The Zalman CNPS9500-LED provides top-notch cooling performance with absolutely minimal noise. For a next generation CPU cooler, the CNPS9500-LED delivers with an impressive amount of cooling power that trumps the previous generation of CPU coolers.

Rating: 5 out of 5