Introduction and Features

The stylish SpinQ is one of the most innovative CPU coolers that Thermaltake has brought to market. It features a squirrel-cage blower with LED lights and looks very cool. But how does it perform – that’s what we’re here to find out!
Thermaltake is a well recognized name to most PC enthusiasts.  They have been offering an ever expanding product line of coolers, enclosures, power supplies, along with numerous other accessories for years.  Thermaltake claims their latest CPU cooler innovation will deliver the perfect combination of strength and aesthetics

Thermaltake SpinQ CPU Cooler Review - Cases and Cooling 20
(Courtesy Thermaltake)
 
The new Thermaltake SpinQ CPU cooler features six heat pipes, a cylindrical array of spiral cut aluminum fins, and an integrated squirrel-cage blower with LEDs and variable speed control.  One of the more unique features of the SpinQ design is that it pulls air in from both ends and blows the air out radially thru 50 aluminum fins, which helps cool the CPU socket area.  The SpinQ supports both Intel LGA775 and AMD 754/939/940/AM2/AM2+ processors.

Thermaltake SpinQ CPU Cooler Main Features:

•    Stylish Appearance
o    Cylindrical Heatsink and Spiral Aluminum Fins present stylish aesthetics
o    Eye-catching Scurve™ Blade LED Fan makes it unforgettable
•    Optimized Structure
o    50 Sculptured aluminum fins and 6 Heat pipes generate efficient cooling performance
o    Mirror finish copper base conducts heat effectively from CPU
•    Smart Airflow Design
o    Integrated 80mm blower used to maximize cooling performance
o    VR™ Fan allows user to adjust the speed according to their needs
o    Produces good cooling effect, even at low speed for minimal noise
o    Cylindrical structure exhausts the hot air with 360° airflow
•    Supports single, dual and quad core CPUs
o    Intel 775 and 1366
o    AM2+/AM2/939/754)

Thermaltake SpinQ CPU Cooler Review - Cases and Cooling 21
(Courtesy Thermaltake)

Heat Pipe Technology

The Thermaltake SpinQ CPU cooler uses six heat pipes to transport heat away from the CPU up into a circular array of aluminum fins.  A heat pipe is a highly efficient conductor of heat.  A properly constructed heat pipe has a very low thermal resistance, which is roughly independent of its length (unlike ordinary metal rods whose thermal resistance increases with length).  Heat pipes are commonly used to efficiently transport heat from one location to another.

Thermaltake SpinQ CPU Cooler Review - Cases and Cooling 22

Heat pipes work on the principle of evaporation and condensation.  A working fluid (frequently distilled water) evaporates inside one end of the heat pipe (the hot-end) absorbing heat in the process.  A partial vacuum inside the heat pipe allows the water to evaporate at low temperatures.  Once formed, the water vapor diffuses from an area of high vapor pressure (where it is being generated) to the other end of the tube where the vapor pressure is lower.  The type of working fluid and the degree of vacuum will determine the heat pipe’s temperature range.

The vaporized fluid then condenses back to liquid (at the cold-end) and the heat is dissipated into the air from the metal cooling fins.  The working fluid returns to the hot end via capillary action thru an internal wicking structure (sintered metal coating, fine wire mesh, or grooves) so the heat pipe does not have to rely on gravity to recycle the working fluid.  The key to a heat pipe’s high efficiency is the latent heat of vaporization. 




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