Core Cooling Performance – 3.5/5
XSPC performs at the bottom of the group. While the temperatures are very acceptable, it does not make for a compelling story either!
VRM Cooling Performance – 4.5/5
XSPC’s improvements to VRM cooling have not gone unnoticed. Very good!
Restriction – 3.5/5
XSPC’s block is not horribly restrictive, but it is lagging behind the majority and could use improvement, particularly given that it doesn’t yield any cooling benefits.
Supplied TIM – 5/5
The best TIM we tested.
Mounting Hardware – 4.5/5
One type of screw was great and the mount inspired confidence.
Backplate – 4.5/5
The backplate does not match the finish of the front plate, however it’s attractive and only let down by the numerous screws and the many red washers that must be aligned underneath the backplate. The XXL look works and the style is distinctive and consistent with XSPC’s product range.
Aesthetics – 4/5
XSPC’s weakness here is the bulky bridge with it’s unnecessary amount of stop fittings. Otherwise though the block is attractive.
Quality – 4.5/5
Machining was good and the block arrived in great condition.
Summary
This is a good block at a good price. XSPC have made noticable progress on their VRM cooling with this generation. However the competition has advanced the banner leaving XSPC looking a bit behind now on core cooling and restriction.
Where to buy: PPCS – $125 + $32 for the backplate
Wait, aren’t you supposed to put washers *under* the back plate?
Well that’s the interesting thing – the backplate doesn’t come with instructions so it wasn’t clear. I’m used to a methodology that a washer gets inserted between the part that can turn and the part that is fixed e.g. between the screw and the backplate, or the nut and the pcb etc. So that’s what I default to if the instructions don’t tell me otherwise. In addition putting the washer between the PCB and the backplate means that you have to hold the block and pcb together, align the 10+ washers, then drop the backplate on top without shifting any of the washers. Either it looks ugly with washers out, or it’s hard to mount with washers internal. Looking at the XSPC’s website – it shows the washers in between the backplate and the PCB. I don’t think this affects performance testing at all, but it does negate my aesthetics comments. However I do think the hassle of putting them under the backplate is a negative so the overall rating would be the same even if the points shift from one category to the next!
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