Corsair H100i RGB Platinum and H115i RGB Platinum Review
Test Setup
Corsair H100i Pro AIO
Intel Kaby Lake i7 7700K @ 4.7 GHz
Asus Maximus VIII Ranger
2x8GB Corsair Vengeance LPX Memory 3200MHz
CoolerMaster V650
Corsair Force GT 60GB
Coolermaster MasterCase Pro5
We use OCCT in Linpack X64, AVX compatible with all logical cores tested and 90% free memory utilised. The test is set up to run automatically with just a few clicks to set it going. A 10 minute idle followed by 30 minutes of testing and a 5-minute cool down is the order of the day and brings the total test time per clock speed to 45 minutes. To remove subjectivity in determining whether a CPU has failed, OCCT is set to stop the test and register a fail should the max temp exceed 80 degrees. As with the socket 2011, in testing we noted that if even just one of the cores exceeds 82 degrees OCCT halts the test and a fail is recorded.
iCUE Software
Over the past year Corsair’s software suite has changed beyond recognition, merging Corsair Link and CUE into a combined software stack called iCUE, adding new features while consolidating older functions so that they can operate better together and separately.
To be honest, this change could have been considered long overdue, as on the AIO side it finally allowed Corsair users to match the lighting of their AIO with their other RGB components, such as keyboards, mice and cooling fans, something that wasn’t possible with the older Link/CUE ecosystem.
With the iCUE software suite, users of the H1XXi RGB Platinum series can do everything that was previously possible with Link, allowing temperatures to be tracked as well as fan speeds, coolant temperatures and several other factors. You can even choose to be given a push notification if CPU temperatures get too high and select other advanced options.
On the lighting-side, controlling the H100i/H115i RGB Platinum is a breeze, whether you are controlling each LED individually or by using both custom and pre-defined lighting profiles. The RGB illumination of both the H100i/H115i RGB platinum’s RGB fans are controlled using iCUE, with both fans being connected to the AIO using ARGB LED connectors.
Out of the box, Corsair ships their H100i/H115i with four default performance profiles, each of which will define the cooling performance of Corsair’s AIO, prioritising either low noise levels of increased cooling potential.
A new addition to this performance lineup is a new “Zero RPM” option, which is designed to only allow the AIO’s fans to spin when coolant temperatures exceed 45 degrees. Corsair recommends their cooler’s “Balanced” option for the best balance between cooling performance and noise levels, though silence freaks will enjoy the AIO’s Quiet preset.
One option that we enjoy within iCUE is the ability to set notifications for specific events, which in the case of an AIO cooler is to run specific commands when temperatures exceed certain levels. For example, when CPU or coolant temperatures exceed certain levels, you can allow all of your system’s RGB LEDs to turn a specific colour, perhaps red for HOT, set all fans to 100% speed or even shut down your system if these temperatures are maintained over a specific period of time.
These options are a great thing to have if you want to safeguard your system with a few additional failsafe measures, though you can safely ignore these options if you wish.
