Thoughts on Corsair's H100i Cooler

[sygnus21]

As I've posted here I'm getting ready to build a Haswell system (4770K) and decided to go with a closed loop cooling solution because my current cooler won't fit the RAM I ordered (Corsair Dominator Platinum)

So, what are your thoughts on the Corsair Hydro Series H100i ???

Have never tried a CLC before, to be honest I never trusted them, but I give them a go now because I don't want one of those huge monstrosities of an air cooler so CLC it is.

BTW this is going in my Cooler Master HAF X case

Thanks

 

[Computer0304]

Ive never used it but heard great reputation for it.

 

[kbrady1979]

I have heard mixed reviews on it. I suppose if you replace the factory fans it would be ok, but then you have the added cost of the fans. I don't like most of the Corsair closed loop coolers because they aren't manufactured by Asetek.....some of them are though but I don't think the H100i is one of them. There are a few members who use or have used this model so I'm sure you will get some advice from them soon.

Also, can your case accept 120/140mm fans up top, or is it 120mm only?

Actually, I just looked at the Cooler Master HAF X case and it has 200mm fans up top but is capable of 360mm rads there as well....so I guess dual 140mm rads are out of the question.

 

[Dude]

I have read good reviews on it. I would also look at Thermaltake and Antec options.. Have a look over at OCN for some more info...Water Cooling

 

[sygnus21]

I have read good reviews on it. I would also look at Thermaltake and Antec options.. Have a look over at OCN for some more info...Water Cooling

Thanks for the link, I'll take a closer look there, but I'm not doing any water cooling other than using a closed loop cooling solution to keep the CPU cool for modest overclocks, and the smaller foot print it provides over the more hefty air coolers.

Actually, I just looked at the Cooler Master HAF X case and it has 200mm fans up top but is capable of 360mm rads there as well....so I guess dual 140mm rads are out of the question.

I don't know about that, but as long as the Corsair solution fits up there, which it should, that's good enough for me.

BTW even though my case takes two 200mm fans at top, I just have the one factory installed 200 mil there, which obviously will be removed in place of the Corsair radiator and fans.

 

[crankypenguin]

I would take a close look at the Thermaltake 2.0 Pro. Not the Extreme version. The pro, even costs more on newegg than the extreme version, and the extreme version is supposed to be top of the line. Only think that the extreme version has that the pro does not is software interface , but I really don't think that is needed in this case. My 2 cents. The pro also is smaller, the rad size is 149.9 x119.9 x 48.8mm + it's push and pull, vs extreme rad which is 270 x120 x 38.3mm. Right now, the pro is almost 50 dollars more than the extreme AND it's out of stock. That should tell you something. I use the pro with a fx-6100, have it OCed to 4.5 currently and if I run prime95, temps don't go above 35c, and I have ran it for 4+ hours...all workers 100% healthy. Highest OC so far with the 2.0 Pro was 4.7 and ran Prime, and temps still didn't go above 37 C. Yes I am biased, but it truly IS a good piece of hardware.

2.0 Pro - Current price 132.66- http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835106189

2.0 Extreme - Current price 94.99- http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835106190

vs

CORSAIR Hydro Series H100i Extreme Performance - current price 119.99 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835181032


PS When installing the cooler, I removed the pre-applied thermal strip to the part that goes on the cpu using this http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835100010&Tpk=artic silver kit with coffee filters instead of any cloth and used the 1 drop in the middle method.

 

[sygnus21]

Thanks crankypenguin; And I actually prefer the style of the H100i or Thermaltake WATER2.0 extreme over the Pro. I don't want all of that bulk hanging off the back of the case like that of the Pro. Prefer the upper mount solution.

And maybe it's me, but the H100i's radiator seems to be a bit thinner than the Thermaltake WATER2.0 extreme's radiator. In this instance I do like the streamlined look of the corsair.

At any rate I'll give the Thermaltake a good look.

Thanks.

As for thermo paste, I've still got a brand new un-opened still in the hard plastic packaging tube of Artic MX-3 as I used up my last batch a few years back. So, I'll probably be using that

 

[crankypenguin]

Thanks crankypenguin; And I actually prefer the style of the H100i or Thermaltake WATER2.0 extreme over the Pro. I don't want all of that bulk hanging off the back of the case like that of the Pro. Prefer the upper mount solution.

And maybe it's me, but the H100i's radiator seems to be a bit thinner than the Thermaltake WATER2.0 extreme's radiator. In this instance I do like the streamlined look of the corsair.

At any rate I'll give the Thermaltake a good look.

Thanks.

As for thermo paste, I've still got a brand new un-opened still in the hard plastic packaging tube of Artic MX-3 as I used up my last batch a few years back. So, I'll probably be using that

With the pro 2.0 you can always mount one fan on the outside of the case in the back, thus reducing its inwards profile

 

[kbrady1979]

The Corsair H100i rad is 27mm thick I believe, and the Thermaltake 2.0 is 38mm thick. I personally like the 38mm thickness because it's the sweet spot for 120/240mm rads. Of course, you do have to take your internal dimensions into account because some don't have enough room for the extra thickness plus a set of fans.

Also, you've got some good thermal paste.....the Artic MX series is, in my opinion, some of the best out there. Let us know what you decide to go with.

 

[linnemeyerhere]

I've used Corsair H50, H100 in addition I've been running (2) Thermaltake 2.0 Extremes as well as a NZXT Kraken X60.
I've tossed all the stock fans for Noctua's. The H100 is very good cooler but is out performed by a tiny margin by the Thermaltake's thicker 240 rad., the NZXT has a 280 rad but is thin like the H100. Corsair has a H110 with a 280 as well and I would look to NZXT and see what if any mod's need to be done to drop one in your case. Run two 140 Noctua's and be prepared for greatness.

 

[kbrady1979]

I don't think his case can handle 140 or dual 140mm rads in the top. It seems to be configured for a set of 200mm fans, or 120/240/360mm rads. Now.......if only there was an all in one unit that used a 200mm radiator and fan........

 

[linnemeyerhere]

Here's a breakdown:

 

[kbrady1979]

It will accept the X40(140mm) rad in the back, but he wants to fit a unit in the top of his case.

 

[linnemeyerhere]

Then in my mind it's the Thermaltake 2.0 Extreme or Pro.

 

[kbrady1979]

I agree 100% with that. Do you HAVE to use the software on the Thermaltake extreme, or can it work without it?

 

[linnemeyerhere]

With or without and speaking to that it's a limited generic software package that could have been problematic in my system so I removed it as with Noctua fans I run my pump and fans wide open off 12v and it is dead silent.

 

[kbrady1979]

Cool! My Intel unit doesn't have any software and that's the way I prefer it.

 

[sygnus21]

With the pro 2.0 you can always mount one fan on the outside of the case in the back, thus reducing its inwards profile

Again, that sort of configuration is not something I would entertain. I simply don't want something like that hanging off the back of my case, regardless of configuration. It's a personal style thing with me.

And yeah, the Thermaltake 2.0 Extreme and Corsair H100i are in the running, though the H100i is in the lead with it's sytling.

BTW which ever way I go, I may replace the fans with Noctua NF-F12 fans at a later date.

 

[kbrady1979]

Either way you go is a good choice.

 

[ganjiry]

I've used the H50,H100 and am currently using the H100i without any issue's but I've always used different fan's to the stock one's. The Corsair Link software work's as it should and is pretty much set and forget but you don't have to use it as you can run the fan's off a controller or your motherboard. I did have to return my H100 after a year as the fan controller in the pump started to grind a bit.
I'd buy another H100i when the time comes unless there's anything better for my budget at the time.