Fanless CPU cooler showdown 3

Courtesy of Fully Silent PCs

The FX100 is still around

ZALMAN's 2013 fanless CPU cooler was an absolute train wreck. The FX100 was not just an eyesore, it was also an incomprehensible mess with cooling fins and heat pipes all over the place, without any organization or overall strategy. According to multiple reports, it was also wobbly. Almost 10 years later, brave PC builders are still trying to make it work. Kudos to them.

Source: 163.com

Project SHADOW

Check out this impressive copper-laden steampunk creation featuring the venerable Zalman CNPS9700 CPU cooler, the 35W i5-4590T, and a spare Honda Shadow emblem.

Source: reddit

Broadwell build

Launched in 2015, the two Broadwell desktop CPUs (i5-5675C and i7-5775C) were amazing processors featuring eDRAM-infused graphics (Iris Pro 6200). This open-air build features the i5 iteration, the Zalman FX70 CPU cooler, the passive XFX Radeon RX 460, and a 460W fanless Seasonic power supply, with great results. Under heavy load, both CPU and GPU are kept under 70°C.

Source: voz.vn

Zalman CNPS20X available

ZALMAN's supercooler is now available for a whopping $100. The CNPS20X features six heat pipes and weights 1.3kg. This beast of a cooler is even larger and heavier than flagships from Phanteks or Noctua. Its "4D patented corrugated fin design" reminds us of ZALMAN's discontinued FX70 and using it passively is in the realm of possibility.

Image credit: 3Dnews

Meet the Zalman CNPS20X

ZALMAN is back. After years of financial struggles, the Korean company is working on multiple exciting products, including this massive CNPS20X. The 1kg CPU cooler features six heat pipes and a very interesting array of copper fins.

Such a massive heat sink could be used as a passive cooler, but we'll wait for reviews before jumping to any conclusion. Debacles like the FX100 and FX70 left a bitter taste in our mouth.

Source: SweClockers

Does anodizing really work?

Technically, anodization adds a coating to aluminum which does not bode well for convection. Well that's on paper anyway. Our own Thony put Arctic's Alpine 11 Passive and Arctic 12 Passive to the test, and the difference is noticeable.

The anodized Alpine 12 performed between 3°C and 5°C better than its basic counterpart. Also both were able to keep the dual-core i5-4570T (35W TDP) from throttling. Special guest appearance from two venerable retirees, Zalman FX70 and Nofan CR-95C.

Legendary coolers immortalized

Stunning shots of stunning fanless CPU coolers, courtesy of Getty Images. Zalman's FX70 and Nofan's CR-100A will be missed.

Source: Getty Images (2)

BREAKING: Zalman FX70 and FX100 gone, too

In a shocking turn of events, two other fanless CPU coolers are on the way out. Zalman's FX70 and FX100 are now missing on the Korean manufacturer's official site.

The FX100 was an absolute trainwreck both technically and aesthetically, but the FX70 was a decent performer (although plagued by AMD mounting issues). Limited quantities are still available for $70 (FX70) and $93 (FX100).

The Omnium Project

There's no denying that large fanless CPU coolers are something to behold. It's a shame to hide them and our friend Omnium is about to prove it.

Here are two renders of what the Zalman FX100 and FX70 would look like inside a Streacom F1C. The project will be finalised in the next 3 weeks and documented on hardwareluxx.de. We'll definitely keep an eye on it.

Update: Done!

Fanless Collection

Awesome family pictures (courtesy of our friend Thony) featuring the biggest players: Thermalright HR-22, Nofan CR-80EH and CR-100A, Zalman FX70 and the infamous FX100.

Source: Le fanless dans tous ses états

Zalman FX70 Vs Nofan CR-80EH

Two different designs, two different technologies (heatpipes Vs icepipes) and two different ways to cope with heat. In the end, the more traditional and cheaper FX70 has a slight edge over the CR-80EH.

Source: cnews.cz

ZALMAN files for bankruptcy

Pretty sad news. The venerable Korean manufacturer filed for bankruptcy on November 3rd in Seoul (thanks to a scam by its owner Moneual). Zalman is a longtime passive cooling advocate, starting with the legendary TNN-500 and TNN-300 series. Their latest efforts include the critically panned FX100 CPU cooler and this year's FX70.

Sources: ask-corp.jp via Cowcotland, The Korea Times, The Korea JoongAng Daily, Bloomberg

Zalman FX70 doing fine at 150W

Despite its recommended TDP limit, Zalman FX70 CPU cooler manages to keep an i7-3970X Extreme Edition (150W TDP) at acceptable temperatures. Proving that after an half-baked FX-100, Zalman is definitely back in the game.

For best results, make sure to use a sub-80W CPU anyway, with mesh at the bottom, on the side panel, and mostly on top of your case.

Source: fcenter.ru (Russian)

Zalman FX70 readily available

Zalman's latest passive CPU cooler appears on Amazon for $77. Zalman went for a more conservative limit of 80W TDP, and a new fin design which looks amazing (and slightly dangerous).

✓ Intel 1150 / 1155 / 1156 / 2011 / 1366 / 775
✓ AMD AM3(+) / AM2(+) / FM2 / FM1
✓ 110(L) x 140(W) x 158(H)mm
✓ 530g

Update: 41 euros in France.

Zalman FX70 into retail

Zalman's new fanless juggernaut is starting to show up in stores in Japan, Spain, Romania. The FX70 is the follow up to last year's weird, and not so efficient, FX100. A more traditional-looking cooler, and a realistic price, sound like a better plan.

Zalman FX70 in the works

A sneak peek at Zalman's upcoming passive CPU cooler. The relatively small heatsink only weights 530g and measures 110 x 140 x 158mm. More details coming soon.

Source: TechPowerUp

Update: A tentative price ($60-70) and a release date (Q1) at ThinkComputers.

Update 2: More about Zalman's twist fin design.

FX100 not so good?

Lukewarm reviews are pouring in for Zalman's new flagship cooler.

Hardware Secrets basically hates it: "The Zalman FX100 was a complete disappointment. It may have a stunning look, but the installation system and the cooling performance have much to be improved."

Meanwhile in Russia, Overclockers.ru confirms that Thermalright Silver Arrow SB-E - technically not even a passive cooler - does a better job.

Clash of the Titans

Zalman FX100 Vs Thermalright HR-02 Vs SilverStone HE02 Vs NOFAN CR-95C.

Pretty impressive line-up, and Nofan still reigns supreme here.

Source: Cooln.kr