The last Xylem DDC-based reservoir I had my hands on was the Phanteks Glacier R160, and that was nearly two years ago—it sells without an integrated pump, but does have DDC heatsinks. Installation and RGB lighting comes close to the CORSAIR Hydro X Series XD3, albeit it is a flat form factor, which does mean it is not necessarily a direct comparison. Control over the RGB lighting is also contingent on you needing a compatible motherboard or Phanteks case (or any other such controller) as opposed to CORSAIR, which at this time would require you to already be in their ecosystem, however in-depth it may be. Adding the cost of a pump to the Glacier R160 brings it to about the same as this standalone unit, and the other such flat pump/reservoir combo options from competitors, including EKWB, are generally higher and closer to $200. How prices have increased for these products in the last few years has been a bit shocking to me, but the point that the CORSAIR Hydro XD3 is actually a reasonable value even at a price point above $150 remains. It is also priced exactly as their previous Hydro XD5 combo using the arguably more fitting Xylem D5 pump, but as a higher profile offering, that combo is meant for a different use case entirely.

The lower profile nature with the cuboid shape does means you have a weird mix of a lower height with a wider body compared to the currently in vogue flatter distro-plate-style DDC pump/reservoir combo units, but the installation using 120 or 140 mm fan hole spacings does mean this thing floats inside most cases easier than the majority of pump/reservoir combos I have in my possession, let alone the DDC pump versions only. So it is fairly clear in terms of what CORSAIR wants to offer with the XD3 in that if you can't fit the XD5, perhaps this is for you. There is a lot in common between the two and the rest of the company's Hydro X product offerings, beginning with the unboxing experience of everything having been packaged separately, although perhaps a bit too much so given the number of plastic ziplock bags. Multiple different installation options are also ready to go out of the box to accommodate different user preferences, and integrated dRGB LEDs coupled with iCUE continue a trend of a rich ecosystem for lighting customization as long as you pay for the CORSAIR controller, for now at least.

One could then argue that the provided accessories counter this, including the temperature sensor and installation options you do not have to pay for separately. You would be hard pressed to argue that the Hydro XD3 uses premium materials, so if you are looking for metal heatsinks or borosilicate glass, you might want to look elsewhere and be ready to compromise on either your budget or other features. But overall, there is enough on offer here to interest many, and the Hydro XD3 is a good addition to the company's product portfolio.