Introduction
CORSAIR is a leading manufacturer of all parts enthusiast. While they are best known for their memory, they also manufacture AIO coolers, regular coolers, keyboards, mice, headsets, fans, power supplies, and various RGB equipment that is coordinated with their in-house developed ICUE software.
On our test bench, today is the CORSAIR H170i ELITE LCD AIO cooler, which is the first 420 mm-sized AIO that we have reviewed here at The FPS Review. It is available for a special price of $279.99 versus the regular $309 on CORSAIR’s webstore at the time of writing, which seems to be the best pricing. This $30 discount is appealing. As always, check current online prices before buying as they can change over time.
We will again be using our AIO test platform which is capable of putting out enough heat to make even the devil sweat. We do this to test AIO liquid cooling solutions that are likely to be used with some of today’s most demanding CPUs.
CORSAIR H170i ELITE LCD AIO Cooler (CW-9060063-WW)
The CORSAIR H170i ELITE LCD is an all-in-one (AIO) CPU cooler that is designed to work on a wide variety of sockets. These include Intel’s LGA 1700/115x/1200/1366/1700/2011/2066 and AMD’s AM5/AM4/sTR4/sTRX4 sockets. Overall, the CORSAIR H170i ELITE LCD covers all current-day sockets by default.
While we have the 420mm radiator version that we’re reviewing today, this AIO is also available with a 360mm radiator that sports a trio of 120mm fans. Due to the laws of thermodynamics, expect them to perform a little worse than the 420mm version we’re reviewing today.
LCD Screen
The CORSAIR H170i ELITE LCD sports a 2.1” IPS LCD screen at a 480×480 resolution with 600cd/m^2 brightness with 24 bits of color. It is controlled using CORSAIR’s iCUE software which allows you to put various rig statistics or GIFs on it for your viewing enjoyment. From a subjective perspective, this is the brightest, most vibrant LCD screen that we’ve seen on an AIO cooler to date.
iCUE COMMANDER CORE
Inside the box, you’ll find an iCUE COMMANDER CORE unit that is capable of running up to six PWM fans and controlling RGB bling on up to six compatible CORSAIR fans. Note that these will not work with the standard ARGB fans, just CORSAIR’s fans. The unit is controlled via iCUE and can help tie your system together without having to shell out for a separate controller.
Water Block & Pump
The cold plate on the CORSAIR H170i ELITE LCD measures 56x56mm and is made out of copper. On top of the cold plate and pump structure sits a 2.1” LCD that sports a 480×480 resolution at 8-bit RGB (16.7 million) colors and 600 Nits of brightness.
The pump is PWM controlled with an approximate 2700 RPM (+/- 10% – observed) speed at a 100% duty cycle. It pushes the water through 450mm of cooling hose to and from the radiator.
Radiator
The liquid CPU cooler radiator is designed to hold three 140mm fans and measures 457x140x27mm. By our count, the aluminum radiator sports a density of 22 fins per inch and is attached to 450mm of tubing.
Fans
The included fans are CORSAIR’s iCUE ML140 RGB ELITE Premium 140mm PWM fans. They feature Magnetic Levitation bearings (hence the ML) that are supposed to produce little friction, low notice, and improve durability compared to traditional bearing fans. They also have RGB LEDs that can be controlled through the iCUE application. CORSAIR does not list an MTBF and the fans are rated for 400 to 1600 RPM (plus or minus 10%) at a reported under 10-31.8 dB(A). The stated maximum airflow is 82.0 CFM with a static pressure of up to 2.06 mm/H20.