Vantec CCK6012 Copper 1U Heatsink Review

Our friends at Vantec have recently come out with a very cool looking solid copper 1U heatsink. The new CCK-6012 copper 1U heatsink immediately caught our eyes because each and every fin has been cut from what was once a solid. This means that the much dreaded thermal interface between fins of the heatsink and the base is a moot issue. By cutting out the fins the heat energy should have a clear path from processor core to fin tip, and that is always good for thermal conductivity. In other heatsink designs where solder is involved, the thermal energy must travel through a region which is less conductive then copper, and if there are any gaps or areas of poor contact that can further deteriorate things.

As if that weren't enough, on top of all this copper Vantec have added another layer of "plated copper" to prevent oxidization, keep everything shinny, and probably just for good luck :) Rest assured this heatsink looks like a million bucks, but with all the gloss and copper goodness has something gone unnoticed, and more importantly, will it perform the duties of a 1U heatsink well?

	Heatsink Specsheet: Model: CCK-6012 Fan: Fanner 12V, 0.2A. Fan Dim: 10x60x60mm Heatsink Dim: 22x60x60mm HS Material: Copper Mfg by: Vantec Sold By: www.vantecusa.com

The copper 1U heatsink is pretty tiny by most standards, and there really isn't much to comment on about it construction. With only a few millimeters of space inside a 1U server, the 10mm fan is pretty much standard, and realistically there isn't much further to go.

Going of on a tangent for a moment, one of the first things that crossed our minds when we saw the CCK-6012 was for another more passive use. If a few of these copper coolers could be rounded up and cut into appropriate sizes they might make really good RAMsinks for a videocard. Attaching the heavy copper heatsinks to the memory would a bit perilous, but I suppose if a good thermal epoxy were used then things would be alright.

Vantec CCK-6012 Heatsink From All Angles
	The Fan: A very thin 10mm thick 60mm fan is used on the CCK-6012 and not much more is really needed to penetrate the 8.5mm tall copper fins. The fan is connects to the motherboard via a 3-pin power connector with RPM monitoring.
	Heatsink Top: The clipping mechanism Vantec have used here is nice because it doesn't cut a large path directly through the center of the heatsink which ultimately affects cooling surface area. The clip also ensures that the heavy copper heatsink is kept pretty stationary in the event the server is moved around.
	Side A: Given the restrictions on height (generally 28mm or thereabouts) the CCK-6012 measures a scant 22mm in height. The clip is stiff, but can be engaged without the use of any screwdrivers or other tools. The fins are roughly 0.6mm thick, and spaced 1mm apart.
	Side B: The side of the CCK-6012 is dead plane and shows some signs of where the copper has been cut from what ultimately appears to have been a much longer strip.
	Heatsink Base: The base of the CCK-6012 is not as plane and flat as we like to see bases, but then again this is a mass produced heatsink which is made from a pretty softy material. The copper is a very smooth, but the edges are also a little curved up. This should not pose a problem with most bare core processors of course.