Review: Zalman CNPS8000 CPU fan

Unlike the current trend for oversized coolers, Zalman's latest CPU cooler has been designed for installation in lower-profile cases, being just 62.5mm tall.

The CNPS8000 is designed to be compatible with both Intel’s Socket 775 (Pentium D and Pentium4 all speeds) and all speeds of AMD’s Athlon64 (Socket 754, 939 and 940) processors.

More functional than stylish, it uses four copper heatpipes to transfer heat away from the base to the top of the aluminium fins.

On top of the cooler sits a quiet 92mm Zalman fan, the speed of which can be altered by the included FanMate controller.

Quoted noise levels for the fan range from 18dB (decibels) up to a maximum of 30dB when running at full pelt.

If you're not into overclocking you should be able to run it at the slowest, and therefore quietest setting, which makes it ideal for a mid- to large-sized home-theatre PCs.