Corsair Cooling Hydro Series H50 Self-Contained Liquid CPU Cooler Review

A Closer Look

[ad#review1038-top]The Corsair H50 is the epitome of simplicity. A radiator, hoses, and a base that contains both the waterblock and pump. The radiator mounts in the rear chassis fan area using the same holes that the fan’s screws go in.

But things aren’t quite as simple as they seem when building an enclosed system intended for OEM sale. The H50 is the retail version of Asetek’s LCLC cooler, which is used in some upper-end HP and Dell XPS rigs, and also high-end rigs by Alienware, Falcon, XSMotion and Cyberpower Gamer.

If you thought about the cost of the system, you’d probably think that the radiator, or maybe the pump, is the most expensive component of this cooler. But you could be wrong. The hoses are quite expensive themselves.

The surgical tubing that is used for most liquid cooling systems is actually somewhat porous. Not enough that you’d notice it, but the liquid within slowly evaporates through the tubing. With a typical enthusiast liquid cooling system, the owner occasionally adds coolant, flushes the system now and then, so it really doesn’t matter. But an enclosed cooler with no way to add coolant has to utilize hoses that are totally non-porous. As I mentioned earlier, OEM components are used longer, so the coolant level has to remain constant for years. The hoses chosen for the H50 is in the “Teflon” family of substrates and is non-porous. They don’t look like much, and that’s why.

Another concern is that the components and the coolant contained within must withstand the most extreme temperatures. Think about it.typically, enthusiast PC components and liquid coolant are shipped from a climate-controlled warehouse via a carrier that is travelling in normal temperatures to you, who is immediately going to use the parts or coolant in your rig, located in your climate-controlled home. But that “store bought” rig full of OEM hardware may be stored in someone’s warehouse in Alaska where the -40C temperatures could freeze normal ethylene glycol antifreeze.or as easily in a warehouse in Dubai where the temperatures could reach 60C. Building equipment for OEM use presents problems that I definitely hadn’t thought about.



Corsair Cooling Hydro Series H50 Self-Contained Liquid CPU Cooler Corsair Cooling Hydro Series H50 Self-Contained Liquid CPU Cooler

The radiator is a 120mm aluminum “motorsports” radiator like those used in some popular in-case liquid cooling systems. It is like a tiny auto radiator with small tanks top and bottom.


Corsair Cooling Hydro Series H50 Self-Contained Liquid CPU Cooler Corsair Cooling Hydro Series H50 Self-Contained Liquid CPU Cooler

The waterblock and pump are contained in a black housing that proudly displays the Corsair logo. I opted not to remove this housing as everything is held into place by a full dozen screws. Exiting the housing are the hoses and a 3-pin fan connector that provides power for the pump. Included is a 3-pin fan extension if this wire isn’t long enough.

About the pump. In research for an OEM self-contained liquid cooler, Asetek saw that AC and DC pumps had different advantages (and disadvantages). Typically DC-based pumps are high performing but at the same time complex in nature and expensive. On the other hand AC-based pumps are very reliable and low cost. By combining the best from both technologies they have developed a hybrid technology low power high performance, high reliable but low cost pump. Typically a 10th the cost of industry grade pumps.

The copper cooler base is held into place by an additional eight screws. Thermal compound is pre-applied. Though the base is shiny, it is not lapped.

The cooler is held into place by a unique lug-type mounting system. I’ll cover that further in the installation section.


Corsair Cooling Hydro Series H50 Self-Contained Liquid CPU Cooler Corsair Cooling Hydro Series H50 Self-Contained Liquid CPU Cooler

Included with the cooler is a 120mm fan. The fan has a 4-pin PWM connector and is intended to be connected to your CPU_FAN header.

The H50 has hardware for Intel LGA 1366 and LGA 775 installation, along with AMD AM2/AM2+/AM3 hardware.

Corsair’s website and the included installation material both mention that only Intel mounting hardware is included with the H50, and AMD installation hardware can be attained by contacting Corsair. Also, the hardware photo at my favorite online retailer does not show AMD mounting hardware. However, the bracket and baseplate for AMD application was included with my cooler, which arrived in sealed retail packaging. I have to assume that the AMD hardware is now included. Just to note, AMD application requires removal of the existing AMD cooler mounting hardware on your motherboard. There are air coolers that also require this, if I’m not mistaken, the Noctua NH12P does.


Corsair Cooling Hydro Series H50 Self-Contained Liquid CPU Cooler Corsair Cooling Hydro Series H50 Self-Contained Liquid CPU Cooler

[ad#review1038-bottom]