Corsair iCUE H150i ELITE LCD XT CPU Cooler Review

Conclusion 

Corsair’s H series of All-In-One CPU liquid coolers has changed a lot over the years, and you can be forgiven for thinking that Corsair’s frequent updates to their lineup don’t do much to improve cooling performance over the last-generation predecessors. With the new H150i ELITE LCD XT, Corsair has proven that their newer models do indeed deliver significant upgrades to users, and we aren’t just talking about Corsair’s LCD screen here. This new H150i outperforms some of its predecessors by a huge margin, and that should confirm to everyone that not all 360mm CPU liquid coolers are the same. 

With its new fans, new cold plate, and other updates, Corsair’s iCUE H150i ELITE LCD XT is amongst the best performing CPU coolers that we have ever tested. While it isn’t our chart topper, it cannot be denied that this is a hugely capable CPU cooler, and better still this unit has an incredibly quiet pump.

If you are interested in this closed loop liquid cooler, we know that you are mainly interested in this AIO’s IPS screen. If you weren’t you would be looking at this AIO’s non-LCD model, a model that is significantly cheaper than this one. With this LCD screen you can monitor information like CPU thermals, display custom animations/GIFs, or display static images. The addition of a IPS screen to this AIO allows users to customise their systems in a way that is unique to them, something that is not the case with standard RGB lighting options.

One thing that we will mention here is that Corsair’s iCUE/Link software has improved significantly in recent years, so much so that it is now our preferred RGB control software. That said, iCUE does lock you into the Corsair ecosystem, so that is something that you will need to consider. The software is a lot easier to use and a lot more user friendly than it was before, and we are thankful that Corsair has worked to improve that.  

With an asking price of £319 for the White iCUE H150i ELITE LCD XT that we tested, this AIO is obviously on the ultra-premium end of the CPU cooling spectrum. There a much cheaper AIO liquid coolers available, even with this unit’s 360mm radiator size. Even Corsair have sub-£150 H150i units, albeit without the LCD screen, iCUE Commander PRO and with older non-RGB AF Elite series fans. What you are paying for here is the full package, iCUE RGB control with the iCUE Commander core, an AIO pump/block combo with an LED screen and an RGB LED ring, Corsair’s latest cold plate design and newest AF RGB ELITE series fans. None of these add-ons are cheap, and the cost of these additions adds up.

So what do we think of the Corsair iCUE H150i ELITE LCD XT? We think it is a great cooler, and a better buy than the ROG  RYOU III 360 ARGB White liquid cooler. The H150i has a much quieter pump, it’s LCD screen has more customisation options, and we honestly find Corsair’s iCUE software to be easier to use. The iCUE H150i ELITE LCD XT is a great heatsink, but it is neither the best performing heatsink that we have tested, or the most affordable.

If you want the best performing AIO CPU liquid cooler, our testing still puts the EK Nucleus CR360 on top. That said, it doesn’t have the same bells and whistles as the iCUE H150i, but what it does have is a much more affordable price. All in all, the Corsair iCUE H150i ELITE LCD XT is a great product, and it is up to you whether or not you think this unit is worth its asking price. 

You can join the discussion on Corsair’s iCUE H150i ELITE LCD XT CPU cooler on the OC3D Forums.

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