Zalman CNPS9900 MAX 135mm CPU Cooler Review

Zalman CNPS9900 Temperature Testing Results

With the system at stock settings the CNPS9900 MAX was behind the Polimatech Super Mega by a couple of degrees. Running at 56.75*C on high it still spanks the stock Intel cooler by nearly 23 degrees. With our Intel Core i7-930 running at stock speeds the difference between high speed and low speed is 1 degree. With that small of a margin in gain I would run the cooler in low speed for the slight reduction of noise from the fan.

Bumping the system to 3.5GHz, the CNPS9900 MAX is still doing nicely and is only of couple degrees behind the Super Mega still. This time the difference between low and high is less than a degree, which makes sense as the speed reducer only cuts the top end of the fan by 200 RPM. Noise level change is noticeable as well — not Noctua quiet, but is livable.

With the system cranked up to 4GHz the CNPS9900 MAX still doing well coming in at 73*C and still holding that few degree margin with the Super Mega.