Best fan for h100i: Reddit — Dive into anything

Corsair h200i RGB Platinum Liquid Cooler Review: Powerful And Customizable

Long-time enthusiast will remember the Corsair Hydro H50. It was one of the first closed-loop water coolers on the market and it changed the game. Though the H50 was popular at the time of its release, it was a bit of a head-scratcher, because its performance and installation weren’t ideal. Consumers bought it up though, and AIO water coolers were off and running. That was Corsair’s first entry into the market, however, and things have gotten considerably better since. It seems as if each new AIO liquid-cooler released by Corsair has improved on their original designs, so much so that closed loop coolers are performing at levels approaching much more expensive custom water cooling loops.

In the decade since the Corsair H50 was first launched, Corsair has released a plethora of AIO water coolers, with the h200i being among the latest and greatest. The only thing missing from the original h200i in the eyes of some enthusiasts, however, was some color, RGB to be specific. It’s 2019, and like it or not RGB is everywhere, so to appease enthusiasts craving a bit of additional RGB action, Corsair has released an RGB version of its popular h200i cooler that glows for days and offers strong performance to boot…

The Corsair h200i RGB Platinum’s specifications are listed below. Specifications don’t tell the whole story though, which is why we are here today. So strap in and we will decipher all the technical jargon below and see how the h200i performs…

Corsair h200i RGB Platinum CPU Cooler

Specifications & Features

Cooling Warranty	Five Years
Cooling Plate Material	Copper
Radiator Material	Aluminum
PWM	Yes
Corsair iCUE compatibility	Yes
Radiator dimensions	277mm x 120mm x 27mm
Fan dimensions	120mm x 25mm
Fan Speed	400 to 2400 RPM
Number of fans	2
Cooling socket support	Intel 115x, Intel 2011/2066, AMD AM3/AM2, AMD AM4, AMD TR4
Lighting	RGB
Radiator size	240mm
Fan model	ML Series
Airflow	75 CFM
Noise Level	37 dba
Fan static pressure	4. 2 mm-h3O
Pricing	$129.99 @ Amazon.com

The Corsair h200i RGB Platinum comes with installation brackets for all the latest sockets. This means it’ll support Intel LGA 115x, 1366, 2011, 2011-3, and 2066 sockets, as well as AMD FM1, FM2, AM2, AM3, AM4, and TR4 sockets — basically it’ll work with any processor you’re likely to buy today. We tested the cooler on an AMD AM4 socket with a Ryzen 5 processor. Overall, we found the installation process to be relatively easy for the most part, but when all was said and done, there was quite a bit of pressure being applied to the motherboard, causing it to slightly bend. The reason for this is because Corsair decided to use the stock AM4 retention brackets instead of a custom bracket to secure the cooling block. We suspect Corsair may update their installation hardware at some point for AM4, but for now keep this in mind.

Along with mounting brackets for all of those sockets, you also get all the screws you need to install the two fans that come with the h200i RGB Platinum, as well as the mounting hardware to secure the radiator to your case.

On the outside the Corsair h200i Platinum looks nearly identical to the h200i Pro — both have a 240mm radiator, and the same aesthetics, but internally they are entirely different beasts. The h200i Pro was designed for quiet performance in standard computers, while the Platinum series is designed to offer the best performance for high-end desktops. Corsair achieves this by using fans that can push more air than those paired with the Pro model and also by changing the internal structure of the cooling plate. While the Pro model uses an Asetek cooling plate, radiator, and pump the Platinum model is designed by CoolIT Systems. CoolIT was able to increase the overall efficiency with a new split-flow base, which internally reduces sharp turns to improve the flow path of the liquid. With a clearer pathway through the block, the water flow inside the cooler is able to dissipate the heat more expediently.

One of the first things you’ll noticed about the Corsair h200i Platinum is the number of cables coming off the cooling block and fans. Previous models had fewer cables, because the only thing that needed power were the fan and pump. Now all of the RGB lights need power and control as well, so there are more cables. This means you’ll have to work a little harder at cable management to make that case look clean, but nothing worthwhile comes easy.

The fans included with the h200i RGB are Corsair ML PRO Series RGB magnetic levitation PWM fans. These fans have been tuned to deliver optimal airflow and static pressure for the best cooling in this setup. Each fan has four individual RGB lights on them, while the cooling block ha 16 RGB lights. That means there is a grand total of 24 RGB LEDs that you can control with Corsair iCUE software. The fans operate between 400 and 2400 RPM, so they can either be extremely silent, or relatively audible because they’re moving enough air to cool a processor that’s running well beyond its stock frequency and voltage levels. As for noise, the fans are rated at 37 dBA. In a typical home or office, fan noise don’t really become noticeable until around 25 to 30 dBA, so these fans can be considered relatively quiet, even at full throttle.

A few pictures can’t really do the Corsair h200i Platinum RGB justice, but we think we we’ve conveyed things well here. Both the cooling block and fans look great in our opinion, regardless of the color settings, and there are a ton of options to chose from.

All the RGB goodness is controlled via Corsair’s iCUE software.

The iCUE software give you the ability to chose from pre-loaded settings for both the cooling and RGB lighting.There’s a good number of presets to chose from, but if you prefer you can do your own thing and create custom color profiles and change the fans speed all from within the app as well.

Now that we have the Corsair h200i RGB Platinum in our system and ready to cool, let’s see just what type of performance we can expect from one of Corsair’s latest and greatest all-in-ones…

Corsair h200i RGB Liquid Cooler Review [2023]

For quite some time in my experience and personal use, I have used the CORSAIR h200i series AIO with V2 being the most used one. Everyone has a personal preference and I am no exception to that. For AIOs, I prefer a software-free cooling solution though this is the area where CORSAIR has other thoughts.

For a long CORSAIR has used Aetek as their OEM for their Hydro cooling solution but effective from their RGB PLATINUM series coolers, they have partnered with CoolIT. CORSAIR has done a good job here by still putting out almost the same block design as is on the previous generation. I admit it, even I did not pick it up until I got to see the mounting hardware which immediately rang the bell in my mind that it is not Asetek.

CORSAIR has gone all out with the design and cooling performance of RGB PLATINUM series coolers as they have bundled two RGB ML series fans. ML is short for Magnetic Levitation or MagLev. They were released in two versions ML and ML Pro. ML Pro are among my personal favorite fans though at full speed they are loud. The block itself has 16 digital RGB LEDs for some vivid and stunning lighting effects. Each fan has 4 digital RGB LEDs.

The CORSAIR h200i RGB PLATINUM CPU Liquid Cooler has 240mm size aluminum radiator. The CORSAIR h200i RGB PLATINUM out of the box is compatible with the Intel LGA 115X/LGA20XX and AMD’s AM4 and TR4 sockets. Yes, TR4 mounting brackets are provided in the box. The base of the cooler has roughly 55x55mm and CORSAIR is taking advantage of this large size base to provide support for TR4.

Take a note please that the base will not fully cover the TR4 CPUs. As has been the case with the CORSAIR coolers, the CORSAIR h200i RGB PLATINUM needs software to control the lighting and thermal aspects. The CORSAIR h200i RGB PLATINUM is compatible with iCUE for this purpose. Let’s start.

Item: h200i RGB PLATINUM
Manufacturer: CORSAIR
Category: CPU Liquid Cooler
Price: Check Price

Awards

Best CPU Cooler For i9-10900k
Best CPU Coolers For Ryzen 9 3950X
CPU Cooler For Ryzen 5 3600
Competition Under LGA 1700 CPU Coolers
Competition Under Best Budget CPU Coolers

Below starts our Corsair h200i Review In 2022.

Packaging and Unboxing

Corsair h200i Contents

The cooler is shipped inside a cardboard box having a CORSAIR’s typical packing theme of black and yellow colors.

There is a picture of the cooler in the multiple colors printed in the main section. CORSAIR brand name and logo are printed on the top left. Salient features are highlighted across the board like multi-zone backlit including the pump, 5 years warranty, etc.

The backside of the packing box has focused on key features like ML RGB fans, Zero RPM mode, Optimized pump and copper cold plate for high performance and quiet cooling. The specifications are printed on the right side. There are symbolic pictures of the radiator showing the dimensions.

The left and right sides of the packing box are identical. CORSAIR brand name and logo are printed on the top followed by the features of the cooler and the picture.

The features of the CORSAIR h200i RGB PLATINUM are printed in multi-lingual here. There is a sticker pasted at the bottom right with part no and serial no of the unit.

The iCUE compatibility and features are printed in 6 different languages here.

Opening the box will show the white color Styrofoam covering the contents. The user guide and warranty information booklet are placed on the top. Removing them will show the contents.

There are a plethora of the accessories included in the CORSAIR h200i RGB PLATINUM CPU Liquid Cooler box:

1x Radiator
2x Fans
1x Intel Backplate
2x Intel Mounting Brackets
2x AMD Mounting Brackets AM4
2x AMD Mounting Brackets TR4
2x AMD Mounting Clips
4x Thumb Screws
4x Intel LGA115X Standoffs
4x Intel LGA20XX Standoffs
4x AMD TR4 Standoffs
8x Radiator Screws
8x Washers
16x Fan Screws
1x micro USB Cable
User Manual and Warranty Guide

Corsair h200i Box Contents

Closer Look At Corsair iCUE h200i

The Hydro series CORSAIR h200i RGB PLATINUM CPU Liquid Cooler features two ML RGB series fans as well as a new optimized pump design for optimal flow. The block has a total of 16 digital RGB LEDs in multiple zones for vivid lighting action and each ML RGB fan has 4 such LEDs in the central hub.

Copper cold plate has a larger surface area at the base which has allowed the CORSAIR to provide support for the TR4 socket. Let’s start taking a closer look at the unit.

Radiator

The dimension of the radiator is 277x120x27mm where 27mm is the thickness or height of the radiator. It is a slim radiator. With 25mm fans, the total height would be 52.2mm and keep in mind the thicker heads of the metal screws, expect 54-55mm of the total height (approximately). The radiator is made of aluminum hence it is lightweight.

FPI count is 20 on this radiator and fans with high airflow and air pressure will make a stronger case here. There are 13 channels in the radiator. The edges of the radiator are straight design to our liking, unlike some other designs where the edges are rounded.

The total length of the radiator is 277mm including the head chambers. There is a 105mm spacing between the mounting holes with 15mm spacing between the two closer mounting holes in the middle of the radiator. The depth of the radiator is 120mm.

There is no protective plating under the mounting holes on this radiator so take care while installing the fans on it as long screws could easily damage the fins that would least impact the performance or worst leakage from the radiator.

The hoses are clamped to the radiator using the barbs. There is a sticker pasted on this side of the chamber. CORSAIR brand name and logo are printed on the top left. Part no of the unit is also printed. This sticker is another variation from what we have seen on the Asetek based stickers.

Both sides of the radiator housing have metallic shiny CORSAIR brand logo and name pasted on them.

The far chamber is a slim design.

The tubing on the CORSAIR h200i RGB PLATINUM is braided and meshed for nice and clean looks. The length of the tube is 350mm approximately and they are quite flexible to my liking.

Block/Pump

Let’s take a look at the main ingredient aka water block. CORSAIR was able to retain the footprint of the block design to an extent as well which may be hidden from the naked eye. Only a closer look or the mounting hardware will give it away.

The pump housing is made of plastic. The top side has an aluminum finish on the sides which blends in well with the blackish top lid. The top lid has a CORSAIR brand logo and name on it and they light up when powered on.

There are 4 digital RGB LEDs under the top whereas there are a total of 12 such LEDs on the sides with three on each side. The Intel mounting brackets come pre-mounted as has been the case with their previous generations.

The sides of the pump housing are in a matte black finish and rounded on the edges to make them sit in harmony with the overall design.

The front side of the pump housing has a micro-USB port on the top. There is what seems to be a refill port on the bottom right side but I am not sure about it.

Looking at the block from the backside, the hoses are installed in 90. The hoses can be rotated in either direction and they are quite flexible.

The above picture is showing the diffuser sitting between the top cover and the rest of the pump housing. This diffuser is not covered to create some vivid lighting effects. Also, there are 3x cables coming out from this angle:

SATA Power Cable [Length 196mm approximately]
3-pin Power Cable coming off the SATA Cable [Length 305mm approximately]
Digital RGB LED Connectors Cable [Length 300+78mm approximately]
2-way 4-pin PWM Fan Connectors Cable [Length 296mm approximately]

The above picture shows the cables coming out of the pump housing. The digital RGB LED connectors are proprietary and the user can’t use or connect them directly to the digital lighting header of the motherboard.

Also, take note of number 1 printed on the RGB connector. The same number is printed on one of the 4-pin PWM connectors as well.

There are certain dynamic lighting modes that start from one RGB device and moves to the next RGB device and so on in that order. This numbering will help the user to define the order or sequence.

The above picture shows the inner components of the pump.

Let’s take a look at the base. The base plate is made of the copper and has a dimension of 55x55mmx2mm where 2mm is the exposed height of the copper base plate. It is secured with the main housing using 8 screws. The unit comes with the thermal paste pre-applied.

Overall the CORSAIR was able to retain the same footprint as is on their previous generation hydro series coolers despite changing the OEM. Kudos to their design team as this is not an easier task by any mean!

The bundled USB cable has a right-angled implementation of the micro-USB connector which makes the installation convenient. The length of the cable is 622mm which is long enough to do a neat cable management and reach to the bottom side of the motherboard where the 9-pin USB 2. 0 headers are located.

Oh! You will need a free USB 2.0 header on your motherboard! This cable is a must to control the lighting and the thermal of the pump. Keep that in mind, please.

Let’s take a look at the fans now. The CORSAIR has provided two ML 120 RGB fans with this cooler. Each fan measures 120x120x25mm. The rated speed is up to 24RPM with an airflow of 75 CFM having an air pressure rating of 4.2mmH₂O. The noise level is rated at 37 dBA. The fans have 4-pin PWM connectors. The fans are rated at 12VDC with 0.225A current rating.

The fan has a matte black color frame with 7 white frosted blades. The mounting corners have black and gray color combination on them. The good part of the design is that these corners are swappable allowing the users to customize the look of their fans.

The center portion has a large diameter. It has a black color sticker pasted on the top with the CORSAIR brand logo printed on it. There are 4 digital RGB LEDs in the central hub.

One of the sides of the frame has two arrows symbols etched on it. These are for visual help to the user indicating the spin direction of blades and airflow. The frame is made of PBT material.

There are two flat cables coming out of the fans. One is the 4-pin PWM power connector having a length of 592mm approximately and the other is an ARGB LED cable having a length of 600mm approximately.

A sticker is pasted on one of the sides of the frame.

Looking at the backside of the fan, we can see a 4-arms assembly in a cross-format holding the fan motor and blades to the frame. All arms have the same width with one having latches to capture/hold the cables coming out of the motor housing.

There is a sticker pasted in the center with a CORSAIR brand logo printed on the top half and other information printed in the lower half. The fans are made in China.

Installation

I have tested this cooler on the Intel LGA2011-V3 socket (X99) and AMD AM4 platform. Below is the installation guide for Intel LGA 2011-V3:

Install the LGA-2011 screws on the mounting holes around the CPU Socket.
Intel brackets are pre-installed on this cooler.
Install the fans on the radiator.
Install the radiator in the chassis.
Place the cooler on the CPU by aligning the holes on the mounting brackets with the LGA 2011 screws.
Secure the cooler by using the thumbscrews. Use a screwdriver for this job and go diagonal for even pressure.

Corsair h200i AMD AM4 Installation

Remove the Intel mounting brackets from the pump by sliding them out in the opposite direction.
Install the AMD mounting brackets on the housing by sliding them inside from the opposite direction and snapping them together.
Install the AMD clips on each end of the AMD mounting bracket using two thumbscrews (one for each side).
The cooler will be installed on the AMD stock backplate.
Place the block on the CPU by aligning the clips on the brackets with the latches or catchers on the stock backplate. Once placed, simply hand tighten the screws to the full.

Common Steps

Connect the 3-pin power cable to the CPU fan header/Pump/AIO header if available or any of your desire fan header.
Connect the female RGB connectors of the pump to the male RGB connectors of the fans.
Optionally connect the 4-pin PWM connectors of the fans to the 2-way headers of the pump.
Connect the SATA cable of the pump to the PSU.
This would complete the installation.

Clearance and Installation Notes

The best thing about AIOs is the maximum clearance and compatibility with respect to the chassis, DIMM slots, PCIe slot. This cooler has no such clearance issue. The tubes are not blocking any DIMM slot and RAM modules of any height can be used.

Similarly, the block is not obstructing the first PCIe x16 3.0 slot. Make sure that chassis has provision for a 240mm radiator mounting (277mm total length for this cooler) and clearance for 55mm height and you are good to go.

Corsair h200i RGB Lighting and Software

The CORSAIR h200i RGB PLATINUM packs multi-zone RGB lighting which creates some stunning and vivid effects. The overall lighting is not overly done and the ability to control each LED gives the users an opportunity to create and customize their preferred lighting effects.

Here are some of the cool pictures that I have taken for your eye candies.

iCUE

In order to control the lighting and functionality of the pump and the fans, the user is required to install the iCUE software which can be downloaded from the CORSAIR website. The user is also required to connect the bundled USB cable to the cooler and available 9-pin USB 2.0 header on the motherboard.

When the unit is connected to the motherboard, the Windows will automatically detect and list the unit in the connected devices as shown in the above picture.

When the iCUE is launched, it will detect the connected and enabled CORSAIR devices. In my case, the CORSAIR h200i RGB Platinum and the CORSAIR Vengeance RGB Pro 16GB DDR4 kit were detected and shown on the list. These pictures are coming from our AMD based test bench for which the CORSAIR has sponsored the DDR4 kit.

Clicking on the CORSAIR h200i RGB PLATINUM cooler picture will load its default page. The block’s picture is shown on the right side with the current loaded lighting effect. Fan1, Fan2, and pump speed are listed before the picture of the block.

In order to look for more control over the functionality of the fans and the pump, click on the Performance tab on the leftmost side. It will show the pre-defined 4 profiles, which are:

Quiet
Balanced
Extreme
Zero RPM

Zero RPM is a cool function that allows the fans to stop spinning given the specified thermal parameters are met. The fans will kick in as soon as the set thermal junction is crossed. In order to change the profile, click on the desired profile and then click on the fan(s) and the pump to put the profile in effect.

The user can set different profiles for each fan and pump at a time. The user can also set the profile for all connected devices. The user can also set the custom fan curve as well as set the fans to run at a fixed speed.

Under Graphing the user can monitor the different parameters like the speed of the fan or the pump. The user can also set the interval of polling before updating the graph.

The user can create/customize the notifications based on the temperature of the CPU and can set the LEDs to change the color for a defined thermal junction.

The above picture shows the fans and the pump’s speed under the Quiet profile. The picture was taken after 5 minutes of loading the profile.

The above picture shows the fans and the pump’s speed under the Balanced profile. The picture was taken after 5 minutes of loading the profile.

The above picture shows the fans and the pump’s speed under the Extreme profile. The picture was taken after 5 minutes of loading the profile.

It is evident that there is not much of a difference in terms of the speed for the Balanced and the Extreme profile but the difference really comes from the acoustic between both profiles.

Click on the Lighting Effects to access the lighting control for the cooler. The first picture is of the pump followed by the two pictures of the fans. The pump’s 16 LEDs are highlighted, so are 4 LEDs on each fan.

Clicking on the dropdown list will show the extensive range of lighting effects available at the user’s disposal. The user can control all 24 LEDs individually. Static colors can also be set on the devices.

The brightness of the LEDs can be controlled under the Settings tab of the software. The user can also update the firmware of the cooler from here as well as change the temperature unit.

Corsair h200i Benchmarks

Following test benches have been used:

Asus Rampage V Edition 10
Intel i7 6850k
Corsair Vengeance RED LED 16GB @ 2666MHz
GIGABYTE GeForce GTX 1060 6G Gaming G1
Samsung 840 EVO 250GB SSD
Thermaltake TP iRGB 1250W PSU
PrimoChill Praxis WetBench

AMD Test Bench

Asus Strix X470-F Gaming
AMD Ryzen 2700X
Corsair Vengeance Pro RGB 16GB @ 3200MHz
Colorful GeForce GTX 1050Ti Vulkan
HyperX 120GB SSD
Antec HCP1300

The following software were used for testing and monitoring.

Asus Real Bench v 2.44 (Intel)
Real Temp GT v 3.70 (Intel)
AIDA64 6.0 (AMD)

Here is the settings table for testing:

Intel	Stock Voltage (V)	1.130
	Stock Clock (MHz)	3600
	OC Voltage (V)	1.350
	OC Clock (MHz)	4300
AMD	Stock Voltage (V)	1.1125
	Stock Clock (MHz)	3700
	OC Voltage (V)	1.3250
	OC Clock (MHz)	4100
Turbo Boost	Disabled
C-States	Disabled
Speed Step	Disabled
XFR/PBO	Disabled
Thermal Paste	Noctua NT-h2
Test Run Time	60 minutes
Idling Time	15 minutes
Fan Speed	Set to run at 100% speed
Pump Speed	Connected to the AIO Pump header to run at 100% speed

The thermal paste being used on the test bench is the Noctua NT-h2 thermal paste. The use of the same thermal paste for all coolers will ensure the standardization and mitigate any performance benefit that may come using the supplied thermal paste.

Delta temperatures are reported on the graphs. The testing is done on an open-air bench system. Once inside the chassis, the temperatures are expected to rise and would largely depend upon the optimal airflow inside the chassis.

Not every run of the stress test may yield the same result. This could well be due to many factors like mounting pressure, thermal paste application, varying ambient temperature. Not to mention the silicon differences even among the same category of the chips. Hence, it is pertinent to mention the testing methodology along with the specifics.

The CORSAIR h200i RGB PLATINUM was tested using Quiet, Balanced, and Extreme profiles/modes with overclocked Intel i7 6850k to 4.3GHz. Let’s take a look at the results.

It was a tie between the CORSAIR h200i RGB PLATINUM CPU Liquid Cooler and ASUS ROG Ryuo 240 cooler.

The CORSAIR h200i RGB PLATINUM CPU Liquid Cooler has performed that well using Extreme and Balanced profiles. Not a bad performance with Quiet mode either.

The CORSAIR h200i RGB PLATINUM CPU Liquid Cooler has taken a top slot beating the ASUS ROG Ryuo 240 cooler.

With just 0.4°C and 0.3°C difference, the CORSAIR h200i RGB PLATINUM CPU Liquid Cooler takes the third slot.

During the testing, the UEFI/BIOS of both platforms were showing the pump to be running at 52xx speed. The pump’s speed was changing frequently so much so that once it was shown to be operating at 10000 RPM. Using the Extreme profile in iCUE the maximum reported pump speed was in 29xx RPM. I have connected both fans one by one on the PWM fan header of the motherboard (Asus Rampage V Edition 10).

The maximum speed reported for one was 2352 while for the other’s fan it was 2335 RPM. Both fans did not reach 2400 RPM. This could well be due to manufacturing tolerances. But when these fans were connected to the unit they were reaching to 26xx RPM in Extreme profile.

Acoustic

I could not measure the sound level of the unit due to uncontrollable environmental noise which would invalidate the actual sound level. Based on my experience with the fans and coolers testing so far, the ML120RGB fans were loud under the Extreme profile.

They were definitely quiet under the Quiet mode. With a Balanced profile, the noise level was a bit reduced from the Extreme profile level.

Is Corsair h200i RGB Platinum Worth Buying?

The CORSAIR is continuing the SAGA of their Hydro series CPU Liquid coolers. Their new generation is dubbed as RGB PLATINUM and is available in 240 and 280mm sizing. CORSAIR was kind enough to send their h200i RGB PLATINUM for the review.

They have changed the OEM for their Hydro series coolers effective from this generation switching from Asektek to CoolIT. Yet their design team was right on the job and retain the original footprint that was introduced with Pro series of their coolers which have Asetek as OEM.

I did not realize this until the cooler was unboxed and mounting hardware came in my hands. The CORSAIR h200i RGB PLATINUM is compatible with Intel LGA115X/20XX and AMD’s AM4/3/2/FM2 and TR4 sockets and comes with 5 years warranty from CORSAIR.

The CORSAIR h200i RGB PLATINUM CPU Liquid Cooler has an aluminum-made radiator having a dimension of 277x120x27mm. 27mm is the height of the radiator. The total height with a fully assembled unit will be between 54-55mm with fans and the screws. The radiator has 20 FPI count.

The hoses are braided for better looks with 350mm of length which is plentiful. The hoses are quite flexible to my personal liking. There is no protective plating underneath the mounting holes on the radiator so take care while installing the fans. Use the bundled screws and washers. The pump housing is made of the plastic finished in matte black color.

The top lid is surrounded by a silver color shroud. The lid itself has a black color background. The CORSAIR brand logo and name are on the lid. They light up when powered on. The diffuser runs on across the four sides of the block. There are 16 digital RGB LEDs, four on the top and three on each of the sides.

A micro USB port is on the front side. CORSAIR had bundled USB cable as the lighting effects and functionality of the pump, in particular, are controlled through iCUE. The pump’s housing has three cables coming out of it.

These are SATA cable including 3-pin connector, 2-way 4-pin fan headers cable and 2x 4-pin RGB LED power connectors cable. The copper base measures 55x55mm. CORSAIR has provided mounting brackets for the TR4 socket as well.

CORSAIR has bundled ML 120 RGB fans in the box. Each fan measures 120x120x25mm. The rated speed is up to 24RPM with an airflow of 75 CFM having an air pressure rating of 4.2mmH₂O. The noise level is rated at 37 dBA. The fans have 4-pin PWM connectors. The fans are rated at 12VDC with 0.225A current rating.

The user is required to download and install the iCUE software in order to control the lighting effects of this cooler as well as controlling the full functionality of the fans and the pump. The unit disconnects for a fraction of the second whenever iCUE is loaded in the Windows which should not have been the case.

CORSAIR is known for charging a premium price for their premium products and this cooler is not an exception to that.

The CORSAIR h200i RGB PLATINUM has performed superbly on both test benches and has taken a top spot in our graphs for Intel whereas for AMD it is on the third spot but the margin of difference is negligible (0.4°C and 0.3°C). However, this high performance is coming at the cost of a high noise level. With a custom fan curve, the user can easily set the optimal speed to noise ratio for better acoustic without compromising much on the thermal performance.

I am thankful to the CORSAIR for giving me the opportunity to review their h200i RGB PLATINUM CPU Liquid Cooler.

Was our article helpful? ?‍?

Thank you! Please share your positive feedback. ?

How could we improve this post? Please Help us. ?

Top 5 CPU coolers for gaming and overclocking

Whether it’s an air cooler or a liquid cooler, it doesn’t matter, they are always a vital part of a setup and as CPUs become more powerful we need reliable cooling solutions, sometimes even for overclocking.

After many hours of research and testing, we have concluded that the Noctua NH-D15 is the best CPU air cooler currently available. Even if it is just an air cooler, its performance is competitive with liquid coolers. nine0003

If air cooling is not your desired solution, don’t worry, we have great liquid cooling options for you!

Also, if you are not familiar with some of the terms, we will cover them later.

How to Choose the Best CPU Cooler

Before we continue, here are a few basic terms to be familiar with before choosing a CPU cooler.

AIO (all in one)

This refers to a liquid cooler or a closed circuit cooler. This means that the pump, pipes, liquid and tank are combined into one. All you have to do is install it and you’re done. It’s called «All-In-One» as you can get a completely custom liquid cooling that requires a lot more knowledge and skill to install. nine0003

TDP (Thermal Design Power)

This specification is measured in watts. It tells us the maximum amount of heat generated by the hardware component, which in this case is the processor.

RPM (revolutions per minute)

The number of revolutions the fan makes per minute. More rpm means more airflow, but this can increase the noise level.

PWM (Pulse Width Modulation)

Pulse Width Modulation is a modulation process or method that performs a predefined action based on either temperature (CPU) or system commands.

This simply means that the fan allows you to control the fan speed or the backlight (if it’s RGB) wirelessly or with third party software.

dBA (a-weighted decibels)

This expresses directly the relative loudness of sounds perceived by the human ear. A-weighted decibels means that sounds at low frequencies are reduced compared to unweighted decibels. nine0003

Things to Consider Before Buying a CPU Cooler

When buying a CPU cooler, don’t use the «if only there is one» principle. Here are a few important features:

Your budget

Often the cooling solutions on the market are better than the fan that comes with the processor. If you’re not sure how powerful your fan should be, it’s better to use the bundled one, as it’s safer than not cooling your CPU enough. nine0003

Consider how much heat your computer generates

Before determining what size cooler you need (and how much money you should budget), you first need to know how much heat your processor generates. Luckily, it’s a lot easier than you might think. This information is usually found on the processor box and should tell you everything you need to know.

If you don’t have your CPU box anymore, just go to the manufacturer’s website and type in your CPU model number and go straight to the specs tab where TDP is sure to be listed. nine0003

If you don’t know your processor’s model number, there are third party software you can use, such as CPU-Z (which we highly recommend). Once installed open CPU-Z and tab CPU should tell you everything you need.

Which cooler size should I choose?

Now that you know your processor model, it’s time to determine which cooler size will best suit your needs. nine0003

If you have a low TDP processor (40W to 70W), then you don’t need a big cooler. You can buy a cheaper small to medium sized cooler. Anything over 75W requires a more powerful cooler, with a larger heatsink capable of keeping temperatures low, and sometimes fitted with additional fans to improve airflow.

Watch out for CPU socket

Whether you use an air or liquid cooling solution, it must match the CPU socket. nine0003

Although most coolers are made for most CPU sockets, offering different brackets, some coolers only work with certain sockets.

To determine the type of socket your processor is using, check the specifications of your processor or motherboard.

Make sure the components are compatible

One of the most common problems faced when purchasing a mid to high end air cooler is the lack of space. nine0003

Sometimes heatsinks can be very large and leave little to no room for your RAM and other hardware, and sometimes they don’t even fit. So make sure you check the dimensions, which should be clearly stated in the CPU cooler specifications.

You should also check your motherboard layout to make sure the parts don’t bump into each other.

Observe fan position and air direction

Typically, the enclosure will have 4 different locations for fluid coolers. Depending on the case, you may be able to mount the cooler from the top (you will see vents and screw holes). It can sometimes be front mounted if your front panel is removable from your case. In extreme cases where space isn’t enough, a smaller liquid cooler can replace the exhaust fan on the back of the PC.

When placing the fans, make sure you know which way the air will blow. Some manufacturers have arrows engraved on the fans to indicate the direction, and ideally the air should be vented out of the case, so position it accordingly. nine0003

Top 5 CPU coolers for your computer

Noctua NH-D15 is the best

CPU cooler

What we liked :
- Very good cooling performance
- Very quiet
- Convenient fastening system
- Excellent build quality
- Supplied with two 140mm fans
- Supports PWM
What disappointed us :
- Only in brown and beige
- Relatively expensive
- Relatively large
- Installing RAM can be a problem
Noctua is a very popular brand in this industry and Noctua NH-D15 is a proven cooling master. It performs just as well as several mid-range liquid CPU coolers, which also makes it one of the best CPU coolers for gaming.

In terms of packaging, you get two 140mm fans. They were surprisingly quiet, even when the computer was running at its maximum, processing game processes. With a sound level of 24.6 dBA, you can hardly hear how it works. nine0003

Unfortunately, these two fans are quite large, which means you may have trouble installing RAM. However, you can move the front fan to provide more clearance for the RAM, but that won’t be enough if your RAM has a bulky case.

Noctua tried to fix this with the NH-D15S version. However, performance was noticeably worse than this model.

Some people think the color is ugly, but it’s barely noticeable on your system, and I personally really liked the color. Whatever your opinion on this color, this CPU cooler is a serious cooling package that can keep a modern overclocked CPU cool. Great choice! nine0003
Corsair Hydro Series h250i Pro RGB is the best liquid cooler

What we like :
- Maximum cooling capacity
- Supplied with magnetic levitation fans (very quiet)
- Pump with RGB lighting
- Excellent build quality / 5 year warranty
What disappointed us :
- Expensive cooling solution
The

Corsair h250i Pro is an exceptional cooling solution. Not only is it one of the quietest coolers I’ve ever used, it achieves it while still maintaining top notch cooling performance.

Stellar performance comes with a 360mm radiator that can accommodate 3 x 120mm fans. Being an «i» series, it comes with Corsair lighting that can be controlled via iCUE software and change RGB colors if you want. nine0003
Be Quiet! Dark Rock 4 is the quietest cooler

What we like :
- Great cooling solution
- Low Noise
- Convenient fastening system
- Solid build quality
What disappointed us :
- Dear
The Dark Rock 4 CPU cooler is a reliable air cooler with a 135mm fan. A large heatsink will help keep temperatures cool and keep your system quiet, giving you more overclock headroom and preventing your CPU from overheating under heavy workloads. nine0003

In addition to high performance and optimized airflow, you will also benefit from peace and quiet with only 21. 4 dB of fan noise!

This processor from Be Quiet will stand the test in high temperatures, but if you’re overclocking the fastest processor available, then hydro cooling is definitely worth considering.
Corsair h200i RGB Platinum SE is the best RGB cooler

nine0002 What we liked :
- High cooling efficiency
- Excellent software
- Easy to install
- Additional fans can be attached (4 in total)
What disappointed us :
- Not the quietest
Corsair h200i RGB Platinum SE with a very interesting RGB liquid cooler that beats all other options aesthetically. Like Corsair h200 , it also offers exceptionally efficient cooling.

Thanks to the iCUE software, you get a wide range of RGB backlight settings. In addition, it comes with a predefined configuration option that allows you to control the fan speed. You can leave the fans at 0% and use the pumps to do all the work as long as the temperature is low enough. The pump is also very small, making it easy to install. nine0003

The pump also comes pre-applied with thermal paste, but we recommend cleaning it and applying fresh thermal paste to the processor (never use too much!).
Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO — the best budget cooler

What we liked :
- Outstanding cooling performance
- PWM support
- Relatively quiet
- Durable
- Cheap
What disappointed us :
- Not suitable for heavy overclocking due to TDP limitations
If you are looking for the best budget cooler, then the Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO is a really good option.

The build is surprisingly good for a cooler at this price point. It is equipped with 4 heatpipes and a very secure mounting solution.

It doesn’t have any RGB bulbs for you to play with, which is to be expected given its price. Runs silently without compromising cooling performance and comes with a fan, but it is also possible to add an optional fan to improve airflow and keep temperatures down. nine0003

Is a second fan required? Well, the difference in temperature will only be 1-2 degrees Celsius when you install the second fan, so not much, but still nice to get those extra degrees.

All in all, this is a budget CPU cooling solution that you can rely on, just don’t buy it if you plan on overclocking your CPU.

Which cooler is right for you?

It’s time to decide which CPU cooler is perfect for your needs :

Get the Noctua NH-D15 if you’re looking for the best CPU air cooler. It performs just as well and even better than several average liquid coolers.
Those looking for a really good liquid cooler should take the Corsair h250i , which can compete with the best and offers solid build quality.
We highly recommend Be Quiet! Dark Rock 4 if you are looking for the quietest air cooler. nine0104
If you want a more compact liquid cooling option with extended RGB, then the Corsair h200i Platinum SE is a very good deal.
For those looking for the best budget option, we highly recommend the Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO . This cooler won’t let you down and it comes at a very low price!

Corsair h200i PRO RGB vs AeroCool Verkho 3 Plus: comparison

AeroCool Verkho 3 Plus

Corsair h200i PRO RGB
nine0003

WINNER

AeroCool Verkho 3 Plus

Rating: 69 points

Corsair h200i PRO RGB

Rating: 67 points

Key Features

Cooling

Connectors

Top specifications and features

Max airflow
Maximum noise level
Minimum noise level
nine0104
Maximum power dissipation
Maximum rotation speed

Maximum Airflow

AeroCool Verkho 3 Plus: 55. 6 CFM
Corsair h200i PRO RGB: 75 CFM

Maximum noise level

AeroCool Verkho 3 Plus: 26.7 dB
Corsair h200i PRO RGB: 37 dB

Noise floor

AeroCool Verkho 3 Plus: 18.2 dB
Corsair h200i PRO RGB: dB

Maximum power dissipation

AeroCool Verkho 3 Plus: 125
Corsair h200i PRO RGB:

Max RPM

AeroCool Verkho 3 Plus: 2000
Corsair h200i PRO RGB: 2400

Why AeroCool Verkho 3 Plus is better than Corsair h200i PRO RGB

Maximum noise level 26.7 dB vs. 37 dB, -28% less

AeroCool Verkho 3 Plus vs Corsair h200i PRO RGB highlights

AeroCool Verkho 3 Plus

Corsair h200i PRO RGB

Maximum noise level

High performance coolers tend to be quite noisy. A cooler with a noise level of 30 — 35 dB can be considered quiet. Silent — 20 dB (an almost unattainable value in real conditions of active cooling).
Show all

26.7 dB

Average: 25.9 dB

37 dB

Average: 25.9dB

Minimum noise level

The minimum noise level of the cooler is achieved at minimum speed. The noise level of about 20 dB is practically the threshold of sensitivity. 30 — 35 dB — comparable to the noise of an average office.
Show all

18.2 dB

Average: 14.6 dB

Fan height

Other things being equal, a fan with a higher height can generate more airflow. But the final result will also depend on the shape of the blades and other design features.
Show all

25 mm

max 39

Average value: 24.2 mm

25 mm

max 39

Average value: 24.2 mm

Heatsink material

Cooler heatsinks are aluminum, copper, aluminum with a copper base. Other options are rarely used. Aluminum ones are cheaper, but less efficient, and do not allow the use of liquid metal as a thermal interface. Copper — more expensive, more efficient, compatible with liquid metal. A compromise option is aluminum with a copper contact base.
Show all

aluminum

Bearing type

The plain bearing in the cooler is the most inexpensive, fairly quiet, but the least reliable option. Hydrodynamic — an improved version of the previous one. Bearing with magnetic centering — an improved version of the hydrodynamic (increased reliability, reduced noise). Other form factors are much less common.
Full text

hydrodynamic

No data

Speed controller

Some cooling fans and CPU coolers are equipped with physical speed controllers. Form factors are different — from a simple mechanical regulator on the back of a PC case to a multifunctional device, displayed in a 5.25-inch bay on the front panel.

N/A

Connector Type

The coolers are powered by the motherboard or other source through 3-pin, 4-pin PWM and 4-pin Molex connectors. PWM stands for PWM (Pulse Width Modulation), which allows you to adjust the rotation speed over a wide range.
Show all

4-pin PWM

Illumination color

Cooler and coolant illumination is a spectacular decorative element. Makes sense in an open PC case or a case with a transparent side wall. Can be single color or multicolor (RGB).
Show completely

missing

multi-colored

Purpose

Coolers are used to cool not only central processors, but also video cards, chipsets and even hard drives. The design of the cooler determines its purpose.
Show all

for processor

Cooler height

An important parameter that determines the physical possibility of installing a cooler in certain types of cases.
Show all

134 mm

max 390

Average value: 109.2 mm

120 mm

max 390

Average value: 109.2 mm

Cooler depth

78 mm

max 272

Average value: 92. 5 mm

52 mm

max 272

Average value: 92.5 mm

Cooler width

125 mm

max 489

Average value: 139.6 mm

276 mm

max 489

Average value: 139.6 mm

Maximum Airflow

Airflow from the cooler is measured in Cubic Feet Per Minute (CFM). The higher it is, the higher the cooling efficiency, but also the higher the noise.
Show all

55.6 CFM

max 182.24

Average: 54.5 CFM

75 CFM

max 182.24

Average: 54. 5 CFM

Maximum rotation speed

The indicator indirectly indicates the efficiency of the cooler/fan, but one should also take into account the design features of the blades, the material and design of the radiator, etc.
Show all

2000

max 13000

Mean: 1925.8

2400

max 13000

Mean: 1925.8

Maximum power dissipation

125

max 500

Average: 158.2

max 500

Average: 158.2

Uptime

Cooler manufacturers calculate uptime for ideal conditions and in reality this figure is always less. It depends primarily on the type of bearing. It varies from one to several tens of thousands of hours.
Show all

60000 h

max 500000

Average: 98718.2 h

max 500000

Average: 98718.2 h

Fan Diameter

At the same rotational speeds, a cooler with a larger diameter fan will be more efficient than a smaller fan, all other things being equal.
Show all

120

max 220

Average: 110.8
nine0003

120

max 220

Average: 110.8

Number of fans

The cooling system can include multiple fans. The presence of more than one fan indirectly indicates the increased efficiency of the cooler.
Show all

Mean: 1.2

Water cooling

Water (liquid) cooling is often used for high-performance PCs, in particular gaming ones.
Show all

Yes

Number of heat pipes

Heat pipes in coolers are an efficient way to remove heat. The more of them, the better. There are no universal values here, it all depends on the specific system configuration.
Show all

Average: 4.1

Minimum airflow

Variable speed cooler feature. Allows you to find out whether the cooler will cope with the tasks of cooling at minimum speed.
Show all

29.1 CFM

Average: 25.5 CFM

CFM