Review : Alphacool Ocean T38 360

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The Pure Loop 2 FX 360

Unboxing

Regarding the packaging, Alphacool opts for a very sober visual based on printed cardboard. On it is a representation of the pump and the radiator with some dimensions here and there. But, unlike other brands, there is no reminder of the detailed characteristics.

Inside, it’s the usual recipe with a cardboard mold enclosing each element of the watercooling kit. The fans benefit from a little cardboard overprotection when the rest of the elements are packed in individual plastic bags!

The radiator:

Alphacool Ocean T38 360 radiateur

With this Ocean T38 series, we have the right to a radiator quite similar to what we can find at Arctic. This model offers a neat finish with a very elegant square shape. On the sides, we find a small Alphacool logo painted directly on the sides.

Nevertheless, what they have in common with the Swiss brand’s radiators is their significant thickness. The latter is increased to 38 mm in order to maximize performance. Moreover, Alphacool communicates on the fin density which is 19 fins per inch. A density rather low compared to what we usually test. But the goal is to maximize the airflow through them.

Otherwise, as we told you, the manufacture is aluminum. And the other dimensions are 397 (L) x 12 (W) x 38 (H) mm.

Alphacool Ocean T38 360 radiateur

To connect the pump and the radiator, we find two FEP pipes with a total length of 40 cm. These also have a rather coarse nylon sheath. On the other hand, we can’t say that the tubes are very flexible.

The waterblock:

The pump block has a rather sober and refined design. The latter benefits from a black plastic shell that will mark the fingerprints. As you can see, the whole displays a logo ” Alphacool” and a translucent triangle. Via the latter, we can enjoy an RGB lighting. On the other hand, the assembly is not necessarily the most precise, the plastic tends to crack.

Alphacool Ocean T38 360 pompe

Under the pump block is the cold plate which is made of copper. The latter is screwed to the rest of the hull by a total of ten Torx screws. The finish is excellent to say the least, since the copper base has a very pleasant sandblasted finish. The dimensions are 5.8 cm x 5.2 cm, enough to cover the IHS of any AM5 or LGA-1700 processor

As far as features are concerned, Alphacool announces that its pump will operate from 2500 rpm to 3500 rpm via a PWM power supply. Unfortunately, nothing is said about the flow rate or the water column, which is a shame for a manufacturer specialized in this field.

Alphacool Ocean T38 360 pompeFinally, on the connector side, we find a four-pin PWM fan plug for the power supply. As well as a second aRGB male/female connector to control the lighting via your motherboard.

Compatibility

With the Ocean T38, Alphacool ensures a near-exemplary compatibility since the majority of recent platforms are compatible:

  • Intel : LGA-1100 – LGA-1200 – LGA-1700 – LGA-2000
  • AMD: AM4 – AM5

Right out of the box, the kit is therefore perfectly compatible with the LGA-1700 platform from Intel. The same goes for AMD’s AM5 . However, there is nothing about TR4 cards and derivatives.

The fans

For its part, the ventilation will be provided by a trio of Core fans in 120 mm. These fans remain quite basic in their presentation. They have an entirely black frame, just like the blades. Moreover, the frame has no anti-vibration device. We can clearly feel that the brand has done everything to keep the price down.

Speaking of the blades, they are quite thin and not very curved. There are also nine of them. The frame, on the other hand, has a worked shape at the level of the anchoring points, but that’s all. Finally, the connectivity is simple with a single PWM connector with four pins at the end of a black and flat cable of 40 cm.

Alphacool Ocean T38 360 ventilateurs

In terms of features, the fans will run from 0 RPM to 2500 RPM. At full speed, the airflow will be 62.8 CFM while the static pressure will reach 2.13 mmH2O. Beware of the noise that may be present, often, beyond 2000 RPM, it is difficult to find quiet fans … Or at least not very noisy.

Bundle:

Alphacool Ocean T38 360 bundle

As for the accessories, we find something complete since the brand offers :

  • An assembly manual
  • A splitter allowing to connect three fans on a single plug
  • A small syringe of thermal paste
  • Screws and bolts for the assembly of the fans and the radiator
  • The screws for the assembly of the pump
  • Detailed instructions for each type of AMD and Intel platform
  • Steel mounting arms for Intel and AMD
  • A plastic backplate for Intel sockets
  • Screws and bolts corresponding to the different sockets

The accessory part is thus complete by offering all the elements necessary for the assembly of the Ocean T38. The splitter allowing to concentrate the three fans in a single plug is very practical and will save a good part of the connectivity on your motherboard. On the other hand, despite the years, it’s still a shame to find this old plastic Intel backplate whose elements separate as soon as you handle it a little too much.

Overall:

Overall, with this Ocean T38, we feel that Alphacool did everything to lower the price. Some elements look very good like the radiator while others are not so good. We think of the rather coarse pipes or the rather cheap fans. The plastic of the pump is not the most pleasant and will tend to crack when handled. Nevertheless, let’s remember the very aggressive positioning of less than 100 € for a 360 mm kit with RGB lighting. You can’t have everything at this price!