Introduction

I mentioned in my recent Heatkiller GPU block review that it was going to be the first of a series focusing on the flagship RTX 4090—the aftermarket ASUS RTX 4090 Strix at that! NVIDIA has decided to elongate the 4000 series lifetime and so, despite these GPUs having been out for a while, there is still merit to taking a look at what's on the market today. This also helps me know where the various water block manufacturers are these days with their designs, especially since most companies tend to go with simple changes for GPU compatibility each generation and only really come up with a new cooling engine every five years or so, if not longer. Today is Alphacool's turn and thanks to them for providing a review sample to TechPowerUp.


Alphacool has recently overhauled its water block design language both inside and out. I was impressed with what the Core 1 CPU block brought for the asking price and the timing worked out such that the German brand had just released its new Core GPU block line to replace the older Eisblock GPX platform. A single look at the photo above shows that Alphacool has decided to skip out on the relatively complicated coolant flow pathway involving multiple smaller cold plates and lots of channels/O-rings, which perhaps came off busy for some. The new Core GPU block follows a similar idea as the Core CPU block in offering value for money without necessarily compromising on performance. Let's put these bold claims to the test today in this review which begins with a look at the product specifications in the table below.

Specifications

Packaging and Accessories

As with the Alphacool Core 1 CPU block we saw before, packaging for the Alphacool Core GPU block is simpler than usual in the absence of a banderole that goes over the base cardboard box. Instead, we see a simplified render of the block with listed dimensions on the front directly on the cardboard along with the product name. On the back is contact information for the company and a sticker that helps identify the exact SKU inside, including confirmation that a backplate is provided with the block. A sticker on the side and a double flap helps keep the contents in place during transit. Inside the box is a multi-language product manual (online copy here) that goes over the exact items inside as well as how to go about installing the block on top of a foam sheet for added protection.


As expected, the GPU block is placed inside a thicker foam sheet with machined cutouts to snugly hold it and the accessory box alongside. The block comes inside a plastic wrap to keep it pristine and dust-free. Using a separate cardboard box for the accessories also ensures you don't miss something and that the GPU block does not get scratched accidentally from loose screws in the larger product box.


This was one of the very first blocks made by Alphacool so don't mind that typo on the second plastic zip-lock bag containing the thermal pads. Clearly one set is for the backplate and the other for the block itself with the manual helping clarify this based on the color and thickness of the pads. In addition, we get the expected RGB cable going from a smaller 3-pin JST connector to a standard 3-pin, 5 V ARGB connector meaning we have universal RGB lighting support for the block. There's also a tool to help install/remove stop plugs which makes sense once you spot the two low-profile stop plugs which remain flush with the threads in the block once installed. Alphacool also includes a replacement I/O bracket for the GPU itself in addition to the mounting hardware, a tube of thermal paste and a paste spreader tool, and a screwdriver to help with installation. Nice job by Alphacool to account for everything one might need.