Intel Core i7 / LGA1366 CPU Cooler Roundup

Zalman CNPS10X Extreme

The first thing we noticed was that the box of this Zalman cooler is massive and it easily dwarfs any other heatsink package we have seen to date. Not only does this box have an imposing size and feel to it, it is also a very sexy one as well! On both the sides and the back are a ton of pictures and detailed information which will allow you to make an informed decision on exactly what the CNPS10X has to offer. The reason the fan is so prominently displayed via a window is because Zalman is proud (and rightly so) of its capabilities. This fan is not only PWM capable but also comes with a remote control to allow you to manually adjust the speed.


Even by just looking at it, and without needing to pick it up you KNOW this Zalman cooler is a beast. The official specifications state it weighs in at a heavy weight worthy 920grams (for all us old timers that is a little over two pounds). However, if the fan and all the plastic additions are removed, you are basically left with a cooler which weighs about as much as the original ProlimaTech Megahalems. This is certainly not a bad thing per say as most of that weight is made up of cooling fins but size wise, this Zalman heatsink is actually larger than ProlimaTech’s flagship.

While it may be huge, in our opinion the CNPS10X looks like a million bucks. Unlike most coolers on the market which come in a boring nude or “metal” color this heatsink is black and it in fact reminds us a lot of both the TRUE Black. Zalman calls this color “Black Pearl” but most likely this cooler has gone through a black nickel plating process similar to that of the TRUE black. Coupled with this finish, Zalman’s new cooler will look down right amazing with its LED fan in any windowed case.


Even though CNPS10X only comes with a single fan, unlike other heatsinks in this price range it is nearly impossible to “ghetto mod” a second fan onto its fins via zip ties, crazy glue or even the handyman’s helper: duct tape. The reason it is impossible is that about half way down the fin array is an area of slightly extended fins. These longer fins are directly opposite where the fan’s hub resides on the other side. It appears at some point this design tweak was added to help overcome a fan’s dead zone and as such makes for the installation of a second fan a needlessly long chore.

Unfortunately, (or fortunately depending on your point of view) this cooler does not have a dead zone directly in front of the fan hub, nor does the fan sit directly on top of the fin array. To us this means these extended fins are for aesthetic purposes only.


Moving unto the heatpipes themselves, we can see how Zalman came up with the name 10X as this cooler has 5 larger U shaped coolers which when counted in that fuzzy math sort of way which many companies do, (Cooler Master’s V line being one of the worst offenders) you can come up with a count of 10 half length heatpipes. Five heatpipes can handle one heck of a thermal load and we have no concerns about this cooler being able to handle insane overclocks as those 5 heatpipes have been mated to one massive fin array.

When it comes to the base of the 10X Extreme one thing is certain: it is polished and finished to darn near perfection. However, the wonderful finishing job is not the most interesting thing about this base. Unlike many non HDT coolers out there which have thick metal bases, this cooler has a very thin base which means that there is less thermal resistance between the heatpipes and the CPU’s heat. All in all it is an elegantly simple, yet simply elegant solution.


The fan which graces this unit is none other than the 120mm ZF1125BTH that is found in Zalman’s CNPS 9700 LED line but ditches the caseless design of its predecessor for a more traditional look. Much like its older iterations, this is a 2 ball bearing PWM capable fan which is rated for 1000 – 2150RPMs but in earlier versions it was specified to run all the way up to 2800RPMs. This relatively high speed means this its 39DBA noise rating is not exactly something to write home about. Interestingly enough, even though it runs at a more leisurely pace than the case-less version, its official noise level is 4DBA higher.

Just like we would expect from the best Zalman fans, this one displays almost no shaft slop and no off axis slop what so ever. Basically, it is exactly what a 2-ball bearing fan should feel like.


All things considered, the CNPS 10X Extreme does have an ace up its sleeve: a wired remote that controls the speed of the fan. It relies on an included 4 pin extension cable and not only do you have 3 auto speeds to choose from but there is also a good old fashioned rheostat based dial for nearly infinite adjustments. The three auto settings are High, Medium and low and roughly translate to 2150, 1950 and 1500RPMs. When you click into a mode the indicator led nearest the button glows red for high speed, purple for medium, blue for low. When clicking over to manual mode, this LED goes dark and the LED nearest the dial glows green to indicate you are in manual mode.

On the positive side, these speeds only limit the top end and do not eliminate the PWM features of the fan. For example, in medium mode the speed can still fluctuate as low as 1000rpm but it can only ramp up to a maximum of 1950rpms. This allows you to manage the top end of its speed and noise envelope and let your motherboard manage the low end. We love it.