Corsair iCUE H170i Elite LCD XT Review: Top of the List Performance
Whereas the corporate started promoting L2 cache modules to OEMs, right this moment Corsair sells all kinds of elements and peripherals. Corsair 5000X scenario and CX750M Energy Provide. Refrigeration has additionally lengthy been the premise of the corporate’s product vary; we examined final Corsair’s iCUE H100i Elite 240mm With Intel i9-12900K.
However as Raptor Lake raises the bar on cooling problem, Corsair has despatched us its strongest AIO ever: the 420mm iCUE H170i Elite LCD XT. Might it tame Intel’s 13900K and earn a spot for us? greatest AIO coolers record? It actually has a dimension benefit and a excessive MSRP of $309.99, however we’ll need to check it out to learn the way it performs. First, the technical specs of Corsair.
Cooler Options
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| Cooler | Corsair iCUE H170i Elite LCD XT |
|---|---|
| MSRP | $309.99 USD |
| Radiator Dimensions | 457x140x27mm |
| Radiator Materials | Aluminum |
| Pump Velocity | as much as 2700 rpm |
| Socket Compatibility | Intel: LGA 1700, 1200, 1150, 1151, 1155, 1156, 1366, 2011, 2066 |
| AMD: AM5, AM4, AM3, sTRX4, sTR4 | |
| Foundation | Copper |
| Max TDP (Our Take a look at) | ~325W |
| Assure | 5 years |
Packaging and Included Contents
420mm is much from small, and that is why the Corsair iCUE H170i Elite LCD XT is available in a package deal that is nearly so long as my arm.
Included within the package deal are:
- 420mm Radiator
- CPU block with 2.1 inch IPS Show
- 3 x 140 mm followers
- Slots for all trendy CPU sockets (together with AM5 and LGA1700)
- Security and guarantee data
- {Hardware} lighting and PWM middle
- Pre-applied thermal paste
Setup
Corsair’s AIO is fairly easy to arrange.
1. Repair the again plate.
2. Repair the separators.
3. Repair the radiator and followers to the highest of the chassis.
4. Safe the CPU block to the splitters.
5. Repair the fan management middle, then join the CPU block and followers to it.
Options of Corsair iCUE H170i Elite LCD XT
2.1 inch 480×480 IPS Show
Above the CPU block is a vibrant 480×480 IPS show that may show your chosen sensor readings with quite a lot of display screen themes or be loaded with a customized background or animated GIF of your selection.
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Full Copper CPU plate
The CPU contact plate on Corsair’s iCUE H170i Elite LCD XT is fabricated from copper and comes pre-installed with thermal paste.
{Hardware} RGB and PWM Hub
The H170i Elite comes with a {hardware} RGB and PWM hub that may help as much as three further followers, excluding the one which comes with the heatsink (6 units in whole supported).
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27mm thick 420mm radiator
The S36 Prisma has a 420 mm radiator with a thickness of 27 mm (1.06 inches). This is not the thickest (or thinnest) radiator we have seen, but it surely needs to be appropriate with any chassis that helps the 420mm AIO.
3x AF RGB Elite PWM 140mm followers
There’s extra to a heatsink than a heatsink or radiator. The included followers have a major affect on cooling and noise ranges. Three 140mm AF RGB Elite followers are included with the iCUE H170i Elite LCD XT. The variations of those followers included with the heatsink are barely extra highly effective than the usual AF RGB Elite followers, with a most pace of 1700 RPM versus 1600 on normal fashions. Corsair provides highly effective airflow, peak airflow as much as 89 CFM, low noise score (10-33.8 dBA) and sturdiness due to fluid dynamic bearings. Listed below are the options of the fan:
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| mannequin | AF RGB Elite PWM |
| dimensions | 140x140x25mm |
| propeller pace | 500 – 1,700 rpm |
| Air movement | as much as 89 CFM |
| Air strain | 2.00mm H2O |
| Bearing Kind | Fluid Dynamic Bearing |
| Lighting | RGB |
Fan Curve relies on AIO Cooler temperature moderately than CPU temperature.
The pump and fan curves of the iCUE H170i Elite LCD XT are primarily based on the temperature of the CPU coolant moderately than the CPU. This has benefits and drawbacks, however many will respect the way it reduces noise ranges and eliminates fan blowing habits at frequent hundreds.
The draw back to this methodology is that semi-intensive however steady workloads trigger the cooler to run simply as loudly as at a totally limitless workload. Additionally, the followers will spin at larger speeds for an inexpensive period of time after the workload is full, as an alternative of immediately returning to decrease speeds. It is because it takes a couple of minutes for the AIO to convey coolant temperatures down after a steady workload.
Complete Software program Package deal
Corsair’s iCUE software program gives intensive customization for coolers, elements and peripherals. I used to be very stunned to see that the RGB choices on my motherboard have been detected by the software program, permitting simple management over all system RGB capabilities. That is because of the cooperation between the 2 firms. first announced in 2020 (opens in new tab). Different motherboard manufacturers should not at the moment supported by iCue.
The software program gives in-depth management of the cooler’s LEDs. You possibly can change the settings for every LED on the included AF RGB Elite followers.
You can even change what’s proven on the small display screen of the CPU block by way of software program. You possibly can set the clock to show the coolant temperature or some other sensor of your selection. The background might be modified from quite a lot of customizable presets, or it’s also possible to add a picture or GIF file.
Take a look at Methodology
Whereas it was fairly simple with earlier CPU generations for coolers to maintain the flagship i9 processor under TJ max (the utmost temperature a CPU can maintain with out throttling) throughout demanding workloads, that is now not realistically potential on present era CPUs (and 13900K). particularly) with out subcooling (or activation energy limits).
Whereas a CPU’s peak temperature has been a priority up to now, fans might want to study to just accept excessive temperatures as “regular” when working demanding workloads with Raptor Lake and Ryzen 7000 CPUs. Fashionable AMD and Intel CPUs are designed to run fairly sizzling as much as 95 levels Celsius and as much as 100 C for AMD Ryzen 7000 CPUs and Intel’s Core i9-13900K. Related habits has been normal on laptops for years as a result of cooling limitations in tight areas.
As well as, Intel’s Core i9-13900K helps Adaptive Enhance Expertise (ABT), which permits Core i9 processors to dynamically improve all core frequencies primarily based on present thermal headroom and electrical situations. This permits multi-core hundreds to run as much as 5.5 GHz if there may be the required quantity of thermal dissipation. This characteristic works in an energetic high-temperature searching for approach: If the chip sees it working under the 100°C threshold, it boosts its efficiency and energy consumption till it reaches the secure 100°C restrict, thereby holding larger clocks (and offering higher efficiency) for longer durations of time. for.
The elevated cooling challenges brought on by Raptor Lake means now we have needed to change a number of the approach we take a look at coolers. Some coolers have been capable of cross Intel’s Cinebench R23 multi-core take a look at with the twelfth Gen i9-12900K when energy limits have been lifted (although solely essentially the most highly effective fashions did). Most liquid coolers and all air coolers I examined “failed” on this take a look at as a result of the CPU reached the utmost TJ on this situation.
With Raptor Lake’s 13900K, not a single heatsink examined was capable of hold the CPU under the utmost TJ on this take a look at – as a result of as we talked about, the chip is designed to spice up efficiency and energy till it reaches the thermal end result. For these intense hundreds, we’ll take a look at efficiency by evaluating the overall watts cooled and noise ranges.
I will be testing Intel’s i9-13900K CPU utilizing Asus’ TUF Gaming Z690 Gaming Plus WIFI motherboard and Cooler Grasp’s HAF 700 Berserker PC case, and the case followers are restricted to 35% pace. The CPU Cooler’s followers use the motherboard’s default fan curve.
Along with testing Cinebench with out energy limits being utilized, we’ll additionally present outcomes when the CPU’s energy consumption is capped at a extra cheap 200W. For many who desire whisper-quiet cooling on the expense of efficiency, we’ll additionally present outcomes at 125 W. For each of those outcomes, we’ll characterize the traditional delta over the ambient temperature outcomes.
To check how loud every cooler makes in several situations, we’ll present noise degree measurements recorded utilizing a PSPL25 Sound Meter for all three energy ranges examined. We count on most coolers to run quietly at 125W.
LGA1700 Socket Bender
Bear in mind that other than the CPU cooler, there are lots of components that may have an effect on your cooling efficiency, together with the case you utilize and the followers hooked up to it. A system’s motherboard also can have an effect on this, particularly if it has a warping downside, which causes the heatsink to make poor contact with the CPU.
We positioned Thermalright’s LGA 1700 contact body on our take a look at rig to forestall bending from affecting our cooling outcomes. In case your motherboard is affected by warping, your thermal outcomes might be worse than these proven under. Not all motherboards are equally affected by this concern. I examined Raptor Lake CPUs on two motherboards. And one in all them confirmed vital thermal enhancements after putting in Thermalright’s LGA1700 contact body, whereas the opposite motherboard confirmed no distinction in temperatures! Take a look at our contact body assessment for extra data.
Take a look at Configuration
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| Processor | Intel Core i9-13900K |
| Comparability Examined Air Coolers | Puma Forza 50 |
| DeepCool AG400 | |
| DeepCool AG620 | |
| Iceberg Thermal IceSLEET G6 Hidden | |
| SilverStone Hidrogon D120 ARGB | |
| Thermalright Murderer X 120 R SE | |
| Thermalright AXP120-X67 | |
| Comparability Examined AIO Coolers | Arctic Liquid Freezer II 360 |
| Corsair iCUE H170i Elite LCD XT | |
| Deep Cooling LT720 | |
| Enermax AquaFusion ADV 360 | |
| Fractal Celsius+ S36 Prism | |
| MSI MAG CoreLiquid P360 | |
| SilverStone VIDA 240 Slim | |
| motherboard | Asus TUF Gaming Z690 Plus Wifi DDR5 |
| knowledge retailer | Kingston Fury DDR5-6000 |
| GPU | Intel ARC A770LE |
| Case | Cooler Grasp HAF 700 Berserker |
| monitor | LG 45GR95QE |
| PSU | Cooler Grasp XG Plus 850 Platinum PSU |
MORE: The right way to Purchase the Proper CPU Cooler?
MORE: The right way to Examine CPU Temperature
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