ZEN FZ-120 Quiet Tower CPU Cooler Discontinued | |
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ZEROtherm ZEN FZ-120 Quiet Tower CPU Cooler
More affordable version of the best-selling Nirvana CPU cooler.
The ZEROtherm Nirvana has received many awards due to its excellent performance and appearance. It must be one of the most beautiful coolers around (if you are into that sort of thing)! The nickel plating and integrated 120mm fan all adds up, which could make the Nirvana a little too expensive for some customers. What ZEROtherm have done with the new ZEN is to manufacturer a cooler that performs virtually the same as Nirvana. Not just that, they have also removed the frills to help cut costs, along with increasing its flexibility.
Aesthetics and value for money
With the ZEN, ZEROtherm have opted to use a standard 120mm PWM fan. This mean if you really want to replace the fan then it is possible, unlike the Nirvana. They have also decided not to nickel plate the cooler, which only affects its appearance. This reduction in “frills” means the cost of the product is reduced, making the ZEN excellent value for money.
Performance
Just like the Nirvana, four U-shaped heatpipes are used to transfer the heat from the base of the cooler up and through the aluminium fins, where the 120mm fan cools everything back down again. The ZEN also uses the same Honeycomb Structure as the Nirvana, which helps to increase air pressure at the centre of the heatsink to aid cooling. The result is a CPU cooler that performs just as good as any other high end cooler. But don’t take our word for it. In a recent review by Silent PC Review, they called the ZEN “a formidable CPU cooler” in regards to its performance.
Compatibility
The ZEN is compatible with virtually all current desktop CPUs. AMD sockets 754, 939, 940 and AM2, along with Intel’s LGA775 are all suitable for this cooler. The only drawback is that if you intend to use this cooler on an AMD system then you will have to purchase the ZC-AM2 bracket separately to provide compatibility. This is because the cooler is only shipped with a bracket compatible with Intel’s LGA775 socket.
Features
- Excellent value for money
- Honeycomb structure
- Four U-shaped heatpipes
- 120mm clear PWM fan
- Easy installation
- Intel LGA775 and AMD AM2/939 compatible
Reviews
Silent PC Review
The Zerotherm Zen FZ120 is a formidable CPU cooler. Not only does it perform well, its mounting system is secure, and the installation procedure is straightforward.
Total PC Gaming magazine
The Zen FZ120 is an excellent cooler, and one that will be ideal for those looking for great performance on a budget. It is around £20 cheaper than the Thermalright [Ultra 120 Extreme] once you have factored in the price of a decent fan, and offers fabulous performance compared to the stock cooler.
Whether you are an overclocker or just someone looking to keep things cool and quiet, the Zen is an excellent choice and comes well recommended. Verdict: 9/10.
| Specifications | ZEN FZ-120 |
|---|---|
| Compatibility | Intel LGA775 (all speeds), AMD 939/940/AM2 (all speed) * |
| Dimensions | 126 x 61 x 156 mm (LxWxH) |
| Materials | Aluminium fins, Copper base and heatpipes |
| Surface Area | 6827 sq.cm |
| Cooling Capacity | 150W |
| Fan Size | 120 x 25 mm |
| Fan Speed | 1100-1800 RPM |
| Noise level | 19.5-31.4 dBA |
| Fan Connector | 4-pin PWM |
| Air Flow Rate | 59.48 CFM |
| Weight | 670g |
- *AMD users require the ZC-AM2 bracket available separately
| Specifications | ZEN FZ-120 |
|---|---|
| Compatibility | Intel LGA775 (all speeds), AMD 939/940/AM2 (all speed) * |
| Dimensions | 126 x 61 x 156 mm (LxWxH) |
| Materials | Aluminium fins, Copper base and heatpipes |
| Surface Area | 6827 sq.cm |
| Cooling Capacity | 150W |
| Fan Size | 120 x 25 mm |
| Fan Speed | 1100-1800 RPM |
| Noise level | 19.5-31.4 dBA |
| Fan Connector | 4-pin PWM |
| Air Flow Rate | 59.48 CFM |
| Weight | 670g |
- *AMD users require the ZC-AM2 bracket available separately
Customer Reviews
Fantastic cooler at a great price!
This is a great product - easy to install (although it does require a backplate so you need access to both sides of the motherboard) and very quiet in operation (I used the provided vibration damping strips for the fan and they seem to work extremely well). The only possible downside might be the lack of LEDs, although I’m sure there are many people out there for whom, like me, this is actually a bonus. And if you really must have LEDs you could always replace the fan with an LED one and the total cost would still be lower than most other HSFs.
Most importantly, though, the cooling performance is outstanding. It keeps my heavily overclocked Core2Duo (e6300 @2.9Ghz) at under 20[deg]C idle and around 30[deg]C under load! That’s comfortably 30[deg]C better than the Intel stock cooler in all situations - serious cooling power.
For all-round performance-per-pound, I can’t recommend this HSF highly enough.
