A Closer Look

A quick look at the radiator shows Alphacool wasn't kidding when it increased the number of coolant channels. Fins per inch (FPI) comes to 18, which is slightly lower than typical for most all-in-one liquid coolers, but higher than the original Aurora 360, which came in at 15 FPI. However, once you add more coolant channels, it becomes clear that the radiator is denser than expected. Thus, higher-RPM/static-pressure fans will be required to make the most of this particular radiator. Thanks to the use of a quick-release coupling, the unit is expandable, and pairable with Alphacool's Eiswolf series of AIO components without much trouble.


A window shows off the pump's impeller, while ARGB LEDs add visual flair in what is a rather boxy design. A fill port is located on the top, along with the inlet and outlet ports. When it comes to power, the pump is connected to a motherboard fan header rather than the SATA or Molex option. Sadly, the wiring also comes out of the top of the pump, making it a bit harder to hide, which blemishes an otherwise attractive design somewhat. Having the pump's power leads moved to another location would improve looks. As for the cold plate, it is nickel-plated copper with a mirror-like finish. I found no visible machining marks, which is always a nice surprise. Sure, it likely won't magically drop temperatures another 5°C, but it does give the unit a more premium feel, which never hurts.


The three fans are 120 mm ARGB offerings with an RPM range of 0–2500. The high RPM is going to greatly impact noise levels; however, considering the density of the radiator, it may be necessary in order to extract the best-possible performance. Either way, these fans are a new design, so it will be interesting to see how they do at lower RPM and, thus, more acceptable noise levels. That said, I still have some reservations about the design—the rounded fan frame leaves areas for air to blow back through due to resistance via the dense radiator fins. Regardless, performance results will definitively show whether my reservations are warranted.