Zalman CNPS9500 AM2 CPU Cooler

[krotchy]

for christs sake people, learn to selectively quote. We dont need you to repost 15 paragraphs to respond to 1 sentence!

 

[Howard]

Originally posted by: JEDIYoda

Originally posted by: Howard

Originally posted by: JEDIYoda

Originally posted by: cmdrdredd

Originally posted by: Skott
I like the 9500 AT on my Conroe chip. Core temps is 35C Idle and 47C under load. I think the 9500 is definetely one of the best if not the best hsf you can get. It'll depend on your chip. mobo, and case though. Use AS5 too to help keep temps down.

I just have one thing to say... NO WAY! The Scythe Infinity, Tuniq Tower, and Thermalright Ultra-120 all blow the 9500 away. There is no comparison at all.

based on what? I have read reviews and I will tell you one thing.....
Define being blown away? 1 degree or 2 degrees celcius?? Muahahaaa
I just recieved my Ultra- 120 and installed it on my gaming rigg.....soon to be a Untel Core Duo...

I will tell you one thing...none of the heatsink even hold a candle to the 9500 when cranked down to 7 or 5 volts. Even on SPCR they said Zalman was the clear winner.

Winner of what? Aesthetics?

EDIT: So it seems that at 12V it does outperform all the units they tested at the time of the review of the 9500. However,

At the tested level of airflow, the Zalman 9500 is far too loud for use in a conventional case.

Again Howard you did not read or comprehend my post which is nothing new for you I guess...what did I say.....

You think it's so easy to understand your posts?

yet as I stated throttled down to 7 or 5 volts even SPCR says it is a very good heatsink.
Oh by the way-- Hello Howard!!

According to SPCR, with the Ninja running a Nexus 120mm at 12V and the 9500 at 5V (same level of noise, roughly) the Ninja is 4 degrees cooler.

I fail to see how "very good" is "the winner".

none of the heatsink even hold a candle to the 9500 when cranked down to 7 or 5 volts.

Wrong, wrong, wrong.

 

[Baked]

Thermalright Ultra-120 works for me. Have a couple 120mm fans already, so getting the Ultra-120 was only natural. Zalman 9500 was simply too expensive. I set fan speed to auto in the BIOS and noticed the Yate Loon fan I have on the Ultra-120's not at full speed. Cools better than the Artic Cooling Freezer Pro 7, so that's good enough for me. I also like the option of changing between 120mm fans whenever I like.

 

[cmdrdredd]

Originally posted by: Baked
Thermalright Ultra-120 works for me. Have a couple 120mm fans already, so getting the Ultra-120 was only natural. Zalman 9500 was simply too expensive. I set fan speed to auto in the BIOS and noticed the Yate Loon fan I have on the Ultra-120's not at full speed. Cools better than the Artic Cooling Freezer Pro 7, so that's good enough for me. I also like the option of changing between 120mm fans whenever I like.

I have an Ultra-120 with a Panaflow H1BX on order. 103cfm :Q

 

[Baked]

LMAO, that thing's gonna be loud if you plug it straight to a molex from the PSU. I have the M1BX for backup, it pushes 86.5 CFM if I plug it up to a PSU molex.

 

[cmdrdredd]

Loud is of no concern to me...I wanted maximum performance only

 

[Baked]

Noise is no concern? Then that Panaflo fan is weak sauce. You should've bought this. 220.29 CFM @ only 59.0 dBA.

 

[cmdrdredd]

Originally posted by: Baked
Noise is no concern? Then that Panaflo fan is weak sauce. You should've bought this. 220.29 CFM @ only 59.0 dBA.

doesn't fit and I ordered heatsink and fan with 4x yate loons for case all from one place.

 

[Howard]

Originally posted by: Baked
Noise is no concern? Then that Panaflo fan is weak sauce. You should've bought this. 220.29 CFM @ only 59.0 dBA.

Only? The bel scale is logarithmic, you know.

 

[Baked]

Just playing w/ cmdrdredd. :evil:

 

[JEDIYoda]

Originally posted by: Howard

Originally posted by: JEDIYoda

Originally posted by: Howard

Originally posted by: JEDIYoda

Originally posted by: cmdrdredd

Originally posted by: Skott
I like the 9500 AT on my Conroe chip. Core temps is 35C Idle and 47C under load. I think the 9500 is definetely one of the best if not the best hsf you can get. It'll depend on your chip. mobo, and case though. Use AS5 too to help keep temps down.

I just have one thing to say... NO WAY! The Scythe Infinity, Tuniq Tower, and Thermalright Ultra-120 all blow the 9500 away. There is no comparison at all.

based on what? I have read reviews and I will tell you one thing.....
Define being blown away? 1 degree or 2 degrees celcius?? Muahahaaa
I just recieved my Ultra- 120 and installed it on my gaming rigg.....soon to be a Untel Core Duo...

I will tell you one thing...none of the heatsink even hold a candle to the 9500 when cranked down to 7 or 5 volts. Even on SPCR they said Zalman was the clear winner.

Winner of what? Aesthetics?

EDIT: So it seems that at 12V it does outperform all the units they tested at the time of the review of the 9500. However,

At the tested level of airflow, the Zalman 9500 is far too loud for use in a conventional case.

Again Howard you did not read or comprehend my post which is nothing new for you I guess...what did I say.....

You think it's so easy to understand your posts?

yet as I stated throttled down to 7 or 5 volts even SPCR says it is a very good heatsink.
Oh by the way-- Hello Howard!!

According to SPCR, with the Ninja running a Nexus 120mm at 12V and the 9500 at 5V (same level of noise, roughly) the Ninja is 4 degrees cooler.

I fail to see how "very good" is "the winner".

none of the heatsink even hold a candle to the 9500 when cranked down to 7 or 5 volts.

Wrong, wrong, wrong.

What your problem?
None of the heatsink hold a candle to the Zalman 9500 when they all including the Zalman 9500 are throttled down to 7volts. Thats what the SPCR article said.....
As such the zalman 9500 is the best heatsink when all other heatsinks are throttled down to 7v.......
Nobody said the Zalman heatsink was better than the ninja or even the XP-120 when they are both 12v and the zalman 9500 is throttled down........cman read whats being said..not how you interpret what was said!!

 

[JEDIYoda]

Originally posted by: Howard

Originally posted by: JEDIYoda

Originally posted by: cmdrdredd

Originally posted by: Skott
I like the 9500 AT on my Conroe chip. Core temps is 35C Idle and 47C under load. I think the 9500 is definetely one of the best if not the best hsf you can get. It'll depend on your chip. mobo, and case though. Use AS5 too to help keep temps down.

I just have one thing to say... NO WAY! The Scythe Infinity, Tuniq Tower, and Thermalright Ultra-120 all blow the 9500 away. There is no comparison at all.

based on what? I have read reviews and I will tell you one thing.....
Define being blown away? 1 degree or 2 degrees celcius?? Muahahaaa
I just recieved my Ultra- 120 and installed it on my gaming rigg.....soon to be a Untel Core Duo...

I will tell you one thing...none of the heatsink even hold a candle to the 9500 when cranked down to 7 or 5 volts. Even on SPCR they said Zalman was the clear winner.

Winner of what? Aesthetics?

EDIT: So it seems that at 12V it does outperform all the units they tested at the time of the review of the 9500. However,

At the tested level of airflow, the Zalman 9500 is far too loud for use in a conventional case.

lets see SPCR`s opinion.....compared to other sites just as good saying the zalman 9500 had no noise issues.....then other sites saying sure there is noise but its not an issue.....
We can keep going back and forth howard if you like.....but it would be nice if yopu would dirtect me to a link stating the 9500 was too loud for conventional cases...or is that just you again misinterpreting what you read??

You see what you fail to grasp Howard is those of us who actually own the 9500 compared to those with an opinion of something they do not own-- we actually like the Zalman 9500......

 

[JEDIYoda]

Originally posted by: cmdrdredd

Originally posted by: JEDIYoda

Originally posted by: Howard

Originally posted by: JEDIYoda

Originally posted by: cmdrdredd

Originally posted by: Skott
I like the 9500 AT on my Conroe chip. Core temps is 35C Idle and 47C under load. I think the 9500 is definetely one of the best if not the best hsf you can get. It'll depend on your chip. mobo, and case though. Use AS5 too to help keep temps down.

I just have one thing to say... NO WAY! The Scythe Infinity, Tuniq Tower, and Thermalright Ultra-120 all blow the 9500 away. There is no comparison at all.

based on what? I have read reviews and I will tell you one thing.....
Define being blown away? 1 degree or 2 degrees celcius?? Muahahaaa
I just recieved my Ultra- 120 and installed it on my gaming rigg.....soon to be a Untel Core Duo...

I will tell you one thing...none of the heatsink even hold a candle to the 9500 when cranked down to 7 or 5 volts. Even on SPCR they said Zalman was the clear winner.

Winner of what? Aesthetics?

EDIT: So it seems that at 12V it does outperform all the units they tested at the time of the review of the 9500. However,

At the tested level of airflow, the Zalman 9500 is far too loud for use in a conventional case.

Again Howard you dod not read or comprehend my post which is nothing new for you I guess...what did i say.....

did i say at full throttle????
I believe I said -- will tell you one thing...none of the heatsink even hold a candle to the 9500 when cranked down to 7 or 5 volts. Even on SPCR they said Zalman was the clear winner.
Please correct me if I am wrong?

Did I say 12 volts nope.....again you put words into my mouth....
As I stated in my post -- As is its a 3.2 EE over clocked to 3.8......
Not one degree difference in the temps betwen the 9500 and the Ultra.
There is no way to proclaim the best heatsink for any given computer there are so many variables it just cannot be done.

I know people who are using the Arctic Frezer Pro who are getting better temps with that cooler than the Scythe Ninja which they also own...

So far the zalman 9500 among the coolers that I have is 1 degree celcius difference in all the heatsink I have....
To and including the XP-120 and the XP90copper and the Ultra-120 and the Scythe Ninja and the Zalman 9500 and the Tuniq Tower...none of the other come close to these temps that I have from all these heatsink there is worse case scenario 2 degrees celciius difference in various heatsinks.

You complain about noise levels well there are many people love the Zlaman 9500 and run it all full throttle who have no issues with noise....
I for one also have no issues with noise...
There are websites that have reviewed the Zalman 9500 who have stated there is no appreciable difference betwen running the 9500 at full throttle and other heatsinks.
Yet we both knpw that since it has a 80mm fan it most likely to some degree is louder.

yet as I stated throttled down to 7 or 5 volts even SPCR says it is a very good heatsink.
Oh by the way-- Hello Howard!!

Actually it's a 92mm fan not 80mm and if you read any reviews that show the Infinity, Ultra-120 or the Tuniq Tower in a controlled test they are clearly superior. Thing of it is, I've never seen a CNPS9500 compared to these. Why do you think that is? It's simply because the AC Freezer, Big Typhoon, and 9500 are not all that high end. The Infinity, Tuniq Tower, Ultra-120 and even the Noctura are made for high end cooling and not the average joe who just wants to overclock for the first time. These coolers are the best you can get without delving into water or something more extreme yet.

Another opinion.......unsubstatiated??? Thats what I like about you....I own all those heatsinks.....
The Zalman 9500 holds its own amongst those you listed...
Your argument which is just wishful thinking on your part...
I've never seen a CNPS9500 compared to these. Why do you think that is? <--his argumentJust doesnt hold water. Everytime you test a new heatsink or a heatsink yopu cannot possibly test all heatsinks over and over against each other thats just not possibel.....duh
Do a google search and you will find plenty of tests from the past.....
You see I could turn that question around to say You know why the zalman 9500 is never tested against the newest heatsinks? The answer is simple...they just do not compare.

But I am not as nieve as some. There are many top flight heatsink possibly even a dozen or so now. And the Ninja...the Ultra 120 the Tuniq as well as the Tt Big Typhoon and the Zalman 9500 and maybe 1/2 a dozen other heatsink are all right at the top.

again there truly is no #1 heatsink no matter what some reviewer says...at best there are many heatsinks that work well and not so well on any given system...there are just too many variables to make that claim.

 

[JEDIYoda]

Originally posted by: cmdrdredd

Originally posted by: Baked
Thermalright Ultra-120 works for me. Have a couple 120mm fans already, so getting the Ultra-120 was only natural. Zalman 9500 was simply too expensive. I set fan speed to auto in the BIOS and noticed the Yate Loon fan I have on the Ultra-120's not at full speed. Cools better than the Artic Cooling Freezer Pro 7, so that's good enough for me. I also like the option of changing between 120mm fans whenever I like.

I have an Ultra-120 with a Panaflow H1BX on order. 103cfm :Q

Im using coolermaters fans that top out ay 43cfm.
I had other fans that topped out at over 100cfm.
the problem with airflow is that the higher the cfm there starts to be diminishing returns.
I got no lower temperatures with a fan ratd at 100cfm than a fan ratd at 40cfm.
In fact the diminishing returns start approximately at betwen 40-55cfm.

Plus there is moway your fan is going to quieter at 100cfm than what i am running at 42 cfm.
Also there is noway your fan is going to be any quieter running at 100cfm that a Zalman 9500 running all out...that just will not happen.

I still seriously doubt you own a 9500 but thats OK!! On the internet you can say anything you want...lol

 

[cmdrdredd]

Originally posted by: JEDIYoda

Originally posted by: cmdrdredd

Originally posted by: Baked
Thermalright Ultra-120 works for me. Have a couple 120mm fans already, so getting the Ultra-120 was only natural. Zalman 9500 was simply too expensive. I set fan speed to auto in the BIOS and noticed the Yate Loon fan I have on the Ultra-120's not at full speed. Cools better than the Artic Cooling Freezer Pro 7, so that's good enough for me. I also like the option of changing between 120mm fans whenever I like.

I have an Ultra-120 with a Panaflow H1BX on order. 103cfm :Q

Im using coolermaters fans that top out ay 43cfm.
I had other fans that topped out at over 100cfm.
the problem with airflow is that the higher the cfm there starts to be diminishing returns.
I got no lower temperatures with a fan ratd at 100cfm than a fan ratd at 40cfm.
In fact the diminishing returns start approximately at betwen 40-55cfm.

Plus there is moway your fan is going to quieter at 100cfm than what i am running at 42 cfm.
Also there is noway your fan is going to be any quieter running at 100cfm that a Zalman 9500 running all out...that just will not happen.

I still seriously doubt you own a 9500 but thats OK!! On the internet you can say anything you want...lol

Look you're just digging yourself into a hole here. If you bother to read what people say instead of just assuming all the time you'd see that I don't care about noise, that the Ultra-120 and other tower coolers are much better with high cfm than other heatsinks. If you want a friggen picture of my CNPS9500 I can provide it although you won't care and probably say it's not my system :roll:

 

[JEDIYoda]

Originally posted by: cmdrdredd

Originally posted by: JEDIYoda

Originally posted by: cmdrdredd

Originally posted by: Baked
Thermalright Ultra-120 works for me. Have a couple 120mm fans already, so getting the Ultra-120 was only natural. Zalman 9500 was simply too expensive. I set fan speed to auto in the BIOS and noticed the Yate Loon fan I have on the Ultra-120's not at full speed. Cools better than the Artic Cooling Freezer Pro 7, so that's good enough for me. I also like the option of changing between 120mm fans whenever I like.

I have an Ultra-120 with a Panaflow H1BX on order. 103cfm :Q

Im using coolermaters fans that top out ay 43cfm.
I had other fans that topped out at over 100cfm.
the problem with airflow is that the higher the cfm there starts to be diminishing returns.
I got no lower temperatures with a fan ratd at 100cfm than a fan ratd at 40cfm.
In fact the diminishing returns start approximately at betwen 40-55cfm.

Plus there is moway your fan is going to quieter at 100cfm than what i am running at 42 cfm.
Also there is noway your fan is going to be any quieter running at 100cfm that a Zalman 9500 running all out...that just will not happen.

I still seriously doubt you own a 9500 but thats OK!! On the internet you can say anything you want...lol

Look you're just digging yourself into a hole here. If you bother to read what people say instead of just assuming all the time you'd see that I don't care about noise, that the Ultra-120 and other tower coolers are much better with high cfm than other heatsinks. If you want a friggen picture of my CNPS9500 I can provide it although you won't care and probably say it's not my system :roll:

Actually I read the same reviews that you do and I sorry there does come a point of diminishing returns when it comes to high cfms.
That point is somewhere between 40-55 cfm`s. I own most of the heatsinks you claim are the top tire. I have run extensive tests using each and every heatsink I own and not one of thise heatsinks does better using a fan capable of 100cfm verses a fan that maxes out at between 40-55cfm!!

I am digging a hole by stating facts that are sound and based on personnal experience?
You have already dug yourself a hole you can`t even beging to climb out of!!

Just your statements concerning the Zalman 9500 show that you at best have little or no experience in using heatsinks....especially the 9500!

Your reason why you don`t like the 9500 are just shall we say bogus here let me remind you...
3 Things. 1)looks don't make a good cooling system 2) a NON replacable fan is a complete mistake and 3) You get to pick your airflow on the infinity/Ultra-120 etc. You can basically put any 120MM fan you want from a 115cfm Panaflow U1A to a ultra quiet Yate Loon and anything in between. Plus instillation of the Zalman is not as stable...only locking the HSF at 2 points and allowing it to lever off the socket. == not true al all!!

Then you fail to understand that its not just me who says you are wrong ......even Operandi says you are......

This is one of those things we could go back and forth on....yet suffice to say.....I have to laugh at alot of your commnts concerning the Zalman 9500 and i have to shake my head that you actually don`t understand that there really is a point of diminishing returns when it comes to heatsink airflow.....sorry your way out of your league it would appear...

Have a nice day!!

 

[JEDIYoda]

Look you're just digging yourself into a hole here. If you bother to read what people say instead of just assuming all the time you'd see that I don't care about noise, that the Ultra-120 and other tower coolers are much better with high cfm than other heatsinks. If you want a friggen picture of my CNPS9500 I can provide it although you won't care and probably say it's not my system

The above statement is what I would expect somebody to say who actually doesn`t own one!!

But hey if you do cool. I just believe you have no clue what you are talking about especially when you say the following things about the 9500--- 3 Things. 1)looks don't make a good cooling system 2) a NON replacable fan is a complete mistake and 3) You get to pick your airflow on the infinity/Ultra-120 etc. You can basically put any 120MM fan you want from a 115cfm Panaflow U1A to a ultra quiet Yate Loon and anything in between. Plus instillation of the Zalman is not as stable...only locking the HSF at 2 points and allowing it to lever off the socket.

here`s why most heatsink use 2 screws to as you call it level but I will say secure the heatsink to the CPU via 2 arms that hook to the original heatsink retaining bracket.
Somwe work differently but the Zalman is very secure and very easy to install using the method that it installs by!! You statemnt that the zalman 9500 is not a stable install tells me you probably iether didn`t read and follow directions or you just have no clue.

Even Operandi stated -- You are either arguing for the sake of being argumentative or you no experience with Zalman HS/Fs. The 9500 is defiantly one of the best currently available heatsinks; top 5 easy. Zalman build quality is exceptional; 2nd only to Alpha in my opinion.

The design of CNPS-9500 is functional; it's not just about looks. The built in fan is a trade off, but as long as the fan is of high-quality (which it is) I don't think it's much of an issue. It is possible to replace the fan should something go wrong, either from Zalman or through modification of a fan of your choice.

Then in another thread he states-- It is expensive, that?s the cost of its elaborate design. If the price is a factor there are better choices.

Most good reviews put the 9500 on the top of the charts however; specifically in noise to performance ratio And most people are happy with their purchase.

The 9500 was designed and built for low noise performance cooling. It was never intended to be an all out performance HS/F; that has always been Zalman's target market.

Then you smuggly respond with -- Low noise and low performance I guess...

Then operandi states -- You guessed wrong...

Thus my contention that even IF you do own a 9500 your arguments against the 9500 hold no water especially the arguments where you claim its not stable and then you bogusly go out on the limb stating the fan is non repaceable.....

Keep digging.....

 

[Howard]

Originally posted by: JEDIYoda

Originally posted by: Howard

Originally posted by: JEDIYoda

Originally posted by: Howard

Originally posted by: JEDIYoda

Originally posted by: cmdrdredd

Originally posted by: Skott
I like the 9500 AT on my Conroe chip. Core temps is 35C Idle and 47C under load. I think the 9500 is definetely one of the best if not the best hsf you can get. It'll depend on your chip. mobo, and case though. Use AS5 too to help keep temps down.

I just have one thing to say... NO WAY! The Scythe Infinity, Tuniq Tower, and Thermalright Ultra-120 all blow the 9500 away. There is no comparison at all.

based on what? I have read reviews and I will tell you one thing.....
Define being blown away? 1 degree or 2 degrees celcius?? Muahahaaa
I just recieved my Ultra- 120 and installed it on my gaming rigg.....soon to be a Untel Core Duo...

I will tell you one thing...none of the heatsink even hold a candle to the 9500 when cranked down to 7 or 5 volts. Even on SPCR they said Zalman was the clear winner.

Winner of what? Aesthetics?

EDIT: So it seems that at 12V it does outperform all the units they tested at the time of the review of the 9500. However,

At the tested level of airflow, the Zalman 9500 is far too loud for use in a conventional case.

Again Howard you did not read or comprehend my post which is nothing new for you I guess...what did I say.....

You think it's so easy to understand your posts?

yet as I stated throttled down to 7 or 5 volts even SPCR says it is a very good heatsink.
Oh by the way-- Hello Howard!!

According to SPCR, with the Ninja running a Nexus 120mm at 12V and the 9500 at 5V (same level of noise, roughly) the Ninja is 4 degrees cooler.

I fail to see how "very good" is "the winner".

none of the heatsink even hold a candle to the 9500 when cranked down to 7 or 5 volts.

Wrong, wrong, wrong.

What your problem?
None of the heatsink hold a candle to the Zalman 9500 when they all including the Zalman 9500 are throttled down to 7volts. Thats what the SPCR article said.....
As such the zalman 9500 is the best heatsink when all other heatsinks are throttled down to 7v.......

OK, let's say the 9500 is running at 7V and so is the Nexus 120mm on the Scythe Ninja. According to SPCR, the temp rise for the 9500 (on their platform) is 16 degrees. The temp rise for the Ninja is 18 degrees.

Now, I know you've said that 1-2 degrees is not enough to declare a winner. I know you've posted that in at least 10 different threads over the past year or two. So, we don't know for sure which HSF is the clear winner but we do know that the Ninja is SIGNIFICANTLY quieter. So what does the 9500 win at, again?

 

[Baked]

Originally posted by: JEDIYoda
Actually I read the same reviews that you do and I sorry there does come a point of diminishing returns when it comes to high cfms.
That point is somewhere between 40-55 cfm`s. I own most of the heatsinks you claim are the top tire. I have run extensive tests using each and every heatsink I own and not one of thise heatsinks does better using a fan capable of 100cfm verses a fan that maxes out at between 40-55cfm!!

Hooray for you. You sure write a lot to proof a point that's only true to yourself. I happen to have a pair of 120mm fans here with me that I use w/ the Ultra-120. One is 47CFM, the other's 86.5 CFM. When using the fan w/ more CFM, I get a 4-5C improvement. AFAIK, Thermalright heatsinks improves with more CFM and Zalman heatsinks are good for cooling at minimum voltage. I don't know why people are keep claiming the Zalman 9500 is the best heatsink ever when that's only true when they run it at sub 12V voltage. When running at 12V, the Thermalright Ultra-120, Sunbeam Tuniq, and Scythe Infinity are clearly better than the Zalman 9500. Listen, you're keep trying to proof a point to bring other heatsinks down to the Zalman's level, assuming everybody who uses a heatsink runs their fan at sub 12V voltage. Well, not everybody's a freak like that.

 

[Bateluer]

Well, this was an interesting read, even with the jacked up super quotes.

I think I'm going to order an Artic Cooling Freezer 64 Pro for my AM2 system instead of the AM2 9500 Zalman.

The price of the 9500 has dropped though, used to be 60 USD, now its 48 USD over at Newegg.

 

[VinDSL]

Originally posted by: Baked
I don't know why people are keep claiming the Zalman 9500 is the best heatsink ever...

At one time, it was the best (or one of the best), but that was like a couple of months ago, in universal time -- years ago, in computer time...

The problem for a lot of ppl is, they'll do some research, find the best HSF, then run with it in perpetuity. Unfortunately, you can't do this with something as dynamic, in nature, as CPU coolers. This market is in a constant state of flux -- always has been. Nobody is #1 for long!

The problem for Zalman is, while they have a strong, brand-loyal, following... (other) HSF manufacturers aren't as satisfied with maintaining the status quo, e.g. being #2.

As a result, the Zalman CNPS9500, as born out by recent shootouts and reviews, is solidly in the middle-of-the-pack, in the performance results. The slumbering public just hasn't caught up with this fact yet.

And so, life goes on...

When should you start looking for your next HSF? Right after you purchase the one you got!

 

[soydios]

I have a CNPS9500LED on a Core 2 Duo E6600 at stock (2.40GHz 1.30V). Idle temp (just checked in Asus PC Probe right now) is 28C. This is with a pair of 120mm fans (one intake, one exhaust) running at 7V, and the CNPS9500 on the CPU running at 7V. The loudest sound in my case (Antec P160) is the hard drives seeking (Seagate 7200.10 320GB, really quiet and on isolated mountings to boot), followed by the front intake fan (Vantec Stealth 120mm @ 7V).

Suffice to say, the Zalman is quiet, and when you properly apply the thermal grease, cool.