Final Thoughts, Pricing, and Conclusion
Final Thoughts
The Zalman CNPS10X Extreme was truly a pleasure to work with from the time I took it out of the box until I sadly had to uninstall it from our test system to move on to another review item. When I stood it next to the other heatsinks we tested it against, I could easily see differences in build quality and craftsmanship between the Zalman heatsinks and the other brands. The addition of removable fan controller also adds to this heatsink’s appeal.
One of the main nuggets of information our readers should take away from this review is the CNPS10X’s idle and load testing scores were not only lower than any of the other heatsinks we tested but it was also MUCH lower than Intel’s thermal limit for the processor we used. Why is this important? Well, the fact is that overclocking is becoming very mainstream now and most power users are going to want to squeeze a little more power out of their components. While this does decrease the longevity of these parts, the extra megahertz can add to a few more FPS during gaming or even make rendering video a lot faster. This heatsink will help users get their processors to run and higher speeds and also help them run cooler and more stable.
Pricing
The Zalman CNPS10X Extreme is currently priced at $79.99 at Newegg.com.
Conclusion
We’d like to thank Zalman for providing the CNPS10X Extreme for our review today. This heatsink exceeded our expectations and its universal compatibility will make it even more appealing to high-end users and other PC enthusiasts looking for a strong air cooled heatsink solution. The layered fin array and black-pearl nickel plated coated definitely added to its asthetics and overall craftsmanship. The unique fan controller is definitely a staple for Zalman and one I’m sure they will continue to produce in future heatsink products. Overall, the Zalman CNPS10X Extreme is awarded PC Perspective’s Gold Award for its performance, quality, and universal compatibility.
Strengths
- Five heatpipe design
- Easy installation
- Multi-layer aluminum fin array
- Nickel plated coating for corrision resistence
- Copper base has mirror finish with no signs of poor milling
- Three-speed PWM fan controller can be mounted on top of heatsink and outside of case
Weaknesses
- Included thermal paste was a bit clumpy and took effort to smooth out
