MasterAir Maker 8 Heatsink Spotlight

By Olin Coles

Manufacturer: Cooler Master Technology Inc.
Product Name: MasterAir Maker 8
Model Number: MAZ-T8PN-418PR-R1
UPC: 884102027413 EAN: 4719512049198
Price: $129.99 (Amazon | Newegg)

Cooler Master has a name that demands a dominating presence in the aftermarket cooling industry, and every year, without fail, they produce new and innovative heatsink designs offering the best of function and fashion. New for 2016 is the MasterAir Maker 8, a dual-140mm cooled customizable headsink compatible with every known motherboard socket from the past nine years. In this article, Benchmark Reviews spotlights the Cooler Master MasterAir Maker 8 heatsink and its many unique features.

MasterAir Maker 8 Specifications

CPU Socket: Intel LGA 2011-v3 / 2011 / 1366 / 1156 / 1155 / 1151 / 1150 / 775
AMD FM2+ / FM2 / FM1 / AM3+ / AM3 / AM2+
Dimensions (LxWxH): 135 x 145 x 172 mm, Heatsink: 78 x 144.5 x 160.5 mm
Heat Sink Material: 3D Vapor Chamber Base / 8 Heat Pipes / Aluminum Fins
Heat Pipe Dimensions: Ø6 mm
Fan Speed: 600 – 1,800 RPM ± 10%
Fan Air Flow: 19.8 – 66 CFM ± 10%
Fan Air Pressure: 0.24 – 2.2 mmH2O
Noise Level: 8~24 dBA
Bearing Type: Loop Dynamic Bearing
Power Consumption: 1.8 W
Weight: 1350 g
Warranty: 5 years

MasterAir Maker 8 Overview

There are many key features lurking within the MasterAir Maker 8, but the one key component that should receive attention is the 3D Vapor Chamber Base that combines the chilling effects of a vertical vapor chamber with the efficiency of copper base and tubing. Four large pipes span up from the base, while four more pipes connect through the cooling fins. The large host of motherboard socket adapters the come bundled with MasterAir Maker 8 ensure that regardless of your system’s age, it will likely fit this CPU cooler. This is an important point, considering that older CPU’s suffered from less efficient power and typically ran much hotter than today’s latest processors.

While all of the vapor chamber and heatpipe tubing is comprised of copper, MasterAir Maker 8 utilizes lightweight aluminum fins in a tight array around the heat pipes. Cooler Master wraps the heatsink with a pair of 140mm Silencio FP fans, which operate between 600 – 1,800 RPM as controlled by your motherboard, and capable of 19.8 – 66 CFM depending on their setting. Although MasterAir Maker 8 comes with two fans, the heatsink can be configured to operate without fans in a passive cooling configuration, or with one fan in either a push or pull configuration. Testing with your system under full load (ie: while gaming) is suggested before committing to a permanent setup.

One of the many features unique to Cooler Master’s MasterAir Maker 8 heatsink is its modular design. Illustrated in the image above you get to see the many components that comprise this CPU cooler. While functionality is at the center of MasterAir Maker 8’s design, it also offers an aesthetically appealing look with fully customizable top covers. The kit comes with interchangeable solid black and translucent top covers, but also includes the ability for you to 3D print your own design and fit it atop Maker 8. Alternatively, you could forego the top cover and instead adopt an exposed aluminum cap for a minimalist look.

Cooler Master has spent the past several years combining cutting-edge design with bleeding-edge efficiency, and their new MasterAir Maker 8 CPU cooler is a perfect specimen for those wanting to enjoy the best of both worlds. Available for sale online, Maker 8 costs $129.99 (Amazon | Newegg). Loaded with enough features to stand on its own, MasterAir Maker 8 really shines (or glows, rather) when combined with other like-minded Cooler Master products, such as the MasterCase 5 series of mid-tower enclosures (shown above). Combined together, not only do these products work together to make a powerful statement, but they work together to produce a beautiful product.