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Short answer: the Alphacool Eisblock Aurora Radeon RX 7800 XT Reference with Backplate (article 13850) is a full-cover water block for the reference Radeon RX 7800 XT PCB. It is not an AIO cooler or a graphics card, and it will not fit every card sold as an RX 7800 XT. Confirm the exact model and PCB revision in Alphacool’s HWConfig configurator before removing the factory cooler.
What the Alphacool Eisblock Aurora 13850 actually is
The official product name is Alphacool Eisblock Aurora Radeon RX 7800 XT Reference with Backplate, article number 13850. It is a full-cover block for a custom liquid-cooling loop. The block contacts the GPU, memory and voltage-regulation areas, and includes a black aluminum backplate.
It has a chrome-plated copper base, an acrylic top, four G1/4 ports and digital addressable RGB lighting. The package contains block-installation hardware, but not a pump, reservoir, radiator, fans, tubing, coolant or a complete loop.
“Enhanced” is descriptive wording, not part of Alphacool’s official model name. Product details are listed on the official product page.
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- Alphacool presents its new graphics card water coolers for the latest AMD Radeon RX generation
- Part of the Core product series and combine the highest quality with exceptional performance
- At the center of the cooler is the copper cooler milled from a single piece, complemented by a precisely machined brass connection terminal with a nylon cover
- Chrome plating makes the copper cooler more durable and ensures a smoother and brighter surface than conventional nickel plating
- Complete dimensions (L x W x H): 222.20 x 137.97 x 33.52mm
Verified specifications
| Specification | Detail |
|---|---|
| Article number | 13850 |
| Supported board | AMD Radeon RX 7800 XT reference design, 16 GB GDDR6 |
| Block dimensions | 252.14 × 120.53 × 34.87 mm |
| Backplate dimensions | 252.14 × 96.03 × 5 mm |
| Base / top | Chrome-plated copper / acrylic |
| Threads | 4 × G1/4 |
| Fin thickness and spacing | 0.4 mm / 0.4 mm |
| Maximum working temperature | 60 °C (manufacturer specification, not an expected GPU temperature) |
| Pressure test | 0.8 bar (test specification, not a recommended pump pressure) |
| Lighting | Digital aRGB, 12 LEDs, 3-pin JST, 5 V |
| Listed product weight | 1.431 kg |
These figures come from Alphacool’s datasheet and product listing. The 34.87 mm block dimension does not include every installed-card clearance issue, such as fittings, tubing and case space.
Design changes and what they mean
Alphacool describes an adapted fin structure, modified jet plate and improved inlet design intended to spread coolant across a larger fin area. It also highlights the simplified Aurora appearance with one surrounding O-ring, chrome-plated copper and integrated aRGB. Those are manufacturer design claims from its announcement, not independent temperature or noise measurements.
Moving a GPU from air cooling to a correctly installed full-cover block can reduce fan noise and improve thermal headroom, but actual temperatures depend on mounting, paste and pad contact, pump flow, radiator capacity, room temperature, airflow and coolant temperature.
Compatibility is the decisive issue
The block is designed for one reference PCB layout. “RX 7800 XT” on the box is not enough evidence: board partners use different power circuits, component positions, mounting holes and cooler dimensions, and revisions can change during a model’s production run.
Rank #2
- Alphacool presents its new graphics card water coolers for the latest AMD Radeon RX generation
- Part of the Core product series and combine the highest quality with exceptional performance
- At the center of the cooler is the copper cooler milled from a single piece, complemented by a precisely machined brass connection terminal with a nylon cover
- Chrome plating makes the copper cooler more durable and ensures a smoother and brighter surface than conventional nickel plating
- Complete dimensions (L x W x H): 224.00 x 139.07 x 33.60mm
Use this verification process
- Record the exact manufacturer and model number, including any revision suffix.
- Enter that model in Alphacool’s HWConfig configurator.
- Compare your PCB photographs and component layout with Alphacool’s compatibility images.
- Where available, compare the PCB number printed on the board.
- Stop if the listing is ambiguous; contact Alphacool or the card maker rather than forcing a fit.
Do not assume compatibility for ASUS TUF or ROG Strix, Sapphire Pulse, Pure or Nitro+, PowerColor Hellhound or Red Devil, XFX MERC, Gigabyte Gaming OC or other custom-PCB cards. Alphacool support specifically reported no block for ASUS TUF and told a Sapphire Pure owner that this block was incompatible. The relevant discussions are documented in the reference-design announcement and the Sapphire compatibility thread.
The manual also warns that a manufacturer can revise a PCB while retaining the same retail name. A card that resembles the reference board may still have tall components or a different power layout that prevents safe contact.
What is in the box
- Block and black aluminum backplate.
- Nine M2 × 11 mm screws and four M2 × 5 mm screws.
- Thermal pads: three 40 × 15 × 1 mm, one 65 × 8 × 1 mm and one 81 × 8 × 1 mm.
- Thermal pads: three 40 × 15 × 3 mm, two 15 × 8 × 3 mm, one 65 × 8 × 3 mm and one 81 × 8 × 3 mm.
- Thermal grease, putty tool, four EVA washers, two G1/4 plugs, plug tool and an aRGB adapter.
The block uses pads on both sides of the PCB, so pad thickness and placement matter. A retailer bundle may differ; use the manual as the authority for the supplied parts and pad map.
Installation overview
- Verify the card and PCB before opening the package. Work on an antistatic, well-lit surface.
- Remove the original cooler and disconnect its fan cable. Take care with stuck adhesive pads and retain the original hardware.
- Clean old paste and pad residue with a suitable solvent such as isopropyl alcohol.
- Remove only the transport spacers identified by the manual.
- Place each supplied pad according to the manual diagrams, leaving no protective film on the contact surfaces.
- Apply thermal grease to the GPU contact area and position the PCB on the block.
- Install the backside pads and backplate, reusing the original I/O shield and screws where instructed.
- Install fittings and plugs, connect the aRGB adapter and check that tubing will not pull sideways on the ports.
- Tighten evenly in the specified sequence; retighten after 24 hours as the manual directs.
- Leak-test the complete loop with the graphics card unpowered before normal startup.
Cooler removal can damage components, disturb pads or affect warranty and resale. Warranty treatment depends on the card manufacturer, country and current policy; check those terms before disassembly.
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Rank #3
- Product Information Alphacool presents the latest generation of the Eisblock Aurora water cooler for Geforce RTX 40XX graphics cards
- The water cooler has been optimized to dissipate the enormous waste heat properties of this graphics card generation in the best possible way
- The fin structure has been adjusted and the nozzle plate modified to allow better water flow and optimal water distribution on the cooling fins
- Technical Highlights The fin thickness of this generation of ice block coolers is 0.4 mm, as is the distance between the cooling fins
- The jet plate has a revised inlay that distributes the water pressure better to the fins and optimizes heat absorption
Loop hardware and coolant requirements
You need a pump/reservoir, radiator and fans sized for the loop, tubing, G1/4 fittings, coolant, a drain or drain strategy and a safe way to power the pump during leak testing. A GPU support bracket may be sensible because the finished assembly is heavy.
Alphacool specifically recommends clear, transparent coolant for this product and warns that particles and additives in pastel fluids can clog or permanently damage components and may affect warranty. Use coolant made for PC loops, do not mix chemistries casually, and flush a used loop before installing the block. Remove debris, flux, plastic fragments and sediment before filling.
Common problems and fixes
The block does not sit flat
Stop. Recheck PCB revision, component clearance and the pad map. Never tighten through an obstruction; an incompatible block can damage capacitors, inductors, memory or the acrylic top.
Thermal pads do not contact
Check thickness, placement, protective film, pad movement and even screw tension. Inspect contact impressions after disassembly and replace contaminated or damaged pads.
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- CPU water block for Intel and AMD
- Threads: 2 x G1/4"
- Material cooler: nickel plated copper
- Max working temperature: 60 Degree C
- Dimensions (WxTxH): 75,8 x 75,8 x 33 mm
GPU temperature is unexpectedly high
Check paste coverage, mounting pressure, screw order, pump operation, flow, radiator capacity, trapped air, clogged fins and actual card compatibility before blaming the block.
RGB does not light
Use a compatible 5 V, 3-pin addressable-RGB header and the supplied adapter. Check orientation, motherboard software and proprietary controller requirements. Do not connect it to a 12 V, four-pin analog-RGB header.
A fitting or plug leaks
Power down immediately, disconnect power, dry the hardware and identify the cause. Inspect O-rings and sealing surfaces for debris or damage, avoid cross-threading and lateral tubing stress, then repeat a longer leak test before powering the card.
Considering an RX 7900 GRE
Do not treat apparent PCB similarity as approval. Alphacool’s forum support states that it had no 7900 GRE block; community reports do not replace official compatibility. See the 7900 GRE discussion.
Best Value
- Alphacool presents its new graphics card water coolers for the latest AMD Radeon RX generation
- Part of the Core product series and combine the highest quality with exceptional performance
- At the center of the cooler is the copper cooler milled from a single piece, complemented by a precisely machined brass connection terminal with a nylon cover
- Chrome plating makes the copper cooler more durable and ensures a smoother and brighter surface than conventional nickel plating
- Complete dimensions (L x W x H): 220.00 x 144.50 x 33.07mm
Price and value in 2026
An Alphacool shop snapshot crawled in August 2026 showed €79.98 reduced from €159.98, with one unit listed. That was a European, time-specific stock and price signal, not a guaranteed current offer or US price. Check the live product page.
The block price is only part of the decision. Add the loop, coolant, fittings, radiator, fans, maintenance and the value of your time. It is most defensible when you already own a loop and a confirmed reference-board card. Keeping a satisfactory air cooler, choosing a card with an existing AIO, or moving to a newer GPU with broader block support may provide better value for everyone else.
Who should buy it?
Buy when
- Your exact RX 7800 XT reference PCB is confirmed in HWConfig.
- You already have, or deliberately plan, a complete custom loop.
- You value lower noise, water-cooled aesthetics or additional thermal headroom.
- You accept cooler-removal, leak-testing, maintenance and warranty implications.
Avoid when
- Your card is a custom design or its PCB revision is unknown.
- You want plug-and-play AIO cooling.
- You would need to purchase an entire loop only for this older GPU.
- Your stock cooler is already quiet and temperatures are acceptable.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the Eisblock Aurora 13850 fit every Radeon RX 7800 XT?
No. It is for the AMD reference PCB. Verify the exact card and PCB revision in Alphacool’s HWConfig configurator before purchase.
Is this an all-in-one GPU cooler?
No. It is a block component for a custom loop; pump, reservoir, radiator, fans, tubing, fittings and coolant are separate.
The Bottom Line
The Alphacool Eisblock Aurora 13850 is a credible full-cover block for owners of a confirmed reference RX 7800 XT who already run, or intentionally want, a custom loop. Its narrow PCB compatibility is the purchase gate: if HWConfig and the PCB comparison do not clearly match, keep the air cooler or choose a different card/block combination.
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
