INTRODUCTION

   Although the very first commercial AIO liquid CPU cooler was released roughly 12 years ago manufacturers are still tweaking the concept not only by using improved components (such as pumps, waterblocks, radiators and of course fans) but also by changing their design. Now granted the main concept has always been the same so we have a radiator (regardless of size and number of fans) connected to a CPU waterblock via two tubes and that's pretty much it. There are two crucial differences between models however, whether they are expandable or not (you can add GPU waterblocks or more radiators into the loop) and the location of the pump and although almost all of the AIO models out there feature pump/CPU waterblock combos there are some that have the pump placed right next to the radiator. EK Waterblocks was the very first manufacturer to do something like that (first with their EK-XLC Predator line followed by their EK-MLC Phoenix line) so it was only a matter of time before others did the same and our friends over at Alphacool just did with their brand new Eisbaer Extreme 280 Black Edition AIO Liquid CPU Cooler.

   Alphacool was founded in 2003 in Braunschweig, Germany. The aim was to develop and market high-quality water cooling products. In the same year Alphacool actually released the best CPU cooler to date called Alpha 1, which led to the breakthrough of the company. Since 2010, the manufacturer has been trading under the name Alphacool International GmbH, which is a wholly owned subsidiary of Aquatuning GmbH. Product development continues to take place from Braunschweig with a total of over 80 employees. Alphacool now offers the world's largest portfolio of water cooling products - not only for the end consumer, but also on a large scale for the industry. Alphacool's products always combine maximum efficiency, highest quality and exemplary performance in a first-class design.

   The Eisbaer Extreme 280 Black Edition (280mm version currently available with 240/360mm versions scheduled for release further down the road) is currently available in two versions, the complete AIO which also includes two tubes and a CPU waterblock and the standalone Core model which lacks those two components (aimed at custom water cooling builds). Both models house a 30mm thick NexXxoS ST30 Full Copper 280mm dual fan radiator, Eispump VPP755 V.3 pump/reservoir combo (the ceramic axis pump can spin up to 4350RPM to push up to 340l/h with up to 4.25m pressure) and two be quiet! 140mm Silent Wings 3 fans (1300RPM/64.81CFM/1.84mmH2O/31dbA) in a thick aluminum enclosure. The full AIO model also features two 450mm long flexible PVC tubes with quick-release couplings and the Eisblock XPX CPU waterblock (nickel plated copper plate). Having reviewed the Eisbaer 420 AIO again by Alphacool recently we're very interested to see just how the Eisbaer Extreme 280 does so let's move forward with today’s review.