Introduction

I would like to thank Sunbeamtech for supplying the review sample.

Features:

• Core-Contact Technology
• TX-2 Thermal Grease Included
• 4 pcs High Performance 8mm U-shaped Heatpipes
• Light Weight (590g without the Fan)
• Fan Controller Included
• Easy Installation
• Bent Fins Design Helps to Cool the Components on the Motherboard
• Universal Clip Design
• Silent 120mm Fan MFDB ( Magnetic Fluid Dynamic Bearing)
• Ultra-Silent Low-Noise Level (16db)
• Outstanding Long Life of 50,000 Hours

Compatibility:

• Intel LGA775
• AMD 754/939/940/AM2/AM2+

Specifications:

Packaging and Contents

The Sunbeamtech Core Contact Freezer comes in a very clear and concise box. The theme of the box is black and blue, matching their website. Sunbeamtech’s logo appears on the top of the packaging multiple times whilst their website and company name appear on the bottom. On the front there is a large image of the heatsink, along with “Core-Contact Freezer” in large letters and a couple of images of the base/fan/included thermal grease. Towards one side of the package are the specifications and CPU compatibility/support list of the cooler while the other side simply has four pictures of the cooler and included thermal grease. The back of the box has a list of the features of the heatsink itself, features of the included fan and features of the included thermal grease. Furthermore, the back also contains “Core-Contact Freezer” in large letters (as on the front) and two images (one of the heatsink and one of a performance graph). On the top of the packaging is a simple yet very practical plastic handle, which enhances the portability of the unit.


The Core Contact Freezer comes with many accessories. The actual cooler is packaged within a secure plastic shell, held together by standard “pop on/off” clips. The manual is placed outside of the plastic shell, sitting towards the side of the box. On top of the plastic shell sits a plain white box with a hole in it, containing the accessories. Upon opening this white box you will find a small plastic bag coupled with a retention bracket (for Socket 775 based installations) and two steel brackets (to attach the fan onto the heatsink). In the plastic bag is an originally packed tube of Tuniq TX-2 thermal grease, a small package containing four plastic clips as well as another package containing a PCI slot fan controller (with the necessary screw to secure it to the PCI slot).

A closer look

The Core Contact Freezer is made from a mix of both aluminium and copper. The heat pipes of the cooler are all just pure copper, with no nickel coating. These four copper heat pipes run throughout the heatsink and appear on both sides, giving the impression that there are eight heat pipes. The heat pipes run throughout a block of aluminium fins. This design is very similar to many other DHT coolers. The design of each fin is unique; they are pointed in such a way that the cooler can cool the motherboard as well as the CPU.


The 120mm fan that comes with the Core Contact Freezer is a high performance fan, rated at 90.56 CFM. It is totally black but features no LED lights. In the middle is simply Sunbeamtech’s sticker. The fan does not come attached to the heatsink; the user must attach it themselves (via the given instructions on the manual). This is both an advantage and a disadvantage, it is good as users can choose another 120mm fan and attach that (i.e., an LED fan) or they can simply use the cooler without a fan (for complete silence). The downfall, though, is the fact that users must take an extra step when installing the heatsink.


The cooler has a standard 3 pin power connector which can be plugged straight into the motherboard (which will run the fan at full speed). Alternatively, the fan can be plugged into the supplied fan controller. The controller accepts a 3 pin connection and then outputs a 3 pin connection. A four pin PWM controller is not required, simply due to the fact that the fan controller will control the speed of the fan, not the motherboard.


The heat pipes are made of pure copper, and have no nickel plated coating (hence the bronze colour of the pipes). Towards the bottom of the heatsink, these pipes actually form the base of the heatsink, as they are what connects to the CPU (direct heat pipe contact). This allows the heat from the CPU to transfer straight into the heat pipes and then into the aluminium block of fins. Towards the upper end of the cooler where the fins are located, all four pipes run throughout the block twice. They are designed in a U shape. They each run down the block of fins into the base, and then go back up into the block of fins on the other side. As it is shown, the pipes run straight through the aluminium block of fins and are capped off on the other side, showing that the heat is distributed equally throughout the entire block of fins.


As mentioned, the base is made up of the actual heat pipes. These pipes have been shaved down to create a flat surface, and are wedged between aluminium fins. Sunbeamtech have not included a pre-applied thermal compound yet do supply thermal compound in a separate tube. The compound is their famous, high performing Tuniq TX-2. The cooler has an attached bracket and supplied clips, making installation tool-free. These clips latch on to the supplied base for Intel Socket 775 based installations or into the standard AMD retention bracket.