| TS Heatronics NCU-1000 AKA Heatlane
"Zen" 
An award winning R&D focussed company from Japan, TS Heatronics claim to have
produced the bane of fan-cooled heatsinks. Borne from the recesses of steel mills
and copper mines, this beast stands almost six inches tall with its tip high in
the skyline from little Northville. At one end of the cooling spectrum stands
the Kamakaze amongst other compact, high speed fan cooling solutions, and at the
extreme opposite is the fanless and noiseless NCU-1000.

While some heatsinks rely on high airflow for performance, the Zen can fully function
without external assistance. As a matter of fact, It actually create its own air
supply with the aid of convection currents. The extreme conductive properties
of Zen's components work effectively at drawing heat right out to the tips of
its fins, allowing maximum contact with cool air. In order to do this, the cooler
utilizes a 1/4" thick coldplate, 15 inches of Heatlane stainless steel, and
several long, folded strips of aluminum.
TS Heatronics spent
a few extra hours in the study hall and polished this slab of copper to an impressive
shine. Note how the reflection is not only effective at a distance of 1/8 inches,
or 4 inches, but the reflection of the overhead light is clearly visible at a
distance of about 7 feet!! 

The
stainless steel is the secret to success in this design, as it is essentially
a thin yet wide heatpipe. Remember heatpipes contain pressurized cooling fluid,
and physical damage such as cracks might lead to a vent of freezing fluid. The
effect might resemble an upturned compressed air container spraying a liquid many
degrees below freezing, but to a more dangerous level. This is why breaking off
the plug and pointing it at your friend's bare arm isn't only not recommended,
but also greatly discouraged. 

Let's strap on the nuts and test these puppies!


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