Installation and Lighting

Installing the Alphacool Eisblock XPX Pro Aurora can be on the more involved side of things, but mostly because it's old-school in having extensive CPU socket support. This means there are different sets of Intel and AMD mounting kits in addition to the socket-specific hardware itself. I am going to demonstrate installation of the block on Intel's LGA 1700 platform that is also the test setup used for this review. The included manual (online copy here), does detail the process for first-time users well enough, but then comes the point where the backplate is different from what is outlined in there. This is due to an update Alphacool did for LGA 1700 with its Eisbaer line of CPU closed loop liquid coolers, and thus there is a second note in the accessory bag accompanying the backplate that tells you what to do.

Begin by placing the backplate on the underside of the motherboard and ensuring the corner pieces are in the correct place so that the threads fit through the socket cooler mounting holes in the motherboard, and are accessible through the other side. Then remove the tape cover to glue 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 a combination of washers, locking nuts, and springs along with the block to tighten down and secure the Eisblock XPX Pro Aurora in place. It's not easy to push the mounting screws down enough to catch the threads in the backplate easily, so I can see some frustration coming out of this. I would also suggest removing any installed RAM sticks at this time to facilitate the process, and then be sure to connect the RGB cable using the provided adapter that will work natively with any standard 3-pin, 5 V addressable RGB header.


There is a grand total of two RGB LEDs in this full brass version which light up that tiny logo on the corner. The chrome finish also makes it quite hard to photograph, so excuse the photos/GIF above showcasing the block "illuminated." Needless to say this is not a block you want to get if RGB lighting is a priority, and arguably I wouldn't even bother with the cable if you didn't have a readily available RGB LED header close by.