3DVelocity would like to thank Bacata, France and especially Jean-Christophe Agobert for their help and courtesy in providing this HSF for review.

Introduction :

Zalman created quite a stir in the cooling sector of the market when they introduced their 2xxx and 3xxx series of "flower" heatsinks. While these did what they aimed to do (reduce system noise) they were not considered a sage choice for the overclocker because of their mediocre cooling performance, at least not until people started modifying them to use high performance fans.

Today I want to look at their newest product, the CNPS 5000+. Zalman's objective of reducing system noise remains intact with this new cooler, hence they still use the CNPS acronym (Computer Noise Prevention System), but the design this time is slightly more conventional, at least it is at first glance.

I'm pretty sure you've all read enough HSF reviews for me to not have to go over old ground about how Copper is superior to Aluminium in terms of thermal resistance, so I won't. Instead we'll take a look at some of the quoted specs.

Components
1) One CNPS5000-Plus FHS assembly
2) One Fan (6025)
3) Four Bolts A (59~63mm)
4) Four Bolts B (42~47mm)
5) Four Bolts C (6~13mm)
6) Four Nipples (spacers)
7) Four Tapered Springs
8) Four Washers A (6mm)
9) Eight Washers B (4mm)
10) Thermal Grease
11) One Noiseless Connector RC100(Length : 60mm)
One Noiseless Connector RC56(Length : 90mm)
12) A Packet of Spare Components

FHS Specifications
1) Dimensions: 91 x 66 x 70mm
2) Fin Length: 18mm
3) Wing Height: 42mm
4) Number of Wings: 56~62 sheets
5) Wing Thickness: 0.3mm
6) Heat Dissipating Material: Pure Copper
7) Weight: 430g
8) Heat Dissipating Area: 960~1060 cm²
9) Thermal Resistance (For CNPS5000)
0.30deg C/W (Silent)
0.25deg C/W (Normal)

FAN Specifications	GM1206PTBX-AF
Features	Automatic Restarting Capability, 5V Start, MLS(Magnetic Levitation System)
Dimensions	60 x 60 x 25mm
Bearing Type	Ball

RPM	Silent Mode RC100(Length:60mm)	2000RPM (+-20%)
	Low-Noise Mode RC56(Length : 90mm)	3200RPM (+-8%)
	Normal Mode	5600RPM (+-8%)

Noise	Silent Mode RC100(Length:60mm)	20dB (+-10%)
	Low-Noise Mode RC56(Length : 90mm)	29dB (+-10%)
	Normal Mode	40dB (+-10%)

Compatible with Socket Type CPUs

Mode	AMD CPU(Socket 462)	INTEL P4 CPU(Socket 423)
Normal Mode	1.5GHz or higher	2GHz or higher
Low-Noise Mode	1.5GHz	2GHz
Silent Mode	1.5GHz	2GHz
*This cooler cannot be mounted on a mainboard that does not have four holes around the socket.

 

This is almost certainly the most spares crammed HSF box I've ever opened. Inside you'll find not only the cooler (pre assembled for a change), but also a small syringe of thermal paste (silicone based), 2 in-line resistors for varying fan speed (and thus noise), and 2 packs of mounting screws with plastic washers and a hologam sticker. Already I'm thinking " Copper HSF, resistors, grease, screws, this must be a pretty expensive package", so I popped along to their website where I found it listed at a fairly remarkable $49.00.

The design of the 5000+ allows it to be used with both AMD and Intel P4 CPU's, though a word of caution, unless your motherboard has the four pre-formed holes in it around the socket, there's now way of mounting this cooler in your system. All P4 boards will have these holes as this is how the P4 itself mounts, but as a rule only the newer AMD boards will have them so check first!

Looking at the base of the 5000+ you can see that it has been given pretty much a mirror finish and lapping isn't likely to be needed. There are some small gaps and imperfections here due to the way it's constructed, but these should be far enough away from the central contact area to not cause to many problems.

Looking at the base you'd be forgiven for assuming that the 5000+ is constructed from a central lump of Copper with the 60 or so fins somehow pressed or soldered into place, but as we'll discover later, at no point are any joints, welds or pressure fits used to connect individual components.

It should be fairly easy to see from these pictures that construction quality is absolutely first rate. At 430g in weight, this isn't far off the 445g of the Kanie Hedghog, and is certainly heavier than AMD's spec allows for, but because the 5000+ mounts in the way it does, this makes it less worrying than it was with the Hedgehog.

 

Another thing I noticed (you may be able to make it out in the pic below) is that each of the fins, or "wings" as Zalman call them, has a rectangular profile pressed into them near the edge. I'm only guessing here, but I assume this is either to whip up a little turbulence to aid cooling, although it could just as easily be to add a little rigidity to the fin edges to stop them vibrating and resonating as the air moves over them.

 

 

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