A Closer Look

Like the C7, the C7 Cu makes use of four Ø6 mm heatpipes that transfer heat from the CPU to the fifty-seven copper fins. The heatsink design is rather dense and adheres to the Intel keep-out zone specifications.


Due to the use of copper, the heatsink is extremely heavy for the size at 675 g. While the weight is not surprising considering the material choice, it does have added benefits, of which one is a stiffer, stronger design. The fins themselves feel solid with very little flex, and as a result, I found none of them bent upon initial inspection. Other benefits of copper include the ability for it to absorb more heat than aluminium. However, while that is true, aluminium tends to absorb and dissipate heat faster.


The heat pipes are arranged in a U-shape, with two transferring heat to each side of the fin stack. The base is solid copper rather than a HDT style, which should result in more uniform heat transfer from the CPU IHS to the heatpipes and fins. While the base is not polished to a mirror finish, it feels smooth to the touch with machining marks being visible primarily on the edges and corners. The pillars used to mount the cooler are also pre-installed by CRYORIG, which does make for a quicker installation.


CRYORIG coupled the C7 with a 92 mm x 92 mm x 15 mm fan that spins at 600–2500 RPM. Such a wide RPM range is a nice touch and should help keep noise down at lower load levels. Acoustic dampening rubber has been attached to the fan's plastic frame as a way to reduce noise due to vibrations. Sadly, due to the fan using a specific frame for the cooler, replacing it is a bit more problematic, requiring a bit of DIY ingenuity. The previously reviewed SilverStone AR11 has a more easily replaceable fan, and hopefully, future revisions from CRYORIG will take that into account.


When looking at the C7 Cu compared to the C7 the only difference is the materials used. Otherwise, everything remains the same between the two.