Evolution is unstoppable even when it comes to computers and cooling has evolved also. I say this because I'm reviewing my very first water cooling product today, the NexXxos X2 Bold processor cooling block by AlphaCool . I've learned a lot about air cooling and now its time to evolve and take the next logical step which is water cooling which is what I'll do in this review. I'd love to tell you a bit about Alpha cool, but their site doesn't have an "About Us" page and its in German so...I can tell you they make a variety of WC (WC = Water Cooling) products and judging from what I've read about them around the web they do it very well. Now, on to the review...

As with almost every review item I receive, this came in a brown box and arrived at my door in good shape. Once I opened the box, got past the bubble wrap and to the actual package I was a bit surprised to find that it was just a basic clam shell with no flashy pictures or writing or anything. Now don't get me wrong, in this case , I think its a good thing because you get to see 100% of the actual product and how its built. You can see from the picture that you also see all the hardware and the instruction papers. This was a good thing because I knew right off the bat that I needed fittings as the block didn't come with any, and if the package was made so you couldn't see the contents and you drove to a store, then got home to find this out, I'm fairly sure most folks would be a tad flustered. I'd like to give a BIG OL' THANKS to Frozen CPU for sending me some 1/4" fittings for this review which you'll see once you get to that part of the review (and you're not allowed to skip ahead, SO HA).

Opening the clamshell and getting the block and all the parts sorted out, it looked as though it would be a snap to install, but I read through the instructions just to be sure I didn't muck it up somehow. The contents of the bag included all the mounting hardware you see in the picture and a tube of thermal paste. The instructions that came with the block are very good, and even remind you about cleaning and the protective film on the processor contact. The picture instructions are also very easy to follow, so even a n00b like me would be hard pressed to make a mistake.

With all the hardware off to the side, I turned my sights on the water cooling block itself. Made with a full copper base and plexiglas/ top this is a VERY well constructed block. There are 53 nozzles in the center block piece that disperse the water over the water channels. The water channels are made up of 196 square "towers" evenly spaced on the bottom piece of the block . I have to say, I'm no hydro-engineer, but I do know that when you narrow the path of water it will speed up and this means that by constructing the block this way, the water will carry the heat away from the towers faster thus keeping your processor cooler (if my thinking is right, and I will find out if it is). The three pieces seal to each other with allen bolts and o-rings to prevent leaking. After I put the block back together I flipped it over and took a look and the CPU contact plate with the protective film removed. OK, now this is where your thinkin' I'm gonna pitch a fit about the finish on the contact surface, but you'd be wrong!! This finish is OUTSTANDING! A 100% mirror finish which brings me to this line from Tom Cruise "SHOW ME THE MONEY" **I'm poor so its only a quarter**. Once I had done drooling at the finish on the CPU contact plate I put my 1/4" fitting on and made ready to test this cooling block out.