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Alphacool Lighttower All-in-One Reservoir/Pump Combo w/Phobya DC12-400 Pump

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#1 ·
Alphacool Lighttower All-in-One Reservoir/Pump Combo w/Phobya DC12-400 Pump

Description:
The Alphacool "Lighttower" reservoir leads to a new way of design and function. Though most reservoirs are only compatible with one or few pumps, this reservoir can be used with multiple pumps or be used even without a pump. This maximum of flexibility comes from the intelligent construction. If the reservoir needs to be fixed with screws, there are already 4 M4 threads available in the bottom of the reservoir (screws must be ordered separately)
The inlet:
In the image you can see 2 threads on the right side. The lower one is the inlet. From there the water flows into the inside tube, then to the top of it and from there with multiple small spots to the inside wall of the big outside tube to run down to the water basin. With the intelligent construction (LED light coming from the bottom of the reservoir), you can achieve a new modding highlight looking like a lighttower inside. The lightning module you need in the bottom is already included (LEDs must be ordered separately)

The in-outlet:
If you do not want to use this function you can use one thread above as inlet, so that the water runs into the reservoir from the bottom. Furthermore you can use that thread as outlet (for example if you do not want to use it with a pump and you want to have inlet and outlet at the same side of the reservoir) or use it for additional LED lightning or temperature sensors.

The outlet:
The fluid is collected in the bottom of the reservoir and due to the multiple hole plate the air goes out of the water very fast and the any cyclone or vortex is avoided. Under the hole plate is an additional basin where the water is stored and sucked from the pump. There is a big G1" thread in which multiple pump adapters can be screwed.
 

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#2 ·
Does what it does, well.

review by ecksmega

I ordered this pump/res combo last week, to replace an XSPC pump-res that was running the revision 4 cheapo pump. I'd bought the EX240 Raystorm kit, and had been running the included pump/res for about 4 years. I've read about the lifespan of the pump I was running and realized it had been long past due to replace it.

Anywho; I spotted this on a distributor site, and thought that light tower looks SO COOL. (You did too, don't deny it. You wouldn't be reading this, otherwise.)

Here's what came:
Boxed res and Boxed Pump in Mfr. packaging. The pump and even the res came with some padding to help with vibration where you mount,. The pump also included two plastic brackets with holes for mounting, and inner pegs (2 on each (2x2)) for a more removable, modular mounting feature.

The res came with screw holes for mounting on the bottom. Look up, before you buy, to figure out the size of screw this is, because I couldn't find one with the correct size, every screw I have is too large or too small to catch the thread.

The underside of the res featured a led window fitting at the G1/4" port. Mine was busted. Going to see what the distributor says about replacing it. I have pics which I'll share here and send them of exactly the moment I took it from the box. The bottom was butted against a rather tough foamy pad, so it had to have been over-tightened at the factory that way. It was only the screw head that was cracked up, and upon removing it, the protruding section of plastic came apart very easily. So there's the lighttower's light feature gone for me. Oh well, I can still be wowed by the pretty tiny fountain effect of the water flowing into the res! NOT ALL IS LOST!

... and then I realized, as I'd opted for a very non traditional mounting spot, the inlet to the fountain feature of this res... must be on the LOWER side inlet. I had cut a hole in the plastic crown of my case, just large enough to hold the pump and res sandwich (the res does also come with different sized large fittings for the pump inlet nozzle on the res outlet port.) together and securely keep it still and stable. This covers the lower side inlet port, so I capped it off and opted for the upper side inlet. The feed through process revealed that NOTHING was coming up that tube, and for a second, I thought maybe it wasn't circulating. However, I noticed with tiny air bubbles shooting up through the holes on the bottom, and knew that the pump was making a general, whirring sound, and eventually the water level slowly dropped, so I knew it was working. Now I have a clear, cylindrical res with water level meter, and none of the eye candy.

Don't mistake my review as a complaint, because I love this hardware, and it's keeping my 3770k i7 very, VERY cool at a modest 4.3 OC. I just know that when I change water next time, I will work on a better mounting, deal with the hole in my case, set up the LED feature with two window fittings, top and bottom, and cap of the top inlet, and connect the flow to the lower. I'm sure if i'd taken more time to learn before I planned this out, I would have done it differently. My ONE AND ONLY complaint is that there was absolutely NO included mounting screws with my res, and no visual diagram of the res to bring attention to the lighttower inlet feature.

Of course, I should have looked into the side of the res block where the pump connection fitting goes, to get a more studied feeling for what's going on in there. I was just very eager to clean my PC deep again, and put this awesome new team to work on my cooling loop!

ProsCons
sleek, versatile design makes for much possibility.Odd mounting screw sixes for res, no instructions?!? NONE? not even a good schematic.

Ratings
Overall4
 
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