Thermalright is now one of the big names in the world of CPU cooling along with the likes of Alpha and Swiftech, and thus new releases from them are always worth getting excited about. Their latest cooler is an aluminium/copper hybrid which allows for excellent performance at a reduced price.
The AX-7 arrived on my doorstep a week or so ago. Upon opening the package, I was greeted with a very attractive and classy box.
Inside was one of the largest and most innovative heat sinks I have seen for a long time. The AX-7's design is so good and so simple that I am surprised it has not been adopted before. It features a thick 60mm copper base attached to a large aluminium heat sink that spreads out to 80mm. This gives the benefit of fitting hugely powerful (or very quiet) 80mm fans without having to buy an $80 cooler (mentioning no names), or dismantle your entire PC to use it. The AX-7 costs just US$29.95, yet promises the best performance in the industry.
The AX-7's build quality is first class, with a very flat and well-machined copper base. The version I received did not come with a bundled fan, clearly Thermalright think that this decision is best left up to the consumer, and being a sound Nazi, I am inclined to agree.
