Thermalright vs. Zalman

[wacki]

If I want quiet, what is better Thermalrights monster with 3 heat pipes or Zalmans radial flower? Building a HTPC with a low voltage CPU so heat is not a factor, only noise.

Also, what is the best fan to pair the Thermalright monster (SP-97) with? I own one and I put a 80 enermax "Quiet", and I must say that even though I am amazed with the heatsink, I need a better fan. The fan could be bigger, and quieter.

 

[kamper]

I believe the usual fan to put on the thermalright is a panaflo 80mm low fan. I believe if you undervolt the fans the thermalright/panaflo setup ends up being quiter, could be wrong though as I have never used either config. Check out SilentPCReview

 

[jodhas]

Without a Question Zalman Cools Better.

It has been favored around many top review sites over the rest.

 

[McArra]

Another vote for Zalman.

 

[Tab]

I'd choose a Zalman if I wanted a quiet system and wasn't going to o/c. If I wanted to O/C I'd put a 5000RPM fan on a thermaltake heatsink.

 

[WobbleWobble]

Zalman definately! I'm running at 2.4GHz with my XP2500+ with my 7000A-Cu connected to a fan contoller set so that it's barely spinning.

 

[Elcs]

Thermalright for me. 900A with a 92mm L1A keeping a 2.3ghz Barton @ 1.75V at 52C max load.

 

[Cerb]

If you go with a mobile Barton, it really won't matter. As long as there is decent air flow, a Thermalright SLK-800 or better with a 80 or 92mm Panaflo will do fine, probably at 7v, possibly even as low as 5v.
In any case...
http://www.silentpcreview.com/article30-page1.html

 

[Nerdwannabe]

thermalright is better. Zalman provides sufficient cooling with minimum noise.
thermalright SLK-900 provides great cooling with minimum noise as well.

 

[wacki]

Just to let you know, I bought both.

I used the Zalman fan-mate, reduced the voltage to 5V on the thermalright (not thermaltake) SP-97. The fan was so quiet that I couldn't even hear it unless the case is open, and my ear is 4 inches away from the mobile barton 2400+. The temp, 72 degrees Fahrenheit!

The Zalman heatsink was too big to fit in my HTPC, so I'm going to try it out on my main rig and get back to you all.

After buying both, I'm kind of partial to the thermalright, because the fan isn't built into the heatsink, which means it can easily be replaced.

 

[Corporate Thug]

i just swapped out an slk947 for a CNPS 7000-cu, the slk was 2-3C cooler at stock. havent tested under load yet

 

[McArra]

Originally posted by: Nerdwannabe
thermalright is better. Zalman provides sufficient cooling with minimum noise.
thermalright SLK-900 provides great cooling with minimum noise as well.

Sufficient cooling? you must be joking, it's a very good performer.

 

[SilentZero]

Both of these HSF's are great, and either one you choose will be more than enough for your system. They are both pretty quiet also, so that only makes it more difficult to choose.

 

[boardsportsrule]

for a HTPC you will prolly want slow running fast, if u have slow runnign fans get the zalman FOR SURE, if u have higher runing fans get teh thermalright FOR SURE...that's my diagnosis!