Alphacool Core 1 CPU Water Block

[VSG]

Alphacool updates its CPU water block offerings with the new Core 1 series. It uses an all-brass housing paired with a nickel-plated copper cold plate and a unique 3D jet plate design for excellent thermal performance while still retaining good CPU socket compatibility. There are multiple top versions which all cost less than the competition too.

Show full review

 

[dgianstefani]

Quite tasteful styling.

 

[AnarchoPrimitiv]

I realize this is caused by my own biases, but it tweaked me to see EK somehow come out on top of the "relative performance" chart....sorry, I just feel like there's literally nothing special about EK that warrants its price premium over other brands (and although this is my own speculation, I feel like their popularity is caused in part by their popularity....in other words, because so many watercooling builds on youtube, for example, use EK parts, other people just assume they must be the best since they're popular, and that begets more popularity, and so forth....

 

[Dammeron]

I really like that block, glad to see that it's way less restrictive compared to the previous XPX series.

Adding brackets for both AMD and Intel, plus some elegant RGB (instead of being a giant lightbulb of rainbow puke) makes for a winner IMO. Price is a bit high, but equals to HK IV Pro Full Copper, when You add a separate mounting for other sockets to the shopping list.

 

[kapone32]

That was seriously impressive temps. Makes me think about getting one for my PC.

 

[Ferrum Master]

No shifted option for AMD? Sorry but waste.

 

[deb]

I realize this is caused by my own biases, but it tweaked me to see EK somehow come out on top of the "relative performance" chart....sorry, I just feel like there's literally nothing special about EK that warrants its price premium over other brands (and although this is my own speculation, I feel like their popularity is caused in part by their popularity....in other words, because so many watercooling builds on youtube, for example, use EK parts, other people just assume they must be the best since they're popular, and that begets more popularity, and so forth....

would argue that as of pretty recently as well EK has started actually having more and more drawbacks.

 

[Crab_Louse23]

As always, a brilliant test by VSG. I've been following you ever since your Thermal Bench days and I'm really glad you're staying true to your line. There is a small German site that has measured values with up to 14K difference compared to the Magnitude and the author, some guy named Igor, still insists on these unrealistic values. Thereby it is obvious that this construction simply is not capable for more. Anyway, thanks for your extensive and detailed test of this quite good cooler.

 

[Mussels]

The "Core" name had me wonder if this was part of a new budget lineup, the RGB looks pretty good in a good minimalist way, and performance was far, far better than i expected after seeing the flow restriction on the prior page

 

[EddyAlphacool]

The name "Core" is for standard products. "Apex" is the High end series. But we will see Apex cooler later. And they will have a better performance ;-)

 

[Mussels]

No shifted option for AMD? Sorry but waste.

that's more of an AIO thing with their tiny flow areas - for dedicated blocks it's far easier to get a generic mount with offsets if you need it

The name "Core" is for standard products. "Apex" is the High end series. But we will see Apex cooler later. And they will have a better performance ;-)

sounds like that new apex one is going to be getting a lot of attention, if the core runs this well

 

[kapone32]

sounds like that new apex one is going to be getting a lot of attention, if the core runs this well

Exactly!

 

[Ferrum Master]

that's more of an AIO thing with their tiny flow areas - for dedicated blocks it's far easier to get a generic mount with offsets if you need it

I got retrofit brackets for my 15€ for my aged LGA2011 block. I have a non shifted EK block and sold this Kryos and I had a sellers remorse. I assembled it and it performed much better due to the fact it shifted and it is an important thing for AMD. It costs nothing to implement it really. Alphacool support guy told that they were looking in to it... not sure where it went. Roman also has some insight into it as he develops his bare die blocks.

 

[Dammeron]

The name "Core" is for standard products. "Apex" is the High end series. But we will see Apex cooler later. And they will have a better performance ;-)

If "core" already costs almost 120€, I dread to know the price for "apex" blocks.

 

[jas9009]

does flow restriction affect performance? because the temperature differences among the blocks are really small.

 

[dgianstefani]

does flow restriction affect performance? because the temperature differences among the blocks are really small.

High flow restriction means you have to run pump harder to compensate, which can lead to worse noise, lower pump lifespan, or worse temperatures for other components in the loop such as GPU.

It's not normally much of an issue because D5 pumps are very strong and quiet, but for a weaker pump it can be a problem.

 

[jas9009]

oh ok. thanks!

 

[mama]

As always, a brilliant test by VSG. I've been following you ever since your Thermal Bench days and I'm really glad you're staying true to your line. There is a small German site that has measured values with up to 14K difference compared to the Magnitude and the author, some guy named Igor, still insists on these unrealistic values. Thereby it is obvious that this construction simply is not capable for more. Anyway, thanks for your extensive and detailed test of this quite good cooler.

Is that you Igor?

I got retrofit brackets for my 15€ for my aged LGA2011 block. I have a non shifted EK block and sold this Kryos and I had a sellers remorse. I assembled it and it performed much better due to the fact it shifted and it is an important thing for AMD. It costs nothing to implement it really. Alphacool support guy told that they were looking in to it... not sure where it went. Roman also has some insight into it as he develops his bare die blocks.


View attachment 303929

I managed to get mine on without this kit. I didn't know it was needed. My cuplex kryos NEXT AM5/AM4 came with this:

 

[EddyAlphacool]

If "core" already costs almost 120€, I dread to know the price for "apex" blocks.

500€ No, no idea. I will then see how I calculate the prices. But yes, it will be a bit more expensive because it will also be a bit bigger.

 

[Mussels]

does flow restriction affect performance? because the temperature differences among the blocks are really small.

performance of the loop as a whole, requiring a more powerful pump (and possibly noisier pump, or pump RPM)

Fortunately D5 pumps are usually silent at 100% speed, but the same is not true of the smaller more compact units like the DDC pumps

500€ No, no idea. I will then see how I calculate the prices. But yes, it will be a bit more expensive because it will also be a bit bigger.

Lord have mercy on our wallets

 

[EddyAlphacool]

@Mussels
I am convinced that we are not someone who tries with all his might to empty money loot. We leave that to others.

 

[Mussels]

@Mussels
I am convinced that we are not someone who tries with all his might to empty money loot. We leave that to others.

Oh i'm well aware of that - if you checked in the buildlog for the parts you sent me recently, every single EK rotary fitting I own has now leaked while all the alphacool parts are functioning as-new

 

[EddyAlphacool]

Small teaser... carbon versions of the Core 1.... not a sticker, real carbon

 

[Mussels]

Small teaser... carbon versions of the Core 1.... not a sticker, real carbon


View attachment 311572

That's actually really elegant, going to be popular with the anti-RGB crowd

 

[FoulOnWhite]

Looking forward to the Apex block, the core performs very well, but if the Apex is better i'm sold.

Any idea of timescale @EddyAlphacool

​