ThermoLab Baram CPU Cooler

Conclusion:

The Baram CPU cooler made a strong first impression for ThermoLab and what they are capable of... I hope to see more products from them in the future. The cooler performed quite well during testing, and using a low speed / low noise fan was able to keep the processor as cool as with a higher speed / high noise fan. For those interested in running their system in near silence, the Baram will cooperate, and the temperatures will still be better than on some more popular (and louder) coolers.

The main issue with the Baram was encountered during the installation on an LGA 775 motherboard. I can see some benefit to having the bolts go through from the underside of the motherboard, but it did make installation a bit tricky and time consuming. The other issue I encountered was hopefully an isolated incident, as I haven't read any other reviews that complained of the stench of body odor. There must be something in the general manufacturing process that smells this bad, as I have now used two coolers from two manufacturers that smelled equally as rancid.

ThermoLab is in the process of setting up US distribution, so getting one of your own may be about impossible. The suggested retail price is just over $50 (US), which does compare favorably with other coolers like it. One thing to remember is that there are no fans included with the Baram, so there will be a bit of extra expense to get up and running.

Despite issues during installation, once you get the Baram installed its performance more than makes up for the mild frustration encountered. It is ready and able to keep your processor cool with minimal noise, and that leads it to the "Highly Recommended" award.


Pros:

» Great cooling performance
» No fan included - choose your own to optimize configuration
» Performs extremely well with low speed / low noise fan
» Big, but not too big
» Compact mounting bracket has plenty of clearance
» Bolts go through from backside of motherboard - avoids interference issues
» Includes a syringe of 'silver' thermal grease

Cons:

» Bolts go through from backside of motherboard for LGA775 - Installation is not easy!
» No hardware included for LGA 1366 processors
» No fan included - extra expense
» Not yet available in the US
» Foul odor

Special thanks to ThermoLab for providing the ThermoLab Baram CPU Cooler to Bigbruin.com for review!