I generally like to get the most out of the things I use, especially the products I use the most during my usual day. A good majority of the computers I have used throughout the years have used a single method of cooling; fans. I’ve noticed that most computers run relatively warmly, which is to be expected, especially with AMD brand processors. All computers have this problem, especially if they get too hot, they begin having issues due to them overheating. However, a full liquid cooled computer would be too expensive, so it would require something affordable and gives you that bang for your buck so to speak.
I’ve used stock cooling equipment before in computers for quite a while, and I needed something to help bring my performance up and make my processor more efficient. I had come across another method of cooling, AIO Liquid coolers. A cheaper method of cooling for sure, and without all the hassle of pouring liquid and checking for leaks every fifteen minutes. It sure would be an effective and cheap method to help squeeze a little more performance out of your CPU.
PRICE
Now most coolers of this type are generally around the $80-$140 range and are quite affordable compared to the price of a more typical water-cooled setup you’d see in more enthusiast grade builds. Even if you’re new to computer building or if you’re more experienced, something in a high price range would cause you to shy away from that product. I believe price is the most important when it comes to buying computer parts. Something on the cheap end might break or ware out in a short time, while something more expensive will end up not achieving a good price to performance ratio. So something in between those ranges could potentially be your best bet.
INSTALLATION
Installing shouldn’t be too much of an issue, especially if you haven’t installed an AIO Water Cooler before. This particular unit features a dual 240mm radiator and is a little tedious to install. Two hands might seem enough, however computer cases vary and some have more room than others, so installation varies. In my particular case, installation was frustrating and took longer than I would have liked. The radiator is relatively thin compared to most other Coolers. However it’s to be noted if the fans are installed inside the case, motherboard heatsinks will get in the way of the bottom screws. A angled screw driver is really recommended for that part.
AESTHETICS
With sleeved tubing and a redesigned radiator pump and radiator, this updated version of the previous h100i helps give this product are much more redefined look. I believe this redesign gives the whole product a more of a sharper look to it, some more personality so to speak. With swappable faceplates and an RGB LED light in the pump that illuminated the Corsair Sails logo and their name, really helps personalize your computer and help fit into its color scheme. It’s probably a best bet to mention that the fittings for the tubing have been relocated to the inside of the cooling block and not on the side as with the previous cooler. This helps to prevent joint breaking and keep the whole thing streamlined and professional.
PERFORMANCE
Compared to the temperatures of a stock cooler, this one blows it out of the park. With a decrease in temperature from around 60 degrees Celsius to around 20 degrees. It’s a fantastic improvement, one of which I am happy for. Switching to a water cooled component really did improve the computers performance, which had been slow performing during long run times. Although, depending on fan orientation the performance can vary slightly, or even drastically.
PROS
There are certainly many benefits to using a component of this type. With a larger area of heat dissipation, more heat can be pulled away from the processor. This particular unit comes with a large radiator which helps remove heat out from the case and doesn’t push warm air around on the inside, which further helps decrease ambient temperature. It’s a great fit, especially when it comes to keeping the things you keep precious cool. I’ve found that keeping the radiator at the top of the case and having case fans pull air from the bottom and push the air to the back of the case and then up towards the radiator really helps add for that cooling factor.
CONS
Unfortunately, as with almost every product, there will most likely be drawbacks to take note of. As mentioned previously, installation can be a bit tricky and frustrating at times. I also have noticed with the time that this cooler has been in use for my current computer, both stock fan bearing did ware out and cause noise when first powered on but they do quiet down after a little while. On another note, tubing is very stiff out of the box and is very hard to maneuver during installation and can make certain radiator positions to be a bit difficult to pull off and may cause breaking on the tubing joints and potentially causing the cooler to leak.
My choice of this particular cooler wasn’t a hard one. I’ve purchased products from Corsair before and I’ve liked their styling and build quality with many of their products. I felt this was the best choice do to its more noticeable redesign of the cooler pump, radiator, and sleeved tubing. These factors really improved the overall look of the system. Now there are other coolers that work exactly the same as this one, however if you’re looking for a more pleasing look, this is probably one to look into as it’s a one of a kind product and not many out there pull off that specific look, especially with the sleeved tubing.
| Product Dimensions | 10.87"L x 1.18"W x 4.92"H |
|---|---|
| Brand | Corsair |
| Voltage | 12 Volts |
| Wattage | 260 watts |
| Cooling Method | Water |
| Compatible Devices | Intel LGA 1150, 1151, 1155, 1156, 1366, 2011, 2011-3, 2066 |
| Noise Level | 38 dB |
| Material | Copper |
| Maximum Rotational Speed | 2435 RPM |
| Air Flow Capacity | 70.69 Cubic Feet Per Minute |
| RAM | 1 GB |
| Wireless Type | 54g |
