Installation:

Closed

Open

    The Zalman CNPS8000 is not a large cooler, but more of a low profile cooler. This causes a lot of problems when installing. Problem #1: HITTING THE RAM. In this day and age, I figure we would have been past those days of incompatibility. I really think this was overlooked, but it's also easily fixable. Since the copper base is soldered to the heat-pipes and it's the heat-pipes hitting the RAM, why not just shift or slide the heat-pipes 1/8th of an inch back on the copper base to allow for RAM clearance? Works for me.

One half installed

The second half

Happily married

    Problem #2: DIFFICULT INSTALLATION. Installing the clip for either the P4 or AMD is a really simple. Just pull the two halves apart and then slide them over the copper base and reattach the halves. Well, after that is done the problem begins; well, at least for AMD users. After attaching the clip to the bottom tab on the CPU bracket, all was going well until I tried pushing the other locking on the tab. This task was extremely difficult. I had to use so much force to get the clip into position, the motherboard was bending and I thought I was going to crush the CPU.

Retail package

Glass bottle

Brush applicator

    Zalman was nice enough to also send out a new product in their line up, Super Thermal Grease. This grease come in a tiny glass bottle with a brush applicator. This method of application keeps from over-applying globs of thermal grease. Now, since thermal grease does not flow like paint, it takes some time to get an even coat of thermal grease over the CPU. The thermal grease is kept in a glass bottle with a screw on cap and has enough compound to serve about 10 applications.

    Installation for the Fan Mate 2 is rather uneventful; simply find a spot on the outside of the case and use the double sided peel and stick tape.

Testing:

Lower clip	Upper clip	Zalman installed
Lots of room here	Not here	Pushing on the RAM

Conclusion:

    The overall function of the Zalman CNPS8000 performs rather well. The fan at low speed is nearly silent, and even at high speed in a running system it blends in with everything else. If you can look past the potential difficulty with installation on the AMD CPUs, I really see no other issues with this cooler. Some minor tweaking of the copper base plate by Zalman will also resolve clearance issues between the cooler and RAM.

    The numbers in the testing section don't lie: this unit cools fantastically. Zalman has truly made the CNPS8000 so it lives up to their claims regarding cooling capability and noise reduction. If you're looking for these features in a CPU cooler but are on a budget, the Zalman CNPS8000 may just be for you.