Zalman CNPS3100 Copper FHS Heatsink

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Every day I look at the number of heatsinks surfacing in the consumer market and everyday I am always surprised by at least one or two offering. Whether it by a newer more powerful fan, or a completely new heatsink design there always seems to be some really ingenuitive heatsinks out there.

There really isn't anything complicated about a heatsink - I mean they basically just sit there and warm the surrounding air. Yet despite this simplistic view, they are rather complex machines set out to do their tasks at very different levels of efficiency. Some heatsinks opt for a very powerful fan to make up for a satisfactory heatsink design, while others with very good designs lack the right fan to compete commercially.

I'm really not sure where the Zalman heatsinks fit into this equation, or for that matter what to call them... We've seen extruded, cast, cold forged, assembled, bonded fin, and Orb heatsinks along with any number of copper-aluminum hybrid variations.

The Zalman CNPS3100 is probably the first "Flower Heatsink" (FHS) you've ever seen. What makes this a Flower-type heatsink, is how the CNPS3100 is constructed. Where extruded heatsinks are one-piece affairs, this heatsink is made up of 50 individual pure-copper patterned fins, and two aluminum blocks which are held together with two stainless steel bolts. The base of this heatsink is milled absolutely flat, and is razor smooth. That in itself is something rare to see these days.

Designed for: AMD Athlon, Duron, K6-2. Intel FC-PGA, PGA. VIA Cyrix III.	The Zalman CNPS3100 FHS Model: CNPS3100 (50) 0.3mm thick copper fins. 80mm fan case-mounted Fan Dim: 20x80x80mm, 12V, 2.04W FHS Dimensions: 100x52x65mm LxWxH Weight: 296 grams Surface area: .28m2 Thermal resistance: 0.35C/W Machine milled base Made & Sold by: Zalman Tech Co. Cost: ~$40USD
Comes in a box with the following: 80mm fan, heatsink clip, syringe of thermal compound, (6) screws for attaching the fan to the case, the "silent mode" adapter cable and Instructions.

More than just a heatsink: Noise Reduction System

I know some of you are very determined to eliminate all noise from inside your computer. Whether this be because you work in an sound studio, leave your computer running 24x7, or because you run DVD's off of it in an entertainment room, it makes no difference. If quite is what you're looking for, then pay very close attention to the CNPS3100 - after all, there is no need to go to extremes and underclock a perfectly fast CPU is there?

The "CNPS" in CNPS3100 is an acronym for Zalman's philosophy of a "Computer Noise Prevention System". They actually offer low noise power supplies and hard drives in addition to the range of heatsinks. The goal they state is to cut traditional computer system noise from 30dB or higher, to 20dB or lower.

The FHS heatsink is patent-pending and works by having a short path for heat to travel and a surface area which Zalman claim is 3 to 10 times larger than traditional coolers. Considering there is .28m² of surface area on the CNPS3100 I'd be inclined to agree. Anyhow lets take a look at this unique flower heatsink from a couple of different angles now!