Water Cooling by stefan @ 2018-07-19
For enabling use in even smaller case form factors, CORSAIR has now prepared the H100i PRO RGB cooler, that shares most of the features from the 280mm radiator version. In more detail, we are talking about Asetek’s Gen6 pump design, that is more compact and was built to offer performance while keeping the sound levels to a minimum, low permeation with black sleeving tubing and the ML fans.
At first we would like to thank CORSAIR for offering us their Hydro Series H100i PRO RGB Liquid CPU Cooler for testing and reviewing.
"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."
Dynamic Multicolor RGB Lighting: Vibrant RGB LED pump head produces vivid lighting effects to match your build.
Powered by Magnetic Levitation: Two 120mm ML Series magnetic levitation PWM fans deliver incredible airflow and static pressure at low noise levels.
Total Speed Control: PWM fan-speed control allows you to run your fans anywhere between 400 RPM to 2,400 RPM for complete quiet or maximum cooling.
Powerful Software: CORSAIR iCUE software allows you to control your cooler’s RGB lighting and monitor CPU and coolant temperatures, and adjust fan and pump speeds, all from a single intuitive interface.
Zero RPM Mode: Zero RPM cooling profiles allow fans to stop entirely at low temperatures, completely eliminating fan noise.
Precise Pump Control: Advanced pump speed control options to maximize performance or minimize noise.
Easy to Install: Modular, tool-free mounting bracket for quick and painless installation on most major CPU sockets.
Coldplate Material: Copper
Tubing Material: Low permeation with black sleeving
Radiator Material: Aluminum
Radiator Size: 276mm x 120mm x 27mm
Fan(s) included: 2x ML Series 120mm PWM Fans
Fan Max Speed: 2400 RPM
Fan Airflow: 75 CFM
Fan Static Pressure: 4.2 mm-H2O
Fan Noise Level: 37 dB(A)
MSRP: $119.99
Just recently, CORSAIR has launched another low-noise 240mm RGB Liquid CPU Cooler that shares the pump from the previously tested Hydro Series H115i PRO RGB and to be more exact we are talking about the H100i PRO RGB. The new cooler uses two 120mm PWM magnetic levitation fans with speeds between 400RPM and 2400RPM, while the pump can be configured to run at three different speeds. As the higher-specced model, H100i PRO RGB can also run in Zero RPM fan mode, which means that the ML fans will be turned on only when the coolant temperature has reached 40 degrees Celsius, useful when doing light tasks as writing documents.
The cooler did arrive inside a medium-sized cardboard enclosure; the top cover of the box does advertise the multiple LED lighting modes, but also the main product highlights:
The main attraction points are also described on the side:
Moving on, we will get to see the list of compatible sockets, requirements of the system in order to use the CORSAIR LINK feature but also the box contents, in multiple languages:
CORSAIR LINK features are also explained on one of the box sides:
For even more in-depth information on the H100i PRO RGB, we can check the bottom layer of the enclosure; here we will find important measurement data for finding out if the cooler will fit our case or not:
After removing the top cover, we will get to see the documentation first:
CORSAIR has included a Quick Start Guide, a Warranty against defects leaflet (for Australian customers) but also a regular Warranty Guide:
The manual does show the included hardware but also in-depth installation instructions for both AMD and Intel sockets:
After lifting the foam protective layer, we will get to see that the cooler along with its bundle is held inside a custom cardboard mold:
As described before, two 120mm fans are used for cooling the heatsink, but also fixing screws and other components:
The supplied fans do not feature RGB lighting, but the usual grey blades, with a black frame. These take part of the ML series (magnetic levitation bearing and custom rotor design), which are meant to lower noise at higher RPM and offer a longer lifespan:
On the frame, we are shown with small arrows the direction of the airflow:
The back side of the fan does feature a sticker with the power rating (12V at 0.219A):
These feature PWM connectors and will be directly controlled by CORSAIR’s LINK system:
Moving on to the rest of the accessories, we will receive an Intel backplate (the bracket is preinstalled onto the pump), the AMD socket bracket, necessary tools for mounting both brackets, screws for mounting fans onto the radiator but also the necessary fixing screws for mounting the radiator onto the case. Finally, we do have an USB cable, for driving the LINK system:
As we have seen with the previously tested model, the new pump design has switched from Mini-USB to Micro-USB:
The main product is composed of the pump, low permeation with black sleeving tubing material but also the 240mm radiator:
Speaking of the radiator, it shares the design elements of the one seen along the H115i PRO RGB, only this time its dimensions are 276mm x 120mm x 27mm:
On the lateral we will be able to spot a nicely chromed CORSAIR logo:
The pump is shared with the H115i PRO RGB; it has a more compact chassis and besides the large CORSAIR logo on the top, surrounded by RGB lighting, the pump does also feature an additional LED right under the metallic grey plastic layer:
Travelling from the pump, we will get to see multiple interfaces:
-the SATA Power cable, which provides power to the whole assembly;
-a two-pin cable for sending RPM monitoring info to the motherboard (in this case from the pump motor);
-two 4-pin PWM cable connectors for driving the included fans; the fans can be configured separately;
The new Gen6 Asetek pump design does imply a smaller, optimized, circular coldplate; thermal compound is pre-applied, making the installation process even faster!
The Intel/AMD brackets can be switched in a matter of seconds, thanks to the clever design:
As before, we did install the H115i PRO RGB onto our trusty Ryzen 7 1700 CPU; the mounting process was very simple and made use of the stock AMD brackets and backplate; after we have powered on the system, H100i PRO RGB could be spotted really easy thanks to the signature RGB LED features of the pump:
The pump lighting can be configured via iCUE software in order to match the rest of the setup:
The radiator was mounted in the front of the Crystal 570X CORSAIR case, along with its two 120mm ML fans:
We did first update the regular LINK software to the latest available version and afterwards we ran the installer for iCUE; after iCUE took over the controls, we could easily spot the confirmation inside LINK’s dashboard (This device is being controlled by iCUE):
iCUE has detected our H100i PRO hardware right away and was ready for configuration:
The menu on the left side does allow the user to work with the Lighting Effects and Performance options:
The Lighting Effects area displays different configuration options, depending on the mode we are selecting:
Here are the lighting modes available to the user:
Inside the Performance area, we can customize the fan speeds, but also the pump operating mode:
The pump can operate in Quiet, Balanced or Extreme modes; Quiet and Balanced are very silent (we could say inaudible), while only the Extreme mode is noticeable to the user:
The two fans can be configured independently via the offered presets, but we can also define our own temperature curve, if required:
CPU: AMD Ryzen 7 1700
Motherboard: ASUS ROG Crosshair VI Hero AM4
CPU Cooler: Corsair H115i PRO RGB
VGA: HIS RX 480 IceQ X2 Roaring Turbo 8GB
Memory: Corsair Vengeance LPX 32GB DDR4 2666MHz
SSD: Crucial BX300 240GB
PSU: Corsair HX850
Case: Corsair Crystal 570X
We did test the CPU cooler while having the pump set to “Extreme Mode”, and have recorded temperatures for Quiet, Balanced and Extreme modes of the PWM fans. We did choose the same testing modes on the H115i, H115i PRO RGB in order to compare the temperatures, while having the Ryzen 7 1700 CPU at stock, but also while overclocked on each core at 3.9GHz (1.3V LLC5 set inside the UEFI interface). For simulating maximum load, we did use the Prime95 29.3 version and enabled the Small FFTs mode. In order to monitor the temperatures, we utilized the HWiNFO64 utility, while the ambient temperature was held at a steady value of 23.5 degrees Celsius:
(temperatures were measured in °C, ambient 23.5)
Considering the different fans both AIOs come with (the H100i PRO RGB comes with 2400RPM 120mm fans, the H115i is equipped with 2000RPM 140mm fans while the H115i PRO RGB with 1200RPM 140mm), the performance difference is understandable. The H100i PRO RGB succeeds to get about the same cooling performance as the H115i PRO RGB, the main downside being the higher noise levels of the fans:
Quiet Mode:
H115i - 46.2 dBA
H115i PRO RGB - 43.1 dBA
H100i PRO RGB - 44.5 dBA
Balanced Mode:
H115i - 50.7 dBA
H115i PRO RGB - 43.4 dBA
H100i PRO RGB - 44.9 dBA
Extreme Mode:
H115i - 53.6 dBA
H115i PRO RGB - 43.7 dBA
H100i PRO RGB -51.9 dBA
For enabling use in even smaller case form factors, CORSAIR has now prepared the H100i PRO RGB cooler, that shares most of the features from the 280mm radiator version. In more detail, we are talking about Asetek’s Gen6 pump design, that is more compact and was built to offer performance while keeping the sound levels to a minimum, low permeation with black sleeving tubing and the ML fans.
The included ML PWM fans do have a rated speed of about 2400RPM and are fully configurable via the iCUE software GUI; they were designed in order to deliver high airflow and static pressure, which is ideal for this type of usage patterns (mounted on radiators).
The installation procedure is quite straight-forward and pump mounting on the CPU can be realized in a couple of minutes, no matter the socket type; the AMD TR4 bracket is not available yet, but will as an additional optional accessory from CORSAIR store.
Versus the other CPU coolers from CORSAIR, we would like to reiterate again that the new Hydro Series PRO was built for low-noise operation in mind than extreme performance, so you should expect higher Full-Load temperatures when operating in Quiet and Balanced presets; by running the pump in Balanced mode, you will see quite an improvement regarding temperatures versus Quiet, the pump starting being audible only in the Extreme preset. Of course, if you need even more tuning capabilities, you are able to set your own fan curves via the powerful iCUE software.
CORSAIR Hydro Series H100i PRO RGB have a MSRP of 122.9 Euros.
So, let’s wrap it up!
Pros:
-succeeds to achieve about the same cooling performance as the more expensive H115i PRO RGB
-latest generation Asetek Gen6 pump, which is inaudible in Quiet and Balanced modes
-very easy installation if the instruction steps are followed correctly
-sleek looking pump design, which highlights the RGB feature
-we do get quite a bit of configuration options via iCUE software
-Zero RPM mode, for silent operation during office tasks
-120mm ML fans for more silent operation during high RPM and also feature higher endurance
Cons:
-no rubber dampeners on the 120mm ML fans
-the smaller fans need to rotate at higher RPM in order to match the H115i PRO RGB performance, hence the higher noise during operation
We would like to thank again to Corsair for making this review possible!