is not directly in contact???
I guess I can always try it without the paste at first.
Using the same heatpipe technology employed on certain Coolermaster coolers in particular, it does a reasonable job in cooling the CPU. Rather unconventionally, the actual cooling doesn't take place on the part of the heatsink that is in contact with the CPU. Rather, a 3750rpm Sunon fan is mounted on the radiator-style upper area (not pictured). If the BIOS' temperature reading are to be believed, the cooler does a fine job.