Intel GUNNIR Arc A380 GPU Gets a Bizarre Liquid Cooling Water Block

Revealed last month, to date the only Intel Arc graphics card currently technically available to purchase is the A380. Let’s be clear though, there are still more than a few conditions surrounding that. Firstly, it’s only currently available to buy in China. And secondly, the only model seemingly available to consumers is from third-party manufacturer GUNNIR.

With it representing Intel’s entry-level model, however, you would’ve been forgiven for thinking that in terms of custom loop designs, the chances of this getting a water block kit were pretty slim. Following a report via Videocardz, however, it seems that at least one company believed that such a product was, if not necessary, then at least mildly in demand!

Intel GUNNIR A380 Gets Custom Loop Water Block

The revealing of this custom loop water block kit has surprised a lot of people for various reasons. Chief among them though primarily boils down to why they’ve even bothered in the first place. Yes, custom loop does have its enthusiasts and some of them might be interested in building a system based upon the Intel Arc A380. In terms of practicality though, it just doesn’t seem to make much sense.

The ‘reference’ Intel A380 is expected to come with a TGP of around 75W with custom models such as this from GUNNIR likely only taking that figure up to around 92W. Compared to mainstream graphics cards which can happily gobble up at least 3-4 times as much as this, it always seemed incredibly doubtful that the Intel A380 would see any kind of huge benefit from a custom loop water block kit.

What Do We Think?

Overall, I think this water block kit for the Intel GUNNIR A380 simply has to go into the category of being an exceptionally, if not incredibly, niche product. For the added cost this will undoubtedly place, practicality has to go right out of the window for a GPU that is not even mildly rumoured to run hot. – Yes, some people will find this an interesting proposition. Particularly given that the Arc A380 fills that increasingly limited market of being a modern single-slot GPU (making it ideal for small form factor designs).

In terms of custom loop water blocks though, while I could maybe understand a release for the higher-tier A750 or A770, this one for the A380 just seems bizarre at best!

What do you think though? – Let us know in the comments!