As power users know, different types of CPU
coolers provide various advantages and disadvantages. Conventional
liquid-coolers are very efficient, but they require regular maintenance and sometimes
painstaking assembly. High-end air-coolers work well for basic CPU cooling, but
they require as much open space inside the computer case as possible to move
the air efficiently. Fan noise is also a consideration with many models.
Zalman
CNPS20LQ
For some, the best of both worlds may be a
closed-loop cooling system, which doesn’t need regular maintenance or a lot of
free space in which to operate. The versatility, effectiveness, and ease of
installation of a closed-loop system are a few reasons why Zalman has decided
to introduce a closed-loop CPU liquid- cooling option, the CNPS20LQ. This is
the first CPU water cooler Zalman has offered in quite a few years.
“The CNPS20LQ stands at the sweet spot of
having the best of both worlds,” says Michael Park, product manager for Zalman.
“Thus we have introduced our CNPS20LQ to bridge the gap between air cooling and
full-fledged liquid-cooling.”
New Kid On The (Water) Block
The water block and pump assembly for the
CNPS20LQ is very thin, measuring inches tall. This condensed design allows the
CNPS20LQ to fit in computer cases where space is limited.
“The water block mainly serves to conduct
the heat from the CPU,” Park says. “Because it achieves its core function in a
compact size, there is no sacrifice in performance. In fact, because of the low
height, airflow between the intake and exhaust fans become more unilateral,
which makes the overall heat removal process much more efficient.”
The surface of the cold plate that sits
above the CPU is made of copper. Park says that copper’s high thermal
conductivity rate, compared to aluminum, for example, makes it an ideal
material for this type of CPU cooler.
“The surface in contact with the CPU plays
a vital role in determining the heat transfer rate of the overall product,”
Park says. “To have a higher heat transfer rate, you need to use a material
with high thermal conductivity and also have large surface area for heat
dissipation.”
Zalman ships the CNPS20LQ with thermal
paste pre-applied to the CNPS20LQ’s copper cold plate, another move to simplify
the installation process.
“With pre-applied thermal paste, users will
no longer have to be concerned about whether the thermal paste was properly
applied,” Park says, “no more worrying about spilling out thermal paste and
making a mess or applying an insufficient amount of thermal paste.”
As part of the cold plate, the CNPS20LQ has
several micro fins, also made of copper. Picture the micro fins as tiny, thin
copper sheets that sit atop the cold plate.
“Once the heat is transferred from the CPU
to the cold plate, the heat is then dissipated to the individual micro fins,”
Park says, indicating the heat then transfers to the coolant in the closed-
loop system. “In short, the micro fins increase the surface area where the initial
point of heat transfer occurs. Using copper maximizes the efficiency of this
process.”
Thoughtful Design
Zalman
CNPS20LQ
You’ll find the CNPS20LQ contains two black
rubber tubes, which carry the coolant back and forth between the radiator and
the water block. Park says the pipes connect directly to the pump and are
firmly attached, ensuring that they can’t inadvertently be dislodged or broken,
which protects the system’s interior components from any coolant leaks.
“Ideally, heat dissipation occurs more
rapidly if the distance between the radiator and the cold plate is shorter, but
it is equally important to provide flexibility in positioning the radiator,”
Park says.
To deal with this issue, Park says,
Zalman’s designers created the tubes for the CNPS20LQ to have enough length
that the positioning of the fan and radiator can be a little flexible.
“Some users will prefer to attach the
radiator on the top or side panel if the ventilation toward the back is
inadequate,” he says. “So the tubing length of the CNPS20LQ was designed to be
as short as possible, but long enough to be customizable.”
The radiator makes use of a blue metal
chassis, which makes the CNPS20LQ different from some other water cooling
options, where plastic may be used in the radiator housing. The metal parts may
add additional weight, but they have advantages that greatly offset that issue,
Park says.
“The aluminum framing in our CNPS20LQ
functions as a heat sink in addition to providing structural rigidity and
excellent fit and finish,” he says. “Such attention to detail on making
superior products is what we strive for here at Zalman.”
The fan’s construction helps it run
quietly, Park says, as does its use of high- quality components. For example,
he says the CNPS20LQ’s fan makes use of a long-life bearing, which lets the fan
run more quietly and avoid problems with abrasion compared to sleeve bearing or
dual-ball bearing fans.
“The fan is virtually silent under moderate
load,” Park says.
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CNPS20LQ Specifications
Cold plate material: copper
Radiator fin material: Aluminum
Water block weight: 6.9 oz.
Radiator dimensions: 6.0 x 4.7 x 1.5
inches (H x W x D)
Fan dimensions: 4.7 x 4.7 x 1 inches (H x
W x D)
Fan speed: 900 to 2,000 rpm (+/-10%)
Fan connector: 4-pin
Fan noise level: 17 to 36 dBA (plus or
minus 10%)
Plump connector: 3-pin
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