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Introduction and Features

Today we have three new products from Zalman up for review.  First is the new CNPS9500 AM2 Ultra Quiet CPU Cooler, which supports AMD socket AM2 (along with socket 754/939/940 processors).  Next is the VF900-Cu LED Ultra Quiet VGA Cooler for your latest video card and last but not least is Zalman’s new ZM-STG1 Super Thermal Grease.  Both of the Zalman coolers feature all copper construction, multiple heat pipes, an integrated fan with LED lights, and a Zalman Fan Mate 2 speed control.  Zalman claims their Super Thermal Grease maximizes heat transfer while being very easy to apply.

 

 

CNPS9500 CPU Cooler          ZM-STG1       VF900-Cu LED VGA Cooler

 

CNPS9500 CPU Cooler Main Features:

• Pure cooper base, heat pipes and fins for excellent cooling performance
• Optimized air-tunnel design for maximum cooling performance
• Innovative (patented) figure-8 heat pipe design for increased heat transfer capacity
• Optimized heatsink layout reduces materials and minimizes weight
• Ultra slim fins (0.2mm) for reduced weight and airflow resistance
• Quiet CNPS 92mm fan with green LED lights
• Compatible with AMD socket AM2/754/939/940
• Adjustable fan speed controller (Fan Mate 2) included
• Recommended by nVIDIA

VF900-Cu LED VGA Dual Heatpipe Cooler Main Features

• Pure cooper base and fins for excellent cooling performance
• Two heat pipes for optimum heat transfer
• Flower shaped heatsink with thin, radial fins for smooth airflow
• Cools surrounding components – not just the GPU and VRAM
• Easy installation with broad compatibility for both nVIDIA and ATI
• Adjustable fan speed controller (Fan Mate 2) included

ZM-STG1 Thermal Grease Main Features

• Superior performance
• Easy to apply

 

Heat Pipe Technology

 

The two Zalman coolers both use copper heat pipes to transport heat from their respective heatsink bases up into an array of thin copper fins.  The CNPS9500 CPU cooler uses three heat pipes while the VF900-Cu VGA cooler uses two.  A heat pipe is a highly efficient conductor of heat.  A properly constructed heat pipe has a very low thermal resistance, which is roughly independent of its length (unlike ordinary metal rods whose thermal resistance increases with length).  Heat pipes are commonly used to transport heat from one location to another.

 

 

Heat pipes work on the principle of evaporation and condensation.  A working fluid (frequently distilled water) evaporates inside one end of the heat pipe (the hot-end) absorbing heat in the process.  A partial vacuum inside the heat pipe allows the water to evaporate at low temperatures.  Once formed, the water vapor diffuses from an area of high vapor pressure (where it is being generated) to the other end of the tube where the vapor pressure is lower.

 

The vaporized fluid then condenses back to liquid (cold-end) and the heat is dissipated into the air from the metal cooling fins.  The working fluid returns to the hot end via capillary action thru an internal wicking structure (sintered metal coating, fine wire mesh, or grooves) so the heat pipe does not have to rely on gravity to recycle the working fluid.  The key to a heat pipe’s high efficiency is the latent heat of vaporization. 

 

Next Page - CNPS9500 AM2 Ultra Quiet CPU Cooler

Review Index:
- Select - Summary Introduction and Features CNPS9500 AM2 Ultra Quiet CPU Cooler VF900-Cu LED Dual Heatpipe VGA Cooler ZM-STG1 Super Thermal Grease Installation Testing Testing (cont'd) Pricing and Conclusions