Alphacool really did a great job with the Eisbaer 240. It offers near top-tier performance and an acceptable overall noise profile. Simply put, it will keep your CPU nice and cool without making your ears bleed. In fact, it does well enough to come within striking distance of the EK Predator 240 and Swiftech H220x2. While it doesn't beat them, it comes out as a better value alternative. Add to that the easy install and solid build quality and you end up with a cooler that is easy to work with for first-time builders. Even then, Alphacool goes a step further. Offering expandability at the user's discretion, the Eisbaer can be paired with one of their GPX-Pro units for cooling a GPU as well. The price, while a bit high, is still very attractive given the unit's solid copper radiator, anti-kink coils, and quick-connect coupling, which gives it a leg up in terms of features when it comes to similarly priced closed-loop coolers. Also for those looking for complete silence, the pump can be run at 7 volts.

A few aspects can still be improved upon. While pump noise is not loud by any means, its hum has a very unpleasant tonal quality. Fan noise completely drowns the hum out as the RPM increases past 1000, but it's still there regardless. While a non-issue for some, it was a distraction to me, albeit a minor one. It can, however, be eliminated entirely by running the pump at 7 volts. The plain design may also not appeal to everyone. The unit is essentially solid black, and that's it. There are no LEDs or other weird design elements, so it's sleek and stealthy, but lacks a distinct look to set itself apart. The biggest problem for many, however, will be the limited availability in the USA to start.

Overall, I am impressed by what Alphacool has put on display here. While I prefer the current Swiftech designs due to features and better availability, the Eisbaer 240 is still an exceptional product with good performance and an acceptable noise profile. It should serve most users very well regardless of their system build or configuration, and while availability might be limited to start with in the USA, it will improve shortly.

If you are in the market for an affordable, expandable all-in-one liquid cooler that doesn't cut corners, make sure to take a good, hard look at the Alphacool Eisbaer 240.