The Package
The Package
The packaging is, well, pretty standard nowadays. Clear molded plastic that can be hung on a shelf. Honestly, packaging like this is a godsend for storefront retailers as it hangs on a peg saving precious storage space and keeps prospective customers from tearing up packaging to look at a product. As you can see in the picture, there's very little left to the imagination. Even the back of the packaging shows an abbreviated version of the installation instructions giving potential buyers some idea of where this thing needs to go in their cases. It also seemed to do a reasonable job protecting the contents.
When it came to actually open the package, I was trying to be careful to not rip the card on the back too badly thinking that I'd need it somewhat intact for the instructions that were printed on it, but thankfully, there's a full instruction sheet inside. Along with the obligatory dessicant pack inside are some rubber thingamabobs, various screws and a grounding wire. You also get a couple of sticker templates to drill new mounting holes if you're lacking some free 5.25" bays.
The unit itself is a very nice looking part. Anodizing is even and consistent and the copper is highly polished and clearcoated to keep them from tarnishing. Note the corner closest to the camera; When I first got the unit, I had thought that the anodizing had gotten beat up or something. Turns out, that it's actually plastic shavings from the clamshell and the anodizing is blemesh free.
The blue side "rails" are actually two peices with the pipe ends sandwiched in between. Holding the unit up to a light, I could see noticeable gaps or light between the two blue plates, and in the holes that hold the pipes as well. Pulling one side apart confirmed that there was absolutely nothing in the way of thermal interface material used and the whole thing assembled dry.
Since I have doubts about the heatpipes being nothing more than eyecandy I did not reassemble it using paste, although there is possibly a performance gain there. Zalman's past product designs seem to be very well thought-out--maybe the design engineer's themselves knew it wouldn't make a difference and chose not to include paste in the assembly?
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