Final Words & Conclusion
Conclusion
The reviewed Alphacool Eisbaer Aurora 360 HPE cooler performed very well. It handled both tested processors, including the overclocked Core i9 12900K at 5.1 GHz using the 1.35 V. However, the AMD results don’t impress, considering that you get a copper radiator here. The maximum rpm (2500) noise is too much, but you can set your fan curve to making it more reasonable. There are no other size variants; the only option, for now, is the LT (lower pump) edition. You get an ARGB lighting on the pump and also the fans. The price is somewhat reasonable, especially since you get a copper radiator.
Aesthetics, Design & Installation
Starting with the aesthetics, the Alphacool Eisbaer Aurora 360 HPE looks very nice, although the pump is relatively high, and not everyone can find it attractive. On the other side – it won’t interfere with motherboards’ VRMs. The quality tubes bend well, and they can be adjusted in many ways to avoid compatibility issues. There’s also a quick-release coupling, so the unit is expandable. The provided fans have RGB, and also the pump is lit up in user-defined colours. The installation process for AMD is relatively easy – but not always it’ll be successful in aligning the screws. For the Intel system, it was worse, and Alphacool definitely needs to re-think/re-design the mounting kit (as the backplate has a “runaway” tendency), as the competition does it better. It was already a problem with the Eisbaer Extreme Black, where I complained about not having a third hand to make the installation process smoother. As for the wiring, the stuff looks a bit like wire spaghetti at first glance, but it was relatively easy to manage it and avoid a mess. It would be better if it would come from the side of the block, not the top of it. Also – the hoses are not so easily rotatable and need more space in a chassis.
The Verdict
The Alphacool Eisbaer Aurora 360 HPE is not the cheapest AIO, as it costs about 180 EUR (and the LT edition – costs 160 EUR). But it’s at least partially justified, as you get a copper radiator (but it doesn’t bring a significant performance increase). You get an RGB functionality here; the pump and the fans have this feature. There are no 240 mm or 280 mm available (yet?), and probably customers would like that, as the 360 mm variants won’t fit in some popular chassis. The Eisbaer Aurora 360 HPE’s pump design is original, as it’s relatively high, and not all customers will like it (but there’s an alternative with the LT edition, which is also cheaper and has the same pump type - DC-LT 2). The performance is excellent, especially on the Intel platform; even the idle noise levels are satisfactory. It could have been quieter under load, but you can fix that with a good fan curve. The Alphacool Rise Aurora fans are good overall (but not great), but they are absurdly loud at maximum rpm. The cables of this AIO are long enough, and the tubing (400 mm) is as well. On the other side, it would be better if the pump cables came from the side, not from the top of the block. Also, the tubing is not too flexible, mainly because it’s coming out from the same place. For both of these issues – the LT version has a solution. There’s also a fill port and a quick-release coupling, so the unit is expandable, so it’s not a standard feature for the AIOs. There’s a 2-year warranty, so it’s a very standard one. Power is delivered via a 3-pin cable to the pump from the motherboard header. You get here an ARGB controller, which can also provide power to the pump. So summing it up – you get very good performance (especially on the Intel) and reasonable noise (if not pushed to the max for the fans). The main disadvantages are the installation process; for the AMD, it’s, let’s say, ok, but it definitely needs an improvement for the Intel platform. Then the tubing/wires come from the top of the block, making it harder to manage it. The Alphacool Rise Aurora fans are also not the best in class. The ARGB is ok, and the performance is decent, but the noise is not the best. Putting all the things together, we can approve this product for the whole package, and Alphacool did a nice job with this cooler, but it won’t change the market. The price is ok, you get what you pay for, but it’s not an extra bargain. It has a copper radiator (although it’s not bringing a noticeable performance increase) and the ARGB controller. It’s possible to fill it up and expand it (thanks to the quick-release coupling), so these are nice features but not good enough to make it a “Recommended” or the “Top Pick” award product. It would be a great product when the installation process would be smoother/more accessible, and the fans and the AMD performance would be better. Also, the warranty should be longer than two years. Alphacool, you have a place for improvements here, so the next version should address the issues.
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