Synthetic Temperature Test Results: *Ranked according to 100W interface die test results.

FrostyTech Synthetic Temperature Test Platform Results
Mfg.	Model	Ambient Temp.	27mm large copper block		27mm large copper block	Thermal pad	No. Fans	Fan Noise	Clip force
			50W		100W
Zalman	CNPS7000-Cu	21.0	35.1		48.7	none	1	low	easy
Taisol	CCP445172	20.2	37.7		50.9	none	1	med	easy
AVC	117140	22.6	37.8		50.4	none	1	med	med
Coolermaster	IHC-H71	23.0	37.0		51.1	none	1	loud	stiff
Arkua	8568	22.4	37.8		51.7	none	1	med	med
Thermal Integration (high)	TI-V7035TN	20.2	38.3		52.9	none	1	very loud	easy
NengTyi	XPC5000	23.8	38.4		53.9	none	1	med	loud
Alpha	PAL8942	27.9	42.6		54.0	none	1	med	med
CPUMate	DIA-10500	22.8	39.3		55.5	none	1	med	easy
Zalman	CNPS6500-AlCu	23.1	40.3		57.4	none	1	low	easy
Glacialtech	Igloo 3300	22.4	40.5		58.8	silver	1	low	easy
Chauh Choung	DTA-478	22.4	42.1		59.0	carbon	1	low	med
Taisol	CEP426151A	24.3	43.7		59.7	none	1	med	easy
Intel	Socket 478	22.4	41.8		59.8	carbon	1	low	med
Arkua	838T-7G	23.3	42.0		60.0	none	1	med	easy
Dynatron	DC1207BMW	23.2	42.7		61.1	none	1	med	easy
Titan	TTC-MT3AB	22.8	41.5		61.2	none	2	loud	stiff
Dynatron	DC1206BM-S	22.4	43.2		62.0	none	1	med	med
AVC	117160	22.4	42.7		62.2	white pad	1	med	med
Eumax	DW-45	22.6	44.0		62.7	none	1	med	easy
Zalman	CNPS5700D-Cu	25.7	44.6		64.0	none	1	med	easy
Vantec	CCK-7025	27.0	45.4		64.1	none	1	med	med
Cho-Liang	CL-CB00881	23.6	41.2		65.0	none	1	med	easy
JMC	400094	26.1	46.6		65.0	none	1	med	easy
Cho-Liang	CL-CB0307Z17	24.2	45.6		65.7	none	1	med	easy
Cho-Liang	CL-CB0094-1A	23.2	39.5		67.9	none	1	med	easy
Globalwin	VA476	28.7	49.5		68.0	grey	1	med	easy
Dynatron	DC1206BMV	23.1	45.1		68.2	none	1	low	easy
ChoLiang	Cl-CB0309Z17	24.3	46.7		68.6	none	1	med	stiff
Vantec	GSN-7015	22.4	47.5		69.0	none	1	loud	stiff
Thermal Integration (low)	TI-V7035TN	20.2	47.7		71.2	none	1	low	easy
Arkua	848X-6B	27.2	54.5		80.4	none	1	low	med
			50W		100W

Alrighty, as you can see the initial performance of the Zalman CNPS7000-Cu is at the top of this list of reference heatsinks. Given the large size of this fully copper heatsink, and the large fan this is not surprising. Surface area and good thermal conductivity are two of the key elements which can make or break a heatsink design after all.

Rise Above Ambient Temp. (c)
Mfg.	Model	27mm large copper block		27mm large copper block
		50W		100W
Alpha	PAL8942	14.7		26.1
Zalman	CNPS7000-Cu	14.1		27.7
AVC	117140	15.2		27.8
Coolermaster	IHC-H71	14.0		28.1
Arkua	8568	15.4		29.3
NengTyi	XPC5000	14.6		30.1
Taisol	CCP445172	17.5		30.7
CPUMate	DIA-10500	16.5		32.7
Thermal Integration (high)	TI-V7035TN	18.1		32.7
Zalman	CNPS6500-AlCu	17.2		34.3
Taisol	CEP426151A	19.4		35.4
chauh Choung	DTA-478	19.7		36.6
Arkua	838T-7G	18.7		36.7
Glacialtech	Igloo 3300	18.1		37.1
Intel	Socket 478	19.4		37.4
Dynatron	DC1207BMW	19.5		37.9
Zalman	CNPS5700D-Cu	18.9		38.3
Vantec	CCK-7025	18.4		38.4
Titan	TTC-MT3AB	18.7		38.4
JMC	400094	20.5		38.9
Globalwin	VA476	20.8		39.3
Dynatron	DC1206BM-S	20.8		39.6
AVC	117160	20.3		39.8
Eumax	DW-45	21.4		40.1
Cho-Liang	CL-CB00881	18.2		41.4
Cho-Liang	Cl-CB0307Z17	21.4		41.5
Cho-Liang	CL-CB0309Z17	22.4		44.3
Cho-Liang	CL-CB0094-1A	16.3		44.7
Dynatron	DC1206BMV	22.0		45.1
Vantec	GSN-7105	25.1		46.6
Thermal Integration (low)	TI-V7035TN	27.5		50.0
Arkua	848X-6B	27.3		53.2
		50W		100W

Looking at the final results for the reference list it is worth noting that the differences between the top three heatsinks here, of which the Zalman CNP7000-Cu has thus far ranked in second, is virtually nil. For all intensive purposes the Alpha PAL8942, Zalman CNPS7000-Cu and AVC 117140 have shown very similar results on our test bed. Realistically, differences in thermal compound, manufacturing tolerances and other criteria could mix up things in any direction.

That said, there is one thing we can count on for certain, and that is noise levels. Of those three heatsinks the Zalman CNPS7000-Cu displays the lowest measured noise reading at about 41.7 dB. The AVC 117140 ranks in 'loudly' at 56.1 dB, the Alpha 8942 at 54.2 dB. The AVC heatsink uses a standard Pentium4 HSRM, while the Alpha heatsink is a little more complicated to attach since it bolts directly to the mounting holes in the motherboard PCB.

With those elements in mind, the Zalman CNPS7000-Cu certainly shines in a good light; it is easy to install, works very well and is very quiet. The only potential downside is that because of its external 110x110mm size it may not fit on all motherboards, or in cramped cases where the board is located to close to the power supply. Barring those issues which are limited to about 12 boards thus far (case figures are not known), the CNPS7000-Cu has a lot going for it, though you'd be hard pressed to hear any of that cooling capability at work!

Couple increased performance over previous Zalman Pentium4 heatsinks, a more robust retention mechanism, and some impressive thermal characteristics and you can pretty much expect this cooler to quickly become a favorite of users looking for a little quiet in their cases.

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