360° View - Zalman Fatal1ty FS-C77 Heatsink Information on Frostytech's test methodology is available here.
	The Heatsink Fan: The 120x120x25mm fan spins at a fixed speed of 2400RPM. According to FrostyTech's real world sound measurements this translates into a noise level of about 56 dBA. The lack of a fan guard can be problematic if errant wires find their way into the path of the red LED illuminated seven-bladed impeller - so keep you case clean and tidy on the inside when using this heatsink. The heatsink draws power from a standard 3-pin motherboard fan header, and supports RPM monitoring. Since airflow is directed downward, components adjacent to the CPU socket are also cooled to some degree. Zalman recommends that motherboards have at least 136mm of clearance around the center of the CPU, where no capacitors or other devices stand more than 39mm tall for the FS-C77 to fit properly.
	Heatsink Top: Removing the 120mm fan gives us a clearer idea of how the entire FS-C77 heatsink is put together. Each copper fin is 0.4mm thick. The central base section is 41.5mm wide, and from tip to tip the heatsink measures 136mm x 136mm. The cut out in the center of the base section is for the clipping mechanism which applies pressure at the center of the Zalman Fatal1ty FS-C77 heatsink. One of the nice aspects of the red clear coat is that it should prevent the copper from oxidizing over time.
	Heatsink Side A: Standing 68mm tall, the Zalman Fatal1ty FS-C77 is a fairly compact heatsink in the vertical sense. Each red copper fin are spaced about 2.0mm apart on average along the outside edge. The spring clip mounted just under the fan uses two different clips ("type-s" and "type-L") depending on what processor the FS-C77 is being installed on.
	Heatsink Side B: From this angle you can see how the copper fins gradually come together to form the body of the Zalman Fatal1ty FS-C77 heatsink. Compressed under high pressure the fins make intimate contact at the base which is then machined absolutely flat. The bevel in the shape of the heatsink is so it will clear the certain heatsink retention frames, and any capacitors placed near to the socket. Accordingly, Zalman recommend that no component be higher than 39mm if it is within 136mm of the center of the processor socket.
	Heatsink Base: The base measures 35mm x 41mm, and it has been machined perfectly flat and smooth so raw metal comes in contact with the CPU core. Surface roughness is equivalent to ~8 microinches. Seeing as the copper fins are the base, and the base is the same slice of copper that is the fins, thermal conductivity is as direct as can be expected. The stainless steel slots where the two types of mounting clips slot into are just visible on either side of the base.