Zalman CNPS 10x Extreme and 10X Quiet

[dndhatcher]

I have been looking at both models of the Zalman 10x cooler.

Both models seem to have the same cooling specs so why would someone pay more for the "extreme" model that is 200g heavier and has a noisier fan?

I figure I must be missing something. Can anyone explain it to me?

 

[ubernoobie]

extreme comes with a kickass thermal paste, on hardwarefourms or something, they ranked it in top 10, it should also provide better cooling as that 200g of weight could be more copper or aluminium, therefore increasing cooling performance

 

[dndhatcher]

it should also provide better cooling as that 200g of weight could be more copper or aluminium, therefore increasing cooling performance

I havent seen reviews of the quiet model but they are both rated as 340W of cooling. There is some comment about the wider spaced baffles giving better cooling at lower fan speeds. Seem to me that more metal should cool better, but doesnt that the cooling rating indicate they should cool the same?

 

[ubernoobie]

it should perform slightly worse because of the lower cfm pushed through the fins which means less heat taken away from the aluminium fins
edit:cooling ratings do not mean too much as you could have a cooler rated at 95watts and another cooler rated at 130watts but the 95watt could perform better if it has a better design/fan

 

[Korok]

From looking at newegg here is the compare sheet
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Productcompare.aspx?Submit=ENE&N=2%2050001647%2040000574&Manufactory=1647&bop=And&SpeTabStoreType=1&ActiveSearchResult=True&CompareItemList=N82E16835118052%2CN82E16835118051
Hope that helps

 

[Shadow703793]

Screw that. Get a Core Contact Freezer or a Megahalems. http://www.frostytech.com/top5heatsinks.cfm

Frosty ranks it at #10 while the CCF is #4 and the Meg is at #1. The CCF is the best bang for buck. If you want more quietness, swap it out for a good Scythe Slipstream with good airflow.See: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835185059

or use a fan controller.

I used the 110CFM Slipstream on the CCF and it dropped my temps by ~5-7C under load and was noticeably quieter than stock CCF fan. Considering that the Extreme cost's like ~$80 I wouldn't get it.

Zalman used to make great HSFs but that is no longer the case, they are still using the old method:

http://www.pcper.com/article.php?aid=741&type=expert&pid=3

Instead of the Direct Touch Heatpipes/Exposed Heatpipes like this:

 

[ubernoobie]

+ for core contact freezer