• Welcome to TechPowerUp Forums, Guest! Please check out our forum guidelines for info related to our community.

Zalman CNPS14X

crazyeyesreaper

Not a Moderator
Staff member
Joined
Mar 25, 2009
Messages
9,752 (1.78/day)
Location
04578
System Name Old reliable
Processor Intel 8700K @ 4.8 GHz
Motherboard MSI Z370 Gaming Pro Carbon AC
Cooling Custom Water
Memory 32 GB Crucial Ballistix 3666 MHz
Video Card(s) MSI GTX 1080 Ti Gaming X
Storage 3x SSDs 2x HDDs
Display(s) Dell U2412M + Samsung TA350
Case Thermaltake Core P3 TG
Audio Device(s) Samson Meteor Mic / Generic 2.1 / KRK KNS 6400 headset
Power Supply Zalman EBT-1000
Mouse Mionix NAOS 7000
Keyboard Mionix
The Zalman CNPS14X continues Zalman's trend of offering unique and varied products. The dual-tower design makes use of six 6 mm heatpipes and offers support for up to three fans, but is that truly enough to take on the competition?

Show full review
 
Last edited by a moderator:

FreedomEclipse

~Technological Technocrat~
Joined
Apr 20, 2007
Messages
23,267 (3.77/day)
Location
London,UK
System Name Codename: Icarus Mk.VI
Processor Intel 8600k@Stock -- pending tuning
Motherboard Asus ROG Strixx Z370-F
Cooling CPU: BeQuiet! Dark Rock Pro 4 {1xCorsair ML120 Pro|5xML140 Pro}
Memory 32GB XPG Gammix D10 {2x16GB}
Video Card(s) ASUS Dual Radeon™ RX 6700 XT OC Edition
Storage Samsung 970 Evo 512GB SSD (Boot)|WD SN770 (Gaming)|2x 3TB Toshiba DT01ACA300|2x 2TB Crucial BX500
Display(s) LG GP850-B
Case Corsair 760T (White)
Audio Device(s) Yamaha RX-V573|Speakers: JBL Control One|Auna 300-CN|Wharfedale Diamond SW150
Power Supply Corsair AX760
Mouse Logitech G900
Keyboard Duckyshine Dead LED(s) III
Software Windows 10 Pro
Benchmark Scores (ノಠ益ಠ)ノ彡┻━┻
to be honest - who ever expected Zalman to 'perform well' is probably living on another planet.

I dont think Zalman truly understands how far behind they are compared to the competition and that there are better options available that cost less. They have branched out into making PSUs, Cases, keyboards, Mice & mouse pads, speakers, amps, headphones and 3D & 2D monitors but a lot of the monitors look like Korean re-brands.

Their like a jack of all trades but a master of none, hell. even their AIO coolers are made by Asetek
 
D

Deleted member 24505

Guest
I guess they are just trying to make money in a lot of areas of pc tech.
 

FreedomEclipse

~Technological Technocrat~
Joined
Apr 20, 2007
Messages
23,267 (3.77/day)
Location
London,UK
System Name Codename: Icarus Mk.VI
Processor Intel 8600k@Stock -- pending tuning
Motherboard Asus ROG Strixx Z370-F
Cooling CPU: BeQuiet! Dark Rock Pro 4 {1xCorsair ML120 Pro|5xML140 Pro}
Memory 32GB XPG Gammix D10 {2x16GB}
Video Card(s) ASUS Dual Radeon™ RX 6700 XT OC Edition
Storage Samsung 970 Evo 512GB SSD (Boot)|WD SN770 (Gaming)|2x 3TB Toshiba DT01ACA300|2x 2TB Crucial BX500
Display(s) LG GP850-B
Case Corsair 760T (White)
Audio Device(s) Yamaha RX-V573|Speakers: JBL Control One|Auna 300-CN|Wharfedale Diamond SW150
Power Supply Corsair AX760
Mouse Logitech G900
Keyboard Duckyshine Dead LED(s) III
Software Windows 10 Pro
Benchmark Scores (ノಠ益ಠ)ノ彡┻━┻
Joined
Jun 27, 2011
Messages
6,666 (1.43/day)
Processor 7800x3d
Motherboard Gigabyte B650 Auros Elite AX
Cooling Custom Water
Memory GSKILL 2x16gb 6000mhz Cas 30 with custom timings
Video Card(s) MSI RX 6750 XT MECH 2X 12G OC
Storage Adata SX8200 1tb with Windows, Samsung 990 Pro 2tb with games
Display(s) HP Omen 27q QHD 165hz
Case ThermalTake P3
Power Supply SuperFlower Leadex Titanium
Software Windows 11 64 Bit
Benchmark Scores CB23: 1811 / 19424 CB24: 1136 / 7687
to be honest - who ever expected Zalman to 'perform well' is probably living on another planet.

I dont think Zalman truly understands how far behind they are compared to the competition and that there are better options available that cost less. They have branched out into making PSUs, Cases, keyboards, Mice & mouse pads, speakers, amps, headphones and 3D & 2D monitors but a lot of the monitors look like Korean re-brands.

Their like a jack of all trades but a master of none, hell. even their AIO coolers are made by Asetek

Not all of them are made by asetek. Though this one is not for sale anywhere as far as I can google.
 

crazyeyesreaper

Not a Moderator
Staff member
Joined
Mar 25, 2009
Messages
9,752 (1.78/day)
Location
04578
System Name Old reliable
Processor Intel 8700K @ 4.8 GHz
Motherboard MSI Z370 Gaming Pro Carbon AC
Cooling Custom Water
Memory 32 GB Crucial Ballistix 3666 MHz
Video Card(s) MSI GTX 1080 Ti Gaming X
Storage 3x SSDs 2x HDDs
Display(s) Dell U2412M + Samsung TA350
Case Thermaltake Core P3 TG
Audio Device(s) Samson Meteor Mic / Generic 2.1 / KRK KNS 6400 headset
Power Supply Zalman EBT-1000
Mouse Mionix NAOS 7000
Keyboard Mionix
well for reference its not that bad with 2x fans added its the same price and same performance level as an H90. But sadly as it comes in box is underwhelming. It was pretty damn quiet to for what it is.
 

Aquinus

Resident Wat-man
Joined
Jan 28, 2012
Messages
13,147 (2.97/day)
Location
Concord, NH, USA
System Name Apollo
Processor Intel Core i9 9880H
Motherboard Some proprietary Apple thing.
Memory 64GB DDR4-2667
Video Card(s) AMD Radeon Pro 5600M, 8GB HBM2
Storage 1TB Apple NVMe, 4TB External
Display(s) Laptop @ 3072x1920 + 2x LG 5k Ultrafine TB3 displays
Case MacBook Pro (16", 2019)
Audio Device(s) AirPods Pro, Sennheiser HD 380s w/ FIIO Alpen 2, or Logitech 2.1 Speakers
Power Supply 96w Power Adapter
Mouse Logitech MX Master 3
Keyboard Logitech G915, GL Clicky
Software MacOS 12.1
to be honest - who ever expected Zalman to 'perform well' is probably living on another planet.

My CNPS9900 is quiet and cools my 3820 very well. My only gripe was how you mount it on LGA2011. Just because one Zalman cooler is only "okay" doesn't mean that they're all like that. I had a 9500 on my Core 2 Duo and that worked well too.
 
Joined
Mar 23, 2012
Messages
777 (0.18/day)
Location
Norway
System Name Games/internet/usage
Processor I7 5820k 4.2 Ghz
Motherboard ASUS X99-A2
Cooling custom water loop for cpu and gpu
Memory 16GiB Crucial Ballistix Sport 2666 MHz
Video Card(s) Radeon Rx 6800 XT
Storage Samsung XP941 500 GB + 1 TB SSD
Display(s) Dell 3008WFP
Case Caselabs Magnum M8
Audio Device(s) Shiit Modi 2 Uber -> Matrix m-stage -> HD650
Power Supply beQuiet dark power pro 1200W
Mouse Logitech MX518
Keyboard Corsair K95 RGB
Software Win 10 Pro
is there a reason why the noise charts only are at 20, 50 and 100% but not at the different loads that the cooler gets tested at?
 

crazyeyesreaper

Not a Moderator
Staff member
Joined
Mar 25, 2009
Messages
9,752 (1.78/day)
Location
04578
System Name Old reliable
Processor Intel 8700K @ 4.8 GHz
Motherboard MSI Z370 Gaming Pro Carbon AC
Cooling Custom Water
Memory 32 GB Crucial Ballistix 3666 MHz
Video Card(s) MSI GTX 1080 Ti Gaming X
Storage 3x SSDs 2x HDDs
Display(s) Dell U2412M + Samsung TA350
Case Thermaltake Core P3 TG
Audio Device(s) Samson Meteor Mic / Generic 2.1 / KRK KNS 6400 headset
Power Supply Zalman EBT-1000
Mouse Mionix NAOS 7000
Keyboard Mionix
because testing at fixed level gives a noise reference compared to other coolers directly because not everyone runs a Sandybridge-E ES chip that pulls over 150w at stock?

Noise levels at load on SB-E will be difference compared to Noise levels at load on Ivy Bridge/ Haswell / AMD FX etc etc. Thus 20 / 50 / 100% noise testing.

Going forward with future reviews between software and hardware Ill be able to get more accurate reading for RPM and Noise levels as not all software functions the same.
 
Last edited:

ClaytonB

New Member
Joined
Jul 24, 2013
Messages
3 (0.00/day)
Location
Adelaide, South Australia.
System Name Gaming Rig
Processor i5-4670K
Motherboard MSI - G45 Gaming.
Cooling Thermaltake NIC C5
Memory G-Skill Ripjaws X 2300 8GB
Video Card(s) MSI Gaming GTX 770
Storage Seagate Baracuda 3TB
Display(s) Viewsonic 22" 1680x1050 (old)
Case Thermaltake Chaser A31
Audio Device(s) On board Realtek 1150.
Power Supply Corsair GS800
Software Windows 7 64 Bit
This cooler is pretty ugly! I mean compared to say a Thermaltake NIC C5.
 
Joined
Mar 23, 2012
Messages
777 (0.18/day)
Location
Norway
System Name Games/internet/usage
Processor I7 5820k 4.2 Ghz
Motherboard ASUS X99-A2
Cooling custom water loop for cpu and gpu
Memory 16GiB Crucial Ballistix Sport 2666 MHz
Video Card(s) Radeon Rx 6800 XT
Storage Samsung XP941 500 GB + 1 TB SSD
Display(s) Dell 3008WFP
Case Caselabs Magnum M8
Audio Device(s) Shiit Modi 2 Uber -> Matrix m-stage -> HD650
Power Supply beQuiet dark power pro 1200W
Mouse Logitech MX518
Keyboard Corsair K95 RGB
Software Win 10 Pro
because testing at fixed level gives a noise reference compared to other coolers directly because not everyone runs a Sandybridge-E ES chip that pulls over 150w at stock?

Noise levels at load on SB-E will be difference compared to Noise levels at load on Ivy Bridge/ Haswell / AMD FX etc etc. Thus 20 / 50 / 100% noise testing.

Going forward with future reviews between software and hardware Ill be able to get more accurate reading for RPM and Noise levels as not all software functions the same.

Just getting the RPM of the fan at the given temperatures would bee adequate to give an impression of the noise since there already is a good, separate rpm/dB test.

Event tho few people use a 150 W chip it stays the same with all the cooler, and the noise levels can be compared to temperature on the same chip to give an idea of that all important performance/noise relationship
 
Joined
Aug 31, 2010
Messages
274 (0.06/day)
Location
Unknown
System Name ASAS
Processor Intel Core i5 2500K @ 4.2 GHz
Motherboard Gigabyte GA-Z68A-D3-B3
Cooling Scythe Ashura
Memory Patriot 2x4GB DDR3 1600MHz 9-9-9-24 T1 @ 1.5V
Video Card(s) MSI GeForce GTX 770 2GB Gaming
Storage Samsung 830 256GB + Samsung Spinpoint T133 HD400LJ 400GB
Display(s) Samsung SyncMaster EX1920
Case Bitfenix Ghost
Audio Device(s) Realtek ALC889
Power Supply Seasonic S12II-620 Bronze 620W
Software Windows 7 Ultimate 64-bit SP1
to be honest - who ever expected Zalman to 'perform well' is probably living on another planet.
Whoever bashes someone for no reason, should be bitchslapped :slap:

Zalmans usually perform well. CNPS14X is no exception. But its installation is indeed difficult, which is most likely the reason it performed so poorly. I had to reinstall CNPS11X Performa a couple of times to get it perform properly. Xbit had no such issue with CNPS14X http://www.xbitlabs.com/articles/coolers/display/zalman-cnps14x_5.html#sect0

3D & 2D monitors but a lot of the monitors look like Korean re-brands.
Zalman is a Korean company...

even their AIO coolers are made by Asetek
Problem? Most AIOs are made by Asetek.
 
Last edited:

crazyeyesreaper

Not a Moderator
Staff member
Joined
Mar 25, 2009
Messages
9,752 (1.78/day)
Location
04578
System Name Old reliable
Processor Intel 8700K @ 4.8 GHz
Motherboard MSI Z370 Gaming Pro Carbon AC
Cooling Custom Water
Memory 32 GB Crucial Ballistix 3666 MHz
Video Card(s) MSI GTX 1080 Ti Gaming X
Storage 3x SSDs 2x HDDs
Display(s) Dell U2412M + Samsung TA350
Case Thermaltake Core P3 TG
Audio Device(s) Samson Meteor Mic / Generic 2.1 / KRK KNS 6400 headset
Power Supply Zalman EBT-1000
Mouse Mionix NAOS 7000
Keyboard Mionix
I wouldnt say Xbit had no issues there cooler hit 78 to my 72 with stress testing which is most likely due to the .010 higher volts andf higher clocks
 
Joined
Dec 15, 2011
Messages
1,962 (0.44/day)
Location
Sydney NSW, Australia
System Name Shoebox Sandwich | Razer Blade 14 | Synology DS418 w/ 4X8TB WD Red | iPhone 15 Pro
Processor AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D | AMD Ryzen 9 5900HX
Motherboard ASRock B650E PG-ITX WiFi | Razer thing
Cooling NZXT Kraken 240 RGB w/ Lian Li P28 + Corsair AF120 Slim | Double fan vapour chamber
Memory G.Skill Flare X5 2x16GB 6000MHz CL32 DDR5 | 16GB 3200MHz DDR4
Video Card(s) Sapphire Radeon RX 7900 XTX | NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 8GB
Storage Seagate FireCuda 520 2TB + Lexar NM790 4TB | 1TB NVMe SSD + 2TB NVMe external SSD
Display(s) Alienware AW3423DW & Sony A90K 42" | 14" QHD IPS 165Hz & Sony X90J 65" 4K TV
Case FormD T1 - v2.1 - Titanium colourway w Aluminium mesh | Razer Blade 14
Audio Device(s) Schiit Hel 2E (Focal Clear & HiFiMAN HE-4XX & DROP PC38X) | Samsung Q950A
Power Supply Corsair SF750 Platinum | Razer 230W brick
Mouse Razer Viper Ultimate Mercury | Roccat Kain 202
Keyboard DIY Geek 64 PCB (Kailh Box Deep Sea - Matcha XDA Keycaps) | Corsair K63
VR HMD Oculus Quest
Software Windows 11 Home | Windows 11 Home
Benchmark Scores 2022 MINI Countryman SE PHEV Hybrid ALL4 | British Racing Green| Malt Brown Interior| YOURS Trim
My CNPS9900 is quiet and cools my 3820 very well. My only gripe was how you mount it on LGA2011. Just because one Zalman cooler is only "okay" doesn't mean that they're all like that. I had a 9500 on my Core 2 Duo and that worked well too.

+1 on the 9900 really nice cooler only that it can cut up your hands if you are gentle installing it. I used it on an i7-930 and a i7-2500k. Quietness vs. performance is really, really good - it is my benchmark for performance/quiet. It also looks pretty ace and original.

I do think they are a little behind the game nowadays though.
 
Joined
Mar 18, 2008
Messages
5,717 (0.98/day)
System Name Virtual Reality / Bioinformatics
Processor Undead CPU
Motherboard Undead TUF X99
Cooling Noctua NH-D15
Memory GSkill 128GB DDR4-3000
Video Card(s) EVGA RTX 3090 FTW3 Ultra
Storage Samsung 960 Pro 1TB + 860 EVO 2TB + WD Black 5TB
Display(s) 32'' 4K Dell
Case Fractal Design R5
Audio Device(s) BOSE 2.0
Power Supply Seasonic 850watt
Mouse Logitech Master MX
Keyboard Corsair K70 Cherry MX Blue
VR HMD HTC Vive + Oculus Quest 2
Software Windows 10 P
I had a Zalman 9700CNPS once. Worst cooler ever had. Terrible noise, horrible cooling and ridiculously overpriced. It can't even cool my Q6600 at stock 2.4GHz. Never looked back at Zalman's product ever since.
 

squarestar

New Member
Joined
Jul 4, 2013
Messages
2 (0.00/day)
I had a Zalman 9700CNPS once. Worst cooler ever had. Terrible noise, horrible cooling and ridiculously overpriced. It can't even cool my Q6600 at stock 2.4GHz. Never looked back at Zalman's product ever since.

I think you should ask for RMA replacement since it shouldn't be the case for this cooler.
 
Joined
Aug 7, 2013
Messages
6 (0.00/day)
Location
Southampton, UK
I had a Zalman 9700CNPS once. Worst cooler ever had. Terrible noise, horrible cooling and ridiculously overpriced. It can't even cool my Q6600 at stock 2.4GHz. Never looked back at Zalman's product ever since.

I have the very same on my i5-2500K, idle 32C, load 50C.

I had only Zalman on my rigs for years now, I like them. Great test, thank you!
 
Top