Alphacool Eissturm Hurricane Copper 45 Review: Rockin’ Like a Hurricane

By Garrett Carver
published
Editor's Choice

Tom's Hardware Verdict

This cooling kit offers weapons-grade PC watercooling in a convenient, self-contained package.

Pros

  • +

    Great cooling performance

  • +

    Professional-grade components

  • +

    Very good value for a full watercooling kit

Cons

  • -

    Pricey compared to AIO alternatives

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Features & Specifications

Alphacool is well-known among the liquid cooling community for its high-performance radiators and watercooling complete kits. Their Eissturm (German for ice storm) Hurricane Copper 45 3x 140mm kit features a full-copper NexXxos XT45 (45mm thick) radiator, which boasts the ability to cool an entire, overclocked PC build with room to include a graphics card, if it so tickled your fancy. 

For the ever-valuable overclocking dollar, few complete watercooling kits come close to offering the cooling capability for such an attractive, all-inclusive price. Pro tip: make sure you have a large enough case.

The Alphacool Eissturm Hurricane Copper 45 3x 140mm kit includes enough mounting hardware in its box for complete installation on nearly every current AMD and Intel CPU socket available with the exception of Threadripper.  Among the major watercooling components is a liter of coolant, a 3-way fan splitter, thermal compound, a handy funnel and an ATX 24-pin jumper module to make priming and filling the cooling loop much easier with less risk of component damage. Alphacool also includes a very nifty, Eisbaer-ready disconnect adapter, which allows simple addition of an Eisbaer-ready graphics card or one of any other supported Alphacool components.

Specifications

Swipe to scroll horizontally
Thickness1.8 inches / 45mm
Width5.75 inches / 146mm
Depth18.5 inches / 470mm
Pump Height12.8 inches / 325mm
Speed ControllerBIOS
Cooling Fans(3) 140 x 25mm
Connectors(1) MOLEX(4) 4-Pin PWM
Weight217.3 oz / 6,160.3g
Intel Sockets2066, 2011x, 1366, 115x, 775
AMD SocketsAM2(+), AM3(+) AM4, FM1, FM2(+), TR4
WarrantyTwo years

The Alphacool Eisblock XPX CPU block features a solid molded top with G1/4 standard fittings and an LED backlit logo powered by 3-pin PWM. The block uses a set of included metal, snap-fit brackets to accommodate either AMD or Intel CPU mounting choices.

The bottom of the Eisblock XPX features a nickel-plated copper base that is polished to a mirror finish, and the pronounced groove around the base of the block allows the metal mounting brackets to maintain even pressure on the CPU IHS.

The heart of any liquid cooling system is the pump, and in this case, the heart is the incredibly powerful VPP755, which is a successor to the legendary D5 Vario pump with similar speed range control from 1 (low) to 5 (high). The 250mm acrylic reservoir is mounted to a threaded pump top with a built-in anti-cyclonic insert. An optional inlet with a water diffuser port and three optional filling and accessory ports is on the top of the reservoir.

With the VPP755 installed in the base of the reservoir top, it can be mounted either vertically or horizontally, depending on the orientation of the mounting hardware. Like the rest of the components in the kit, the pump and reservoir feature G1/4 fittings and can accommodate the included eight compression fittings or two, 90-degree swivel fittings as required.

The massive, 3x 140 (420) NexXxos 45 radiator features seven, G1/4 fittings—three each on the I/O end tanks and a single fitting on the far tank—to allow for almost any loop configuration or mounting option desired. There’s a set of G1/4 plugs to close off any unneeded radiator ports, while a trio of Eiswind Pure Edition 140mm fans ship with the kit to accompany the radiator.

Words and pictures cannot adequately define the magnitude of the NexXxos 45 radiator, which is so large, we could not mount it inside our Corsair Graphite 760T case unless we were willing to permanently remove the 5.25-inch drive bays and some connecting structures. We found it fits nicely atop the chassis with the 90-degree swivel fittings allowing neat tubing to run down the rear of the case while the 140mm fans draft air from within the case and vent outward through the radiator.

With all tubing runs completed, the overall installation of the kit was relatively simple once we finalized locations for the pump and reservoir combo and radiator. As previously mentioned, with a bit of DIY modding, the enormous 3lx 140mm radiator found its home inside this case. Leaving the heat exchanger on the roof provides an unmistakable conversation starter; just add friends.

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Garrett Carver
Garrett Carver
CPU Cooling Reviewer

Garrett Carver is a contributor for Tom’s Hardware, primarily covering thermal compound comparisons and CPU cooling reviews; both air and liquid, including multiple variations of each.

26 Comments Comment from the forums
  • richardvday
    Seems more like an advertisement than a review.
    Is the pump replaceable down the road or do you have to replace the reservoir also to do that ? AIO the pump dies after 3yrs typically. Normally right after the warranty expires of course.
    Reply
  • rubix_1011
    The pump is removable as its own component. In fact, it has to be installed to the reservoir if you look at the early images - the pump is not attached to the reservoir.

    As this isn't an AIO, the pump being used is much more powerful and designed for a cooling system like this. The pump alone costs upwards of a typical AIO cooler in its entirety. I personally have one of the older D5 pumps on which this is based; it is still functional after almost 10 years.

    Please explain - what makes this seem like an advertisement? It is a product review - there is not any affiliation with Alphacool.
    Reply
  • mac_angel
    I was wondering two things. One, why wasn't a proper case used that would fit this unit the way it was meant to be installed? Two, if you have it sitting on the outside like that, running the water lines into the case, why did you not use the provided holes that were there specifically for water lines.
    Reply
  • rubix_1011
    We use the same hardware for all the tests to provide the same environment for every cooler tested. If we change hardware, we introduce variables that do not allow us to make direct comparisons on coolers - which is what we're looking to achieve.

    The holes would be permanently removed since they are stamped into the case - they were left as-is to preserve the case and limit variables in all future testing.
    Reply
  • audiospecaccts
    Interesting that the product pictures have a different pump/reservoir system than what you have pictured in the review.
    Reply
  • rubix_1011
    I'm not sure I follow - the pump and reservoir in the photos were from the box contents and were used for testing. Can you elaborate?
    Reply
  • mac_angel
    21412168 said:
    We use the same hardware for all the tests to provide the same environment for every cooler tested. If we change hardware, we introduce variables that do not allow us to make direct comparisons on coolers - which is what we're looking to achieve.

    The holes would be permanently removed since they are stamped into the case - they were left as-is to preserve the case and limit variables in all future testing.

    I would think a radiator on the outside of the case would also affect results from those compared to ones that were on the inside. I understand you need to compare like for like (Intel kinda proved that, too). But to me, that means putting all units into a proper case that fits. Yes, that would mean much more testing, but as you pointed out, people that buy this are probably going to pair it with a case that can fit it properly.
    I don't know, just saying. Just my opinion. Black Friday is coming, and I'm wish listing a new system, including case and water cooling.
    Reply
  • mac_angel
    21412196 said:
    I'm not sure I follow - the pump and reservoir in the photos were from the box contents and were used for testing. Can you elaborate?

    The pictures, and the review, were based on a tri-140mm fan and rad set up. The link you provided for purchase is for a dual-140mm fan and rad system.
    Reply
  • rubix_1011
    I would think a radiator on the outside of the case would also affect results from those compared to ones that were on the inside. I understand you need to compare like for like (Intel kinda proved that, too). But to me, that means putting all units into a proper case that fits. Yes, that would mean much more testing, but as you pointed out, people that buy this are probably going to pair it with a case that can fit it properly.
    I don't know, just saying. Just my opinion. Black Friday is coming, and I'm wish listing a new system, including case and water cooling.

    To some degree, yes, you would be correct. By using the same hardware for every test, we at least have a baseline for every cooler without having to make a change to accommodate one specific cooler just for aesthetics. Also, keeping the same hardware still allows us to call out that the difference of fitment of one cooler to another.
    Reply
  • rubix_1011
    21412205 said:
    21412196 said:
    I'm not sure I follow - the pump and reservoir in the photos were from the box contents and were used for testing. Can you elaborate?

    The pictures, and the review, were based on a tri-140mm fan and rad set up. The link you provided for purchase is for a dual-140mm fan and rad system.

    The link for purchase isn't added by me - but I'll have to get a hold of some folks in editorial to see if this can be corrected.

    Update - they are looking into it. Actual product link would be this: http://www.performance-pcs.com/alphacool-eissturm-hurricane-copper-45-3x140mm-complete-kit.html
    Reply