Final Thoughts, Pricing, Conclusion

Final Thoughts

Zalman CNPS10X Flex Heatsink Review - Cases and Cooling 29

We gathered a lot of data on the CNPS10X Flex during our installation and performance testing that I’d like to share with our readers. While the dual-fan design definitely yielded better performance than single fan air solutions, the extra fan did block one of our DIMMs, which could be a big issue for some enthusiasts. The overall dimensions of the heatsink with two 120mm fans didn’t affect anything else other than connecting the CPU power connectors at the top of the motherboard. We also had some difficulty plugging in the three-pin fan connectors, but that was pretty much it.

 

Pricing and Availability

Zalman CNPS10X Flex Heatsink Review - Cases and Cooling 30

The Zalman CNPS10X Flex is available for $51.99 with free shipping from Newegg.com (as of Jan. 22). This heatsink is also available at FrozenCPU.com for $54.99 and Fry’s Electronics for $49.99. However, remember that you’ll need to purchase one to two 120mm fans, which will increase the overall cost of the entire cooling system.

 

Conclusion

Zalman CNPS10X Flex Heatsink Review - Cases and Cooling 31

The actual performance numbers we saw from the CNPS10X Flex were absolutely outstanding and we recommend adding the second 120mm fan for a decent decrease in CPU temps under idle and load conditions. If you can live without using your first DIMM slot, we recommend using the dual-fan configuration for added performance — especially for overclockers and hardcore enthusiasts. Aside from the DIMM issue, our readers should also take note of the overall price for this heatsink because they will need to purchase two 120mm fans along with the $51.99 price tag for the heatsink itself. This could push the price over $70 for everything combined, which almost puts it into the category of some lower-end water cooling solutions from Corsair and Coolit Systems. But, if you can fork out the dough for a couple quality fans, we can definitely put our stamp of approval on the CNPS10X Flex as a superior air-cooled heatsink solution that supports almost every type of CPU that has been made the past five years. 


« PreviousNext »