Alphacool Eisblock Aurora Acryl GPX-N RTX 4080 Reference Design with Backplate (13441)

The Alphacool Eisblock Aurora Acryl GPX-N RTX 4080 Reference Design with Backplate is a GPU water block for Nvidia GeForce RTX 4080 and RTX 4080 SUPER graphics cards built on the Reference Design board. The Inno3D iCHILL X3 and X3 OC are among them. It cools the card with a chrome-plated copper cooler under an acrylic top, and the black aluminum backplate is in the box. Important note from Alphacool: this RTX 4080 Eisblock Aurora Reference cooler is not compatible with Nvidia's Geforce RTX 4080 Founders Edition.

Properties

Fits

GeForce RTX 4080 and RTX 4080 SUPER, Reference Design board

Cold plate

Chrome-plated copper

Top

Acrylic

Ports

4 x G1/4

Backplate

Aluminum, black, included

Lighting

12 digital aRGB LEDs, 5V

Compatibility

Alphacool lists these cards for this block:

• Inno3D GeForce RTX 4080 iCHILL X3, 16GB GDDR6X (C40803-166XX-187049H)
• Inno3D GeForce RTX 4080 X3 OC, 16GB GDDR6X
• Inno3D GeForce RTX 4080 X3, 16GB GDDR6X
• Inno3D GeForce RTX 4080 SUPER iCHILL Black, 16GB GDDR6X (C408SB-166XX-18700006)
• Inno3D GeForce RTX 4080 SUPER iCHILL Frostbite, 16GB GDDR6X (C408S-166XX-1870FB)
• Inno3D GeForce RTX 4080 SUPER iCHILL X3, 16GB GDDR6X (C408S3-166XX-187049H)
• Inno3D GeForce RTX 4080 SUPER X3 OC, 16GB GDDR6X (N408S3-166XX-187049N)

The block was designed for one PCB layout, and card makers sometimes revise a board so that a cooler no longer fits later models. Before ordering, compare your card and its PCB number with the pictures in Alphacool's GPU configurator, or look it up in its compatibility list for Nvidia cards. Alphacool's Core block for the same board is the Core Geforce RTX 4080 Reference Design with Backplate.

Technical highlights

Alphacool presents this block as the next generation: the Eisblock Aurora water cooler for Geforce RTX 4XXX graphics cards. In order to dissipate the enormous waste heat of this graphics card generation in the best possible way, it says, numerous optimizations were carried out compared to the previous model. The fin structure of this generation of Eisblock (ice block) coolers was developed together with Nvidia board partners. It has been adapted so that the fins are 0.4 mm thick, and the distance between the cooling fins is 0.4 mm as well. Alphacool says that fin thickness enables a very good water flow while at the same time increasing the possible cooling surface. The modified jet plate, a nozzle plate with an improved inflow engine, has a revised inlay. That inlay distributes the water pressure better to the fins, which ensures an optimal water distribution on them and optimizes heat absorption. The adjusted flow also helps the water to achieve a better inflow angle onto the fins.

Chrome-plated copper

From the fins to the floor, the cooler is made entirely of chromed copper. Alphacool says a chrome plating is much harder than a nickel plating and therefore less sensitive to acids, scratches and damage. By its account this completely eliminates the risk of nickel plating flaking off. In addition, Alphacool finds that chrome plating looks much more homogeneous, and that it offers a shine that cannot be achieved with nickel plating. So far, it says, chrome-plated coolers have only been used in the industrial sector, in areas where the coolers are subject to extreme influences.

Design and lighting

The Aurora design of this Eisblock generation is visually calmer and simpler than the one before: only one O-ring goes around the entire cooler. The construction around the cooling fins and the jetplate ensures a clearer look. Twelve digitally addressable RGB LEDs supply the lighting. Alphacool says their light is even better distributed in the cooler thanks to the chrome plating. The shape of the terminal corresponds to the classic Aurora design.

Thermal paste and thermal pads

The included thermal compound is Alphacool's Subzero, an electrically non-conductive thermal grease with a thermal conductivity of 16 W/mK. Alphacool ranks it as one of the most powerful thermal pastes on the market. It is particularly well suited for high contact pressures, but thanks to its viscosity of 850,000 TF, Alphacool says, it can still be processed perfectly. Alphacool soft pads with a thickness of 1 mm are used on the voltage converters and on the graphics memory, and the thermal conductivity of those pads is 7 W/mK. The pads for the back of the PCB are 3 mm thick and have a thermal conductivity of 3 W/mK.

What the loop needs

The block has four G1/4 threads as its connections. Two take the compression fittings for your tube size, which are not in the box, and the other two take the two plugs that are, along with a plug tool. The lighting has a 3-Pin JST power connection at a voltage of 5V, and the included ARGB adapter joins it to a mainboard ARGB header. Thermal pads, thermal grease, a putty tool, screws, washers and the PCI bracket also come with the block.

Technical data cooler

Technical data backplate

Notes

• Alphacool 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 water cooling products such as a radiator, a pump, a cooler or the hoses. That can also 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.

In the box

• 1x Eisblock Aurora Acryl GPX-N RTX 4080 Reference
• 1x Backplate
• 2x 8x84x2mm Pad
• 3x 8x8x1mm Pad
• 1x 15x28x1mm Pad
• 2x 8x84x1mm Pad
• 2x 15x40x1mm Pad
• 2x 8x100x3mm Pad
• 1x 45x45x3mm GPU-Pad
• 2x 8x51x3mm Pad
• 1x 8x40x3mm Pad
• 1x Thermal grease
• 1x Putty tool
• 5x M2x5 Screw
• 5x EVA washer
• 1x M2x5 Screw
• 1x PCI Bracket
• 5x M2x11 Screw
• 1x ARGB Adaptor
• 2x G1/4 Plugs
• 1x Plug tool

Alphacool's manual and data sheet, with the full specifications, are both PDFs. Its 3D model of the block is an STP file, and the 3D viewer shows it from every side.