Corsair H100i Elite Capellix | Review
The pump is the only real novelty of the new Corsair H100i Elite Capellix, which in every other part is almost identical to the most recent models offered so far by Corsair. Instead of the glossy plastic we now find an acrylic cover, perfect for highlighting RGB lighting; Corsair allows you to choose between two variants, one black and one transparent, depending on your tastes. Both options are included in the package and the cover can be easily removed thanks to the four screws present, so you can change the aesthetics of your heatsink quite easily even at a later time.
In terms of technical specifications, the pump has a copper contact plate, while the radiator is aluminum. In the package we find two Corsair ML120 RGB levitating fans, capable of rotating up to a maximum of 2400 RPM and generating a static pressure of 4.2 mm-H2O and an air flow of 75 CFM. The Corsair H100i Elite Capellix is compatible with Intel LGA 1200, 1366, 115x, 20xx and AMD AM4, AM3, AM2, sTRX4 and sTR4 sockets, plus it is guaranteed for 5 years.
As with the other products of the Californian house, the RGB LEDs can be easily managed using the iCUE software. The aforementioned 33 RGB LEDs are divided into 21 configurable zones and can be easily customized, furthermore the software allows you to change the behavior of the heatsink by selecting between four modes: quiet, balanced (factory set), extreme or zero RPM, which stops the fans completely when there are no demanding loads to manage.
The installation of the heatsink is simple and presents no particular criticalities. Inside the package Corsair includes the iCUE Commander Core, a hub to which the 4-pin PWM and LED fan cable are connected, as well as a connector that exits the pump. The hub is powered by SATA, to complete the installation now all you have to do is connect the USB 2.0 cable and the 3-pin cable to the two USB 2.0 and AIO_Pump headers on the motherboard.
Performance
To test the new Corsair H100i Elite Capellix we used an AMD Ryzen 7 1700X processor, not very recent but more than suitable for our tests, combined with an Asus ROG B450-F Gaming motherboard (you can find it on Amazon) and an Asus ROG Strix GTX 1660 Ti video card. As for the RAM we have chosen a 16 GB Crucial Ballistix Elite 2666 MHz kit (available for purchase at this address), all powered by a 750 W Riotoro Enigma and mounted inside a Riotoro CRI280 Prism case.In the benchmarks we have decided to report the temperature delta, calculated as the difference between the temperature recorded via software and that of the environment. In this way it is possible to have a clearer idea of the cooling performance and the comparisons are not affected by the variation of the temperature of the room in which we carry out the benchmarks.
idle
Nothing to report for as regards the temperatures in idle, where we register a temperature delta of only 4 degrees. The result is in line with that of the Cooler Master ML240R RGB, also equipped with a 240mm radiator.3DMark Time Spy
We use 3DMark Time Spy to simulate the typical load of a video game which uses the DirectX 12 libraries. The Corsair H100i Elite Capellix reaches a temperature delta of 29 degrees, in line with that of both the Cooler Master and the Asus ROG Ryujin, but equipped with a 360mm radiator. The Deepcool Assassin III does slightly better, with a delta of 28 degrees.Cinebench R20
Similar to what we do with 3DMark, we use Cinebench R20 to simulate a real photorealistic rendering load. The Corsair H100i Elite Capellix records a delta of 31 degrees Celsius, surpassing the Cooler Master but remaining slightly behind the Asus ROG Ryujin, which dissipates heat better thanks to the extra fan and larger radiator.Prime95
To put maximum stress on the processor and evaluate the behavior of the heatsinks in extreme cases, we use Prime95 and leave it running for 10 minutes. Here the Corsair H100i Elite Capellix performs really well, matching the Deepcool Assassin III and outperforming the Cooler Master ML240R again. Also in this case the Ryujin occupies the top of the ranking, but as before the 360mm radiator and the extra fan guarantee a greater dissipation capacity.Noise
To measure the noise we have positioned the sound level meter 30 cm from the center of the side bulkhead of the case. This is not an absolute measurement as it was not done in an anechoic chamber, but the idea is rather to understand how much noise the PC will make when placed on the desk.The Corsair H100i Elite Capellix does not it is the quietest heatsink ever, but even in this case it achieves excellent results. In idle it is the one that records the lowest value among the various AIOs tested, while at full load it slightly exceeds 40dB, making it quieter than the Cooler Master and only 1dB louder than the DeepCool and Ryujin.
Conclusions
We had been waiting for a while for the arrival of the Capellix lighting system also on the All in One heatsinks and, finally, we were satisfied. Nowadays the aesthetic aspect matters a lot to users, in this context the Corsair H100i Elite Capellix has all the credentials to be considered one of the most beautiful AIOs on the market. Some may be bothered by the four screws on the pump and prefer completely smooth solutions such as those from NZXT or Cooler Master products, but it depends a lot on personal taste; they did not bother us particularly, on the contrary we appreciated their positioning which makes it very easy to change the cover.The performance of this Corsair H100i Elite Capellix is no different from that seen on the other models of the H100i range, therefore we can be satisfied. As we have seen in our tests Corsair's AIO can handle any load well and the noise is average, which is why it is unlikely to bother you during use (especially if you're wearing headphones). new Corsair H100i Elite Capellix is available for purchase at a price of 160 euros. This is not an exaggerated figure, especially when we consider that we have the iCUE Commander Core bundled, but it remains superior to that of other Corsair products in the H100i range.
Summing up, who should buy it? All those who are looking for a 240mm AIO cooler that offers both excellent performance and a neat aesthetic, perfect for RGB LED lovers. Those who don't pay much attention to appearance and are only interested in performance, will be happy to save a few tens of euros by opting for the H100i Pro RGB (find it here) or the H100i Pro RGB XT (available here), other Extremely good and equally performing Corsair.
