Closer Examination

The CORSAIR Hydro XC7 RGB PRO definitely reminds me of the older XC7 RGB block, except with a brushed finish applied to the aesthetic trim on top, at least on this black color version. The actual top is a polished nylon unit that allows CORSAIR to have RGB LEDs shining the block uniformly without going overboard. Nylon is also handy in executing the threaded ports well while also being compatible with coolants. There are two BSP G1/4" threaded ports on the block that are spaced far enough apart from each other and the edge to allow all typically used fittings these days to be installed easily—gone are the days of large 3/4" x 1/2" soft tube compression fittings and even large quick connect fittings! The overall design itself is adapted from CORSAIR's CLC CPU coolers with the 8-sided frame, that has the CORSAIR "Sails" logo on the bottom which is no doubt going to be lit up too, courtesy the LED cable terminating in a 3-pin connector that ties directly with CORSAIR's controllers or to your motherboard via the adapter cable we saw on the previous page.


A look from the side shows the pre-installed Intel mounting bracket analogous to the AMD one in the box. It comes with locking thumb nuts that have a knurled exterior to allow easy use with your fingers, these are kept in place with springs and washers allowing some lateral movement in the oval cutouts to fit LGA 1200 or LGA 1700 as per the backplate. The mounting bracket design takes cues from Asetek in that it includes the various notches and twists to help install/remove the bracket in a very similar manner, which keeps things easy for the average user, but does result in some play.


On the plus side, the Asetek-style design means you just have to rotate and twist the bracket slightly to get it out and then reverse the steps with, say, the AMD mounting bracket to put it in place. This allows the Hydro XC7 RGB PRO to work also with Socket AM4 and AM5 too and gives it an edge over most socket-specific CPU blocks on the market today. Removing the mounting bracket also provides a closer look at the cold plate with the pre-applied thermal paste in a hexagonal fashion with gaps in between that would fill out as you install and apply pressure on the cold plate. This does mean you have a one-time application only and would need to buy thermal paste separately if you mess it up, do maintenance on the watercooling loop, or simply switch hardware later on. It also shows how two sets of screws are used in the assembly of the water block, with the outer ones at the corners keeping the trim in place over the nylon top. Take it off and now you can see the 16 addressable RGB LEDs arranged in a circular manner and shining downward into the top itself.


Removing the outer trim shows a fully functional nylon top, which should fare better than the usual plexi/acrylic in case you end up over-tightening fittings or screws, the top is polished to allow for a better look at the cooling engine underneath. Further disassembly was done after all testing was completed, and I will say that enterprising modders can perhaps make their own custom trim covers for the CPU block at this point too. The CNC machined nickel-plated copper cold plate is thicker than average, and a step up from the skivved fin insert on the previous CORSAIR blocks. The jetplate is made out of plastic and ~0.5 mm thick, but the plastic construction will work against the thickness and help balance out the eventual cold plate bow when installed. We get the usual machined set of ultra-thin microfins and microchannels, which number over 110 here as opposed to over 70 with the Hydro XC9 RGB and 60 on the Hydro XC7 RGB. The fins are ~2.65 mm tall, which is once more higher than average. So all other things being equal, liquid flow restriction might well be higher than average, but the increased surface area will help with the thermal transfer from the cold plate to the coolant. This is just one part of the cooling engine, and the larger space around the fins coupled with the split-central inlet flow via the jetplate, and the flow guide on the top will also contribute to the liquid flow restriction and ease of air bleeding. The circular coolant flow path should allow for air to escape more readily than with the rounded rectangular path often used by other OEMs, for example.