At first we would like to thank Corsair for offering us the complete cooling solution for our 290X sample in order to test and review it.

 

About Corsair:

"Founded in 1994, Corsair has grown from pioneering the high-performance DRAM market to one of the world’s leading providers of enthusiast-grade PC components and peripherals. Our groundbreaking technology and innovation can be found in our high-performance memory, ultra-efficient power supplies, PC cases, PC and CPU cooling solutions, and solid-state storage devices. Under the Corsair Gaming brand, launched in 2014, we provide gaming keyboards, mice, headsets and mouse mats to eSports professionals and anybody who is passionate about competitive PC gaming.

 

Corsair hardware is regularly featured in showcase “dream systems,” and we have earned the adulation and respect of the press, professional gamers and overclockers, high-end system integrators, and PC enthusiasts worldwide by delivering leading-edge technology backed by renowned service and support.

 

Corsair has developed a global operations infrastructure with extensive marketing and distribution channel relationships, and our products are available through leading distributors and retailers in over sixty countries worldwide."

Product Features of the HG10 A1 Bracket

 

Upgrade your AMD Radeon 290 or 290X to liquid cooling for better performance

 

The Hydro Series HG10 A1 GPU liquid cooling bracket allows you to adapt a Corsair Hydro Series liquid CPU cooler (not included) to your GPU. It’s compatible with reference design AMD Radeon 290 and 290X graphics cards and it installs quickly and easily.

 

The best upgrade you can make to your GPU

 

Liquid cooling is superior to air cooling – it’s basic physics. With the HG10 A1, upgrading your GPU to liquid cooling has never been easier. The HG10 A1 protects your investment in your GPU, helps it run cooler, and gives you more overclocking headroom. And with the added bonus of allowing your GPU to run quieter, once you’ve moved to liquid cooling you’ll never want to go back.

 

Run cooler and quieter

 

Using a Hydro Series HG10 A1 can reduce your GPU’s temperature by up to 50° C. Most GPUs have a temperature-controlled fan, and when your GPU detects that it’s running cooler, it will slow down its onboard fan.

 

Multi-chip cooling

 

The HG10 A1 bracket combined with your Hydro Series cold plate provides excellent cooling for not only your GPU, but also your VRAM and VRMs.

Compatible with Reference Design AMD Radeon 290 and 290X GPUs

 

The HG10 A1 fits GPUs based on the AMD Radeon 290 and 290X reference designs.

 

Works with all Hydro Series Liquid CPU Coolers

 

The HG10 A1 works with the Hydro Series liquid CPU cooler you already have, and it’s compatible with the entire Hydro Series line. Have you upgraded your original Hydro Series liquid CPU cooler, and have an older model lying around? This is the perfect application for it.

 

Product Specifications of the HG10 A1 Bracket

 

Warranty: Two years

Bracket Dimensions: 240mm x 100mm x 55mm

 

 

Product Features of the H80i GT Liquid CPU Cooler

 

The flexible, powerful 120mm liquid CPU cooling system for high performance PCs.

 

The Hydro Series H80i GT is a high performance, all-in-one liquid CPU cooler that works with standard 120mm radiator mounts. The extra-thick 49mm x 120mm radiator and dual SP120L PWM fans provide the excellent heat dissipation you need for high performance CPUs. It’s Corsair Link compatible, so you can customize cooling performance, monitor system temperature, and change the color of the RGB LED lighting.

 

Extra-thick radiator

 

The 120mm radiator works with standard 120mm fan mounts for wide compatibility, but has a depth of 49mm for increased cooling surface area and faster, more efficient cooling.

 

Customized cooling performance

 

You can select the speed of the dual SP120L PWM fans via the Corsair Link control panel or any standard fan speed utility. And, you have options: use just one fan to save space, or install both in a push-pull configuration for extra cooling efficiency.

 

Built-in Corsair Link

 

Attach the included Corsair Link cable to a USB header on your motherboard and download the free Corsair Link software to unlock even more power.

 

You can customize cooling performance, monitor coolant and CPU temperatures, and change the color of the RGB LED lighting from the default white to match your system or to change color based on temperature readings and other inputs.

 

High-performance CPU cooling made simple

 

The H80i GT is a closed loop design that comes pre-filled. It includes a modular, tool-free mounting bracket for faster installation, and it features improved coldplate and pump designs for highly tuned efficiency.

 

About Hydro Series Liquid CPU Coolers

 

Corsair Hydro Series CPU coolers give you the power of liquid cooling in a compact, easy-to-install package. They offer superior cooling for higher overclocking performance, without the complexity of traditional water cooling kits.

 

Product Specifications of the H80i GT Liquid CPU Cooler

 

Radiator dimensions: 154mm x 123mm x 49mm

Fan dimensions: 120mm x 120mm x 25mm

Fan speed: 2435 +/- 10% RPM

 

Fan airflow: 70.69 CFM

Fan static pressure: 4.65 mmH2O

Fan noise level: 37.7 dB(A)

 

 

 

For quite some time people were looking for an optimal water cooling solution for the 290X monster from AMD since even more advanced 3^rd party air-cooled solutions are still pretty noisy. Corsair seems to have nailed it again with the HG10 A1 bracket for R9 290/290X OEM design video cards, which permits using AIO CPU coolers onto the GPU, but also by re-using the original blower fan for optimal VRM cooling. Let’s get it going by presenting the stuff we will work with: the HG10 bracket which is shipped inside a plain cardboard box with a Corsair logo on it, the H80i GT water cooler but we also have a very lightly used 290X VGA card, straight from AMD HQ, just for the testing purposes:

 

 

 

The H80i GT cooler is from the latest Hydro Series products of Corsair and employs a push-pull solution along with a thick radiator:

 

 

 

We can check the box contents if we look on the lateral:

 

 

 

Here we will also find the compatibility list:

 

 

 

More details on the product, but also the measurements can be found on the bottom box area:

 

 

 

Let’s open up the box in order to check the internal contents:

 

 

 

The supplied manual is very detailed and includes instructions for both Intel and AMD platforms:

 

 

 

As we have seen with other AIO coolers, the product along with its bundle is located inside a cardboard mold layer:

 

 

 

Besides the H80i GT cooler, we will also get two 120mm fans and an additional bag with accessories:

 

 

As accessories, we can mention:

 

-8x long fan screws

-4x LGA 115X/1366 standoffs

-4x LGA2011 standoffs

-4x AMD black standoffs

-4x thumbscrews

-8x washers

-Intel backplate

-AMD mounting bracket

-USB cable for Corsair Link

 

 

 

Next we could remind of the two SP120L PWM fans which have speeds of 2435 +/- 10% RPM and an airflow of 70.69 CFM:

 

 

 

These fans are also prepared for fitting LEDs when needed:

 

 

 

The fan power rating can be checked on the back side sticker:

 

 

 

Besides the thick radiator, the H80i GT features a redesigned pump and two large diameter low-evaporation rubber tubes which are durable but also a bit stiff when compared to regular tubing:

 

 

 

 

Both pump and radiator are featuring a unique design, with a nice Corsair logo embedded:

 

 

 

The radiator has the following dimensions: 154mm x 123mm x 49mm; we should double check these when planning our purchase, especially when we already have an AIO cooling solution installed on the top area of our case:

 

 

 

The radiator also comes with the product serial number stickers:

 

 

 

The new pump looks pretty sleek with the new tubing but also with the Corsair logo design, which has an underneath LED lighting present which is fully configurable via software:

 

 

 

Besides the fan headers and the CPU fan connector, we will be also able to connect the supplied USB 2.0 interface via a spare USB 2.0 header on our motherboard (if we have any left):

 

 

 

 

The thermal compound comes pre-installed on the copper plate component of the pump, along with the Intel mounting frame:

 

 

 

Let’s get to the secondary important component in our experiment which is the HG10 A1 bracket:

 

 

 

Besides documentation, Corsair made sure to include all other necessary stuff in order to perform the installation:

 

 

 

Speaking of the bundle, we will get:

 

-8x card screws

-4x short Hydro Series standoffs

-4x long Hydro Series standoffs

-4x thumb screws

-4x fan shroud screws

-installation manual

-warranty leaflet

 

 

 

The thick manual in multiple languages instructs us on how to perform each step:

 

 

 

Our test subject for this review is the OEM Radeon R9 290X at stock speeds; as we know, the stock cooling solution is quite noisy and is unable to keep the GPU running in longer gaming sessions without throttling:

 

 

 

The first step would be to remove the stock cooling by orientating our attention to the bottom and I/O shield screws:

 

 

 

After removing the screws we must pull with moderate force from multiple corners in order not to bend the PCB; we will be able to spot multiple thermal pads on both cooling system and card which can be preserved if needed for a later swap:

 

 

 

Before installation, we must make sure that the GPU is wiped clean and the memory chips are also cleaned properly from the residues of the original thermal pads:

 

 

 

One other important part of the installation is the blower, which must be reused in this case:

 

 

 

This type of blower will be mounted in three points with the original screws:

 

 

 

The cooling bracket was designed to fit perfectly on the card components and will also accommodate the original blower for keeping the VRM at a reasonable temperature:

 

 

 

On the side of the product we will find again the Corsair logo along with the code name:

 

 

 

If we check its bottom layer, we will get to see multiple thermal pads pre-installed for the VRM components but also for the GDDR5 memory areas:

 

 

 

The original blower must be installed with its original screws onto the bracket:

 

 

 

 

Corsair has also provided a plastic shroud which will be installed onto the blower assembly:

 

 

 

 

Here is how the final installation of the blower does look, with the mounted shroud:

 

 

 

Next, we will have to remove the protection from the thermal pads and mount the bracket onto the card:

 

 

 

The supplied screws will be used on the back of the 290X:

 

 

 

Now we are done with all steps prior to installing the H80i GT; in order to do that, we will have to use the supplied standoffs:

 

 

 

 

With the provided thumbscrews, the installation is a breeze; we have multiple angles we can fit the pump but only some of them can accommodate the installation of the USB 2.0 cable too:

 

 

 

 

Let’s mount the card and radiator + fans inside the test system and see what we have got:

 

 

 

Test Setup:

 

CPU: Intel I5 4790K Retail

CPU Cooler: NZXT Kraken X60 AIO

Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-Z97X-UD5H

RAM: 2x Corsair LP 8GB + 2x Crucial Ballistix Tactical LP 8GB

Video: OEM Radeon R9 290X

Power Supply: Cooler Master 850W

SSD: OCZ Vector 150

Case: Cooler Master Storm Stryker

 

In order to be able to operate the cooling system in more detail, we went ahead and installed the latest Corsair Link version; the GUI of this software is quite configurable and we can always save profiles for later use and switching:

 

 

 

We can configure the LED lighting with ease by accessing the sliders or we can leave the LED color to change itself depending on the recorded temperature:

 

Regular

 

Temperature

 

 

Not only the fan speed can be adjusted, but also the pump speed, which can operate in Performance or Quiet Mode:

 

 

 

 

We have tested the assembly in all available modes thanks to Corsair Link and compared to the AMD OEM stock cooling. For stress testing we have used Unigine Heaven 4.0 and for monitoring the well-known HWiNFO64.

 

Here is the chart:

 

 

 

 

Stock Cooling

 

H80i GT Quiet Pump + Quiet Fans

 

H80i GT Quiet Pump + Balanced Fans

 

H80i GT Quiet Pump + Performance Fans

 

H80i GT Performance Pump + Quiet Fans

 

H80i GT Performance Pump + Balanced Fans

 

H80i GT Performance Pump + Performance Fans

 

Corsair has nailed it again with the release of the HG10 A1 GPU bracket, which is recycling the stock blower fan for optimal VRM cooling and combines it with the usage of one of the available AIO CPU coolers in order to bring excellent cooling performance for our 290/290X R9 card from AMD. Depending on the water cooler selection, we would also be able to use a CrossFire setup which will take minimal amount of space in term of occupied slots. The only limitation for this design is the fact that it only works with OEM, original PCB AMD-designed cards and not with custom versions but we can always check the full compatibility list on the Corsair web page to see if our card is included.

 

If we follow the instructions correctly and carefully remove the original cooling system from the PCB, we will see that the installation steps are really easy to perform, which is a great thing even for people which are just starting fiddling with PC components.

 

The cooling profiles can be fully customized thanks to Corsair Link and for added eye candy we can always change the color of the LED lighting too.

 

The increase in performance by using the proposed Corsair cooling solution is breathtaking and we can say “game over” to the times when the card was frequently reaching over 90 degrees and started throttling with potential hardware damage on the long run. From our point of view, this modification is a must-have for people which want to drop the noise level in their case but also decrease their card temperatures dramatically.

 

In terms of prices, we could find online the HG10 A1 bracket for about 38 Euros, while the H80i GT cooler can be had for about 109 Euros.

 

Corsair HG10 A1 Bracket + H80i GT Cooler Review is Recommended For:

 

 

We would like to thank again to Corsair for making this review possible!