Corsair Hydro Series H115i RGB Platinum

[crazyeyesreaper]

Corsair once again looks to take the closed-loop cooler crown with the new Hydro Series H115i Platinum. Sporting RGB ML series fans, a larger 280 mm radiator, and an improved mounting system, it received a slew of updates which translate into a solid performer that not only gets the job done, but looks the part as well.

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[ironwolf]

Agree on the $$$ aspect. Feels like they took a page from Intel *cough i9-9900K* and NVIDIA *cough RTX-20x0*

 

[IceShroom]

Don't like their new AM4 mounting system. Old ones which directly screwed on stock backplate was better.

 

[crazyeyesreaper]

Don't like their new AM4 mounting system. Old ones which directly screwed on stock backplate was better.

Maybe so but the twist on Intel bracket was garbage. And while the AMD bracket isnt perfect it is still relatively solid and at least applies decent pressure. The older twist on bracket for Intel was bad enough that in certain extreme cases the pump could literally be popped off the CPU once fully mounted.

 

[Voluman]

Why was the review unavailable since a week?

 

[crazyeyesreaper]

Miscommunication on Launch date. Was given the NDA for a keyboard not the cooler so it went live before it should have. As they say shit happens

 

[Voluman]

Miscommunication on Launch date. Was given the NDA for a keyboard not the cooler so it went live before it should have. As they say shit happens

Okay, just annoying i started to read (last week), went for shopping, when i returned, it was deleted.

Anyway thanks for the review.

 

[Turmania]

the only difference from the h115i pro rgb is the led fans?

 

[crazyeyesreaper]

the only difference from the h115i pro rgb is the led fans?

The pump block has been slightly redesigned and uses a better mounting system.

PRO series uses a twist on bracket that if the tubing is under strain can result in the block turning and the pump wanting to pop free. 99% of the time that wont happen. My test bench is unique in that regard. However the new design uses an interlocking bracket that is far more secure.

 

[randomUser]

Maglev for much lower noise and bla bla bla.
All that marketing crap and look at it.
Dark rock pro 4 at 1900rpm is 40db, while 115i at 1900rpm is 50db
that is insane
And Dark rock pro 4 temps are really very good, for a 75-80 eur, that is.

 

[John Naylor]

OK so ... $170 Corsair 2 x 140mm w/ aluminum radiator, 78C under OC AIDA64, not expandable and 50 dbA ... or ...

$165 Swiftech 3 x 120mm w/ copper radiator, 78C under OC AIDA 64, expandable and 81% as loud at 47 dbA
$45 Scythe Fuma w/no radiator, 78C * (adjusted) under OC AIDA 64 and 57% as loud at 42 dbA


* ... The Fuma wasn't in the review data but looking at it, we see that the H115i was 3C better than the Cryorig R1 Ultimate

We see here that the Fuma was also 3C better than the R1 Ultimate.

https://tpucdn.com/reviews/Scythe/Fuma/images/temp_oc_aida64.png

3C better than the R1 = the performance of the H115i

Given the choices otherwise available, I can't make any case which would make this cooler a sensible choice... not even for the RGB community.

 

[Octopuss]

I am unable to remember where I read it, but I saw a post somewhere that linked either to a video or an article that warned about some horrible corrosion of some sort in these AiO coolers (generally, not Corsair specifically), basically saying after just a few years the insides of the cooler will almost completely rust and it will be basically useless.
Does anyone remember what I am talking about?

 

[Ruru]

As a custom loop owner I'm not into these, but props to Corsair that they give great fans with these.

I am unable to remember where I read it, but I saw a post somewhere that linked either to a video or an article that warned about some horrible corrosion of some sort in these AiO coolers (generally, not Corsair specifically), basically saying after just a few years the insides of the cooler will almost completely rust and it will be basically useless.
Does anyone remember what I am talking about?

U mean this?

OK so ... $170 Corsair 2 x 140mm w/ aluminum radiator, 78C under OC AIDA64, not expandable and 50 dbA ... or ...

$165 Swiftech 3 x 120mm w/ copper radiator, 78C under OC AIDA 64, expandable and 81% as loud at 47 dbA
$45 Scythe Fuma w/no radiator, 78C * (adjusted) under OC AIDA 64 and 57% as loud at 42 dbA


* ... The Fuma wasn't in the review data but looking at it, we see that the H115i was 3C better than the Cryorig R1 Ultimate

We see here that the Fuma was also 3C better than the R1 Ultimate.

https://tpucdn.com/reviews/Scythe/Fuma/images/temp_oc_aida64.png

3C better than the R1 = the performance of the H115i

Given the choices otherwise available, I can't make any case which would make this cooler a sensible choice... not even for the RGB community.

My custom loop has cost about 260 euros, 2x 240 rads and GPU is also cooled.. And this murders any AIO. I even think that the price/performance is pretty damn fine with my loop.

 

[Octopuss]

Nope, was something else, but the question still stands I guess. I don't feel like dumping lots of money on a cooler that is likely to be junk in five years or less.

 

[Ruru]

Nope, was something else, but the question still stands I guess. I don't feel like dumping lots of money on a cooler that is likely to be junk in five years or less.

Custom loop doesnt do that since it's all-copper.

 

[John Naylor]

I am unable to remember where I read it, but I saw a post somewhere that linked either to a video or an article that warned about some horrible corrosion of some sort in these AiO coolers (generally, not Corsair specifically), basically saying after just a few years the insides of the cooler will almost completely rust and it will be basically useless.
Does anyone remember what I am talking about?

Courtesy of martin ... WARNING: Viewing these photos has been know to cause painful physical symptoms among those who carry nerd / geek genes.

https://martinsliquidlab.wordpress.com/2012/01/24/corrosion-explored/

And yes, every CLC type AIO cooler is affected. All the science is in the article... one of the reasons we see them explode and lose performance over time.

However, an all copper loop is by no means necessary to avoid galvanic action... aluminum AIOs and custom loop parts are available in all aluminum also. The problem isn't what metal, but "mixed metals". And while an all aluminum AIO doesn't sacrifice that much in performance to an all copper one, the copper ones also don't cost that much more so they haven't really been a big hit. EK sells both all aluminum and all copper AIOs.

https://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=9SIAC8W5SB2261

 

[Octopuss]

What does CLC mean?
And I don't potentially want anything with some reservoir - I want exactly what a typical AiO looks like. Am I out of luck?

Seeing as the article is from 2012, I'd like to see what a more modern cooler looks like after say two years of usage.

 

[IceShroom]

What does CLC mean?

CLC = Close looped lequid cooler. Water flows in a closed path(loop). You can't add any thing in that closed path. You cant refill CLC.

 

[crazyeyesreaper]

CLC = Close looped lequid cooler. Water flows in a closed path(loop). You can't add any thing in that closed path. You cant refill CLC.

Actually you can in theory flush and refil them but it requires dismantling the pump block. However it can be done just not recommended since you will need a heavy glycol based coolant to avoid accelerated corrosion.

 

[goodeedidid]

Agree on the $$$ aspect. Feels like they took a page from Intel *cough i9-9900K* and NVIDIA *cough RTX-20x0*

Performance is worth it, unlike custom water cooling.

 

[$ReaPeR$]

The pump block has been slightly redesigned and uses a better mounting system.

PRO series uses a twist on bracket that if the tubing is under strain can result in the block turning and the pump wanting to pop free. 99% of the time that wont happen. My test bench is unique in that regard. However the new design uses an interlocking bracket that is far more secure.

god damn it -_- i literally bought the pro 10 days before this came out!

 

[John Naylor]

What does CLC mean?
And I don't potentially want anything with some reservoir - I want exactly what a typical AiO looks like. Am I out of luck?

Seeing as the article is from 2012, I'd like to see what a more modern cooler looks like after say two years of usage.

As the laws of chemistry haven't changed since then, not really useful. While water cooling has been a thing in PCs since the 90s, it's been established science for like 100 years. Electic power generation plants have been dealing with this issue since the days of Edison and Tesla. When ya dealin with school bus sized engines driving power plants, that genset is worth millions and water is tested monthly and augmented as required.

The EK OLC type AIO doesn't have a reservoir which i consider an unfortunate omission. The Swiftech does and it's a valuable feature proiiding immediate visial indication of loss of coolant, trapped air bubbles or anything else. It's more of a sight gauge thana tru reservoir. You won't get the performance of a custom loop with regard to noise but temps are way better than any comparably sized CLC. Outside if a custom loop, nothing else comes close. The Swiftech moves the pump from the water block to the radiator which also makes for a more attractive and streamligned installation.

https://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Swiftech/Swiftech_H360X3_Drive_X3_AIO/

https://tpucdn.com/reviews/Swiftech/Swiftech_H360X3_Drive_X3_AIO/images/temp_oc_aida64.png

 

[hat]

I'm surprised how it's barely better than the legendary NH-D15. I kind of wanted an h100/h110 for a long time... but now I'm not so sure? Seems like the only meaningful upgrade for me at this point is custom water. And that's hella expensive...

Also, FWIW, this h70 has been going strong for me for... probably over 6 years... and I'm not even the first owner.

 

[Octopuss]

@John Naylor
I am slow today.
So this Swiftech you linked does not suffer from the chemical corrosion?
It looks decent, but I am primarily after silence. I don't try to OC the shit out of stuff anymore (but not running at stock either), so something with 2x140mm fans would seems like a better solution.

Regular cooler will do the job just fine for me, but I absolutely despise cleaning those.

 

[John Naylor]

1. I have a custom loop.... my son has the Swiftech. Mine is dead silent .,... the only thing you hear on his is the EVGA G2 1000 watt PSU. First one failed but replacement is just as noisy even at low power draws. Since I can't silence the PSU, really can't gauge the swifteck

2. Yes, the Swiftech is all copper / brass, no aluminum ... or as the UK folks say Alooo-min-e-um

3. You can hear both here.... https://martinsliquidlab.wordpress.com/2013/03/12/swiftech-h220-vs-corsair-h100i-noise-testing/

At 55% load, I gotta leave the room on the H100i. The Corsair is 4 times louder at 100% and it's sound is much more aggressive. The newer model swiftech is quieter. I don't see you breaking 50-60% fan speed in normal usage. Use H240 X3 for 2 x 120mm... H320 X3 for 3 x 120mm if it can fit.
You can also expand the system for a MoBo Block, Mono Block on CPU / MoBo or GPU block ... even install another rad if you like