Coolermaster Hyper Z600 : Closer Look

The Hyper Z600 is build like a four leaf clover, there is no better description; there is a concentration of aluminum fins in those areas where a fan creates the most airflow, the area directly behind the fan motor is empty and if it were filled would not make much of a difference.

By choosing this design path Coolermaster can find the ideal balance between weight, surface area and cooling power:



There are a total of 6 U-form heatpipes joined in a copper ionized base, the plastic top cover is for looks only, doesn’t really serve any purpose, but look nice if you happen to have a case with a window.



The base is machine lapped, very flat and in mint condition when you remove the plastic protective sticker:



Installation

Coolermaster redesigned their CPU Cooler mounting system at the end of 2006 for their enthusiast CPU cooler products (those who weigh a lot). This mounting system requires motherboard removal but offers a very secure fit of the heatsink on the CPU; the mounting system for the Z600 is tweaked slightly with the inclusion of a metal back plate.

Instead of securing the CPU cooler to the motherboard/mounting bracket, you secure the motherboard to the CPU cooler. You install the appropriate mounting bracket to the Z600, you flip it around then place the motherboard on top and screw everything in place with the back plate in place.



It’s an alternative approach to CPU cooler mounting but effectively frees up space around the CPU socket area normally reserved for mounting screws, now you can have more copper/aluminum in that area to help cooling!

The fan mounting clips are excellent, you screw them onto your 120mm fan of choice and then you slide them over the side of the Z600 where you want it, they stay in place from the get go and are easy to remove as well;



Once everything is installed the Hyper Z600 takes up quite a bit of space inside a mid-tower Antec case:



But as long as we can still close the side panel there is no problem, the Z600 is tall, but not too tall:

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For our passive cooling tests we also installed our high-end cardboard pieces to create an air duct:




With both contestants introduced it’s time for some action ->