As I have hinted to already, this heatsink is HUGE! This does not, however, mean that it is going to be dangerous to use. The overall weight of the cooler is 640 grams. While it isn't a total lightweight, the design is such that most of the weight falls toward the base of the cooler. This allows the heatsink to sit easily over a processor even when the device is positioned horizontally.
For those with a smaller enclosure, you may well want to do some measuring before you decide on this cooler. The measurements of this beast roll in at 112mm x 112mm x 175mm in height. The balance ratio stays close to the base due to the heatpipe design and the aluminum fins used instead of copper. Since heatpipe coolers don’t really need the dissipation qualities of copper, it allows this larger than normal heatsink to maintain a relatively low weight.
Pictured above is a closer look at the fin system used in the 3D Rocket II. You will also note the plastic side fins that give it the look of its namesake. While they don’t look to add anything to the effectiveness of this cooler, they do make it stand out in a crowd.
You can also see the four heatpipes running through the fin system. For those who are new to building or are not up to speed on this technology, it is a system of hollow tubes that contain a wicking material and a liquid transfer substance. When heat is transferred to the copper base, it is carried into the heatpipes where it rises and is dissipated. While a relative newcomer in the computer cooling sector, the technology has been in use with industrial equipment since the 1960's.
At the bottom edge of the fin system you will find a small PCB that handles connections to the fan and the rheostat device. It also takes care of the power requirements of the cooler. The photo above was taken right out of the box, so the two empty connectors belong to the fan speed monitoring cable and the power intake connector.
Above you can see the riser system used for this heatsink. Since heatpipe technology needs a bit of distance in the piping to be effective, we see several modern coolers utilizing a high profile design.
Those with a keen eye have likely already noticed the fan housed in the bottom of the unit. This is one of two fans used in the Rocket II cooler. The bottom fan is a small and quiet unit that blows downward. This aids the heatpipes in their cooling chores and since it operates in the opposite direction of the top fan (it blows upward), there is no turbulence in the central chamber like models that have tried this in the past. The open fin design allows for plenty of airflow so you will have no issues regarding the two fans working together.
Moving to the base of the heatsink, we see what we have come to expect; copper. While not lapped to a sheen finish, it is very smooth and the machine marks pictures above were not felt with the finger. The studs that secure the base to the cooler are just slightly inset so you will have no problems with seating on the processor core.
I made mention of the top fan before, but here it is in all its glory. Since the entire unit maintains a roughly circular design, it is a given that a normal fan is out of the question. The model used, however, should be up to the task at hand. Measuring in at 92mm x 92mm x 25mm, this ball bearing fan spins at speeds ranging from 1500-3000 RPM and emits 16-33 dBA of sound. At lower speeds it is truly quiet. At higher speeds it is about par for what we have come to expect from a performance oriented cooler.
The fan is also lighted, so if you happen to be running a windowed enclosure you should be able to show off some added lighting effects. Coloring for the LED is blue, so plan accordingly.
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