The heatsink
The Venomous X can only be described by one word, and that's "Beastly". It is quite distinctive in design from the Ultra Extreme in that the Venomous X uses a different fin design and the arrangement of the heat pipes is more linear at the top rather than in a circular pattern. As mentioned earlier, it is a few mms narrower than the Thermolab Baram but the extra heat pipe should give it the advantage. The whole heatsink is nickel plated to protect against corrosion, enabling a much longer life span. The construction is a combination of copper for the base and aluminium for the fins, ensuring the best heat conductivity without adding on too much weight. TRUE copper anyone?


Side view of the heatsink
Looking at the sides, we can get a better idea of its width. Being quite thick, it does mean that there may be issues with RAM in adjacent slots. With two fans attached, I had no issues on an X58 platform but for further information, please check this guide for compatibility. If your RAM doesn't use large heat spreaders (taller than 43mm), then there should be no problem filling in all the slots without worrying about the size of the heatsink and fan. At the top, there are also two small holes on either side of the heatsink which are where the fan wire clips are installed. This is a better method than needing to place wire clips in notches on the side of the cooler, where they can slip easily. As a result, fan installation is easy and painless.


The heat pipes
The Venomous X makes use of 6x6mm heat pipes that all spread out from the base. They are in direct contact with the copper base to ensure that heat is dissipated quickly and effectively. On each side, the heat pipes spread out to form two linear rows.


Looking at the top of the heat pipes
At the top, we can see the configurations of the heat pipes. On each side, there are three rounded tops and three slightly grooved ends. The Thermalright brand is engraved at the top for a neat finish. The edges of the fins have a very distinctive blade-like pattern which are bent upwards on one half and downwards on the other half of the face. Thankfully they aren't sharp enough to hurt anyone.


The fin array
A closer look at the fins and we can see that all the plates are angled slightly. On either side of the heatsink face, the fins bend either upwards on downwards as mentioned above. This bent winglet design ensures that hot air gets transported more quickly across the fins to cover a greater surface area per time. The large fins provide a greater surface area for heat dissipation.