Zalman CNPS8000A

Zalman CNPS8000A CPU Cooler Review

Today we take a look at the Zalman CNPS8000A CPU cooler. True, OverclockersClub is known for its enthusiast class reviews that can exploit the boundaries of performance hardware available to all who want to push their overclocked computers to the max, but we still have to cater to the needs of the people out there that need specialty coolers for projects like SFF and HTPC case builds. So, for those select people we will take a look at this Zalman CNPS8000A, sitting on top of an i3 540 processor, because you really don't need an overclocked i7 pumping movies to your TV in an HTPC case. Zalman does state this cooler is compatible with the Intel 1156/1366/775 and AMD AM3/AM2+/AM2 series of processors. Okay, how about a little discussion on air cooling. What do you want an air CPU cooler to do? You want it to remove as much heat as possible, as quickly as possible, from your CPU. Starting at the mating surfaces, you want your cooler and CPU to be as flat and void of imperfections as possible resulting in the greatest metal to metal contact obtainable. Imperfections even down to the microscopic level will affect the transfer of heat between the two surfaces.