Alphacool APEX Skeleton Case and Fans at 2024 CES

[btarunr]

Alphacool at the 2024 CES debuted its APEX line of premium DIY liquid cooling products; and we've covered the Alphacool APEX 1 CPU water block, CPU+VRM monoblock, and memory cooler in our older article focusing on the company's new liquid cooling products. Here we have the star attraction at Alphacool's CES booth, the new APEX Skeleton full-tower case. This case features an open-cage design, with minimal body paneling to favor ventilation, a high degree of modularity, and all the features you need to build a DIY liquid cooled enthusiast PC powered by the company's APEX and Core liquid cooling hardware. Its struts, motherboard tray, front-, top-, and bottom-panels are made of real carbon fiber, while the frame remains steel. Both its side panels are tinted tempered glass. Alphacool includes a Distroplate reservoir with the case that's perfectly aligned with its design and location of core components; but you pair it with your own D5 pump and fittings.

Next up, is the APEX Stealth line of case fans. These are premium fans with their frames made of metal. The frame is a combination of an outer metal body that takes the familiar square shape, while there's an inner polycarbonate frame that makes up the bore of the frame. This structure makes contact with the motor and fluid-dynamic bearing. The impeller remains polycarbonate, and is webbed toward the end for 100% axial airflow. The inner frame is isolated from the outer metal frame through a series of vibration absorbing standoffs, washers, and O-rings. With these in place, Alphacool claims comparable noise levels the some of the quietest high-end fans in the industry. The outer metal frame comes in several trims, including silver chrome, matte black, gold, and matte white. Available now, the APEX Stealth 120 mm fans are priced around 30€ a piece.



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[Deleted member 237269]

Next up, is the APEX Stealth line of case fans. These are premium fans with their frames made of metal. The frame is a combination of an outer metal body that takes the familiar square shape, while there's an inner polycarbonate frame that makes up the bore of the frame. This structure makes contact with the motor and fluid-dynamic bearing. The impeller remains polycarbonate, and is webbed toward the end for 100% axial airflow. The inner frame is isolated from the outer metal frame through a series of vibration absorbing standoffs, washers, and O-rings. With these in place, Alphacool claims comparable noise levels the some of the quietest high-end fans in the industry. The outer metal frame comes in several trims, including silver chrome, matte black, gold, and matte white. Available now, the APEX Stealth 120 mm fans are priced around 30€ a piece.

https://hwbusters.com/cooling/alphacool-apex-stealth-metal-120mm-fan-review/8/
Good looking, bad performance, high price.

 

[Marcus L]

https://hwbusters.com/cooling/alphacool-apex-stealth-metal-120mm-fan-review/8/
Good looking, bad performance, high price.

View attachment 329390View attachment 329391View attachment 329392

Good static pressure and noise, I wouldn't call that bad performance, not the best CFM, depending on your needs ofc

 

[AnarchoPrimitiv]

The skeleton case reminds me of the old inwin D-frame (not saying it's a ripoff) or even the InWin Airforce Phantom, anyone else remember when the d-frame was THE case to have?

 

[maxfly]

Good static pressure and noise, I wouldn't call that bad performance, not the best CFM, depending on your needs ofc

At $30 a pop there's much better options. They never should have released them as the next coming. Shot themselves squarely in the foot with that one.

 

[Anoniem]

At $30 a pop there's much better options. They never should have released them as the next coming. Shot themselves squarely in the foot with that one.

Agreed. I can get a 5 pack of Arctic P12 PST (€27-€30) for the price of ONE Alphacool fan

Source: https://tweakers.net/ventilators/alphacool/apex-stealth-metal-fan_p1551010/vergelijken/ & https://tweakers.net/ventilators/arctic/p12-pwm-pst_p866219/vergelijken/

 

[TechLurker]

I wonder if reviews of the Metal fans are still planned. If so, I'd like to see them compared to Scythe's new Grand Tornado (their successor to Gentle Typhoons, and already on sale for about 20 USD average) and the Super Flower MEGACOOLs.

On a related note, I mentioned it in the original announcement thread, but Hardware Busters has done their review of the Alphacool Metal Fan utilizing a Long Win fan testing device (IIRC, similar machine to what GamersNexus bought and plans to do fan testing with). It's worth noting that the tests are strictly comparing it in a free flow manner and static pressure manner, no temperature comparisons. Spec-wise, it aligns with Alphacool's revised package numbers, which were based off the Cybernetics testing (who use the same/similar testing machine).

Alphacool Apex Stealth Metal Power 120mm Fan Review - Heavy Metal Fan! - Hardware Busters

Hardware Busters - Alphacool Apex Stealth Metal Power 120mm Fan Review - Heavy Metal Fan! - Cooling

hwbusters.com

YT Summary of his review:

They look great, and perform somewhere in the upper-middle depending on review and use-case, but I'll probably end up sticking with the Phanteks T30s, the Super Flower MEGACOOLs, or the SanAces I currently have.