After being delighted by the performance of the Alphacool Core A CPU waterblock, we’re back today with another Alphacool product: the Eiswolf 2 AIO – 360mm RTX 4090, compatible with Asus STRIX and TUF models. This AIO-type cooling system replaces the original cooling system on our Asus RTX 4090 TUF OC Edition graphics card. But even if Alphacool uses the term AIO, we’ll see that this Eiswolf 2 goes much further and offers you the possibility of designing a custom cooling loop in the future. The Eiswolf 2 is currently priced at 270 euros for a complete turnkey kit.
Many thanks to Alphacool for making this Eiswolf 2 AIO – 360mm RTX 4090 available, and to Asus for the Asus RTX 4090 TUF OC Edition graphics card. Don’t forget that we also recently tested the Alphacool Core 1 CPU waterblock and that Vertex has tested the Alphacool Core Geforce RTX 4090 GameRock Phantom waterblock, which will be published tomorrow.
[nextpage title=”Unpacking: “]
Let’s start by opening the package we received direct from Alphacool France. The box containing the cooling system arrived in a cardboard box, perfectly protected to avoid any inconvenience during unpacking.
Alphacool’s packaging is very attractive, and the box, with its rather imposing dimensions of 420 x 360 x 140 mm, contains very little information on either side. So let’s get to work opening it to discover its contents.
Once the box has been opened, we can see all the components needed to install this liquid cooling system. The first thing we come across is the full-colour installation manual, translated into three languages: German, English and French. The instructions are very clear and are also available directly from the Alphacool website. A very good point! It’s also worth noting that all the components are housed in a pre-molded cardboard box, protected by a transparent plastic film and a few foam plates.
Here’s what’s inside our Eiswolf 2 AIO box: an Eiswolf 2, a NexXxoS ST30 360mm radiator, three Rise Aurora 120mm fans, a mounting set, twelve 6mm M3 screws, twelve 30mm M3 screws, a PWM Y-cable, an aRGB cable and a clamping tool.
Let’s take a closer look at each of these components on the next page.
[nextpage title=”The Eiswolf 2 AIO:”]
Let’s see what this self-contained liquid cooling system is made of. Here, with this Alphacool Eiswolf 2 AIO – 360mm RTX 4090, you’ve got everything you need, and no additional purchase is necessary. You unpack, dismantle your current cooling system, install the Alphacool kit and enjoy! So let’s take a closer look at the various elements that make up this kit.
The waterblock :
The waterblock that will be fitted to the PCB of our RTX 4090 TUF is an integral model, meaning that all PCB components will be cooled more efficiently, i.e. not just the GPU, but also the memory chips and power supply stages. The nickel-plated copper part is surmounted by a rectangular top in clear acrylic. Alphacool uses new, patented locking screws that are perfectly flush with the surface of the block. The Alphacool logo is positioned in the top left-hand corner. Of course, the O-rings are there to ensure a watertight seal.
The dimensions of the block are 220.90 x 166.60 x 46.10 mm. The inlet/outlet terminals are indistinguishable here, as the pump is installed on the upper part of the block. We’ll come back to its features a little later in the article.
It’s easy to make out the jet plate above the micro fins, which increase the surface area available for dissipation. The waterblock is equipped with an RGB backlight strip to illuminate your block. It features 14 addressable LEDs, meaning that each LED can display a different color. The power plug is a 5v model that you can connect directly to your motherboard.
The aluminum backplate not only stiffens the black PCB, but also optimizes cooling at the rear of the PCB. Alphacool doesn’t seem to have paid any particular attention to the backplate. It’s a shame, and we’d have liked a different finish, especially if the board is positioned horizontally.
The pump:
The pump, located on the top of the block, is a DC-LT 2 model, which, as its name suggests, is an evolution of the first-generation DC-LT. In terms of technical specifications, Alphacool boasts a speed of 2600 RPM and a maximum flow rate of 72 L/h.
The top of the pump, which will be visible when the graphics card is inserted into your motherboard, is marked “GeForce RTX Eiswolf” and is backlit. As you can see, the pump is connected directly to the 360 mm heatsink via 90° rotary unions, making it easy to install in your case. Two cables are available for this pump. The first is a 12-volt cable for powering and controlling the pump, and the second is a 5-volt cable for the RGB backlight. Both are inserted in black heat-shrink tubing.
Heatsink:
Alphacool has used a tried-and-tested radiator for its Eiswolf 2 AIO, the 360mm NexXxoS ST30, whose overall dimensions are 395 x 124 x 30 mm. This is a copper model that will offer much better performance than an aluminum version. Most cooling loop radiators sold today are made of copper.
We’ll talk more about this later in the article, but the presence of a filler port means you can upgrade your cooling loop if you wish. This is a very important feature, rarely found on cooling solutions of this type.
Fans:
Once again, these are Alphacool products, with their 120 mm Aurora Rise Digital RGB with a thickness of 25 mm. Maximum speed is 2500 RPM, static pressure 3.17 mm H2O and airflow 119.8 m³/h. They will need to be connected to your motherboard via the adapter supplied in the bundle.
These fans, thanks to the 4-pin PWM connector, can be regulated via your BIOS according to processor temperature, for example. You can even decide to leave them idle until a certain temperature is reached! The fans feature an anti-vibration rubber pad at the end and an RGB-backlit circle on the front.
Pipes and kit upgradability:
The pipes used for this Alphacool Eiswolf 2 AIO kit are TPV (EPDM/PP), matte black and 50 cm long. These hoses are renowned for their heat resistance and durability.
We were talking about an upgradeable kit, thanks to the two quick-release couplings. By removing these, you can, for example, add a CPU waterblock to your loop, or a kit like the Eisbaer Aurora. When these hoses are detached, they don’t leak, i.e. the liquid remains blocked, but in any case you can check the level and top up if necessary via the radiator cap.
[nextpage title=”Installing the Eiswolf 2 AIO:”]
Remove the cooling system :
OK, now it’s time to install the Eiswolf 2 AIO cooling system. Please note that we have already carried out a series of benchmark tests. The idea is also to record the temperatures of the various components of our Asus RTX 4090 TUF OC Edition. Before starting to install the Alphacool kit, we need to remove the original cooling system from our RTX 4090. The mat we used during these various manipulations is the Alphacool Eisplateau anti-static 120 x 60 cm.
First step: remove the seven screws on the PCI bracket. This will be replaced by a new one supplied in the bundle. We advise you to have a box ready to store all the screws, so as not to lose anything for future reassembly.
The next step is to undo all the screws holding the backplate and radiator in place. Next, you’ll need to remove the four screws holding the radiator in place around the GPU. This will first release the fairing that holds the three fans in place. As you can see, the original radiator is really quite imposing!
Now that our cooling system has been removed, it’s time to properly clean the various components of the power stage. We recommend using a soft cloth and a small soft-bristle brush or paintbrush. Don’t forget to clean both sides of the PCB!
For the GPU chip, we used wipes from Noctua. As you can see, disassembly is a breeze. You should also know that you won’t lose the Asus warranty if you opt for a waterblock. A good point for Asus, as not all brands accept it!
Installing the waterblock on our RTX 4090 PCB:
Now that our PCB is ready, let’s move on to the installation of the Eiswolf 2 waterblock. As specified in the kit unboxing, Alphacool provides a very clear, full-colour document, translated into three languages, to guide you through the installation of the liquid cooling kit. The first step is to place the pre-cut thermal pads directly onto the waterblock. We start with the 1 mm pads in the blue bag. Be careful, these are protected on both sides by a plastic film that you mustn’t forget to remove!
As you can see from the photos above, the number of thermal pads corresponds exactly to those on the original radiator of our RTX 4090 TUF. Installation is fairly easy, except on the smaller ones where removing the two plastic protectors is a little trickier.
Now that our waterblock is ready, we need to place some thermal paste on our GPU chip. Alphacool supplies a tube of thermal paste in the bundle. Once the thermal paste has been applied, simply place and tighten the waterblock on the PCB.
As with the Alphacool Core 1 CPU block, the brand supplies foam washers to place between the PCB and the screw. We really don’t like this choice, as it doesn’t ensure identical tightening. We installed them for the tutorial, but then removed them and opted for plastic washers which we feel are much more suitable.
Off to the accessories department to pick up the PCI Alphacool bracket. Once this is in place, let’s move on to the rear of the PCB to place the 3mm thermal pads that will dissipate heat via the backplate.
The thermal pads are now in place, and all you need to do to complete the installation is attach the backplate to the rear of the PCB. Installation of Alphacool’s Eiswolf 2 AIO is now complete. As you can see, nothing too complicated.
The final step is to attach the three 120 mm Aurora Rise Digital RGB fans directly to the radiator. Let’s get down to business and compare the performance of the original radiator on our Asus RTX 4090 TUF OC Edition with the Alphacool Eiswolf 2 AIO cooling solution.
[nextpage title=”Test results:”]
Now that our RTX 4090 TUF OC Edition has been fitted with its waterblock and cooling loop, it’s time to get down to business and evaluate the temperature gains. Our tests took place outside the case, and we connected the pump to a dedicated socket on our ROG Maximus Z690 APEX, as well as the Y-shaped fan connector and the connector to power the backlight. As you can see, the rendering is superb, and we almost have the impression that the board is transparent.
The RGB backlight can be managed directly via the Asus application, as it is connected directly to a 5v port on the motherboard. The default setting is rainbow mode.
In terms of RGB backlighting, the fans also feature full RGB, as shown in the photos below.
As far as our temperature readings are concerned, we carried out two test loops. First, under 3DMark Time Spy, we ran three consecutive benchmarks at 10-minute intervals, before running two further series. The temperature in the lab was 22.8°C. However, since this is a closed-loop system, it’s impossible to measure the water temperature. So we didn’t provide any graphs calculating the delta: T° GPU – T° air/water.
In terms of GPU temperature gains, we’re talking about 10.7°C and no less than 17°C for the Hot Spot. Memory also benefits from cooling, dropping from 66°C to 46°C. Admittedly, we thought we’d see a bigger difference, but we have an idea of the reason, which we’ll explain below.
The second test consists of three 10-minute stress tests with 5 minutes rest on the Superposition benchmark. Here, we gain 9.3°C for the GPU temperature and no less than 12.9°C for the Hot Spot temperature. Memory also benefits from cooling, dropping from 64°C to 48°C.
There’s no doubt, then, that the Alphacool Eiswolf 2 AIO system brings a breath of fresh air to our RTX 4090 TUF OC Edition. In the end, however, we were expecting greater differences in temperature compared with the original cooling system, but the explanation surely lies in this thought. Manufacturers have oversized their cooling systems for the launch of RTX 4090s, as is the case with our example of the day, the Asus RTX 4090 TUF OC Edition. This has resulted in body-built graphics cards, but on the other hand, excellent temperatures thanks to these excellent cooling systems.
The cooling system on our RTX 4090 TUF OC Edition is already doing the job perfectly, and even if the addition of a watercooling system brings a significant benefit, it’s the reason for a less glaring temperature difference than usual.
[nextpage title=”The final word: “]
It’s time to give you our impressions of the Alphacool Eiswolf 2 AIO – 360 mm RTX 4090 TUF cooling system. With its AIO, Alphacool offers an excellent all-round cooling solution, meaning that no additional components are required. The other strong point of this system is that it is upgradeable. You can later add an additional radiator or a system to keep your processor cool, for example.
The price of 270 euros seems totally coherent to us for all the components of this kit, i.e. the waterblock, the pump and the 360 mm radiator. The finish of the components is very good, with only a few elements, such as the end caps, showing paint chips, probably due to tightening during installation. This is a single-use waterblock dedicated to the UFC, but this will also be the case if you only buy a waterblock for your graphics card. So, if you change graphics cards in the next few years, you’ll have to think about reselling it with the Alphacool system to recoup your investment.
Performance is good, but a little lower than usual, thanks to the RTX 4090 TUF’s excellent cooling system. If you already have your own cooling loop, you can choose a waterblock from the new “Core” series, which will be tested and online tomorrow.
The Alphacool Eiswolf 2 AIO – 360 mm RTX 4090 Strix/TUF kit:
We liked:
- Full-color installation instructions in three languages! (EN – DE – FR)
- High-quality packaging and bundle
- Turnkey system for beginners
- Easy installation for everyone
- Kit upgradability thanks to quick connectors
- Pre-cut thermal pads
- Alphacool’s approach: a system halfway between classic AIO and custom watercooling
- The quality and rendering of aRGB backlighting for the waterblock
- Waterblock design quality
- The compact format of the RTX 4090 with this cooling kit
We would have liked :
- Plastic washers instead of foam washers
- A better finish on some parts with paint chips (pump tips)
- Better quality thermal pads in case of disassembly
Alphacool’s 360 mm Eiswolf 2 AIO kit is an excellent cooling solution. Its ease of installation, even for a beginner entering the world of watercooling for the first time , combined with its upgrade potential to expand your cooling loop, are non-negligible assets. The use of a waterblock also allows your RTX 4090 to return to a more compact format. Many thanks to Alphacool France for providing this Eiswolf 2 AIO – 360 mm RTX 4090 Strix/TUF kit.