Overview
The Cooler Master V10 CPU Cooler is certainly something unique not only in its design, but its power as well. The V10 dissipates heat through 200+W via 10 heatpipes which then travel through the three sets of aluminum fins which are thus cooled by two 120mm fans. Is that all? No! The V10 also powers a Hybrid TEC (Thermo-Electric Cooling), also known as Peltier cooling. A Peltier cooler/heater or thermoelectric heat pump is a solid-state active heat pump which transfers heat from one side of the device to the other. The hybrid TEC technology only activates when the CPU reaches extreme temperatures, giving it excellent cooling power without consuming extra energy. How does it work? Check out the diagram below for a detailed explanation.
The V10 is much larger than most CPU coolers measuring in at a whopping 236.5 x 129.6 x 161.3 mm (9.3 x 5.1 x 6.4 in). The main reason why this cooler is so long is the additional set of fins which spread parallel to the motherboard for RAM and other component cooling, in addition to cooling the CPU.
The large plastic cover hides most of the cooler, showing off the Cooler Master and V10 Logos. The cover does not hide the set of aluminum fans on the left side of the cooler.
In total there are 10, 6mm heatpipes; four of which extend through the horizontal set of fins, four which rise through the larger set of fins on the left and the other two which run through the other vertical set of fins towards the right. You’ll get a better idea of what I’m talking about once I remove the cover during the installation portion of this review.
Taking a close look at the heatpipes reveals where the TEC unit is placed. Underneath on the left side of the cooler you’ll see the four heatpipes pinched to the u nit and then traveling through the set of fins. A small plastic box sits on top of the base to convert power from the four pin molex to the TEC unit.
In addition to the optimal cooling methods we’ve covered so far is the mirror coated copper base. While the base may appear to be aluminum or some other sort of metal it is only a copper base covered with a mirror coating which goes the same for the 10 heatpipes.
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