Thermaltake V14AX CPU Cooler

The two pictures below will also show you the structural layout of the V14AX.  Many large coolers have a delicate or flimsy feel about their convection fins.  Not here with the big Thermaltake; not at all.  Be sure to note the 140 x 30mm cooling fan sandwiched in the middle of things.

  

The heatpipes do not simply pass through holes drilled into the convection fins.  Look closely at the third picture below and you can see how the metal on the convection fin is folded out so at to provide more contact area between the heatpipe and the fins.  The view from the front side of the cooler creates an optical illusion of minimal contact between the heatpipe and each fin whereas in reality almost the entire surface of the heatpipe inside the fin assembly is in direct contact with the convection fins.  Very smart and efficient engineering.

     

Back to the fan you can see how the blades are exposed and not mounted inside a traditional casing.  The traditional fan casing helps direct the air flow and subsequently increases its velocity.  With the massive fin assembly on either side of the cooling fan, Thermaltake was able to get away without the housing which in turns increases the amount of area that receives an active air exchange.

  

Thermaltake's V14AX Cooler's base is solid copper with what appears to be a nickel plating over top.  The heatpipes are mounted between the copper base plate and a small aluminum billet on top.  The two small holes on either side of the base are for the mounting arms to attach the unit to the motherboard.  More on that in a few.  Before we move on, also note the inline rheostat.  Finger adjustments allow fan speed to vary between 1000 ~ 1600 RPM.

  

I didn't catch the mirror like lap job at first due to the white board we use for photos.  However, when I did look, WOW!  A true shaver.

  

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