My original review of the Eisblock XPX (which hilariously is now called the Eisblock XPX Original) was fairly positive. However, I am skeptical about the ramp system's novelty as it pertains to its practical use in flow rate and thermal performance alike. At that time, other companies were also in the midst of updating their CPU water blocks to cater to the forecast increase in demand due to AMD's AM4 socket, as well as Intel's LGA 115x and 2066 sockets entering the scene. I suspected that the Eisblock XPX had not done enough to keep up with newer blocks released since, and it turns out Alphacool decided to iterate upon this design and release variants over the years since. There was the nylon top version for lighting support and a better look at the coolant flowing through, and then came the 1U units for the mainstream and HEDT CPUs. This Eisblock XPX 1U is one of those variants, and it does cost exactly as much as the Eisblock XPX Original at release.

There have been other such 1U profile CPU blocks from manufacturers, including from EKWB, and this is my first time testing one of these in person. I expected a modified cooling engine to accommodate the extra ports on the sides, which are five on the Eisblock XPX 1U, and whether the ramp system did a lot or not, there was enough room in the design to implement it without sacrificing much performance. The coolant flow restriction does increase as well, so overall, this is a compromise compared to the standard versions, but it is also intended for applications where the others simply will not fit. I do also appreciate that Alphacool retains a high degree of CPU socket compatibility in a single package at a price point well in line with most others, if not at less than newer flagships today. If you are looking for side-port tube routing with a lower-profile CPU water block, do check this CPU block out. Note, however, that you can find the nylon top versions for a lower price now, so most others would be better off with it or other options from competitors.