When comparing Corsair Hydro Series Extreme Performance Liquid CPU Cooler H100i vs Noctua NH-D1, the Slant community recommends Noctua NH-D1 for most people. In the question“What are the best CPU coolers for gaming?” Noctua NH-D1 is ranked 1st while Corsair Hydro Series Extreme Performance Liquid CPU Cooler H100i is ranked 4th. The most important reason people chose Noctua NH-D1 is:
The height of the fans from the motherboard allows for clearance of most tall of RAM heatsinks, if cleared the RAM is still accessible even when the cooler is installed.
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Pros
Pro Works with most CPUs
The design of the mounting bracket allows for mounting with AMD and Intel CPUs. This way no matter what type of system being used or being switched to, the cooler will work with them making for good longevity of the device.
Pro Easily controlled from the desktop
There is an included USB connection that attaches to the motherboard which allows for a Corsair program to control it on the users desktop. The software will allow for fan speed settings as well as temperature settings and monitoring.
Pro Large noise free fans
The fans measure at 240mm, making them quite large. The model used is the SP120L, which have a very low noise level, making for a good cooler for someone who wants a quiet system.
Pro Pretty good clearance
The height of the fans from the motherboard allows for clearance of most tall of RAM heatsinks, if cleared the RAM is still accessible even when the cooler is installed.
Pro Great warranty
The manufacturer stand behind this product pretty well as it has a six year warranty.
Pro Easy installation
This cooler will fit with most chipsets (Intel or AMD) and has clear instructions on how to install, making for an easy to use device.
Cons
Con Always a potential for leaks
While this is a closed loop cooling system meant to be leak free, having something that pumps water inside of a very expensive electronic device can be a risk to be considered. While air cooling will never allow one to reach the low temps this water cooled system can, if it does leak there can be major damage.
Con May not fit in all builds
This is a large device with large cooling cables, it is best to find out in advance if this cooler will fit in ones case with the motherboard they are using.
Con Very large
This is a large cooler that may block access to some items depending on the size of their case and positioning. Some RAM cards for gaming can often be tall, which this cooler may not clear. While the fans on the cooler can be mounted in other positions such as the front and back instead of the sides, this may cause the CPU case to not close.
Con Color of fans leaves much to be desired
Brown is an odd choice to go with for the fans as it matches very little of most other components in the CPU market. This is not an easy cooler to match into the color scheme of a build and will stand out making a bit of an eyesore.