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Corsair H80i alternative.

yamaha

yamaha

yamaha

Associate
Joined
19 Jan 2009
Posts
34
Hi

Can someone offer me some advice please.
I am about to update my pc using a Intel i5 3570K
cpu amongst other componants. I will probably do a moderate overclock.I was just about to order
the new Corsair H80 i cpu cooler, that was until i visited the Corsair forums.
It appears that countless people are having to RMA their coolers due to various
problems with them. Can someone recommend an alternative through their experiance.
I dont really want to use the huge type of coolers like the noctua nh-d14, hence me choosing the Corsair initially.
Its a shame as the corsair gets some great reviews.

Thanks
 
Just read a review on the new Phanteks PH-TC12DX.
Looks like this could be ideal.
Does anyone know when stock is arriving??

Thanks
 
You'll only ever see people complaining or asking for help. Admittedly Corsair can be blamed for the poor information regarding fitting and updating, causing untold problems.
You'll virtually never see someone saying 'Well done. Nice one!!'
Don't let all that put you off. Myself and several other forum members have these Hydro coolers and are well happy. I'm happy enough to reccomend these coolers, I've fitted 3 H80i's and 4 H100i's without problems.
Give them a go, the new batches are out now. If you do decide to try them don't update the firmware. The instructions are useless and the (current) latest firmware is tosh. Wait to update when the corsair forum goes quiet ;)
 
So hopefully the new batch of H80i coolers should be (fingers crossed )
fixed. What really put me off is some people had returned theirs like 6 times.
Dont know if i can wait another couple of weeks for the new Phanteks.

Thanks again for the replys, its appreciated.
 
Like Ripshod said you only hear people complain and ask for help. But you will see almost no people complaining or asking for help with other coolers... and what few you will see are usually simple fixes. Not something requiring RMA to resolve. ;)
 
I've just been through the Corsair forum. The vast majority of the members complaining have botched their firmware updates, bricking their units. Or air trapped in the pumps making them rattle. Some have complained of fan noise, I got tired of replying to them after realising a lot of them have the fans opposing each other (both blowing into the rad). Other complaints of loose fitting brackets on Z77 and such are right, but the slack is taken up when the pump is tightened down. Smart people would, and do fit rubber washers to the bracket to alleviate this problem (I recommend this fix myself). I'd say it's common sense spoiled by bad advice.
I do not deny there are problems with the engineering, but nothing a little thought can't fix.
 
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I might go ahead and give the H80i ago now thanks to your advice.
As its a sealed system and you mention air getting trapped how can
you bleed it ? Or do you live with it?
 
yamaha said:
Never been a fan of updating firmware.
If its working ok i always leave well alone.:)
Click to expand...

If it ain't broke don't fix it. Too right Yamaha. Having posted all this it's up to you. Fit the cooler, but leave the usb, Link and firmware for later. The units ship with a profile quite capable of managing a moderate overclock on the hottest CPUs.

Hold the rad with the pump hanging below and shake (gently) before installing. A good idea to power the unit in the same positon before fitting to make sure everything is okay. Running the unit on top of a large tin will enhance any noise.

*edit*

Try with just one fan to start, 2 fans only make 1-2C difference anyway.
 
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An afterthought:

Perhaps someone at OCUK could take maybe an hour now and again to test some units before dispatch. Would save on costs and I certainly wouldn't mind an un-sealed box if it has 'Tested by OCUK' stamped on the box.
 
Ripshod said:
An afterthought:

Perhaps someone at OCUK could take maybe an hour now and again to test some units before dispatch. Would save on costs and I certainly wouldn't mind an un-sealed box if it has 'Tested by OCUK' stamped on the box.
Click to expand...

It's a good idea but then OcUK would have to provide some thermal paste with the units to replace the used paste that comes pre-applied on the unit.
 
There are many H100i / H80i problems in thread here on OcUK that are not simple fixes The H100i seems to be supplied with a less than stellar fan and many are putting better fans on at their own expense. Granted H100i has many more problems than H80i but quality control seems to be a big part of the problems. Fan mounting holes in radiator so big the mounting screws fall through is one I remember.

I am outspoken when I see inferior products. And when new products do not perform as they should I avoid them and usually an other product from that company. Corsair has been setting on the thumb for way too long.. so long it's become a joke with many people. I was absolutely amazed at how many people bought the H100i / H80i sight unseen after all the problems H100 had been.

H80i looks nice and performs very well.. problem is you need a backup cooler on the shelf in case it fails.

Antec Kuhler 920 is very similar maybe a few c warmer and I hear nobody complaining about it.
 
If you have room for 140mm fanned radiator (138.4 x 27.0 x 172.5mm)
Nzxt Kraken X40 £84.98 but still on pre-order and no idea when they will be out.
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=HS-003-NX

I'm not into water but here are several others
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/productlist.php?groupid=701&catid=2330&subid=2262

I've heard good things about OcUK kits but have not researched or used any.
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/productlist.php?groupid=962&catid=1532&sortby=priceAsc
 
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Resident said:
It's a good idea but then OcUK would have to provide some thermal paste with the units to replace the used paste that comes pre-applied on the unit.
Click to expand...

Don't have to fit it to a cpu to test for air or pump/fan noise. Only needs a SATA connection.

Like I said earlier, I've fitted 7 of these Hydros without fault/complaint.
 
Ripshod said:
Don't have to fit it to a cpu to test for air or pump/fan noise. Only needs a SATA connection.

Like I said earlier, I've fitted 7 of these Hydros without fault/complaint.
Click to expand...

I wouldn't be surprise if many of the problems are id-10-t errors. Common sense things like hanging pump at lowest post so air can rise to cooler are not needed with air coolers. :D
 
Found this link:
The guy reckons he has sorted out his noisey H80i pump.
Any one tried this ?
Still debating wether to buy one.
 
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