Alphacool HF D5 Pump Top clear plexiglas Review
by Dark Mantis
The D5, VPP655, TPP644, MCP655 comes in various guises dependant on the make but requires no introduction I am sure as it must be the
most able and widely used pump when it comes to serious watercooling afficionados. It has been around for quite a long time now in
fact many years and has earned it's place at the top. This standard pump also looks a bit long in the tooth now and shows it's age.As
stock the pump comes as a body and impellor unit which clamp inside a circular housing which incorporates two fixed (moulded in) 1/2"
ports. Obviously this is fine if you want to use a 1/2" ID pipe for your loop otherwise you get into the realm of using reducers etc
which makes for a much more "botched" look.
Alphacool has manufactured a more modern looking and higher performing pump head that could be purchased and the original one
replaced with it. This was a very fine design and had many positive points such as the fact that you could use any standard pipe
connectors on it and that they could be placed in different parts of the housing to enable the tubing to come and go from almost any
direction. This was made out of a block of black Delrin. Very efficient but a bit boring looking. Now Alphacool has countered that by
producing the same design but in clear Plexiglas so it adds a bit of bling! It also has the benefit of being able to physically see
the inner parts of the pump as it is working and if there is any problem it should be more apparent.
Physically the dimensions of the new head are exactly the same as the previous black alternative. The performance is exactly the same
as would be expected it is of course increased compared to the original pump head. It literally take a few minutes to fit once
removed from the machine. The old head is removed by unscrewing the retaining ring on the outside and keeping only the pump body, O-
ring and impellor to use with the new head. The replacement comes as two halves and eight screws (plus a mounting plate).The power
cable is put through the centre of the smaller half first and then the body of the pump follows it until it is just still showing.
The O-ring is then put on the end of the body and the other half of the new unit it offered up to mate with the part just assembled.
The eight allen screws are then inserted into the pre dilled holes and tightened carefully in an opposing sequence. Next the
location plate can be screwed to the bottom of the pump if needed. Now only the tube fittings need to be installed to suit. The other
two ports can be blanked off with the supplied blanks.
The pump is now ready for use. If required there is a pre drilled hole for a LED light to show off the crystal clear pump top. Power
is supplied via the standard four pin molex connector as previously used.
This is a very well designed and made pump head unit if you want to replace the original. There is not so much incentive if you
already have the black delrin head fitted as you only gain the visual appeal. All in all though it is a good upgrade and the price of
27€ is not exhorbitant. I award it 9/10
Supplier: Alphacool
http://www.alphacool.com Price: 27€
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