Sunbeamtech Core-Contact Freezer

The Heatsink

As a direct contact CPU cooler at the centre of the Sunbeamtech Core-Contact Freezer is a formiddable heatpipe array, which acts as both the thermal interface surface with the CPU, and the mode of dissipating heat away to the fins.

In conventional coolers, heatpipes run through a (usually copper) base to absorb the heat and then conduct it away from the CPU, transferring it up the heatpipes. With the Core-Contact Freezer though the base has been completely removed, supposedly resulting in more efficient thermal transfer between CPU and cooling pipes as one of the links in the chain has been removed.

However, there are concerns that direct heatpipe contact based coolers don’t have the advantage of a well machined smooth surface for an efficient thermal transfer, as the heat pipes need to be clearly separated to ensure they are stamped in place correctly. However this leaves a pitted surface of linear gaps between every pipe and metal-base block holding them in place.

This certainly seems the case with the Core-Contact Freezer, with the four “U” shaped heatpipes separated by an aluminium block, resulting in an uneven thermal transfer surface with 8 thin channels breaking up the base’s surface. However, the contact surfaces of the heatpipes are all well machined and smooth, so where contact is made, heat should flow effectively between the CPU and cooler, even if the surface area for thermal transfer is reduced.


The heatpipes themselves are all copper, and have been treated with an anti-corrosion agent to ensure they don’t tarnish or discolour over time, something that other heatsink manufacturers should certainly take note of.

The heatpipes run through no less than 53 cooling fins which are held in place by four connection rods running parallel to the heatpipes, down the full height of the cooling fin stack. The fins are firmly moulded around the heatpipes to ensure reliable thermal transfer, and have slightly curved edges and an indented design to stimulate airflow turbulence over them.

This results in superior cooling performance, although unlike on the previous direct contact cooler we reviewed, the OCZ Vendetta, there are no pits and bumps on the fins to further increase surface area and turbulence.


At the rear of the heatsink the fins angle down slightly, which Sunbeamtech claims should help cool motherboard components such as the CPU PWMs. However, the angle is so shallow that we doubt airflow would be redirected enough to make any real impact on the temperature of the components underneath it.

Cooling-wise, Sunbeamtech include a 120mm magnetic fluid dynamic bearing fan, which runs at 2,000 RPM at full speed and 1,000RPM at half speed (the lowest speed possible using the included fan controller). According to the specifications, the fan pushes a very respectable 90CFM of air per minute when set to maximum, and at 25dBa this is an impressive claim we’ll listen to during testing.


Also of note is the fan cable, with the black yellow and red cables all sleeved in silver and held together by a transparent plastic coating, helping you keep a tidy case. However, the cabling for the included fan controller is the exact opposite and has loose un-attached cables which look very scruffy – a shame when the inclusion of a fan controller is such a bonus. You’d be well advised to grab some cable ties or braiding and tidy it up.