Virtual-Hideout | Thermalright TRUE Copper Heatsink Review

Best viewed @ 1024 x 768 and higher

Thermalright TRUE Copper Heatsink Review

Date Published:
01-08-2009

Written By:
Diceman

Edited By:
Diceman

Provided By:
Thermalright

Where to Buy:
Product Page

Discuss Article:
VH Forum link

Pages: 1 2

Introduction:

Thermalright TRUE Copper CPU Heatsink

Rather than introduce this one myself, I'm going to take a portion of the story from the horse's mouth - the sentiment, and meaning to this absolute monster of a heatsink, so that you, the reader, can get an idea of what Thermalright hopes to achieve with the release of their TRUE Copper Edition.

"Since the release of Ultra-120 eXtreme, it has become the standard, or as the one to beat in a lot of major CPU cooler comparisons. At Computex 2008, Thermalright displayed three versions of the Ultra-120 eXtreme; original (aluminum), black, and copper. Not surprisingly, the copper version was the one most well received. Many hardcore Overclockers saw it to be the ultimate air cooling device. Inheriting from its predecessor, TRUE Copper has six highly efficient heatpipes with every vital part soldered to them to ensure the highest rate of heat transfer and durability. This is one of the features that you will see in each and every Thermalright heatsink. "

TRUE Copper’s weight exceeds all of our previous heatsinks.

With that in mind, the remainder of the review carries us towards the second part of that paragraph - which comes after I tear the packaging away, and try to install this absolute monster of a heatsink, something with almost four and a half pounds of copper to call home. Let's take a look at the features.

Features

Use high quality copper material for consistent heat absorption and transfer.
Utilizes six high quality 6mm heatpipes, strategically positioned to pick up the heat from the CPU.
Proprietary bent winglet design to minimize airflow resistance.
Heat pipes soldered to base (nickel plated) and fins for optimum heat transfer.
Stack of 52 pieces of copper fins, the most over any other heatsinks in the market. Can be covered entirely by a 120mm fan to absorb all in-coming air flow.
Vast compatibility list for multiple multi-core CPUs and platforms.
Includes both bolt-thru-board retention mechanisms for Intel 775 and AMD AM2 (backplate included for both platforms).
Includes two sets of fan wire clips for a duo-120mm fan installation (fans not included).
Includes the NEW thermal paste, Chill Factor 2 for even better conductivity.

Technical Spec

Dimension: L133 x W156 x H38 mm
Weight :1900g (Heatsink Only)
Recommended Fan (120x25mm)
Heat pipes: six Heat pipes
Material : Copper

Processors Compatibility


Intel Socket 775 & AMD Socket AM2 Support Intel Core i7 Processor (optional ) Support Intel Core 2 extreme and any Socket 775 Processor Support AMD Phenom X4 and any Socket AM2 & AM2+ Processor

With the formality finally aside, it's good and time to take the packaging away from this sexy little sink and see what sets it apart from the rest.

A Closer Look:

Packed in an unusual waxed white box, the TRUE Copper comes as an example of how to strike the presence of your product into the minds of those who've seen the products before. This white box is of the same dimensions and strength as the ones before, which is somewhat worrisome, considering the TRUE Copper weighs in at around three times more than the predecessors. When the top flap of the box folds back, the same soft foam as always protects the heatsink, while a bland white box sits off to the side with the mounting hardware. Let's take a look at the sink, and what's in the box, anyway.

Top Shot of the Box	Embossed Font
Accessories	Top Shot of The Sink

Taking a few turns around the heatsink itself, it's the same TRUE as always - but with well polished edges - in nearly every shot you can see the camera's lens glinting off the fins, much in the same way that screws glint off the base. Perhaps the only thing to consider here, is that aesthetics aside, copper absorbs heat better than it dissipates it; meaning that this four pound beauty would likely need a beefy fan to see it's peak performance. That said, though, I'm quite happy to say that there's absolutely no build quality issues to address, and though copper is noted as a softer metal, it showed no signs of stress even after an extended period of installation.

From Above	The Front
The Base 1/2	The Base 2/2

With the heatsink evaluated, it's time to take a look at the installation process, and the difference between all three models of this family.

<< Back to VH FrontPage | Installation & Testing >>

Got News? Send 'em in!