Testing and conclusion
Firstly load temperatures.
The Zalman's huge dissipation area and relatively large fan pays handsome dividends. At its fastest setting of circa 2450 RPM, it performed within 2 degrees centigrade of an AX478 and Delta 68CFM. At that almost inaudible 1350 RPM setting, courtesy of the Fan Mate 1, the Zalman is still a terrific performer, matching the AX478 and 2800 RPM 80mm fan combination.
This is probably the least scientific observation ever carried out at Hexus. Listening with a passively-powered ATi Radeon 9700 and whisper-quiet Zalman ZM400A PSU, the different fans employed were rated on their overall pitch and tone. At 1350 RPM the Zalman's 85mm fan is almost inaudible. Even the relative performance setting of 2000 RPM only caused a general, quiet hum. 2450RPM was noticeable, but it wasn't disconcerting. The lack of a fan grill probably helped the Zalman in this respect. The comparative Cooler Master Fujiyama, using a 70mm fan spinning at ~ 3000 RPM, produced a slightly high-pitched sound; certainly one that could be irritating to some. The AX478 and Delta combination needs no introduction. The only sane method of making it even louder is to use the 80CFM model.
Conclusion
What attributes should a decent heatsink and fan combination have ?. It should cool well. It should be able to cool well with reasonable voltage load. It should have the ability to dissipate the heat effectively. It should be able to do the above without hurting your eardrums or your wallet. The Zalman CNPS7000-Cu appears to be in a position to fulfill our requirements. Excellent design, aesthetically pleasing, and, above all, a fantastic noise-to-performance ratio make this CPU cooler one of the most enviable.
The mini-rheostat is an excellent addition to the overall package, but we feel that it should have been located externally, much like the Cooler Master SE. It's a pain to open the case's side to change speeds. Overall, though, a classy package that delivers the goods whilst being easy on your ears. A sub-£40 pricing makes it a must for all those that seek relative silence and high clock speeds. Recommended.
