Zalman CPU Fan Cooling

I bought this to replace a failing cooler on an Intel Core i7-5775C purchased in 2015. I have a Travla C287 Mini-ITX case with a clearance of only 29mm for the CPU cooler. I tried to find the Zalman CNPS-2X back in 2015. It existed, but I just couldn't find it in stock anywhere. I started with an Akasa AK-CC7129BP01, but it was just too loud when the CPU was under more than about 25% load. Then I moved to the ID-Cooling IS-25i. The major downside of the IS-25i was that the contact from the heatsink to the CPU was not great. It worked OK and wasn't too loud until recently when the fan started making noise. One other problem I had with the IS-25i is that one part of the case got really warm because the fan pushes air in only two directions due to the parallel fin design.After installing the Zalman CNPS-2X, the noise level is quiet again. It's not silent, but it is reasonable. The biggest bonus is that the part of my case that previously got really warm with the IS-25i doesn't feel any warmer than any other part of the case, now. The CNPS-2X distributes air in all directions which helps to cool other motherboard components and pushes the warm air out through case vents on all sides, not just two. The difference is night and day.I am happy about the price of only ten bucks, but I am also concerned that these units are now likely new-old-stock and that the lubrication in the fan bearings may be compromised by up to 7 years of aging on the shelf.

this is for theZalman CPU Fan Cooling CNPS2X ...it's smaller than my old Zalman AM3+ (AMD FX-4350) cooler by a large margin but cools perfectly and I think is simply more efficient.My old one wouldn't allow my (low profile) ram to fit, while THIS MODEL does allow all the modules to fit where they belong. My old Zalman cooler/fan started to make a worn out noise, and note that it ran for over 7 years of continuous use 24/7. Plus it was on its side, which I think wears out bearings faster. Now the machine is on it's back, and the (new) fan should last another 7+ years.I've always preferred Zalman, as they're silent and well made. I also always prefer solid copper. I will buy again whenever needed. comes with every bracket I would need, but I realized I didn't need any of the back side brackets, and used the stock/oem back panel. The mount points lined right up.

I've got two of these, with the youngest being over a year old now. They provide great cooling if your computer is space constrained and it'll look good doing it. For reference, I've got this cooler in a HTPC that's running a slim Mini ITX case, no room for a tall cooler, and a small desktop PC with a custom case that has the whole motherboard visible. This works great in both of them. There was a significant noise reduction over stock coolers in both. Temps decreased a little too. I really like the copper look with the black fan, it looks great on the exposed motherboard. There is one big problem with it though. If you've ever bought a Zalman cooler before, you know where I'm going with this. Installation. Zalman likes to make their coolers "universal". While it's nice for the cooler to work with whatever socket you have, it makes them a pain to install. I've had several Zalman coolers over the years and they never seem to get easier to install. I continue to buy from them because they really do perform well, and, in applications where looks matter, they make some of the prettiest coolers out there too. If you're okay with a little pain, (and maybe a little blood) then this may be the cooler for your small computer.

First, it arrived with the fan cocked a bit. I thought I would need to return the unit, but a light push popped it back into place and it's fineOther reviewers have mentioned how the surface of the heatpipes that contact the top of the processor are not entirely flat, and I had that issue. If not corrected, it would result in suboptimal contact between the cooler and the CPU. When test fitted, there was a wobble.I solved this by leveling it on a diamond whetstone while watching TV. About 20 minutes of grinding on the stones got it flat and shiny. It's fine, but I shouldn't have needed to do that.The mounting system was very difficult to install, I wound up having to use tape to hold the bottom ferrules in place while I put the screws in from the top. Way too fiddly, but it does work once installed.On the positive side, it is quieter than the stock Intel cooler it replaced, and that was my reason for buying it. So that's why 2 stars rather than 1.