Computer systems in compact cases are steadily gaining popularity. But when assembling them, you have to solve a number of specific problems associated with the limited internal space of small-sized cases. First of all, it is necessary to ensure normal cooling of the central processor, otherwise the computer will not be able to fully function. This task can be more difficult than it seems at first glance, since most processor coolers are designed for installation in common midi-tower cases. Nevertheless, it is quite possible to find an adequate solution. It is worth paying attention to ZALMAN CNPS2X, which will be discussed in this review.
Packaging
The cooler ZALMAN CNPS2X is designed for compact cases, therefore it has a small size. The cardboard box that serves as its packaging is only slightly larger than the cooling system inside. Despite its compactness, the designers managed to make it very colorful and informative. Thanks to the skillful use of color printing, the packaging received a bright and memorable appearance.
The front part shows a photographic image of ZALMAN CNPS2X, its name and a number of pictograms that indicate the main features of the cooler. We will talk about them a little later.
One of the sides contains a short list of technical characteristics of the cooling system, below are the compatible types of processor sockets. It should be noted that ZALMAN CNPS2X is suitable for cooling almost all types of modern processors.
The second side panel shows the side view of the cooler and indicates the RoHS certification data. The country of origin is also reported, which is South Korea.
The back side describes the advantages and features of the ZALMAN CNPS2X cooler in 8 languages, including Russian. The manufacturer pays attention to the cooler's ability to work with processors with a thermal power of 120 W, direct contact technology, specific design of fan blades and the shape of the heat pipe, the presence of a copper coating and an excellent appearance of the product. Compatibility of the device with ATX and Mini-ITX cases is emphasized, as well as its light weight and easy installation. It sounds tempting, and I want to look at the owner of so many talents.
Equipment
There is a plastic blister inside the box, which ensures safe transportation for the miniature cooler. In addition to the cooling system itself, the buyer will receive a reinforcing plate with a set of fasteners for different processor platforms, a set of screws, four plastic pads, cardboard and plastic spacers, high-quality ZALMAN ZM-STG2M thermal grease in a small transparent bag, as well as a paper installation manual and a branded sticker with the manufacturer's logo.
As you can see, everything you need to install and use the cooler is included in the package. It is worth noting the presence of a reinforcing plate, which provides a reliable clamping and uniform load on the motherboard.
Appearance
Radiator ZALMAN CNPS2X is round in shape, it consists of radially diverging thin metal plates pressed in the central part. The distance between them varies from 1.8 mm to 2.8. The thickness of each rib is 0.41 mm. They are made of aluminum, but thanks to the copper coating, they are anti-corrosion resistant and have a pleasant appearance.
A copper heat pipe with a diameter of six millimeters is used for efficient heat transfer between the base and the heatsink. It has a curved, S-shaped shape. This solution allows to achieve an even distribution of heat throughout the radiator and increases the overall rigidity of the entire structure.The tube goes through the center of the base and contacts the processor cover through a layer of thermal paste. The use of direct contact technology increases the rate of heat transfer, but loses somewhat to solutions with a solid base in terms of uniformity of heat dissipation. The tube is connected to the plates by means of solder, which facilitates more efficient heat transfer.
The base of the radiator is square, with a side of three centimeters. On two opposite sides there are two through holes that are used to install the complete fan. The surface of the sole is well polished, but it is difficult to call it mirrored. On the sides of the heat pipe, grooves are formed, which must be filled with thermal paste during installation.
The device in question uses a ZE8010ASM fan, which supports PWM speed control. The current consumption of this model is 0.2 A, the operating voltage range is from 6 to 12 V. The maximum rotation speed reaches 2600 rpm. Nevertheless, the manufacturer promises a relatively low noise level, not exceeding 22.7 dB.
When removing the fan, we see the back side of the base and the junction of the ribs. By placing the fan inside the radiator, the developers not only improved the interaction of air flows with the heating element, but also provided cooling for the components located around the processor socket. In compact enclosures, where the layout of the elements is very dense, additional ventilation is very important. The fan is fixed in place with latches, its removal and installation does not cause unnecessary problems.
Installing a cooler
As indicated on the package, the installation of the ZALMAN CNPS2X cooler is simple. If you have any questions, you can look at the manufacturer's website, where this process is described in detail. We will share our own work experience.
At the beginning of the installation, two metal plates should be attached to the heatsink, which correspond to the processor socket of the motherboard. There are four supplied screws for this. A central gasket must be glued to the reinforcing plate, then fixing pins are installed in the corresponding holes and fixed with four plastic pads.
If you are installing a cooler on an AMD processor, then the standard mounts on the motherboard must be removed. This operation is not required for Intel platforms. Despite the symmetrical fasteners used in Intel platforms, the cooler should be installed in accordance with the instructions in the manual, as this will provide better ventilation for memory modules and expansion cards.
As you can see in the photo, the hero of our review turned out to be very low, its height differs little from the highest components of the motherboard. You don't have to worry about overlapping any of the interface connectors. After tightening the screw fasteners, all that is required is to connect the four-pin fan connector to the corresponding socket on the motherboard.
Testing
To carry out the tests, we assembled a computer system based on an Intel Core i5-2500K processor and an MSI Z77A-GD65 motherboard. We compared the performance of the ZALMAN CNPS2X with several other compact models. These included a boxed cooler from the processor used in the tests, as well as the Scythe Kozuti and Thermaltake Slim X3 cooling systems.
The results are displayed in the following diagram.
As you can see, the miniature dimensions of the model in question did not have the best effect on the cooling efficiency. At an impeller speed of 1500 rpm, our subject loses to larger models. Even a boxed cooler works with better results, however, this can be explained by the presence of a copper insert in it, which is installed in boxed coolers of the most powerful Intel processors.
However, before criticizing ZALMAN CNPS2X, it is necessary to pay attention to the following points.
Firstly, although the temperature of the processor with the cooler in question was higher than when using competing counterparts, it did not exceed the permissible parameters even at the lowest fan speed.
Second, the benefits of some of the larger cooling systems were lost when the fans were running at maximum speed. This indicates the presence of a kind of margin of safety, which will not allow the processor to overheat excessively.
Further tests allowed ZALMAN CNPS2X to fully rehabilitate itself in our eyes.
In tests for the cooling efficiency of a 100-watt heating element, the ZALMAN CNPS2X cooling system showed lower temperature indicators than the box version.
We expected not very impressive results from the high-speed 8cm fan in the noise level tests. But the miniature cooler was a pleasant surprise again. Even at maximum revs, it turned out to be quieter than many competitors.
Unfortunately, we were unable to obtain information on the type of bearing used in the fan, so the question of its service life remains open.
conclusions
Cooler ZALMAN CNPS2X leaves positive impressions on the whole. This is a great solution for compact Mini-ITX cases. Due to its extremely small footprint, this cooling system fits easily on any motherboard. At the same time, it does not overlap the nearby connectors and practically does not differ in height from the most protruding elements of the motherboard. ZALMAN CNPS2X is one of the most compact serial production CPU coolers.
He successfully coped with the cooling of the Intel Core i5-2500K processor, which has a TDP of 95 watts. At the same time, the fan noise remained at a satisfactory level. Also worth noting is the efficient design of the heatsink, which directs some of the airflow to the components around the processor socket. With the lack of free space, characteristic of compact cases, this moment can be significant.
Another advantage of ZALMAN CNPS2X is its low cost. Considering all of the above features, this cooler can be considered as the most practical solution for miniature computer configurations.
