Alphacool Eisblock Aurora Acryl GPX-A Radeon RX 6700XT TUF/ROG Strix with Backplate (18659)

The Alphacool Eisblock Aurora Acryl GPX-A Radeon RX 6700XT TUF/ROG Strix with Backplate is a GPU water block for the Asus ROG Strix and TUF Gaming Radeon RX 6700 XT OC. It cools these AMD graphics cards with a nickel-plated copper block under an acrylic top lit by digital RGB LEDs, and the black aluminum backplate is in the box.

Properties

Fits

Asus ROG Strix and TUF Gaming Radeon RX 6700 XT OC

Cold plate

Nickel-plated copper, 5.5 mm thick

Top

Acrylic, transparent

Ports

4 x G1/4

Backplate

Aluminum, black, included

Lighting

Addressable digital RGB LEDs, 5V

Compatibility

Alphacool lists these cards for this block:

• Asus ROG Strix Radeon RX 6700 XT OC, ROG-STRIX-RX6700XT-O12G-GAMING, 12GB GDDR6 (90YV0G81-M0NA00)
• Asus TUF Gaming Radeon RX 6700 XT OC, TUF-RX6700XT-O12G-GAMING, 12GB GDDR6 (90YV0G80-M0NA00)

The block was designed for one PCB layout. Both are 12GB GDDR6 cards with HDMI and 3x DP outputs. PCB designs from various card manufacturers do not follow one layout, and a manufacturer occasionally revises a card so that the cooler no longer fits later models. Checking the card you currently own against the compatibility list here, and its PCB number, will tell you more than the model name. Before ordering, compare your card with the pictures in Alphacool's GPU configurator, where you can search for your graphics card or cooler model. Its List of Compatibility for AMD graphic cards names every block and the cards it is compatible with, and Alphacool's product page links both.

More performance

During the development of this graphic card GPU block, Alphacool's line was "we wanted to further increase the performance". The first step was reducing the thermal pads to a thickness of 1 mm, to move the cooler closer to the individual components. Next it reduced the copper block itself: instead of 7 mm, it is now only 5.5 mm thick. The water flow inside the cooler has been optimized as well. According to Alphacool, all important components, such as the voltage transformers and the memory, are significantly better and more effectively cooled by the water. It says all this ensures a significant increase in cooling performance.

New design

The cooler has been designed so that lighting is more important than on the previous models. Addressable digital RGB LEDs (aRGB) are embedded directly into the cooling block and run along it. The effect is an illumination of the entire block, where no corner or edge remains unlit. The new design is more angular, with all edges beveled, which promotes better light diffusion due to the reflections on these bevels. In addition, they create various contours, which Alphacool says give the cooler its very own unique identity.

Copper or aluminum?

Alphacool says that of course it only uses copper for its water coolers, and with this one the copper is nickel-plated. Why does it rely on copper instead of aluminum? Simply, Alphacool says, copper has almost twice the thermal conductivity and is therefore clearly the better material for water cooling. Compared to its predecessor models, it has improved the nickel plating even further, which it says has considerably increased the acid resistance. This means, it says, that the nickel should resist flaking.

Is there anything else new?

It also relies on the new patented stop fittings, which sit flush with the surface of the terminal. The Alphacool logo now sits in the corner on the top, and on the front of the terminal you can see the corresponding names of the compatible graphic card types. These are fully illuminated by the digital LEDs. IN and OUT are marked by small triangles that are easily recognizable and, in Alphacool's words, fit perfectly into the entire aesthetics of the graphic card water cooler.

Alphacool describes the Aurora Acryl GPX Eisblock as a complete redevelopment of its previous graphics card water coolers. It says no technical compromises were made, but the entire technical know-how flowed into the development and implementation. With experience of over 17 years, Alphacool claims the ability to create GPU blocks that represent high quality and fantastic performance. Its summary is that this one combines style with performance and extensive digital RGB lighting.

What the loop needs

The block has four G1/4 threads. Two take the compression fittings for your tube size, which are not in the box, and the other two are closed with the two screw plugs and the plug tool that are. To control the lighting, connect the included Digital-RGB adapter to the 3-pin female connector of the block and plug it into a digital RGB controller. Alphacool's example is the Aurora Eiscontrol (Art. 15360), which is not included. Additional digital RGB LEDs can be connected to the remaining 3-pin male connector. Thermal pads, thermal grease, screws and washers also come with the block.

Technical data

Technical data backplate

Notes

• Alphacool's note on application asks that the block be used only with clear transparent water cooling fluids. It warns that the particles and additives in Pastel liquids can clog and permanently damage radiators, pumps, coolers and hoses, and that this can void the manufacturer's warranty.
• Remove the original cooler on an antistatic mat and clean the card of thermal paste and pad residues before fitting the block. Fasten the card with the 6 M2x5 screws and M2 washers, hand-tightening them crosswise, one turn at a time.

In the box

• 1x Eisblock Aurora Acryl GPX-A cooler
• 1x Backplate
• 1x 8x84x1mm thermal pad
• 2x 15x51x1mm thermal pad
• 1x 8x66x1mm thermal pad
• 1x 30x30x3mm thermal pad
• 2x 15x51x3mm thermal pad
• 1x 8x84x3mm thermal pad
• 1x 8x74x3mm thermal pad
• 6x M2x5 screws
• 6x M2 washers
• 5x M2x11 screws
• 2x Screw plugs
• 1x plug tool
• 1x Thermal grease
• 1x Digital-RGB adapter

Downloads: Alphacool's manual and datasheet, each a PDF. Its 3D model of the block is an STP file, and the 3D viewer shows it from every side.