FrostyTech Mk.II Synthetic Thermal Heatsink Test Results Results based on readings from a 38x38mm copper interface die with 125W heat load on the K8 version of the Mk.II Test Platform. Temperature results listed for each heatsink were calculated by determining the rise over ambient temperatures at time of test. Information on Frostytech's test methodology is available here. Socket 939/940/754 compatible CPU heatsinks
manufacturer:	model no.:	fan speed:	125w thermal test* (°c)	noise level (dba)
Gigabyte	G-Power Pro	high	18.6	71.9
Coolermaster	Hyper6	high	20.5	54.7
Thermaltake	Venus 12	high	21.7	68.1
ASUS	Starice	high	22.8	67.4
Coolermaster	Aquagate Mini	high	23.2	59.2
Thermaltake	Polo 735	high	23.4	68.0
Cooljag	SFO-H	high	23.6	60.6
Alpha	PAL-8150		23.7	58.9
Zalman	CNPS9500LED (clip parallel)	high	23.8	50.3
AVC	Z7U3301001 (stock 939)	high	24.6	59.9
Gigabyte	3D Cooler-Ultra	high	24.8	63.0
Scythe	Shogun	high	26.0	45.9
EKL	V8	high	26.3	57.5
Gigabyte	3D Rocket-Pro	high	26.9	56.7
Gigabyte	3D Cooler-Pro	high	27.0	62.5
Gigabyte	3D-Rocket		28.9	50.7
Vantec	Mach1	high	29.2	56.9
CoolJag	SFO-D(18SC)		29.6	64.0
Zalman	CNPS9500LED (clip parallel)	low	29.7	36.2
Zalman	CNPS7000A-Cu	high	30.3	45.2
Dynatron	SK-V24		30.3	56.4
Zalman	CNPS7000-Cu	high	31.0	45.2
Coolermaster	Hyper48		31.7	43.6
Scythe	Kama SCKK1000		31.9	47.5
Scythe	Samurai SCSM1000	high	32.1	51.6
Zalman	CNPS7000B-CU	high	32.3	44.9
Thermaltake	Silentboost K8		32.3	49.7
Jetart	JAX801		33.2	53.5
Dynatron	A22		34.5	44.5
nPowertek	NPH K8-1		34.6	52.2
Ajigo	MF043-044 (stock 754)		35.0	45.4
Verax	Quattro 1		36.9	30.9
Gigabyte	NeonCooler 8-BL		37.7	42.0
Titan	TTC-K8ATB/825/SC		38.7	63.1
Zalman	CNPS7000A-Cu	low	41.0	32.7
Zalman	CNPS7000-Cu	low	41.8	33.5
Evercool	K802-715		42.1	51.5
Zalman	CNPS7000B-CU	low	44.9	33.2
Evercool	Magic Cooler		46.6	55.5
			125W Thermal Test (°C)	Noise Level (dBA)
*Heatsinks are ranked according to the 125W Thermal Test results column (rise over ambient temp.). Low temperatures with low noise levels are considered best. For reference heatsinks with variable-speed fans, only the high speed (12V) fan test result is included in the comparison sheet; more detailed results reside in each specific heatsink review.

The FrostyTech Mk.II platform stresses each K8-class heatsink with 125W of heat, and once equilibrium is reached we note the rise in temperature (2nd column from the right) above that of the ambient temp. So in effect what we're doing is leveling the playing field and allowing comparisons between each heatsink in this reference list. The far right column identifies the noise level of each specific heatsink, and naturally the quieter the better!

Examining the thermal test results for the Zalman CNPS9500 LED heatsink we find that at full fan-speed, the CNPS9500 LED outperforms the Zalman CNPS7000-series heatsinks by a fair margin. At its lowest fan speed, the CNPS9500 LED is about equal with the CNPS7000A-Cu at its highest fan speed - so we see a real benefit in terms of decreased sound output. Other manufacturers K8 heatsinks come in at the very top of this reference list, but take a look at some of those noise levels... 71dBA just isn't worth it!

In the top ten K8 heatsinks the Zalman CNPS9500 LED is among the quietest, while maintaining thermal performance within a degree of the top 4-9 heatsinks. While the results are not listed, the Gigabyte G-Power Pro does performs about the same at the CNPS9500LED on its lowest (50.9 dBA) fan-speed.

At its lowest fan-speed, the Zalman CNPS9500 LED heatsink produces about 36 dBA noise in our tests, and performs just under the 30°C mark. I'd consider any heatsink maintaining less than ~32°C above ambient temperatures to be quite good. That the Zalman CNPS9500 LED achieves this result on its slowest fan speed is worth noting - no other heatsink even comes close for that level of noise!

Conclusions - A Balance of Sums

As a heatsink, the Zalman CNPS9500 LED functions best as a low noise cooler. With that translucent 92mm fan glowing blue and spinning at 1350RPM, the heatsink maintains good temperatures and excellent noise reduction. In the inventory of K8 heatsinks FrostyTech has thus tested, nothing comes close to the CNPS9500 LED's noise level at that temperature range. The next closest solution is the Verax Quattro 1 at 36.9°C (30.9dBA). At full fan-speed the CNPS9500 LED handles the heat very well, while maintaining a quieter operation. However, several much louder heatsinks offer up even lower test temperatures.

In its design of the CNPS9500 LED, Zalman has certainly engineered both an efficient heatsink that incorporates modern technologies and high thermal conductivity materials, and one that is strikingly beautiful to look at. Soldered joints at every thermal interface are what we like to see, and even with full copper construction weight has still been kept to a reasonable amount. Especially thin copper fins keep air resistance down, but I'd expect dust collection to be recurring maintenance issue every few months.

Given the complex shape of the Zalman CNPS9500 LED heatsink, I must say I had not expected the installation of it to be as simple as it was. The heatsink looks complicated, but installation isn't. The printed instructions give clear guidance for each socket formfactor, and the included kit of brackets and tools function well. There are some orientation recommendations to be aware of, so we do highly recommend you read the instructions, if even briefly. ;)

In the manufacture of the Zalman CNPS9500 LED, the heatsinks' copper base is machined flat prior to final assembly. In the unit we tested, stresses subsequently caused a very slight curve in the surface of that copper base in one axis. Given Zalman's proactive attitude towards optimizing its products, this is certainly an issue that may warrant a quick revision to its assembly line processes. The thinness of the copper base and proximity of the heatpipes to the heat source limit the overall thermal impact, but certainly a totally flat base in both axis would potentially yield better temperature results.

Ultimately, the Zalman CNPS9500 LED is a very good low noise heatsink for any AMD Athlon64 (socket 754/939/940) processor. The heatsink is foremost quiet, and offers among the best balance of noise and thermal levels that we've seen to date. There are cooler heatsinks which are much louder, a very few heatsinks which are much quieter, but no heatsinks which are quieter and cooler.

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