Final words and conclusion

Final words and conclusion

We very much liked what the H115i and H150i PRO Corsair brought to the market, we do so even more with the more affordable H100i PRO. It's a solid performer offering very low acoustics. Corsair recently moved towards the universal iCUE software that allows you to control all that is Corsair. In the software, you should set this unit like we tested it today, at balanced mode. This option offers proper performance at zero noise levels. Other then that seen from its predecessor sets, the styling and fans have been upgraded of course.

For the fans, Corsair migrated to their ML line. Magnetic Levitation equals to little to no friction, and at low RPM you gain pretty terrific airflow whilst hardly making noise. That certainly shows in the DBa measurements as this kit easily was one of the most silent ones we have ever tested. In the past I have mentioned some noise at the pump, a bit of grinding and crackling noises, this round the pump was totally silent. You will not hear that unit in a closed chassis.

Aesthetics & Design

The overall looks are very nice if you ask me, that however is a subjective statement of course. You will get that all black design with the subtle shades of grey makes it an appealing product to the eyes. New is the chrome element and LED unit on the cooling block, totally programmable. It seems and looks subtle and can be configured to your preference. And if you aren't into the RGB hype, simply don't activate it and your problem is solved. While we're on that topic, the added benefit if you use iCUE is that you not only change the color animation of the Corsair logo embedded into the cooling block, but you can match up any RGB color. We can imagine that with an ASUS ROG themed motherboard you'd change that to red, perhaps orange or orange with an accompanying Gigabyte Aorus motherboard and perhaps white with an MSI Titanium series motherboard. As subtle as that LED is, it really does bring a 'finished' feel to your final PC build and color theme. iCUE still is in development though, give it some time as it has the potential to become really nice software.

Installation

Much like the other models, H100i Pro is very easy to install with its mounting system. The unit is factory filled with coolant in a closed loop. Just install the backplate, the standoff-screws, position the cooler and secure it. The black design will make this kit look great on any PC. It simply is a good alternative to heat-pipe coolers with the added benefits of being fairly quiet whilst offering very nice looks. No 'advanced' skills are required other than the need for ten minutes to install the kit. 

Pricing

The Corsair H100i Pro will be introduced at 119~129 USD. We expect roughly similar prices in the EU, but that depends on the VAT in your country and the USD to EURO differential. 

Conclusion

We liked the H115i/150i PRO and it is not any different with the H100i PRO. It offers what your CPU needs, good performance whilst offering terrific acoustics and nice looks. Combined with iCUE and the RGB lighting you can do some pretty snazzy stuff, and teamed up with the coloring inside that chassis of yours you can create a nice theme. Also, the cooling capacity felt more than adequate. It's at the level of a really good heat pipe-cooler, but with better aesthetics of course. Load up iCUE and set the pump and fans at in balanced mode for a really good symbiosis of cooling and acoustics, that is my one tip for you. One remark that I have made in the H150i review applies here as well, there is a fair amount of wires leading out and into the cooling block. So design wise there is more cable clutter to deal with, it's all fairly easy to tuck away though. Last lines, cooling performance is good, the low acoustics are great, combined with the aesthetics, ease of installation and the RGB coloring logo with iCUE software we can wholeheartedly recommend the new Hydro H100i PRO. 

Handy related downloads:

• SiSoft Sandra
• AIDA
• CPU-Z
• HWMonitor