The heatpipes in the base sit in an aluminum bar with slits. The gaps between the slits measure 2mm:

Of course, no one thought of polishing off the heatpipes in the base of the cooler, but the base is very even that is much more important than mirror-shining finish. The photograph below shows the thermal compound imprint on the cooler base from an LGA 775 CPU:

As you see, the CPU actually contacts only the two heatpipes in the center of the base and about 40% of the two heatpipes on the sides. Moreover, a part of the processor heat-spreader has no contact with these heatpipes at all. As we have already pointed out they are shifted, so it is impossible to have heatpipes contacting the entire processor heat-spreader. Maybe this approach together with 2-mm gaps between the heatpipes is indeed the “Achilles’ heel”. Our tests will answer this question later, and now let’s continue studying the cooler design and features.

XIGMATEK Achilles S1284 is equipped with a very beautiful 120-mm fan with seven semi-transparent orange blades:

The fan rotation speed can be adjusted automatically in the interval from ~800RPM to ~1500RPM using pulse-width modulation algorithm (four-pin cable and connector):

Moreover, there are four white LEDs in four corners of the fan. The manufacturer claims that this fan produces 20.6dBA of noise, but there is no mention of the operational mode corresponding to this value. I dare assume that it is most likely the minimal noise reading.

The fan is attached to the heatsink with four silicon spindles that fit right in-between the heatsink plates:

This ensures better acoustic performance (than in case the fan is pressed against the heatsink plates), because the spindles absorb fan vibrations. They are pretty robust but at the same time soft enough, so don’t be afraid to rip them apart during fan installation.

XIGMATEK Achilles S1284 cooler looks like this with the fan attached:

No second fan can be installed on the other side of the heatsink.