Group test
ALL-IN-ONE CPU COOLERS
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Compatible with everything but Threadripper CPUs,
the mounting system used here is simple. It uses a
choice of two top mounting pieces that are
magnetically attached to the block. The AMD one,
then, just uses the AMD mount on the motherboard
so there’s no need to fit a base plate on the back.
Meanwhile, the Intel one does require fitting a back
plate but it’s simple enough to do and doesn’t
require any brute force or an extra hand.
The H60 V2 is pretty much middle of the pack
for 120mm coolers. It’s ahead of the CoolerMaster
MasterLiquid Lite 120 but a couple of Celsius behind
the be quiet! Silent Loop 120, which is to be
expected given this is a single-fan design.
That’s true of noise levels too, with it being a little
louder than the CoolerMaster but quieter than the
Silent Loop, at least in standard mode. In silent
mode it’s a touch louder, but still stays below 34dB.
As such, the H60i doesn’t quite stand
out as a bargain, but it is a fairly good
option for the reasonable price.CORSAIR H60i V2
One of the crucial selling points of this cooler,
though, is its software control. Using the Mini-USB
port on the side of the CPU block and the supplied
cable that can fit directly to a motherboard USB
header, the cooler can talk to Corsair’s Link
software. This enables you to control fan and pump
speed, either via presets or by customising how the
cooler responds to different CPU temperatures.
Oddly, despite this control, the H100i defaults to
being surprisingly loud. The H100i silent option had
the fans spinning at 1200rpm and at 1800rpm in
standard mode. As such, this was the loudest cooler
on test in silent mode.
The upside to this is better cooling, and sure
enough the H100i ran away with it. It’s likely there’s
an ideal compromise between noise and
performance to be found by customising profiles.
The H100i can’t claim to be the cheapest or the
fanciest cooler here, but it sits in a nice
middle ground, making it a good
option, especially for software control.CORSAIR H100i V2
80 % 80 %
4While the Corsair H100i is all about its software control
and RGB lighting, the H60i keeps things simple. This
120mm cooler runs straight off your motherboard’s fan
headers and lacks lighting of any kind.
The H100i V2 has a mid-range feel in terms of features
and build. You get a copper base plate and an RGB logo
set into the top piece of the CPU block, but you don’t get
the fancier quality of some of the other coolers.