Corsair Hydro Series H100i PRO

[crazyeyesreaper]

Corsair is expanding their latest Hydro Series lineup with the H100i PRO. Geared towards a quiet operation, this latest revision replaces the ever-popular H100i V2. Packing magnetic levitation fans, RGB LEDs, and a boatload of features, this latest generation looks to go head to head with the best the competition can offer.

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[Octopuss]

Would the performance AND noise improve noticeably if the fans were swapped for something else?

 

[crazyeyesreaper]

Not likely the Magnetic Levitation fans are honestly quite good you can read a review on them in the watercooling section. It seems the radiator and cold plate need further optimization that or a mounting system that can exhibit more force.

 

[Octopuss]

With only mild overclock, quiet operation can still be achieved though, can't it? OR if you delid.
Actually I'd be interested how it performed on say 2700X.

 

[crazyeyesreaper]

As noted in the review with a delid the 8700K is not nearly as hot at which point the Hydro Series will not hit those noise levels. That said typically delidding is limited to enthusiast sector majority of buyers will run the CPU as is. (thus why I test that way) However all units are also tested with maximum cooling performance in mind. As such the majority of AIOs tested offer the same or slightly better performance at lower noise levels. In my charts anything below 40 is for the most part silent (ambient noise is likely louder etc) anything below 45 is quiet enough to be heard but should not prove annoying. Beyond 45 dBA and into the 50 dBA range thats loud enough to be a problem. That said I do use an open test bench. You can likely factor in a 1-2 dBA drop when using a fully enclosed case with no sound dampening material (test and verified with a Phanteks Enthoo Luxe) difference in noise was 1 to 2 dBA vs open bench. Running the CPU stock noise levels do not dramatically increase like they do with the CPU pushed to 4.8 Ghz.

There is also the fact Ryzen CPUs use a soldered IHS (APUs use tim like Intel) meaning better heat transfer and thus more efficient heat removal and lower noise levels to go with that.

 

[IceShroom]

Corsair need to improve AMD mounting. Old mountaing was better.

 

[silapakorn]

Noctua is impressively cool, quiet and cheap. I would probably go with air cooling in my next built.

 

[Octopuss]

That's what puzzles me the most. It appears that the AiO coolers are barely better (sometimes not at all) than air ones. How is that possible? I always imagined liquid cooling was lighting years ahead in performance compared to the classic.

 

[Ruru]

Would the performance AND noise improve noticeably if the fans were swapped for something else?

That would be pretty stupid, since ML fans are great. I have two of those on my 240 rad, and they're just great.

 

[ShurikN]

So basically if you don't care for RGB, get the Celsius S24. It's better in every way.

 

[Octopuss]

So basically if you don't care for RGB, get the Celsius S24. It's better in every way.

That's not really what that one's review makes you think.

 

[Ruru]

So basically if you don't care for RGB, get the Celsius S24. It's better in every way.

Expandable AIO with aluminium rad, meh.

 

[ShurikN]

That's not really what that one's review makes you think.

I don't really understand what you are getting at. S24 has better temps, runs a lot quieter, is cheaper. Has 9.5 and a "Highly Recommended" reward here on TPU vs this one with 8.5 and no reward. (reviewed by the same guy)

Expandable AIO with aluminium rad, meh.

Both have aluminium rads, what's your point. Expandable or not, out of the box, without any tinkering, it works better than this Corsair.

 

[Octopuss]

I don't really understand what you are getting at. S24 has better temps, runs a lot quieter, is cheaper. Has 9.5 and a "Highly Recommended" reward here on TPU vs this one with 8.5 and no reward. (reviewed by the same guy)

First of all, the review scores here are a joke. Virtually everything gets 9,5 or above.They mean absolutely nothing.
Second, this review states the S24 has similar performance. That barely means it's better. When you open that review, the peformance is clearly concluded as falling behind the rest. SO, it's barely better "in every way".

 

[ShurikN]

Scores do mean a lot when they come from the same reviewer.
Regardless of the conclusion, and what's said in it, charts are what's relevant. They have no personal opinions, everything is black on white.
And in charts, S24 has lower temps across the board while being much quieter and around $15 cheaper.
It's a superior product, either "barely" or by a lot. I dont care about the rest, I care about comparison with H100.
And btw, S24 written review was done on 6700K, this one on 8700k
But hey, whatever gets you going...

 

[Ruru]

Both have aluminium rads, what's your point. Expandable or not, out of the box, without any tinkering, it works better than this Corsair.

My point is that why should anyone get an expandable AIO which has an aluminium radiator. You know, copper and aluminium in the same loop, have fun expanding it..

 

[ShurikN]

Expandability is there as a gimmick, like all the other manufacturers have done before and after. "We have it", but everyone knows that a handful of people at best are going to do it.

 

[crazyeyesreaper]

Expandability is there as a gimmick, like all the other manufacturers have done before and after. "We have it", but everyone knows that a handful of people at best are going to do it.

The Expandability thing is kinda moot from the point of actually expanding the unit. However if said unit is expandable then it is also serviceable meaning the end user can clean it / refill it and generally perform proper care of the unit if they so choose. This results in a longer life with optimal performance.

 

[John Naylor]

I stopped reading at the word "aluminum". Expandability is the only word in the reviews that draws interest.

1. Still mixes aluminum radiator and a copper block violating the 1st rule of water cooling.

2. Nothing indicating that low pump flow problem has been addressed.

3. Low thermal conductivity of aluminum still requires extreme speed fans.

4. Still provides "premium air cooler" like performance at extreme noise levels and costs 33% - 167% more

On the plus side ...

1. You can change the coolant when the corrosion inhibitors reach the end if their useful life in 18 - 24 months. Won't eliminate corrosion but hopefully can keep it from getting this bad....

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

Expandability is also modularity which has been a boon allowing those afraid of jumping into water cooling the opportunity to jump in w/o fear and then taking it further when comfort level rises. But here, expanadability just means is ya can dump the cheap aluminum rad and get a copper one.

Since dropping on the scene with the Swiftech H series, they continually have had trouble keeping up with demand. All it is ... is a set of Swiftech's custom loop components, pre-assembled at the factory .... all copper rad and block , 1.0+ gpm pump, great fans, PWM spliiter that handles up to 8 fans. Pop off a tube, add a GPU waterblock and ya good to go.... add a extra rad if ya want.

Look at the H100i here (22:55) ... where the Swiftech tops it by a whopping 9C and the H100i needs to be almost 4.6 times as loud to get that close.

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

 

[Octopuss]

So what is the perfect cooler then?
And do you think the engineers are stupid, and would design something that breaks in less than two years, meaning everyone would RMA the thing? (which probably isn't happening too)

Look at the H100i here (22:55)

Where?