- 120W Cooling
- 80mm PWM Fan
- 1500 ~ 2600 rpm±10%
- Noise Lvl" 17.4~22.7 dBA±10%
Terrible Mounting Bracket
03/24/2014
This review is from: ZALMAN CNPS2X 80mm Long Life Bearing CPU Cooler
Pros:
-Made by Zalman
-Low profile and solid design
Cons:
-Worst mounting bracket imaginable
-Insufficient cooling
-Extremely hard to replace if you choose to do so
Overall Review:
I got this for a computer a friend commissioned me to build for him. We decided to run a AMD A10-7850K Kaveri, a processor that generates a considerable amount of heat. I knew the stock cooler wouldn't be enough and I was concerned with 1. Cooler compatibility with the FM2 socket, and 2. limited space inside his case. I ultimately opted to go for this cooler because I believed it had everything we were looking for.
If I had only known.
When it was finally time during the build to install the CPU cooler we took this thing out of the box and spent a good ten minutes trying to figure out the instructions and another ten to fifteen minutes to actually install the bracket on the motherboard. This mounting bracket is so convoluted I swear it was invented by an engineer that was so bored with his job that he decided to design something that would make the end users to suffer. The mounting process requires removing the original bracket, and using double-sided tape (yes, that's right; TAPE) to affix part of the new bracket on the back of the motherboard. After you have the new bracket taped in you have to install these spacers and inside these spacers have to go the bases for the screws (that secure the cooler itself) to screw into. This whole process took THREE people to do, two more than it should have. After we got the bracket in we finally managed to get the actual cooler tightened down and ready to go. We finished the rest of the build and sent the computer home with my friend.
After a few days my friend began reporting to me that his processor was running hot according to the BIOS temps. It was running around 50-60 degrees Celsius idle and would sometimes climb up to around 80+ under load (he was playing Civ. 5). I told him to turn it off and not to use it until we got another cooler.
We ordered a new cooler and when he got it in I took his motherboard out to install it. This is where the fun really began. The cooler itself actually came off easily but then I also had to remove the bracket to re-install the stock bracket which the new cooler used.
Remember the double sided tape? Well by now it had been fused onto the motherboard and I had to very, very, carefully pry off the bracket off with a small screwdriver. After I did get it off there was all of this residue and gunk from the tape on the motherboard which I again had to carefully clean off with paper towels and my fingernail. All-in-all we did get the new cooler installed but we should have just bought the new one in the beginning.
Here is our replacement which will indeed work with any FM2/AM3 processors and does an excellent job of keeping things cool. I HIGHLY recommend this one: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835118223
Manufacturer Response:
Dear valued customer,
We sincerely apologize for the issue. Please contact our customer service e-mail support.usa@zalmanusa.com or via toll free number 1-888-925-6266 for further assistance.
Thank you.
Best regards,
Zalman USA Customer Service
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- Anonymous
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Owned For:
1 week to 1 month
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