The Verax CAIRdB seven bladed impeller on this 25mm thick KP2-fan creates a small amount of airflow and virtually zero noise. Compared to a traditional heatsink, the CAIRdB is pretty revolutionary - but it is important to keep in mind that this heatsink is really meant for zero noise systems. The fan uses two NIRO ball bearings and is temperature controlled to run at 1400-3500RPM (20C-40C). The fan connects to the motherboard via a 3-pin fan header which supports RPM monitoring (though most RPM monitoring programs don't identify the speed correctly).

Heatsink Top:
The heatsink is based on a very wide spacing of pins and uses four rubber anti-vibration posts mounts (not shown) to hold the fan in place. The fan doesn't actually come in contact with the metal of the heatsink, and this way any vibrations which do occur are most likely absorbed by the rubber. The center cut is useless, as the metal clips for the socket 603/604 clip fit into a cutout along the edge of the copper base plate.

Side A:
The side of the heatsink has an assortment of 2mm cross cuts which help to increase surface area and induce turbulence within the fin structure of the heatsink. The clips are interesting because they lock into those small cuts in the edges of the copper plate. This means that the P17CuX can only be used with socket 603/604 Xeon processors, or the old style socket 423 Williamette Pentium 4. Verax do not include a retention frame that would enable the P17CuX to be used with a socket 478 processor.

Side B:
The fins on the P17CuX extrusion are all rather thick compared to the standard these days. However, with the relatively low amount of air flow that comes from the fan the spacing is probably well suited. The little rubber feet which hold the fan in place lock into small circular holes in the frame of the heatsink. The copper base plate measures 6mm thick and the fins range from 1.50mm - 0.8mm at the tips. Fins are spaced ~2mm apart at the base.

The 64x89mm copper base has a light sanded finish and is very flat over its entire surface. A square of white silicon thermal compound comes pre-applied to the base of the copper. Four recessed stainless steel Torx screws hold the copper plate firmly to the aluminum extrusion. The joint between the copper and aluminum is filled with a thin amount of white silicon-based thermal compound... a big departure from the CGDS technology used on past Verax heatsinks.