A short while ago, I decided that my beloved but aging Alienware Aurora gaming computer was due for an update. I happily upgraded my AMD Athlon64 4000+ CPU with a brand new, dual core AMD Athlon64 X2 4200+. However, I quickly learned that the stock CPU cooler was not up to the job. After several overheat warning alarms and a couple of automatic heat shutdowns, I decided to buy a new CPU cooler.
But which one? I researched coolers that would be compatible with 1) my socket 939 motherboard 2) my rather extreme cooling needs, and 3) the amount of space available in my computer case. After a bit of waffling, I finally settled on the Zalman CNPS9500A LED CPU Cooler, $48.99 at newegg.com.
System Configuration:
Alienware Aurora
Motherboard: abit AV8 (socket 939)
CPU: AMD Athlon64 X2 4200+
Windows XP sp2
Test Software:
abit ìGuru Utility
CPU Cooler:
Zalman CNPS9500A LED
Pre-installation impressions:
1. Size
This thing is HUGE! At 85(L) x 112(W) x 125(H) mm (3.35 x 4.4 x 5 in), and weighing in at 530g (1.17lbs), this is one of the bigger CPU coolers on the market. Fortunately, I measured the available space in my case before I bought the cooler, so I knew it would fit.
2. Appearance
Very pretty. Zalman is known for the visual design of their CPU coolers, and this one is no exception. The base, heatpipes and fins are pure, shiny copper, and the fan blades are a matte, translucent plastic.
3. Feel
Sturdy. The cooler feels weighty and the heatpipes and fins are firmly attached. The fan turns easily but is not too loose. The included accessories and installation components seem well made.
4. Accessories, components, and instructions
All present and accounted for. I was a bit confused at first by the sheer number of installation components. There seems to be a different component required for every compatible type of motherboard, and at first glance some of them look almost identical. To further compound my confusion, the installation components in the box and the components shown on the manufacturer’s website were completely different. The information on the Zalman website shows this particular cooler being installed with clips, while the components and instructions I received required the cooler to be screwed onto the motherboard. Perhaps I purchased an older version of the 9500A cooler, and the installation components have since been updated. Whatever the cause, I was non-plussed.
Installation:
1. Prep work
After a bit of a struggle, I finally managed to get the stock CPU cooler off the processor, and as per the installation instructions, removed the screws holding the CPU cooler bracket to the motherboard. I also removed the old thermal paste and carefully added new to the top of the processor, as recommended. Next, I prepared the cooler by inserting into the cooler the screw-down tension bar that would eventually secure the cooler to the motherboard and made sure it was properly aligned.
2. Getting it in there
After carefully eyeballing the alignment of the processor and cooler, I set the cooler down on the motherboard, and tried to insert the screws in the cooler bracket. Nuts. The cooler bracket had slipped, and so my alignment was off. When I tried to lift the cooler off the processor, I discovered that the thermal paste had already partly set. Darn. I gently twisted the cooler, as per the instructions and lifted it off the processor – or rather attempted to. The processor lifted out of the motherboard socket with the cooler, but seemed undamaged.
I reinserted the processor, carefully aligned the cooler bracket, and hovered the tension bar with its screws already in it above the processor. I eyeballed the alignment again, and finally managed to get the processor, cooler bracket, and tension bar (and screws) aligned. Now all I had to do was tighten down the screws.
The instructions suggested tightening one of the screws about halfway, then switching to the other screw, and alternating until the screws were all the way in. Sure. While I was attempting to start the first screw, I was unable to keep even pressure on the tension bar, and the opposite side of the bar popped up, acting like a lever and literally tearing the processor out of the socket, bending several processor pins in the process.
After much swearing, I managed to gently re-align the pins on the processor with a fingernail, and reinsert it. However, there was no way I could keep even pressure on the tension bar and screw the cooler down at the same time by myself -my hands are simply too small. I was able to get some assistance in the form of my sister, and together we made another (and another, and another) attempt at screwing down the tension bar.
Finally, success. The cooler was firmly screwed to the motherboard, and plugged into the power supply.
Cooling:
1. The stock cooler
According to abit’s ìGuru utility, the CPU temperature was averaging 80C (176F) under load, which is only slightly below the danger level for my Athlon64 X2 4200+ processor.
2. The Zalman CNPS9500A LED cooler
I expected the Zalman cooler to provide a significant improvement over the stock cooler, but it completely surpassed my expectations. According to the ìGuru utility, the CPU temperature with the Zalman cooler averaged 25C (77F), a whopping 55 degrees (Celsius) less than with the stock cooler.
Overall impressions:
This is an awesome cooler. It is very quiet, the blue LED light is bright and looks sharp reflected in the copper fins. On the other hand, the actual installation was a nightmare. I had to have assistance just to screw the cooler to the motherboard. I was lucky that I didn’t destroy my processor, and to add injury to insult, I slashed my hand badly on the heat fins. No stitches required, but it was rather close. To be fair, the difficulty level of the installation is probably why the manufacturer has updated the installation components. Clips would definitely provide much easier installation.
Recommendation:
The Zalman CNPS9500A LED CPU cooler features excellent visual design, is quiet, fairly cheap, and provides superior cooling. Unfortunately, it also is extremely difficult for someone with small hands to install alone.
Based on my experience with the Zalman CNPS9500A LED CPU cooler, I would give it 3.5 out of 5 stars.
