hey guys, i just bought an AMDXP 3200+ and an ABIT NF7-S V2 and was wondering what the best heatsink would be for this system. I was reccomended to get the:
Zalman CNPS7000-Cu, is this the best?

I personally think that this is the best heat sink, but a close second is the SLK-900A with a good fan.

http://svc.com/thslcl.html - SLK900A
http://svc.com/92vantorfan1.html - Tornado 92mm fan Great, but loud
http://svc.com/en92vasphipe.html - Good fan but quieter

I'd say that the Zalman is the best for noise/performance ratio, but not the best for performance if you couple a ThermalRIGHT with a Tornado like V4mp listed. With the Zalman you're keeping your sanity while getting awesome performance, the ThermalRIGHT+insane fan is the opposite.

You may also want to consider the copper+aluminum hybrid version as I have heard the same, if not better, about that.

Quote: Originally Posted by Kage I'd say that the Zalman is the best for noise/performance ratio, but not the best for performance if you couple a ThermalRIGHT with a Tornado like V4mp listed. With the Zalman you're keeping your sanity while getting awesome performance, the ThermalRIGHT+insane fan is the opposite.

Unless you use the Thermalright / insane fan combo coupled with a fan controller. Quiet, exceptional cooling, plus lots more cooling in reserve if you need it.

Good point, almost forgot about that even though that's what I used when I was on air. :S Definitely an option, but just make sure you experiment with the settings before leaving your CPU with the fan on low all alone for the night if you decide to go that way. I was able to get my 80mm tornado down to about 4k-4.5k RPM's and still get exceptional cooling with a low noise level, but anything below that wouldn't work efficiently. Just understand you may not be able to take the noise factor for long, and that gets even truer for the longer time you own it. To me, it sounded cool at first to have a mini vacuum in my computer, but after a while it just got annoying.

What a coincidence, I just plugged in my tornado today to see how much air it puts out...I just love it how it blows itself across a smooth surface

Get the Zalman...best sink available right now although not supported by all boards.

Anyone have any feedback as to which Zalman is the better buy, the all copper or the copper+aluminum combo?

[edit for below] nuff said...ty

AlCu = Excellent, Cheaper, Lighter

Cu = a wee bit excellenter, heavier, more expensive.

I would probably snag the AlCu personally Jinx.

I agree with Putwig (again). I haven't played with the aluminum/copper version yet, but experience tells me that would be the one to pick.

I have an 80MM Tornado on a 60 to 80MM mounting bracket coupled to a ThermalTake Volcano 6 Cu in my Short Circuit case mod, it's cool if you run it for a few hours and it's hard to lose at computer shows ("At the end of the show meet by the really loud green computer") but don't expect to sleep well while it's running. I really got it for show, I admit, under all that airflow and aluminum lies a whopping 850MHz Duron with L1 bridge mod. Idle temps are between 28*C and 30*C, but it runs Folding so that amps it up to a toasty 38*C 100% load temp

You got a Volcano 6 for show?

It really is quite a looker:

Well it doesnt have that fan on it. I bought my Volcano 6 Cu when that was the thing to have. I think it adds a kind of 'old skool' touch to it, seeing it was something considered extreme almost 5 years ago. I replaced the heatsink clip on it because it sucks and it only grabs the center, and the screwdriver hold is kinda iffy, the original clip killed my ECS board so I pulled one out of my Volcano 9 Slimline that grabs all the tabs that stick out of the molex connectors for a really good hold plus it has a much more firm feel when you jab a 3/16" flathead into the clip, push it down and pry it out. Here is a pic.....

By the way I just wanted to say for the record this pic I just took is the BEST pic I have ever gotten of the inside of this computer, it really brings out all the shapes and colors really well. It's so good I'm uploading it to the Gallery.

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Quote: Originally Posted by BigAkita I agree with Putwig (again). I haven't played with the aluminum/copper version yet, but experience tells me that would be the one to pick.

I haven't played with the pure copper unit - but I'm getting good temps with the copper/aluminum. There is something to be said about not worrying to much about destroying your CPU by moving your comp a lot.

Just teasing you j-dogg.

I owned a 6Cu up until I first water cooled. All I remember is: "ugly", and "loud".

I am interested in hearing alot more about your custom bracket that "grabs all the tabs that stick out of the molex connectors for a really good hold'.

I never thought of securing my HSF with spare PSU leads! How exactly does it work?

OMG i said molex connectors i meant the ZIF socket

Really all I did was replace the clip, what you have to do on the 6 Cu since it has that little protective plate on the top where the fan mounts you have to use a flathead to pry it off, sometimes if you are lucky you can push it off from the side. It's a pain to get off the first time but once you do it gets easier.

hmm, zalman doesn't fit on the nf7, neither do the slk's well, without modding that is...



p.s. is the tornado really that loud? how loud can a fan be honestly?

I hear Swiftech makes an excellent stand-by. See if the MCX462V will fit on your board.

go with the Aluminuim copper, Boss man has the all copper version and we have the same measured temps, but the Al-Cu is cheaper and IMO looks cooler, and yes it will fit on a NF7-S v2.0. with no problems.

EDIT: the SLK-U's fit there too just fine.....

aluminum copper? you mean the slk900? me no understand. sorry im a little slow

They mean the Zalman CNPS7000-AlCu

Basicly the same thing as the CNPS7000-Cu but with half of it Al.