Zalman CNPS 10X Extreme Ultra Quiet CPU Cooler Review

A Closer Look

The Zalman 10X Extreme is a 120mm tower-styled cooler. The entire cooler, fins, pipes, and base is nickel plated, in what Zalman describes as “black pearl” nickel. It is a very attractive “gunmetal” color, and to be honest, the overall look reminds me of a high-end motorcycle engine.but that’s just me. There are a large number of fins, I didn’t count them, they are a little closer together than the other coolers I have sitting around.



Zalman CNPS 10X Extreme Ultra Quiet CPU Cooler Zalman CNPS 10X Extreme Ultra Quiet CPU Cooler

The fan is attached to the cooler by screws. Note the offset position of the fan, the bottom of the fan protrudes below the cooler to provide some cooling to the components on the motherboard.

The cooler actually has a top cover, unlike most. This is also solidly attached, though I could not determine what holds it on.


Zalman CNPS 10X Extreme Ultra Quiet CPU Cooler Zalman CNPS 10X Extreme Ultra Quiet CPU Cooler

Not self-evident on the top of the cooler is a fan controller. It can be left intact on the cooler, or can actually be removed and placed in a more accessible place, even outside of the case, thanks to the included extension cable.


Zalman CNPS 10X Extreme Ultra Quiet CPU Cooler Zalman CNPS 10X Extreme Ultra Quiet CPU Cooler

Fan controllers are nothing new to Zalman, they have been making fan controllers for years. The PWM mate is the world’s first RPM controllable PWM fan controller. The controller is very flexible, with three auto settings and manual. Each auto setting has three speeds all beginning at 1000 RPM.


Zalman CNPS 10X Extreme Ultra Quiet CPU Cooler Zalman CNPS 10X Extreme Ultra Quiet CPU Cooler

The cooler’s base is solid copper, plated with the black pearl nickel. Running through the base are five heatpipes. I really don’t know how they crammed five heatpipes in there, but they did.


Zalman CNPS 10X Extreme Ultra Quiet CPU Cooler Zalman CNPS 10X Extreme Ultra Quiet CPU Cooler

The base is well lapped, as Zalman bases usually are.

Included is hardware for all AMD processors back to Socket 939, and Intel LGA 775, LGA 1366 Core i7, and the new (about to be released) LGA 1156 Core i5. Also included is Zalman thermal grease, the aforementioned cable for the PWM Mate, and an installation/user’s manual.


Zalman CNPS 10X Extreme Ultra Quiet CPU Cooler Zalman CNPS 10X Extreme Ultra Quiet CPU Cooler

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