Heatpipe coolers

Jack wrote:
> Just bought a cpu cooler with heatpipes but when it's fitted to my tower
> case the heatpipes will be sitting horizontally.
> Does anyone know if they will still operate horizontally or do they need to
> be at least angled up slightly so the liquid can flow back down to the base?
>

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heat_pipe

To work inverted, a heatpipe relies on capillary action. In the above
description, they refer to a "sintered" finish on the inside of the
heatpipe. And that would help, when in an inverted situation. There
are other similar descriptions, like this one:

http://www.frostytech.com/articleview.cfm?articleID=1509

Paul