Corsair Hydro H110 & H90 CPU Cooler Review Cases and Cooling   Page 1

Reviewer: Chris Ledenican Article Publish Date: 2/8/2013

 

 

 

 

 

 

Introduction

 

 

Corsair might not have been the first to bring the all-in-one water cooler to the market, but the Hydro series was the force behind making them a household name. It all started with the Asetek  designed H50, which was by no means a perfect product, but its simplicity, performance and acoustics made it a commercial success. Since then Corsair has switched their Hydro series over from the Asetek design to one from CoolIt. Their latest coolers, however, the H110 and H90 are once again created by Asetek, but they are based on their latest 4^th generation design.

What sets the H110 and H90 apart from the other products in the Hydro lineup is both of the coolers have a large 280mm radiator, as opposed to the 240mm rad used on the other coolers in the series. This gives the coolers a larger surface area for improved efficiency and it also allows the rad to accommodate larger case fan that can produce more airflow at lower decibels.

With the larger radiator, 140mm fans and 4^th generation Asetek design, the H90 and H110 are considered high-performance heatsinks, meaning they are more expensive than the mainstream all-in-one (AIO) coolers in the series. The premium is to be expected with the larger than average radiator and fans, but does the increased surface area justifies both of these coolers having an MSRP above $100?

 

About Corsair:

Corsair is a global company bringing innovative, high-performance components to the PC gaming market. Specializing in very high performance memory, ultra-efficient power supplies, and other key system components, our products are the choice of overclockers, enthusiasts, and gamers everywhere.

Founded as Corsair Microsystems in 1994, Corsair originally developed Level 2 cache modules for OEMs. After Intel incorporated the L2 cache in the processor with the release of its Pentium Pro processor family, Corsair changed its focus to DRAM modules, primarily in the server market. In 2002, Corsair began shipping DRAM modules that were specifically designed to appeal to computer overclocking enthusiasts. From its roots in high-performance memory, Corsair has expanded its award-winning product portfolio to include ultra-efficient power supplies, builder-friendly cases, ground-breaking CPU coolers, blazing-fast solid-state drives, and other key system components.