Thoughts
Koolance has definitely upped the ante in the easy-to-use watercooling stakes. I'd hazard that a novice user could easily install and operate an Exos-Al within an hour of getting it out of the well-padded box. The instructions are clear and concise, build quality is good, push fittings are great, and the blue LED display adds a touch of class to the lightweight package. Locating the radiator, fans, pump and reservoir externally is also a good idea as it mimimises the possibility of leaks down to block fittings.£150 buys you an aluminium-clad self-contained cooling system. Koolance, however, has decided not to include at least a CPU block in the asking price. That block is a £40 optional extra, and one would need to purchase an additional adapter for Athlon 64 usage. I'd rather Koolance bundle it in and bump up the asking price a touch. £200, then, would provide multi-platform support that's a cinch to use. Graphics card and chipset blocks further boost the attractiveness of the Koolance package.
The brushed aluminium chassis looks stylish enough but it is only available, currently, in the standard silver finish. Having it sit on top of a black or beige case, for example, brings about the inevitable clash of colours. You'd have to revert to the older Exos for a black finish.
Minor quibbles aside, Koolance has shown that it manufacturers some of the finest external watercooling kits currently available. Excellence in ease of use and cooling performance is enough for the Exos-Al kit to receive a coveted HEXUS recommendation.
Highs
Incredibly easy to set up
Decent performance in quiet mode
Multi-platform support
Decent instructions
Lightweight design
Decent build quality
Lows
Only avaiable in a standard aluminium finish. albeit a black steel version is available
No block is included in the package
