Alphacool’s VPP755 Pump Sounds Too Good To Be True, Better Than D5 In Every Metric
Alphacool’s VPP755 Eispump boasts lower power draw, less vibration, and stronger head pressure than the popular D5 pump, and they are compatible with all Alphacool D5 accessories.
PC water cooling is growing ever more popular. Thanks to the hobby’s growing popularity in recent years, water cooling companies started investing in R&D to improve the products that they offer to customers.
EK Water Blocks is a prime example. The water cooling company released dozens of water blocks for GPUs and motherboards, and it refreshed its lineup of pump tops and reservoirs in the last 12 months, but it isn’t the only company trying to improve the water cooling market. Alphacool also regularly churns new water blocks, reservoirs, radiators, and even fittings out of its facility.
The water cooling market gets new components all the time, but new pumps are rarely offered. Alphacool decided we were all due, so it built a new pump that retains the D5’s shape but introduces a new internal design.
Alphacool’s VPP755 pump features a ceramic shaft instead of the spherical bearing normally found in a D5 pump, and the designers repositioned the motor coils to improve balance and reduce vibration. With less vibration, the VPP755 can remain quieter than a D5 pump. It also has the bonus of drawing 50% less power than a traditional D5 pump. And even though it draws less power and produces less noise, the VPP755 has a higher head pressure than other D5 variants.
Alphacool’s VPP755 Eispump even offers variable speed options. On the back of the pump, you will find a dial that lets you adjust the maximum RPM at which the motor can operate. Variable speed isn’t a new feature for D5 pumps, but if you try to use PWM control to manage the pump speed, PWM overrides the manual setting.
Alphacool’s VPP755 Eispump doesn’t allow PWM to override the manual setting. Whatever you set the maximum RPM to on the dial becomes the maximum speed of the pump. PWM can control the speed of the pump up to the dialed in speed, and not beyond.
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The VPP755 Eispump isn’t a proper D5 variation, but it does retain most of the same dimensions as the Laing D5. Alphacool said that the VPP755 pump is compatible with the company’s lineup of D5 accessories. We suspect that accessories from other companies are compatible., too.
| Header Cell - Column 0 | Technical Specifications |
|---|---|
| Dimensions (DxH): | 60 x 53,5mm |
| Cable length: | 50cm |
| Standard voltage: | 12V DC |
| Power consumption: | 14W |
| Accepted voltage: | 8-13v DC |
| Pressure at 12V: | 4m head |
| Maximum flow: | 350l/h |
| Pump fluid: | water, water/glycol mixture |
| Maximum system temperature: | 65°C |
| Power connection: | 4-pin Molex |
| Speed sensor signal: | 3-pin |
| PWM signal: | 4-pin |
| Special features: | adjustable to five levels:-Level 1: 1800 RPM-Level 2: 2500 RPM-Level 3: 3200 RPM-Level 4: 3900 RPM-Level 5: 4500 RPM |
Kevin Carbotte is a contributing writer for Tom's Hardware who primarily covers VR and AR hardware. He has been writing for us for more than four years.
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urbanj Looking forward to a review/comparison with the D5, as I was a few weeks away from ordering parts for a water cooling loop once my new case arrived.Reply -
ihateregister Shame. It's voltage controlled, not a PWM controlled pump. And they skimped on the electronics.Reply -
alextheblue Reply18835184 said:Shame. It's voltage controlled, not a PWM controlled pump. And they skimped on the electronics.
It accepts a PWM signal and when such a signal is provided, uses that to determine at what speed it should be running. How is that not "PWM controlled"? Plus they provided an easy way to cap peak RPM without additional software.
Edit: Watch the embedded video for details. -
urbanj Reply18833617 said:Review: http://www.xtremerigs.net/2016/10/31/alphacool-eispumpe-vpp755-pump-review/
nice thanks :) -
jasonkaler Wow, it makes me wonder how bad the original design was that it could be improved on by a whole 50% efficiency.Reply
That means that originally, at least half the power was consumed by forces other than actually pumping water. -
shrapnel_indie Reply18836035 said:Wow, it makes me wonder how bad the original design was that it could be improved on by a whole 50% efficiency.
That means that originally, at least half the power was consumed by forces other than actually pumping water.
Lets stop and think a sec. (hard for a Monday morning, or a Sunday morning for that matter.)
50% improvement.... say (unit just randomly chosen) it pumped 100 mL per second. The 50% improvement would be 150 mL/S. From the improved position, the old unit is 1/3 less efficient. I do understand your point though and wonder where the losses were.
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KD_Gaming Im surprised none of you have noticed the flow rate... 350l/h. A D5 with a ek top puts out 1500l/h with a 3.9m pressure head. Overall ill take the D5 anyday over this.Reply -
urbanj Reply18837841 said:Im surprised none of you have noticed the flow rate... 350l/h. A D5 with a ek top puts out 1500l/h with a 3.9m pressure head. Overall ill take the D5 anyday over this.
...maybe we haven't noticed it, because we have been looking at charts that show the D5 below the VPP755.
If you want to link what you're looking at maybe?