Introduction

Motherboards have taken huge leaps since I started getting into PCs. Then it seems that when someone brought up an m-ATX motherboard, it was assumed it was a stripped down, feature-less piece of tech that was just enough to run the essential components, and if you were lucky, you might have been able to run RAID or overclock the components. Today the whole game has changed and it seems more and more people are going to smaller, more compact designs in both motherboards and chassis'.

I know with quite a few of the chassis reviews I have done in the SFF or HTPC categories, I tend to fall back on old faithful; the short stock cooler. It isn't very often that I get the chance to take a look at a cooler that uses less than a 120mm fan to cooler the processor, let alone ones that boast of the fact that they will fit almost anywhere. When I think Compact, I don't think excessive overclocking potential, what I am looking for is the improvements over the stock cooling solution which is what most builders in smaller chassis' are left with using.

Today we are taking a look at two solutions to this exact issue from ZEROtherm. They have submitted the ZT-560D and the ZT-570D for our lab to put through their paces. We don't typically review multiple coolers in the same review, but when you see this pair of coolers and peruse through the specifications, it will become very apparent as to why I chose to do it this way, this time. ZEROtherm has supplied really good and dependable cooling solutions in the past, so let's see just what the ZT560D and the ZT-570D have to offer those who need to cool in even the smallest places.