Product Face-Offs
Zalman CNPS8700 NT
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| Type | dissipateur + ventilateur | ||
| Compatibility | 775 / AM2 / 940 / 939 / 754 | ||
| Material | cuivre | ||
| Fan size | 110 mm | ||
| PWM | yes | ||
 See all specifications | |||
| Dimensions | 120 x 123 x 67 mm |
| Weight | 475 g |
 Hide specifications | |
Régis Jehl
Test date: November 24, 2008
Test date: November 24, 2008
Compatibility, Installation and Accessories
This Zalman model is more widely compatible with AMD's sockets--where it works with AM2, 940, 939 and 754--than it is with Intel's, where it only supports 775.
Installation is the same as with other Zalman heatsinks, and depends on which socket you're using. If it's a 775, then you'll need to first remove the motherboard so that you can install a cradle behind the motherboard and then clip the heatsink into place on either side of the processor.
It's even easier for AMD's sockets, which already have a cradle pre-installed, and just need the processor to be clipped into place.
When it comes to accessories, all you get is a small tube of thermal paste--and a free Zalman sticker.
Installation is the same as with other Zalman heatsinks, and depends on which socket you're using. If it's a 775, then you'll need to first remove the motherboard so that you can install a cradle behind the motherboard and then clip the heatsink into place on either side of the processor.
It's even easier for AMD's sockets, which already have a cradle pre-installed, and just need the processor to be clipped into place.
When it comes to accessories, all you get is a small tube of thermal paste--and a free Zalman sticker.
The air forced out by its powerful fans is enough to cool the whole motherboard, but its small form factor means that it's principally destined for Home Theater PCs rather than desktop computers.
Compare this heatsink's performance
charts in our Product Face-Off: Heatsinks
charts in our Product Face-Off: Heatsinks
The heat-exchanging blades are in nickel-coated copper and are connected together by three heatpipes.
Nickel-coated copper has been used for the base, which has been polished to give a mirror effect.
While it certainly looks striking, a finish like this remains to prove its cooling effectives.
The fan is a 110 mm PWM model with seven blades.
A Very Loud Heatsink
Overall, this is a remarkably average heatsink: it does a little better than the Scythe Shuriken, for instance, but still falls behind the Noctua NH-U98.
That said, it provides enough cooling power to be suitable for both dual- and quad-core processors, but isn't very quiet about it.
With most other processors, the fan kicks in at around 5 V, but on this model, it's 7 V.
While this means you've a little longer without the fan, once it starts, there's little room for maneuver in between 7 V and the maximum of 12 V, meaning it soon gets very noisy.
It's just a quite scratching at 7 V, but as soon as you move beyond 8.5 V, the CNPS8700 NT becomes irritatingly loud.
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Great cooling for dual-core processors
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Simple installation
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Low profile
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Less good with quad-core processors
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Loud fan
The CNPS8700 is only moderately effective but very loud. Its saving grace is its small footprint, which makes it attractive for certain small computers.
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