Packaging and Accessories:

Thermaltake does an excellent job with retail packing and the V1 AX is no exception. The box is quite large and has everything you could ever want to know about the cooler printed on it. This would most definitely stand out on the shelf of your local computer store. The window gives you an excellent view of the build quality that Thermaltake has become known for.



Next up, we see the plethora of accessories that Thermaltake has included. The first is the socket 1366 brackets. The next picture shows the socket 775 and AM2/AM2+/K8 brackets, bracket mounting screws, complementary thermal paste, quick install guide, instruction manual and case badge. There’s also a little pamphlet discussing their Key 3 Spirit Initiative. The thermal paste is a nice touch â€" and who doesn’t need a spiffy new case badge?



The Basics:

Once outside of the box we finally get a better look at how the cooler is designed. The center-mounted fan should help to circulate air efficiently. The fan features a blue LED design. The LEDs aren’t too overpowering, as many fans can be. I think that in this instance they add a nice touch. Also, we can now see the 3-pin connector and a glimpse of the fan control. The lead on the control is quite short requiring the case to be opened for adjustment. I have seen other coolers that include an expansion slot bracket for this, but of course that might add extra cost to the unit. It’s something I would have liked to see here, but it’s not a deal breaker in this case.



In the below right image we get a look at the underside of the cooler. After peeling off the protective film, we are left with a very nice, mirror finish. You also get a better glimpse of the heatpipe routing. Sadly it is difficult to photograph just how smooth the finish is, but the reflection of the dime is sharp enough to read the date on the coin.