Packaging and Accessories

XSPC products usually have a more subtle black and gray color scheme for the packaging, but with the out-of-the-box RGB-lighting support for the RayStorm Neo, XSPC decided to make the packaging colorful as well. On the front is a huge printed illustration of the block with blue color LEDs, and on the back is a simple ROHS compliance sticker. On one of the sides, we see another change from their typical list with a checkmark to an image set with a checkmark to denote which version you have inside, and this also shows which other five RayStorm Neo CPU blocks are currently available. The other sides have more depictions of the blocks, installed or lit up in different colors.


Two side flaps are all that keep you from getting your hands on the contents inside, and opening the box, we see the manual front and center. XSPC includes a color-printed manual on glossy paper, which works out well, and it is detailed enough to where even a novice user would be able to install the block without issue, especially with the precise mount system employed now. The manual for the RayStorm Neo is not up online yet; however, it is functionally identical to that for the RayStorm Pro found here. Under the manual lies the block itself, and below it lie the other accessories.

XSPC provides a tube of their excellent K3 thermal paste - while not the top performer among non-conductive TIMs, it hangs in there enough to where it is a very good option because of its easy spreadability. There are also two metal socket backplates for Intel LGA 115x and LGA 1366, which come in separate waxy paper wraps. The backplates also have a sticker that can be peeled off to reveal sticky tape, which in turn helps with keeping it in place during installation. The mounting hardware comes in two marked plastic pouches and includes metal mounting posts, plastic and metal washers, locking nuts, and metal springs.


XSPC used to include single-color LEDs with their CPU and GPU blocks, first blue and then white. With RGB now taking over the world, they got on board and have a simple hands-on kit with two RGB LEDs plugging into a power/control unit that is in turn powered by a full-size SATA connector from the PSU. You can change the static color, speed of the breathing mode, and the breathing mode effect with three buttons on the controller. The LEDs are in the shape of a rectangular cuboid rather than round and should thus fit into the similarly shaped holes on the block itself.


The CPU block itself comes packaged in a plastic wrap and a second layer of bubble wrap with a silica gel packet in it. This helps prevent oxidation of the copper cold plate, provides a pristine unboxing experience free of dust, and protects the block further in case of any shipping or handling mishaps.