Alphacool Eisblock Aurora RTX 4080 Founders Edition with Backplate (13497)

The Alphacool Eisblock Aurora RTX 4080 Founders Edition with Backplate is a GPU water block for two Nvidia graphics cards: the GeForce RTX 4080 Founders Edition and the GeForce RTX 4080 Super Founders Edition. It cools the card with a chrome-plated copper cooler under an acrylic top, and the black aluminum backplate is in the box.

Properties

Fits

GeForce RTX 4080 and RTX 4080 Super, Founders Edition

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:

• Nvidia GeForce RTX 4080 Founders Edition, 16GB GDDR6X (900-1G136-2560-000)
• Nvidia GeForce RTX 4080 Super Founders Edition

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.

Technical highlights

Alphacool's product information presents this block as the next generation: the Eisblock Aurora water cooler for Geforce RTX 40XX graphics cards. In order to dissipate the enormous heat of this graphics card generation in the best possible way, it says, numerous optimizations have been made compared to the previous model. The fin structure of this Eisblock cooler generation was developed together with Nvidia board partners. It was adapted so that the fin thickness is 0.4 mm, with the same distance between the cooling fins. Alphacool says this enables a very good water flow while increasing the cooling surface. The modified jet plate, with what Alphacool calls an improved inflow engine, has a revised inlay. That inlay spreads the water pressure better over the fins, which ensures an optimal distribution of the water on them, thus optimizing the heat absorption. The adjusted inflow also gives the water a better angle onto the fins.

Chrome-plated copper

The cooler is made entirely of chrome-plated 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 that completely eliminates the risk of chipping that nickel plating carries. Additionally, Alphacool finds that chrome looks much more homogeneous and provides a shine that cannot be achieved by nickel. Chrome-plated coolers, it says, have previously only been used in the industrial sector, in areas where extreme influences act on the coolers.

Design and lighting

The Aurora design of this Eisblock generation is visually calmer and simpler than before: only one O-ring runs around the entire cooler. The design around the cooling fins and the jetplate makes for a cleaner look. Twelve digitally addressable RGB LEDs supply the illumination. Alphacool says it is even better distributed throughout the cooler as a result of the chrome plating. The terminal's design is in line with the classic Aurora design.

Thermal paste and thermal pads

The included thermal compound is Alphacool's Subzero, an electrically non-conductive paste with a thermal conductivity of 16 W/mK. Alphacool ranks it as one of the highest performing thermal pastes on the market. It is particularly well suited for high contact pressures, but due to its viscosity of 850,000 TF, Alphacool says, it can still be processed perfectly. Alphacool Soft Pads with 1 mm thickness are used on the voltage converter and the graphics memory, and they conduct 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. 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 connector at 5V, and an ARGB adaptor is included. Thermal grease, a putty tool, screws, EVA washers and the PCI bracket also come with the block.

Technical data cooler

Technical data backplate

Notes

• Please use the block only in conjunction with clear transparent water cooling fluids. Alphacool warns that the particles and additives in Pastel liquids can clog and permanently damage water cooling products such as radiators, pumps, coolers and hoses. That can result in voiding the manufacturer's warranty as well.
• 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 Founders Edition
• 1x Backplate
• 2x 38x15x1mm Pad
• 1x 42x15x1mm Pad
• 2x 8x8x1mm Pad
• 2x 110x8x1mm Pad
• 2x 17x8x1mm Pad
• 1x Thermal grease
• 1x Putty tool
• 4x M2x5 Screw
• 4x EVA washer
• 1x 45x45x3mm GPU-Pad
• 3x 40x8x3mm Pad
• 2x 110x8x3mm Pad
• 7x M2x11 Screw
• 1x PCI Bracket
• 1x ARGB Adaptor
• 2x G1/4 Plug
• 1x Plug tool

Alphacool's manual and datasheet (EN), with the technical data, are both PDFs. Its 3D model of the block is an STP file, and the 3D viewer shows it from every side.