Corsair iCUE LINK H150i RGB

[crazyeyesreaper]

Corsair aims to retain dominance in the AIO liquid cooling arena with the iCUE LINK H150i RGB. Boasting a six year warranty, new fans, and exceptional performance, it's a great all-around closed-loop cooler if you can handle the cost of entry.

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[mechtech]

"Proprietary connectors on fans"

That's a turn off.

Has TPU ever done a custom loop to compare all the AIO devices against?

 

[sethmatrix7]

I think you'd have to pay me $240 just to deal with iCUE garbage. Looks like a great cooler but the pricing is bonkers

 

[Makaveli]

"Proprietary connectors on fans"

That's a turn off.

Has TPU ever done a custom loop to compare all the AIO devices against?

I would love to see it but probably no point.

Custom loops would destroy any AIO but at 2x or 3x the cost. Plus the regular maintenance that isn't required on a AIO.

I think you'd have to pay me $240 just to deal with iCUE garbage. Looks like a great cooler but the pricing is bonkers

I have an older Gen version of a Corsair AIO and ICUE ain't really a problem just set it and forget it. I only ever go back in there to check for firmware updates.

 

[Chrispy_]

Mandatory bad software and proprietary junk in an overpriced ecosystem that has no promises on how long it will be supported automatically elevate this to my blacklist, even before considering the price or performance.

There's simply no excuse for that kind of nonsense at any price and Corsair should know better.

 

[Makaveli]

I'm not sure the support part is an issue.

This comes with a long warranty and corsair is a large company.

And to be honest what support is needed you install the Cooler and your done.

My current Corsair AIO is 5 years old zero issues no need for support.

 

[Dave65]

Use to love Corsair but their fans and them connectors just seems gimmicky to me, not to mention that price. I admit their cases seem to be a bit better but I think there are better and cheaper out there..
Thanks for the review non the less, its well done.

 

[sethmatrix7]

I have an older Gen version of a Corsair AIO and ICUE ain't really a problem just set it and forget it. I only ever go back in there to check for firmware updates.

I had a corsair mouse but the software was a driving force in getting me to switch a different mouse. Frequently failed to apply settings, and never starts fast enough on startup. No thanks- not to mention the $100+ price difference between this AiO and similar ones.

 

[Chrispy_]

Use to love Corsair but their fans and them connectors just seems gimmicky to me, not to mention that price. I admit their cases seem to be a bit better but I think there are better and cheaper out there..
Thanks for the review non the less, its well done.

Corsair peaked long ago. Most of their stuff isn't worth the steep asking price any more and we're at the point where you should probably just ignore them for anything other than a case or PSU.

Reviews like this prove that it's mostly decent quality, but you're paying an insane premium for unoriginal, mediocre designs. Shit, this isn't even a high-end part, it's the same old cheap Asetek block and nasty aluminium radiator that OEMs are fitting in prebuilts these days. Yes it's performs well because it has a nice big 360mm radiator, but so do many competing things half the price without using proprietary connector nonsense or requiring bad software to control them.

Asetek is cheap which is why OEMs love it. There's no reason to pay insane custom-loop pricing just because your money is 90% going on RGBELD, lighting control, and things that have very little to do with the actual cooling.

I would love to see it but probably no point.

Custom loops would destroy any AIO but at 2x or 3x the cost. Plus the regular maintenance that isn't required on a AIO.


I have an older Gen version of a Corsair AIO and ICUE ain't really a problem just set it and forget it. I only ever go back in there to check for firmware updates.

You can build custom loops for this kind of money. They won't be top tier but they'll still run circles around the bog-standard Asetek/Alu-rad design that so many AIOs use.
Barrow are particularly good on a budget, you could build a Barrow loop with a DDC pump for less than the price of this if you forgo some of the RGBLED. Alphacool are my go-to recommendation for good quality, affordable custom loop cooling that won't break the bank.

As for maintenance, you can get similar near-zero maintenance from a custom loop if you forfeit performance. The high glycol content stuff in AIOs favours lifespan over cooling performance, and there's nothing to stop you from using that with lots of inhibitors and biocide in your own loop if you choose. Edit, I just looked it up. Both Alphacool and Barrow offer complete loop kits with REAL pumps (DDC or D5 and full COPPER radiators for less than the price of this generic Asetek and alu radiator Corsair AIO). If you care about performance rather than flashy lights, it's a totally different league of performance that rarely gets reviewed alongside AIOs and air coolers for obvious reasons.

 

[Makaveli]

Corsair peaked long ago. Most of their stuff isn't worth the steep asking price any more and we're at the point where you should probably just ignore them for anything other than a case or PSU.

Reviews like this prove that it's mostly decent quality, but you're paying an insane premium for unoriginal, mediocre designs. Shit, this isn't even a high-end part, it's the same old cheap Asetek block and nasty aluminium radiator that OEMs are fitting in prebuilts these days. Yes it's performs well because it has a nice big 360mm radiator, but so do many competing things half the price without using proprietary connector nonsense or requiring bad software to control them.

Asetek is cheap which is why OEMs love it. There's no reason to pay insane custom-loop pricing just because your money is 90% going on RGBELD, lighting control, and things that have very little to do with the actual cooling.


You can build custom loops for this kind of money. They won't be top tier but they'll still run circles around the bog-standard Asetek/Alu-rad design that so many AIOs use.
Barrow are particularly good on a budget, you could build a Barrow loop with a DDC pump for less than the price of this if you forgo some of the RGBLED. Alphacool are my go-to recommendation for good quality, affordable custom loop cooling that won't break the bank.

As for maintenance, you can get similar near-zero maintenance from a custom loop if you forfeit performance. The high glycol content stuff in AIOs favours lifespan over cooling performance, and there's nothing to stop you from using that with lots of inhibitors and biocide in your own loop if you choose. Edit, I just looked it up. Both Alphacool and Barrow offer complete loop kits with REAL pumps (DDC or D5 and full COPPER radiators for less than the price of this generic Asetek and alu radiator Corsair AIO). If you care about performance rather than flashy lights, it's a totally different league of performance that rarely gets reviewed alongside AIOs and air coolers for obvious reasons.

You are right about all of all of this but the price.

I can buy this today for $279 CAD on amazon. I cannot build a custom loop for that price.

And for me personally other than Intel highend cpu's the need for custom loops have been declining and even more so with an AMD build.

a 7800X3D sips power

 

[Chrispy_]

Sure you can. I'm in Europe so I'm using the crude $=€=£ that basically works because of different taxation (and display of tax in prices)

$50 for a vastly-superior, modern high-flow CPU block.
$75 for a full copper 360mm radiator that's better and thicker than the Asetek aluminium one.
$75 for a compact DDC pump/res combo. D5 is a better pump IMO but DDC has decent pump/res combos at this price
$25 covers 6 no-frills fittings, 2m of hose, and additives with change to spare.

That leaves you $14+ from the H150i's $239 budget for fans and Arctic P12s do the job admirably to complete the build for such a low price but I'd rather pony up a few extra bucks and buy a triple-pack of Phanteks T30 ($69) to totally outclass and outperform anything Asetek-based.

For the same money you have something like this - a complete D5 kit with quality parts similar to my own loop - which I built because I was wholly dissatisfied with the two shitty AIOs I bought previously (including an Asetek-based Corsair 240):

Alphacool Core Storm 360mm ST30 water cooling Set [11986] from WatercoolingUK

360 / 420mm Complete Sets >> Alphacool Core Storm 360mm ST30 water cooling Set. Price: £281.75. In Stock

www.watercoolinguk.co.uk

Coverting to USD and removing the 20% tax that's included there gives you $289 for that D5 Alphacol kit with a copper 360mm radiator. That's a complete kit with everything, and thanks to the stupidity of Brexit, we're getting ripped off over here - it's considerably cheaper on the continent to buy the exact same thing.

 

[Makaveli]

Sure you can. I'm in Europe so I'm using the crude $=€=£ that basically works because of different taxation (and display of tax in prices)

$50 for a vastly-superior, modern high-flow CPU block.
$75 for a full copper 360mm radiator that's better and thicker than the Asetek aluminium one.
$75 for a compact DDC pump/res combo. D5 is a better pump IMO but DDC has decent pump/res combos at this price
$25 covers 6 no-frills fittings, 2m of hose, and additives with change to spare.

That leaves you $14+ from the H150i's $239 budget for fans and Arctic P12s do the job admirably to complete the build for such a low price but I'd rather pony up a few extra bucks and buy a triple-pack of Phanteks T30 ($69) to totally outclass and outperform anything Asetek-based.

For the same money you have something like this - a complete D5 kit with quality parts similar to my own loop - which I built because I was wholly dissatisfied with the two shitty AIOs I bought previously (including an Asetek-based Corsair 240):

Alphacool Core Storm 360mm ST30 water cooling Set [11986] from WatercoolingUK

360 / 420mm Complete Sets >> Alphacool Core Storm 360mm ST30 water cooling Set. Price: £281.75. In Stock

www.watercoolinguk.co.uk

Coverting to USD and removing the 20% tax that's included there gives you $289 for that D5 Alphacol kit with a copper 360mm radiator. That's a complete kit with everything, and thanks to the stupidity of Brexit, we're getting ripped off over here - it's considerably cheaper on the continent to buy the exact same thing.

When I check on Amazon.com so US site that cost $339 + $90 for delivery to Canada.
When I check Amazon.ca so CAD site that cost $915

So the US site would be cheaper but $339 USD to CAD is $452 + delivery.

 

[Chrispy_]

And for me personally other than Intel highend cpu's the need for custom loops have been declining and even more so with an AMD build.

You're right about that part. I finally went back to custom water loops after a 15-year hiatus because of the RTX 20-series dumping too much heat into my case.

Now the dual-rad Alphacool loop is complete overkill for my 5800X3D and I'm using an air-cooled GPU that isn't so stupidly hot but it's a very low-maintenance loop so I haven't replaced the CPU which gets 280+140 radiators all to itself for some glorious, completely inaudible overkill of the best and most wasteful kind...

When I check on Amazon.com so US site that cost $339 + $90 for delivery to Canada.
When I check Amazon.ca so CAD site that cost $915

So the US site would be cheaper but $339 USD to CAD is $452 + delivery.

Surely there's better places to buy US-based watercooling stuff than Amazon, though?

Xylem, XSPC are US brands and I'd imagine Taiwanese stuff like Bitspower cost the same in the US as it does in Europe? I use Alphacool because they're European so there's a price advantage buying EU goods from the EU. Presumably US goods are cheapest in the US...

 

[Makaveli]

You're right about that part. I finally went back to custom water loops after a 15-year hiatus because of the RTX 20-series dumping too much heat into my case.

Now the dual-rad Alphacool loop is complete overkill for my 5800X3D and I'm using an air-cooled GPU that isn't so stupidly hot but it's a very low-maintenance loop so I haven't replaced the CPU which gets 280+140 radiators all to itself for some glorious, completely inaudible overkill of the best and most wasteful kind...


Surely there's better places to buy US-based watercooling stuff than Amazon, though?

Xylem, XSPC are US brands and I'd imagine Taiwanese stuff like Bitspower cost the same in the US as it does in Europe? I use Alphacool because they're European so there's a price advantage buying EU goods from the EU. Presumably US goods are cheapest in the US...

So problem is i'm in Canada and that means getting it shipped so cost will be higher regardless and you still need to convert from USD to CAD.

So yes I could do that but this corsair model will be cheaper, less work and I can pick it up locally. Plus i'm on a 5800X3D so really no point in the custom loop for this cpu.

 

[mechtech]

I would love to see it but probably no point.

Custom loops would destroy any AIO but at 2x or 3x the cost. Plus the regular maintenance that isn't required on a AIO.


I have an older Gen version of a Corsair AIO and ICUE ain't really a problem just set it and forget it. I only ever go back in there to check for firmware updates.

Is a basic custom loop for the (CPU only) 2-3x the cost of this corsair aio??

Serious question, I've never done liquid cooling anything for PC.

 

[Chrispy_]

So problem is i'm in Canada and that means getting it shipped so cost will be higher regardless and you still need to convert from USD to CAD.

So yes I could do that but this corsair model will be cheaper, less work and I can pick it up locally. Plus i'm on a 5800X3D so really no point in the custom loop for this cpu.

I haven't put my X3D on air yet but if I wanted to and I was some kind of maple-syrup-guzzling, ice-hockey player - I'd go and grab the Defecto TR Peerless Assassin 120 for under 40 beaverbucks. That's even cheaper than it is over here, and it's a steal over here.

 

[Chaitanya]

Given the amount of LED and LCD Puke on these AIOs these days, would like to see Power consumption(at peak brightness and 50% brightness at 100% speeds for pump and fans) being added to shame these manufacturers.

 

[Chrispy_]

Is a basic custom loop for the (CPU only) 2-3x the cost of this corsair aio??

Serious question, I've never done liquid cooling anything for PC.

Corsair or EK will sell you a $150 block, a $100 radiator, a $200 pump/res combo, and a $100 RGBLED triple fan kit.
So yes, it could do.

But that's just the peak cost of flagship nonsense from the most overpriced brands in the market, the same way you can spend $1300 on just a motherboard.
Realistically, you only need the following:

• A pump/res combo ($50-100)
• A CPU block ($50-100)
• A nice big radiator ($50-100)
• <$25 of cheap extras (fittings, tubing, coolant or water additives)
• 3 fans of your choice ($15-75)

Those aren't even the lowest prices I've seen, they're just typical ranges around the sweet spot. I've seen half-decent CPU blocks for under $40 but I'm not in the US so nowhere near as familiar with the market over there. If you're really on a budget you can forgo the reservoir and replace it with a T-piece ($2), a filler cap ($1) and some spare tubing - but there's no need, the cost of this H150i easily provides enough budget for a nice, no-compromise custom loop as long as you stay away from the rip-off stuff.

 

[Guwapo77]

Use to love Corsair but their fans and them connectors just seems gimmicky to me, not to mention that price. I admit their cases seem to be a bit better but I think there are better and cheaper out there..
Thanks for the review non the less, its well done.

I have their fans and case and I promise you this, there is nothing at all gimmicky about their fans. These bad boys are top tier. I got 14 Corsair fans and 3 NZXT fans all work in perfect harmony. I will say this tho...trying to get all 14 Corsair fans to work was a task because you must have the right equipment hubs and extensions.

 

[Makaveli]

Is a basic custom loop for the (CPU only) 2-3x the cost of this corsair aio??

Serious question, I've never done liquid cooling anything for PC.

No a full loop would be but based on everything else I posted will still cost alot more.

 

[evernessince]

Overpriced for what it offers and lacks attention to detail. Crappy software and proprietary connectors to boot. Decent warranty period although they are merely matching competitors like EK and Lian Li, both of which offer similar products at a lower price.

 

[natr0n]

I thought it wasn't advisable to place radiator upside down.

 

[katzi]

Loud, Stupidly overpriced, AWFUL software and proprietary cables is just madness...

It's a shame no one ever measures pump noise, because I've found Corsair's to always be So freakin loud. A worse whine that a Kardashian.

 

[evernessince]

I thought it wasn't advisable to place radiator upside down.

Correct, typically you want the barbs at the bottom when mounted vertically. That said at they do at least had the rad above the pump so at least it shouldn't have too much of an impact.

 

[AnarchoPrimitiv]

I would love to see it but probably no point.

Custom loops would destroy any AIO but at 2x or 3x the cost. Plus the regular maintenance that isn't required on a AIO.


I have an older Gen version of a Corsair AIO and ICUE ain't really a problem just set it and forget it. I only ever go back in there to check for firmware updates.

I can literally go on aliexpress right now and make a custom loop with bykski or Barrow parts for the same price as this Corsair AIO (ordering off aliexpress is easy and youll have everythign in two weeks)....we should now start talking about a "Corsair Tax" because it's obvious that their products are including the price of a bloated admistration and executive salaries.

100% serious, these AIOs are getting expensive to the point where their key market is "people with the money to build a custom loop, but just too lazy", and that includes brands like NZXT and their ridiculously priced products too