Hydro XC7 RGB PRO CPU Block (Part 1)

It has been a while since my last CPU block review, and the primary reason is that I have not had recent hardware to test on, which is hopefully changing soon, but that is why CORSAIR's new XC7 RGB PRO CPU block has not been covered before. I will put together a full review of it separately if and when Alder Lake hardware comes in, but in the meantime, this is a first look at the product. It is based on the popular Hydro XC7 RGB CPU block I covered here a couple of years ago, with the PRO moniker in the name implying a higher-performance cooling engine with a larger cold plate optimized for AMD's AM4 platform just as much as Intel's Alder Lake CPUs. The packaging is self-explanatory and has the product name, renders, and features listed on all sides. I wish it would have the same black base as before though, and opening the box helps pull out a 2-piece plastic clamshell for a better look at the items inside. These include not only the CPU block in its own compartment, but various accessories in the form of an AMD socket mounting bracket, Intel socket backplate, and spacer that also prevents electrical shorting. There is also an adapter cable for the integrated LED cable on the block to be powered and controlled from any standard 3-pin, 5 V addressable RGB LED header.


Ah, the XC7 RGB PRO continues to have the plastic trim of the regular XC7 ibut given a brushed finish on this black color option here, and it otherwise looks to be a hybrid design of the XC7 and XC9 blocks with the updated Sails logo in an inset at the bottom. The two BSP G1/4" threaded ports on the top are not marked as inlet or outlet, but the preferred inlet port is on the right side, whereby we have a jetplate mechanism rather than the fins directly on the cold plate. Notice the pre-installation mechanism for Intel sockets with four thumb screws on the Intel mounting bracket with the associated C-clips and springs, which will make installation a piece of cake for many.


Aiding further is the pre-installed thermal paste on the back, now in the same triangular implementation CORSAIR's design team has decided to go with across the board. It is protected by a plastic cover, and the back view is where we see that replacing the Intel bracket is as simple as rotating it counter-clockwise until the notches don't line up and the block can simply be pulled out. Reverse the steps with the AMD bracket, and you are now ready to go for Socket AM4!


After the first round of testing was done, I did a quick disassembly to see how the internals looked. Notice that I had wiped off the pre-installed TIM to use my own for the multiple testing runs I do using my own preferred thermal paste, which shows that the cold plate does not have a mirror polish while still being smooth enough for it not to affect thermals. There are 16 addressable RGB LEDs in a circular PCB in the mounting bracket, which should make for an impressive light show. Removing the other Torx T6 screws on the cold plate provides a better look at the acrylic inlay in the top, which has the removable jet plate the coolant moves through direct the flow through a split central-inlet flow pathway as per usual these days. The cold plate has nearly twice the number of thin skived microfins than the XC7 RGB, at 110 vs. 60, which increases the heat-transfer area and will no doubt affect both thermal performance and coolant flow restriction, too.