OCZ Vendetta CPU Cooler Review

[Capper]

OCZ Technologies is no stranger to us here at HL. Over the past few years, we've covered OCZ's excellent system memory, flash media, and power supplies.....and as we saw at CES, OCZ is definitely not a company to rests on its laurels......releasing a plethora of new products.

Today we'll take an up close and personal look at OCZ's newest cooling product, the OCZ Vendetta CPU Cooler. While upon initial inspection it fits the mold of the average cooler, aluminum fins attached to copper heat pipes, flipping the OCZ Vendetta over reveals something unusual.

OCZ Vendetta CPU Cooler Review

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[PrOLifIC_onE]

Good review Caps. Not using a standard base is VERY interesting. It's hard for me to imagine that direct heat transfer to the heatpipes is better than having a base plate with more area for heat dissipation. I'm not saying I agree or disagree with the idea because I haven't really had time to ponder this idea.

Its great that OCZ stepped outside the box to make me rethink the importance of the base... It's probably only hard for me to believe because nearly all coolers have some sort of base plate. This is really just making me stop and rethink things.

[RAID]

fantastic review Rich! are you using a different lens for your review pics? i'm digging the close up shots!

[screwballl]

great review!
that is interesting that they decided to take this route (direct heatpipe transfer) and it looks like the temps are still much better than other options.... but that little bit of gap around the pipes seems like there is still room for improvement... also it has those dumb intel plastic pins which I am not a fan of, especially on anything heavier than 400g... would have been nice to see an included screw based solution...

[Parker]

Excellent review Rich!
I just finished reading through it.

The new design on the bottom is kinda weird... the heat pipes directly on the proc is kinda.... I don't know. It just bugs me I guess
But anyhow, great review!!

[Quakindude]

Originally Posted by Parker

The new design on the bottom is kinda weird... the heat pipes directly on the proc is kinda.... I don't know. It just bugs me I guess
But anyhow, great review!!

This got my attention as well. When I first saw it, I was quite startled, thinking I was going to see Rich blasting this cooler for missing parts and crappy QA! But that sucker sure works doesn't it? And for under $30, you can't bet the performance!

It's very nice to see a cooler bend the rules of what we've come to expect. This has been the most enjoyable review I've read in quite some time.

[screwballl]

I would assume that even a very thin copper plate on the bottom would help transfer the heat better...

[polobunny]

Originally Posted by screwballl

I would assume that even a very thin copper plate on the bottom would help transfer the heat better...

I'm pretty sure too, if only for having an equal surface making contact with the whole IHS.

[Capper]

that would be my assumption too, but I also think cost would play into that. My other suggestion was replacing that aluminum frame with a coper one....but realistically, you are looking at a couple degrees C......so I think the trade off was small performance ding for cost effectiveness and lightweight build.

Its kinda a basic concept that more surface area = better heat dissipation, which I honestly believe.....and I believe the grooves play against the overall performance, which is still pretty good for a $30 cooler.

[polobunny]

Originally Posted by Capper

that would be my assumption too, but I also think cost would play into that. My other suggestion was replacing that aluminum frame with a coper one....but realistically, you are looking at a couple degrees C......so I think the trade off was small performance ding for cost effectiveness and lightweight build.

Its kinda a basic concept that more surface area = better heat dissipation, which I honestly believe.....and I believe the grooves play against the overall performance, which is still pretty good for a $30 cooler.

For sure. Bang for buck ratio is really good, I'm ready to bet though many enthusiasts would be ready to chip in a 5 to 10 bucks more for a thin layer of copper under those heatpipes though. :)
OCZ Vendetta+ on it's way maybe?