Packaging and Accessories

Packaging for the Alphacool Apex 1 CPU block continues the trend from the Core 1 series we saw before in being simpler than usual. There is no decorative banderole going over the base cardboard box here, 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. This allows Alphacool to use the same box for all the Apex 1 blocks and have a single sticker confirm the item inside, with this sample being the Intel version. Inside the box is thick foam that is shaped to snugly fit the provided items in three compartments, with the attached LED cable seen going from a small cutout in the top left joining the two compartments. The accessories are seen on the right, including a color-printed multi-language user manual that goes over the contents and the installation procedure. We also get a tube of Alphacool's Apex thermal paste and a spreader to help facilitate the process.


The installation hardware includes a zip-lock bag containing five washers, with one being spare in case you lose one of the four necessary washers. We also get a CPU socket backplate for Intel LGA 1700/1851, which we see comes with the locking screws and spacers already attached. This will make installation much simpler and quicker, and is one of the advantages of going with socket-specific CPU blocks. We also get an adapter cable going from a female JST connector to a female 3-pin, 5 V ARGB connector allowing the option to power and control the LEDs on the block via your motherboard or dedicated LED controller using a standard 3-pin header on board. Lastly, we see the block comes neatly packed inside a thin foam wrap with thicker, shaped foam pieces on the back between the pre-installed posts, for added protection of the block on its way to you.