Installation

Installing the Zalman CNPS17X is fairly straightforward. You will first need to prepare the backplate, which means you need to position the nuts into the proper track and use the plastic side clips to hold them in place. With the backplate ready, position it on the motherboard. Secure it by putting the red washers on the standoffs between them and the motherboard before screwing them down.


Now, position the mounting arms on the standoffs and secure them in place. With that done, it's time to apply the thermal paste and mount the heatsink. During the mounting process, it is best to lay the case flat as the retention screws are not captive to the mounting plate. Thankfully, unlike the CNPS20X, the CNPS17X is much easier to install because you are not working between two fin stacks.


With the heatsink mounted, it's time to attach the fans and plug everything in. Make sure to connect the ARGB lighting to the proper 3-pin motherboard header, and route those cables or you will have a cable mess starring you in the face.

Overall, installation was alright, and I would rate it an 8 on a scale of 1 (hardest) to 10 (easiest). The mounting hardware is above average in terms of design and could be improved with captive retention screws, but the cooler's smaller size makes this much less of a hassle.