Pros: Cools like everyone else says. Plus if you research comparison tests, this Zalman is always one of the top rated. Installed on a eVGA 680i motherboard with a Intel E6420 Core-Duo 2.13GHz processor. Then I overclocked to 3.3GHz with no problem at all. ;) Use Artic Silver 5 (not cheap/generic thermal grease) on the CPU before you press the Zalman down, a MUST for the lowest temps! My temps are usually in the mid-30s even after 1+ hours of hard core gaming (COH, BF2142, FEAR, etc.). The unit itself looks very cool with the green LED fan, make sure to get a case with a window!

Cons: Wow, it is huge and heavy. The install booklet instructions are not very good. Plus they have directions for both Intel and AMD CPUs right next to each other so it is a bit confusing (plus there is hardware for both types of CPUs in the box). Then when I installed it for my 775 Intel core-duo CPU on a eVGA 680i motherboard I was holding my breath....as I pushed the middle clip down across the heatsink to screw it into the MB it seemed so high up & far to go to get it secure...I was thinking 'man, I hope this is not putting to much pressure on the CPU'...then I heard a crack sound and was hoping it was not the chip...it wasn't, so everything was OK, whew! I guess it takes a good amount of pressure & tension to hold the cooler onto the CPU. Plus remember that

Overall Review: I was almost going to give this 4 stars because of the instructions & installation, but that is not really fair. The thing is huge & you just need to be careful. When installing take your time and do not force anything. Use the black plastic 4 hole square bracket - it goes underneath the MB to give the cooler extra support. When you screw in one end of the 'see-saw' clip that goes across the middle of the heatsink, do not tighten it totally, just halfway. Then gently, but firmly push the other end down with a screwdriver inserted into the screw to the 'screw-hole' on the MB....pay attention and focus so it does not slip off the driver. Screw it in and then tighten the other side all the way & you are done. Last thing...I installed this to the CPU & motherboard OUTSIDE of my case & then put everything in and attached the MB to the case. You may want to do it with the MB already inside (make sure to put the black bracket below first if you do), for me it was more room outside on a table.

Pros: I have done some pretty extensive testing, and I must say, all reviews are completely true. I did three setup tests: one with an I-ntel C-ore 2 Q-u-a-d Q-6-6-0-0, an A-M-D 4-0-0-0+, and a I-ntel C-ore 2 Q-u-a-d Q-6-6-0-0 complete overclock. The first test, with the I-ntel, dropped the CPU temp from 35c with load, to around 22c. The second test, the A-M-D, was 37c with load, and dropped to 24c. The I-ntel overclocked with this fan from 2.4GHz to 3.3 GHz, with the 2.4GHz temp. at 22c, the Overcloked temp. was stable at around 43c. That is quite a feat with strictly air cooling! All overclocking was done with just what's in this box.

Cons: Very large. This fan rests about 7mm (Yes, milimeters) from the side of my case, which is a small L-i-a-n L-i Mid-tower. This fan is also very expensive, with a price of around $-6-0 more expensive than some of its fellow fans. Very heavy also, so be careful that you follow all directions, as damage tio the motherboard will most likely occur if not used with provided supports.

Overall Review: If you want to get the most out of any processor, Either company (Cyrix can come too...), and you need the cost-effectivness of air cooling, there is no other fan wich will yeild the results as this monster. Remember, this fan is for overclocking, nothing less, but even the avaerage joe can appreciate what this fan has to offer. Would buy, (and will buy for the second build), again.

Pros: When the assembly described below was completed, and the rest of the components were installed in my new rig, the zalman worked at first boot just like it is designed to do; it is pretty to watch and even more beautiful to see the temps remain below 41C under full load. I have cosmos 1000 case so that it fits without problem. if i could get my 2xUltras to cool better all of my components would be running below 41C.

Cons: Installation on a 790i evga mobo was not easy for me; the assembly is not clearly described in sufficient detail by the enclosed information. i stared at the instructions and went to the website for an extra 30 minutes before grasping exactly how it is to be done. This was my very first build. The installation of this device was the most scarey part due to the price of the cpu underneath and my own relative lack of confidence. the fan-fin-heatsink unit is heavy, precarious to grasp in one hand while guiding it to nest atop the cpu and somewhat slippery thermal compound. securing it was more difficult and potentially trecherous, requiring much more force to screw down than I ever expected as i pressed still more to turn the screws home. it is the single loudest item in my case, which is sound insulated. the 4 custom installed scythe fans are second; the 2 8800 ultras are third.

Overall Review: do your reseach, compare decible levels among fans, read reviews at Tom's, anandtech, xbit and other review sites for what will work best for your rig. no one component is best unless your study has shown it is best for you and you have adapted yourself to its appropriateness for your other components, its installation on your mobo and its daily use. nuf said

Pros: Keeps the CPU super-cool: My E8400 Wolfdale (at stock 3.0ghz) runs at 29C idle and goes up to only 40C playing Crysis after an hour. Can't wait to see it OC'd. Can be pointed up, down, left, right - mine's pointed to the left, where it shoots hot air straight out the back of my Thermaltake Armor.

Cons: It's big - yes, other reviews say it, but it's BIG. Don't drop this in a small case. This one is a copper/aluminum alloy - all copper has, in theory, better heat reducing capability.

Overall Review: The green LED looks cool!

Pros: Quiet. Keeps my QX9650 Yorkfield quad-core at about 40C (not overclocked). Not any harder to install than the stock Intel cooler if you do it while building an all new motherboard and CPU. Didn't block access to memory or any other essential connectors on my Asus P5E3 Deluxe.

Cons: It's BIG. I imagine there are cases this wouldn't fit into. I couldn't care less about the LED lighting, and certainly wouldn't pay money for it.

Overall Review: Just what I wanted, no problems at all (but I planned the new build carefully so everything would fit and go together as easily as possible).

Pros: Very well constructed. Keeps my Pentium D 915 nice and cool on an ASrock 775 dual VSTA mobo. My idle temp dropped from 54C down to 37C. I was able to eliminate a case fan and finally put the side panel back on my case. Fan speed can be easily controlled with free software like "Speedfan". Overall I feel that I got good value for the price paid.

Cons: You will almost certainly have to remove your mobo to get this puppy installed. Gave me a good excuse to give everything a good cleaning though so maybe that's not a negative. This thing is HUGE and I was never able to find the mobo compatibility chart on the Zalman website so do your best to measure and make sure it's going to fit. Installation instructions are hard to read and understand. Take your time and really look things over before installation. I wouldn't consider this cooler as ultra quiet. It's more like fairly quiet at maximum fan speed.

Overall Review: I chose to use Arctic silver 5 instead of the supplied Zalman thermal compound so I can't comment on their product. Overall I am very satisfied with this cooler so far. It will be interesting to see how it performs when ambient room temperatures go up in the summer.

Pros: I had this on top of Quad Core Extreme for year. It's an ice box, and the light is pretty.

Cons: It can't make my morning coffee.

Pros: - I know I read some other's experience using this on an intel chipset (by Vamp9190), but with my Phenom II 3.4GHZ Quad this was very easy to install. I looked at the Intel chipset section and really feel bad for you guys! You need to do a bit more than just the metal bracket haha. For the Phenom II AM3, You only need to use one out of two of the metal clips (and the L metal end) and it does not take much pressure to apply it. If you look in the book, you can eye out which is the right one by the angle of the metal. I recommend hooking the first end of the clip on the low side of the mount, and pressing it on, on the high side. - Stock cooler on my old Phenom I idled around 52, go to 62 in a hot room under full load. I ran this in an Antec 1200 case, with the 2 extra 120mm fans mounted inside the case (one blowing at the zalman), and now my new Phenom II runs at around 35C using low cpu programs. Under full load in a room about 75-80F, the CPU rans at about 42C. HUGE IMPROVEMENT!

Cons: - When I first powered up, the fan was not spinning... I honestly do not know if I have a weak fan, or if it was my new motherboard. It spins fine it seems. For now. - A bit big, but...it wasn't a problem for me with my new Antec 1200 case. - WARNING, one problem I could pontentially see is this cooler MAY get in the way of RAM with large heat absorbers. Luckily I had RAM with just a standard low profile absorber. To be exact, I used this configuration flawlessly: RAM: G.SKILL F3-12800CL9D-4GBNQ CPU: Phenom II 3.4GHZ Mobo: GIGABYTE GA-790FXTA-UD5 AM3

Overall Review: If it has been a while since you applied aftermarket paste like artic silver, I will save you the trouble of telling you to use a piece of paper folded over to apply it. I used a Q-Tip at first, and realized that may have been a huge mistake as the little fibers could potentially get mixed in. Doh! Would recommend this to others as it keeps my CPU VERY cool.