Introduction
Introducing the Zen CPU Radiator
The Zen Radiator is surely both the strangest and most controversial cooler on the market. It's not an all-copper cooler, and it's certainly not all-aluminium either. Perhaps the best way to describe it would be "revolutionary". Rather than the usual passive metal heat sink with a fan blowing, the Zen features something its maker, T.S. Heatronics likes to call "Heatlane Technology". Basically, the working part of the Zen is a high surface area hollow aluminium radiator containing the super-coolant HFC-134a. When the temperature of the radiator base increases, the super coolant changes state to a gas. This change of state helps to rapidly carry heat away from the CPU. Whilst rising through the radiator, dual high-speed cooling fans help it to return to its native liquid state, ready for recirculation. In layman's terms the Zen is working like a mini-refrigerator. Fascinating stuff!
So why is this undoubtedly high-tech Japanese creation so controversial? Answer - the clip. Quite a few sites have reported cracked and chipped cores after attempting to fit the Zen. Mike from T.S. Heatronics says that they are just crap at installing coolers, but it's somewhat hard to believe that so many of our highly skilled compadres can be so wrong. Not wanting to damage my beloved 1.4 Athlon, I blagged a copper shim from Amil over at Chillblast, but since they are less than five squid (£5  ) I should probably not have been so tight (Amil don't mind really ;o)). Before getting into the nitty gritty lets have some light diversion with a pic of the box and its contents.
Surely this monstrous cooler can't fit in that box, can it? Not in its compiled form, no; the Zen requires some simple assembly, but you would have to be a total chimp to need instructions. The review model I received only has instructions in Japanese, but an English one can be downloaded here.
Take note, this cooler costs a huge $100 US (£72), making it pretty much the most expensive air cooler available today, being more expensive than both the Swiftech MC462A and the Alpha 8045T (which we reviewed here). Before seeing if it lives up to its hefty price tag, let's look at some Zen mug shots, shall we?
It sure does look cool with its all-plastic body.
Nice and shiny base: its literally mirror flat - no need for a lap and polish job here. The radiator section itself slides straight out of the plastic cover. The exposed radiator can be seen below
As you can see there are quite a few fins there, perfect for heat dispersion. That said I can't help but think that they could have made the radiator with an even larger surface-area.
And here is the infamous clip that has cost the lives of so many review sites' Tbirds. Let's take a look at how well I did when installing it.
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