The Thermaltake Max Orb definitely has a lot of good looks, and the performance is decent, too. Fan noise can be adjusted up or down, and it seems to have only minor effects on performance. The Max Orb is compatible with many current CPU socket types, although Socket 478 compatibility is missing. Some cases have issues with taller heatsinks, but due to the design of the Max Orb, height issues may not be as much of a problem. The Max Orb is not as tall as other high-performance heatsinks, which will help it fit into more systems. The asthetics are great, from the polished nickel plating to the sleeving on the wires to the included blue LED fan.
The Max Orb may have some compatibility issues with certain motherboard and memory combinations, so make sure you check for possible issues before purchasing. The installation can be a bit tricky, and removal of the motherboard is highly recommended. The base of the heatsink is not completely smooth as there are faint mill marks visible through the nickel plating. Performance may improve slightly if Thermaltake revises the Max Orb to add some fins to the top of the base, which will aid in more efficient heat removal. The noise level for the fan on the Max Orb is decent at low speed, but when turned up for maximum performance the fan can be quite loud.
In all, the Max Orb is a great heatsink and it is definitely worth considering for your next build.