Alphacool NexXxos NVXP-3 GPU Waterblock
Introduction, Packaging and Package
Published: 14th August 2006 | Source: Specialtech | Price: |
Alphacool are one of the major watercooling companies. Especially popular in Europe, Alphacool produce some excellent watercooling gear. We reviewed their Extreme Pro kit in our "Battle of the Water Cooling kits" a while ago and were most impressed.
With today's GPU's becoming faster and faster an despite die shrinks, heat is increasing. Watercooling is also becoming more and more widespread as a way of cooling your PC. With this in mind I purchased an Alphacool NexXxos waterblock for my 7900GTX to see how it performed.
Packaging
Alphacool have gone down a strange route with the packaging of the NexXxos block. It comes in a retail plastic package, with a piece of paper inside, folded over to contain the smaller parts. The block itself is inside a plastic bag with no padding to protect it at all.
The rear of the packaging has some blurb about how quiet watercooling can be and is marked with which version of the block is inside.
There is nothing useful on the packaging about the block at all really apart from which one you have got and what it fits: which one would assume you already knew.
The Package
Alphacool have provided you with everything you need to mount the block onto a graphics card. There is also a decent set of instructions, albeit worded slightly confusingly.
The Package
Alphacool have provided you with everything you need to mount the block onto a graphics card. There is also a decent set of instructions, albeit worded slightly confusingly.
Not too bad - thermal pads for the RAM and thermal paste for the GPU core, along with allan keys to do up the screws.
However: after I started assembling the block I realised Alphacool had not put in any barbs at all. Now whilst this is most likely because they do not know what size tubing you are using, this is pretty annoying and a sad omission. Companies like Swiftech and Eddie will give you barbs (and usually enough choice to suit any system). A bit of a disappointment in all honestly.
Let's see if Alphacool can make up for it in the design and function of the block...
However: after I started assembling the block I realised Alphacool had not put in any barbs at all. Now whilst this is most likely because they do not know what size tubing you are using, this is pretty annoying and a sad omission. Companies like Swiftech and Eddie will give you barbs (and usually enough choice to suit any system). A bit of a disappointment in all honestly.
Let's see if Alphacool can make up for it in the design and function of the block...
Most Recent Comments
Great review mate, I sadly can think of many improvments they could make to the design.Quote
Sound methodology and a balanced conclusion.
I'd take the EK over the alpha due to ability to change barb direction... That and it performs better lolQuote
I'd take the EK over the alpha due to ability to change barb direction... That and it performs better lolQuote
Thanks guys for the feedback, it's very much appreciated as it allows me to refine the process. Is there anything else that you would like to see done in future reviews that I haven't included?Quote
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