Flipping the ALX-800 over, we again see design influences from the SLK line of coolers.  Notice how the base plate is not a square.  The overhang of the fins will allow for air to pass through and down the fins to get under the cooler when mounted.  This circulation is one of the prime reasons ThermalRight has had such success with the thermal transfer efficiency of this design.  The copper base measures 32 x 58 mm and sports a nice (but not fantastic) lap job.  The base's quality was however, far above average.

The base is a somewhat unusual shape.  By turning up in somewhat of a pyramid, more surface area of the copper inlaid base is in contact with the aluminum fin block.  This helps pull, so to say, heat up off the point of CPU contact for better dissipation to the fins.  The copper base is bonded quite well to the aluminum fin block.  You can see the welds marks from the side pics below.  Exceptionally clean mating between the two surfaces.  The clip running through the center is a three prong variety which will eliminate any flex or give, once the ALX-800 is mounted.

In expected ThermalRight fashion, the fan mounts to the top of the sick via the wire clips you see below.  You may notice in the pic to the left below, how the top is cut with three 'steps.'  In the past, we have seen multiple holes on the side of ThermalRight sinks giving you options from 60 to 90mm fans that would also fit on a specific 'step.'  Not so with the ALX-800.  It is designed for 80mm fans to fit on the middle of the three levels.  This provides for the fan to be slightly elevated to keep you from having a dead zone of stagnate or minimal air flow directly beneath the fan's motor.  The wire clips have also been shortened so to grab the bottom of the fan rather than the top.

It should be pointed out that the ALX-800 does NOT come with a fan.  There are two reasons for this.  The first obviously is to keep costs down.  Fans run anywhere from $4 to $15 depending on the fan you like.  Which is also part of the second reason: people's preference in fans is fairly broad.  For a manufacturer to include a 'silent' low volume fan may turn off some people while a dust buster type high volume one would alienate others.  By not including a fan, the buyer can pick and choose what they want to get from any retailer and avoid paying for an included fan they may or may not want.

Installation

Installation of the ALX-800 went smooth and without incident.  To confirm no problems existed with mainboard compatibility we installed the cooler on three boards here (Albatron KM18G, ABIT NF7, ABIT KV7) and found no problems.