Zalman CNPS11X Extreme, V-Shaped Dual Heat Sink CPU Cooler

Zalman’s latest offering into the CPU cooler market features a V-shaped heatsink along with a 120mm blue LED fan for excellent performance and an extremely low noise level.

The CNPS11X Extreme features a V-shaped Nickel plated heatsink that is designed in such a way that it minimises air resistance by not having the fan in close proximity to the heatsink. This allows the heatsink to receive maximum airflow from the fan. There are also five U-shaped heatpipes that attach the base of the cooler to the heatsink which transfer heat quickly away from the CPU to the fins where they are cooled by a 120mm blue LED fan.

The installed 120mm fan is PWM controlled which means that the RPM of the fan will change depending on the temperature of the CPU. This provides peace of mind in that if the CPU becomes hot, the fan speed will increase to maximise cooling. Of course this also works in reverse. As the CPU becomes cooler the fan speed will decrease, making your PC quieter.

The fan features two modes which are Low Noise Mode and Performance Mode. Performance mode provides the full RPM range of the fan, from 1000 to 1950 RPM. This mode is only really needed if maximum performance and lower CPU temperatures are required. Low Noise mode is for those who require a quieter life. The maximum RPM of the fan is capped at 1450 which means it will never go above 24dBA. To activate Low Noise mode just connect the supplied PWM resistor (RC24P) in between the fan and the motherboard and for Performance mode just omit the resistor.

LGA2011 Compatibility - Zalman have release the ZM-CS2011 that makes it possible to install this cooler onto LGA2011 motherboards.