Installation

Installing the Corsair Hydro Series H80i GT is ridiculously easy if you use an Intel system. First, properly position the backplate by adjusting the sliding mounting points. Now, screw the proper screw pillars in to hold the backplate in place. With that done, you can apply your own thermal paste or just mount the AIO using its default, pre-applied paste.


Now, position the pump onto the socket and use the thumbscrews to secure it tightly. Make sure to alternate between thumbscrews for even paste distribution.


With the pump block firmly attached, it's now time to secure the fans to the radiator and case, after which you can connect the fans to the fan headers on the pump.


With the cooler mounted and the fans installed, you will only have to connect the Corsair Link cable to the pump before plugging it into a USB header on the motherboard.


The last thing you will need to do is to download and install the Corsair Link software, which will give you access to various temperature readings and control of the fans and the LEDs on the pump. The LEDs gives users the freedom to make the H80i GT better fit their system's color theme, all while offering near-complete control over the AIO's performance. It also doesn't hurt that the Link software produced accurate temperature data in my tests, which makes it a useful albeit somewhat unnecessary tool.

Installing the Corsair H80i GT was a breeze, especially compared to previous designs. Overall, I would rate the difficulty of installation a 9 on a scale of 1 (hardest) to 10 (easiest). Corsair has definitely taken a step in the right direction with the Hydro Series H80i GT when it comes to simplifying the installation process. The only thing that might give some users a headache is the sturdy tubing, which can be annoying due to its stiff nature.