Installation:

Results:

   Since I had this cooler in my HD160 a couple months back, I've since moved my hardware to my modified large Tech Station. As this is an open-air test bench setup, don't be mistaken on one thing. I have ZERO fans blowing on the hardware. No case fans at all, because It's not a "case". And since I've modified the standard large tech station, I did not reinstall the 120mm fans that would normally blow air across the hardware. What's that mean to you? Well it means what you see if what you get without outside interference and it also means the Zalman CNPS9500 is doing all the work cooling the CPU.

Here are the results for my thermal testing.

Conclusion:

   Zalman has a big winner on it's hands with the CNPS9500-LED CPU Cooler. Actually, so much so, they've went ahead and added two more additions to the CNPS family, including the new chromed AM2 version. Here's the two versions of the CNPS9500-LED so you can easily tell them apart.

CNPS9500-LED Reviewed Here

CNPS9500 AM2 Version also available

   There is also a CNPS8000 coming out soon, and I'll be reviewing soon also. It's more of a low profile cooler in a traditional layout. I will have more information on that in the coming weeks.

  Back to the CNPS9500-LED I reviewed in this article, It's simply a fantastic cooler that can fit all the P4 socket 478/775 and all the AMD sockets from 754/939/940. There certainly isn't much this couldn't cool to an adequate level. It's big, beefy, adjustable to face any direction you desire, and the fan is adjustable with the included Fan-Mate2. What more could you ask for? Maybe a cooler 1/5th it's size? Well, that would take away from that superb figure 8 design.

   I can highly recommend this cooler for it's ultra high quality, fantastic installation hardware & instructions included, modest price tag, and excellent cooling properties. If you've got a case with a good bit of room above the CPU socket area, then this cooler should seriously be on your very short list.