Installation and Lighting

Installing the Alphacool Core 1 LT CPU block is quite simple with Intel CPUs and more so with AMD CPU sockets with the built-in motherboard backplate there. With Intel LGA 1700, as seen above, you do need to place the socket backplate first on the underside of the motherboard. Ensure that the corner pieces are in the correct place so that all four threads fit through the socket cooler mounting holes in the motherboard and are accessible through the other side. Then remove the tape cover to stick to the backplate in place and also help prevent any electrical shorting, owing to the non-conductive tape touching the motherboard as opposed to the metal backplate itself. Now apply thermal paste on the CPU IHS and then use the foam spacers and Intel mounting posts to secure the four corners, allowing the block's own mounting bracket to go over and sit on the CPU. There are no springs or washers anywhere now as you use the four locking screws and tighten them diagonally alternating from one set to another until you simply run out of thread. There should not be any need to use tools to assemble the block despite the Phillips head on the screws. I wish Alphacool had provided caps to go over these screws for a cleaner look as they did before, but it's not the end of the world given that the mounting bracket is still black anyway. With the Aurora Acrylic version, connect the RGB cable using the provided adapter that will work natively with any standard 3-pin, 5 V addressable RGB header.


There seem to be 16 ARGB LEDs in the Core 1 LT Aurora Acrylic, at least based on a quick count, and this makes for an impressive light show given the clear top. In fact, compared to the 18 LEDs in the Core 1 that only has a lit-up accent strip, those who prioritize a light show will want to go for this, less expensive block instead. Seen above is the block lit up and in a few different static and dynamic lighting effects.