s1rrah

Test Machine
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asus p5B-deluxe motherboard
core 2 duo 6400 running @ 3.4ghz (stock is 2.13ghz)
1gig dual channel mushkin extreme ddr2-6400 (stock settings in bios)
zalman 9500 heatsink (testing two different 120mm fans)


Test Fan Data
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(in the pics, i have obviously cut and trimmed the man fan motor/hub out of the typically square assembly; this is necessary so you can attach it to the zalman mounting arms)


global win (aka "stubby")
--
model: BP1202512m
Airflow: 74.5 CFM MAX
Dimensions: 120 x 120 x 25 mm
Speed: 2500 RPM max
Noise Level: 45 dBA at max
--




silverstone
--
model: FM121
Airflow: 110.03CFM MAX
Dimension - 120 x 120 x 25mm
Speed - 2400rpm max
Noise Level: 39.5 dBA at max
--



The Test
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Test is running two instances of dual prime95 (one for each processor core), for six hours and with the test setting "in-place large FFT's", the setting in dual prime95 that i've found generates the most heat in the shortest amount of time.

Temps are achieved via motherboard monitor and Asus's provided AI Suite tools.

I'm going to do the global win image and stats first as it's been tested dual prime95 for six hours already; i'll post the silverstone image since i just finished mounting it but won't have stats available until tomorrow.

here's a pic of the global win fan mounted and in the case:





globalwin - *RESULTS*
six hours dual prime95 - in-place large FFT's
core2 duo 6400 2.13ghz running @ 3.4 ghz
-------------------------------------------
cpu idle: 41-42
cpu load: 60-61
mb idle: 32
mb load: 35-36

(this is about a 8 or 9 degree decrease over the stock zalman fan)



and now for the silverstone fan, ....

this is a pic of the silverstone FM121 mounted on the zalman heatsink:



and another (fan blades 1/4 inch from RAM!):




Silverstone FM121 - *RESULTS*
six hours dual prime95 - in-place large FFT's
core2 duo 6400 2.13ghz running @ 3.4 ghz
-------------------------------------------
cpu idle: 41-42
cpu load: 58-60
mb idle: 32
mb load: 34-36

glad i tested the silverstone last since it beat the other fan by about an average of 2 degrees.

the main noticeable improvement, however was in how incredibly fast the fan brought the temps down to normal idle temps after stopping the dual prime test ... just 3 or 4 seconds and it was back down to 42 or so at idle; anyone with a zalman 9500 should change they're fan immediately if they're interested in decent air cooled clocks.

now i have to see how much more speed i can get out of it before hitting 65 absolute max load temps.


Notes on the Mod in General
------------------------------------------------------------

For this mod, I followed in the footsteps of another reviewer/modder over at silentPC; he's showing how to do this fan mod, but with a different 92mm fan (stock size) as opposed to the much larger 120mm.

Here's a link to his process; a very well done write up: How to Mod your 9500

Where my own particular process differs however is in the fact that my fan must ride OUTSIDE the fin assembly and not inside, as the stock fan does.

Therefore, to make this possible and while following the above linked mod process ... keep in mind that you will have to bend the mounting arm as demonstrated below in order for the 120mm fan mod to work:

...



...

Otherwise ... if you want to drop your zalman's load temps by up to 11 degrees, then I say do this mod NOW.

legoman786

Thats a nice mod, and nice temps!

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Aumotocnic "An unfortunate member of the overclock.net insomnia club"
That a 1305% OC right there... O_O

korndog2003

Good job write a faq!

The Duke

Thats a modder
Nice work, kind of scarry for the fingers but sweet non the less!

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s1rrah

i sharpened the blades.

:-)

it *was*, i will say ... a major pain getting the heat sink lock-down screw set on the clamp closest to the fan; i mean, after i had set the thing down on the AS5 and CPU; no light ... even with all kinds of flashlights in there i could just barely see where to put the damn screw. i applied and reapplied AS5 and the heatsink 4 times before getting it right. it would be simple with the board out of the case but didn't want to mess with the wires.

s1rrah

i thought about it but there's already a guy who wrote one; that's what initially inspired me to replace the fan (other than crappy cooling for high clocks with the stock zalman fan).

his goal was less noise (not my concern) and so i simply followed his faq and chose the muscle fan that worked best for max cooling.

here goes:

http://www.silentpcreview.com/article284-page1.html

Thumper

Awesome....but why spend $50 on a crappy heatsink, then $15 more on a fan to cut up and then spend time to mod it out just to get barely acceptable temps?

What you need to do is test that modded 9500 against an Infinity or a Noctua.

I bet if you modded a shroud to actual direct the air from those fans over the fins you would get even better temps, even though you used a 120mm fan, it has nothing to direct the flow, so much of the air is getting thrown around the outside.

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Mootsfox

Nice mod, I now want to buy a 9500 and a 220CFM delta.

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born2killU

i want to do that to my 9500 but with a 92mm fan instead so it still looks good

maybe like a 92mm x 35mm fan

FlaKing

Yeah. That's what I was thinking. Get a BT or a SI-128. You won't have to tear up a fan and probably get better results anyway.

But nice mod, it seems like it helped you a lot, which is all thats important really.

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