Introduction
It has been almost over a decade since Corsair’s AIO CPU coolers came to market and the company remains one of the most familiar names in CPU cooling to this date. In today’s highly competitive CPU cooler scene, nearly every brand has an AIO liquid cooler and for company’s like Corsair, that may prove to be really challenging especially to innovate on such perfected design.
That being side, we are now on Corsair nth iteration of their AIO cooler and with Corsair going all-in on their iCUE RGB-infused product line, one of the first products coming out of this announcement late last year was the newer iCUE H100i Elite Capellix.
It is a mouthful so forgive me if I interchangeably use H100i Elite Capellix or some variation thereoff (probably going to stick with H100i Capellix) so please be guided accordingly. With that said, let’s take look at the CAPELLIX update of the venerable H100. This is going to be quite straightforward as I don’t see the H100i Elite Capellix adding anything to performance but let’s focus on that anyway and see if the lightshow adds more flare to the actual function as well.
Read on!
Features & Specifications
- Two 120 millimeter corsair ML series magnetic Levitation PWM fans deliver improved airflow for extreme CPU cooling performance
- 16 individually addressable RGB LEDs light up the pump head to produce stunning customizable lighting effects to match your build
- Experience incredible cooling performance with each fan running from 400 to 2,400 RPM while in operation
- Zero RPM cooling profiles In corsair iCUE software allow fans to stop entirely at low temperatures eliminating fan noise
- Corsair iCUE software allows you to control and synchronize your cooler’s RGB lighting with all iCUE compatible devices monitor CPU and coolant temperatures and adjust the fan and pump speeds. All from a single intuitive interface
- Available in black and white color scheme
Closer Look
I love how Corsair has switched to yellow as their brand colors recently but they’ve really not made an effort of saying anything about it. All their new products are yellow and their fonts used have also changed but it still retains that classic Corsair feel. There’s also some subtle triangle mesh pattern that Corsair is going for now, its also a nice touch. The box itself has a product shot of the H100i Elite Capellix on the top flap. Take note that the actual color of the product you want is denoted on the box so its white, the product shot would be white and for black, it would be black. Both colors are just variations and do not have any differences.
Inside the package we have the H100i Elite Capellix AIO assembly, a pair of Corsair ML120 fans done in white or black depending on your color of choice, the installation kit, a hex key, a Corsair iCUE Commander Core fan and RGB controller brick and some documentation.
The Corsair iCUE H100i ELITE Capellix supports modern Intel and AMD sockets including Threadripper. Please see installation guide for actual installation procedure, all the installation gear needed are in the package.
Package contents as listed by Corsair:
- CORSAIR iCUE H100i ELITE CAPELLIX White Extreme Performance Liquid CPU Cooler
- CORSAIR iCUE Commander CORE Controller
- Mounting kit for all modern CPU sockets
- Two ML RGB White Series PWM 120mm fans
- Fan and radiator mounting screws
- Thermal compound (pre-applied)
- Quick Start Guide
Corsair new pump-block is where most of the changes is focused for the H100i Elite Capellix. A taller pump-block replaces the older, low-profile block on the XT and RGB PRO models. The new block features a jewel top plate with the Corsair logo by default but they provide a blank plate for the user which you can customize if you’re familiar with the process. Other than that, this is still the same CoolIT design so all mounts are cross-compatible from recent generations of AIO coolers from Corsair.
Corsair’s ML120 RGB are high-performance fans rated for 75 CFM with a static pressure rating of 4.2 mm-H2O which is very decent for this purpose. Maximum RPM is 2400. These fans utilize proprietary RGB connectors but will work regardless if the RGB is connected or not as long as the fan power is connected.
Corsair’s Commander Core controller is a fan hub and RGB controller combined in one and only comes as a stock accessory for Corsair products. The retail version is the Corsair iCUE Commander PRO which has a larger array of connectivity for extra expandability. If you’re only using the AIO, this thing will have a spare array of 4 ports which you can use to load up more Corsair iCUE compatible fans.
Out sample is the 240mm white version of the Elite Capellix AIO but there also exists a 360mm and a monster 420mm namely the H150i Elite Capellix and the H170i Elite Capellix respectively.
Corsair and CoolIT’s block design features a square block profile, perfect for MSDT Intel and AMD CPUs but is a bit small especially against a Threadripper but could be just right for an Intel HEDT CPU. The block itself for the H100i Elite Capellix has pre-installed thermal paste.
Installed Look
Your case will need to support 240mm radiators with enough clearance for the fans as well especially if you’re mounting on the top of the case. Another thing worth noting is that the Corsair iCUE Commander Core will eat a significant amount of space if you want it centrally located in a given direction.
Corsair suggests adhesives for mounting the Commander Core. Here we see my target installation location for the controller just behind the CPU socket area which is covered by another controller from the iCUE 5000X chassis from Corsair as well. Read our review about that case here.
Here’s the case with the system powered-on.
Here’s the H100i Elite Capellix working in our iCUE 5000X chassis with all the fans synced through the Commander Core block.
Software – Corsair iCUE
We are now version 3 of the iCUE software from Corsair. Released around 3 years ago, iCUE marks a significant change from Corsair’s software design with their earlier software LINK software. LINK had the right idea but just wasn’t pulling it all together like iCUE does. The latest version of iCUE presents a quick selection of scenes with per-device specific settings found under each device option.
Specific to the H100i Elite Capellix and the Capellix line-up itself is the advanced RGB control. Since we have multiple possible devices to control, iCUE presents them on one side of the window where you can select which lighting channel you want to control. There is also a hardware channel lighting selection which configures the default setup directly on the device.
Corsair has plenty of lighting option and control for the lights like which direction an animation go. Users can also identify which fan is which and where it fits in the sequence. This does still have its drawbacks as the configuration isn’t as rich as one would want. An example is the image above which shows the dynamic lighting mode for temperature which changes colors based on the temperature range. Its limited to 3 colors based on 3 temperature ranges denoting low, medium and high.
Speaking of temperatures, the Corsair iCUE H100i Elite Capellix and all the new Capellix AIO model support control over the pump and fan speed thru the iCUE software. Users can configure their fans to run at predefined fan curves or set the speed manually as they like. The pump itself can be configured as well.
Testing Methodology
Reviewing coolers is a very divided topic so its best to always serve with as much context as possible. In our 2021 revision for our cooler testing, we will be using an open test bench to test coolers. We’ll detail this in another article as this will serve as the first test out of this revision but due to the incredible number varying cases, how they’re design and oriented as well as the stock fans that come with today’s modern chassis, there proves to be more variation in a case situation than in a test bench. That being said, much like many of our testing where we look at performance primarily, my test methodology looks at these coolers when used in the best possible scenario.
The other variable is overclocking. We previously tested coolers on fixed-voltage and fixed-frequency setups. In today’s setup, that proves to add another variable as the large array of motherboards or even the actual applications thereof will heavily vary. That said, we take the top CPUs from both Intel and AMD and test them various loading scenarios.
Back2Gaming is proud to work with OCCT to be our partner for this test. Which allows us to set various stress loads without using mixed-load benches like AIDA64. OCCT allows granular control on the testing.
It also features monitoring and logging for troubleshooting problems and performance analysis as well. OCCT is available as a free download for all users with a paid version for power users and businesses.
Test Systems
Test System Configuration (Intel) | |
CPU | Intel Core i9-10900K |
Motherboard | ASUS ROG MAXIMUS XII Extreme |
Cooling | As listed |
Graphics Card | ZOTAC GeForce RTX 3080 Trinity OC |
Storage | Corsair MP600 1TB |
Power Supply | FSP Hydro G Pro 1000W |
Case | OpenBench Table Community Edition |
Test System Configuration (AMD) | |
CPU | AMD Ryzen 9 5950X |
Motherboard | ASUS ROG Crosshair VIII FORMULA |
Cooling | As listed |
Graphics Card | ZOTAC GeForce RTX 3080 Trinity OC |
Storage | Corsair MP600 1TB |
Power Supply | FSP Hydro G Pro 1000W |
Case | OpenBench Table Retail Edition |
Test Result – Intel
Test Results – AMD
Temp-Load Behavior
In this segment we see the behavior of temperature as affected by the type of work the CPU is doing. The chart shows us the frequency the CPU is running at along with the power and temperature reading. The darker the color in the chart, the more consistent it is in that value range. The frequency is denoted by the blue line and is read according to the right vertical axis. The left vertical axis denote power and temperatures.
This test uses OCCT stress test to perform the work as detailed below:
- 5-minute pilot idle period
- a 15-minute SSE stress test (extreme mode, steady load, small data set)
- 5-min. idle
- a 15-minute AVX stress test (extreme mode, steady load, small data set)
- 5-min break
- a 30-min AVX2 stress test (normal mode, variable load, large data set)
The chart will show any throttling on the CPU indicated by lowered frequency on the blue line while also showing the operational frequency of the specific workload. We can also see how fast the cooling drop back the CPU to idle temperatures. Take note that AMD and Intel will have different thermal ranges as well as overall power usage which is affected by how the motherboard tunes the CPU to behave under specific workloads.
User Experience & Conclusion
The Corsair iCUE H100i Elite Capellix is truly all about RGB and Corsair has to be really careful not to push RGB instead of performance with their coolers. Thankfully, the iCUE H100i Elite Capellix proves to be a a win in both departments especially if you will be using it in a Corsair ecosystem with fans, cases or other devices that are supported by iCUE.
The pump/block design on the H100i Elite Capellix will be the most obvious design change and it is a welcome one. Its taller bode does make it feel different than the more compact blocks on the previous generations but it does also give a more raised look to the block which allows it to stand more in-tune with RGB memories. Corsair’s ML120 RGB are a good improvement over past AIO coolers from Corsair which lacked the RGB. The fans themselves pack excellent ratings and they’re more than capable of pushing through the H100i Elite’s fin stack.
One strong-point I feel most people need to know is that the Corsair iCUE H100i Elite Capellix features slide-on retention brackets. They are not screwed in or clipped on. They slide in the a notch and friction locks them in place. While this may not mean anything to users who are installing it on a new PC, the advantage here comes from situations where you are upgrading and need to change out the retention bracket, something as simple as this ensures a smoother transplant than screw-on retention clamps.
The advantage here is that Corsair doesn’t really go past what they’re already asking. At $150, you get a high-performance cooler with a ton of RGB plus a Commander Core controller which go for $40. That said, the original H100 from 2011 came in at $120. The original H100 had jet engine-like fans that pushed at 92CFM but can be heard from across the house. They were noisy and Corsair has engineered multiple fans since in the decade that was and now we have a large selection of Corsair fans for anyone to use. Corsair’s fan of choice on the H100i Elite Capellix are the ML120 RGB.
The fans themselves were quite silent during load which is impressive as our top results in our charts were coming from the Kraken X73 RGB which was fairly audible, the most audible in our testing at stock. I was really expecting Corsair’s to be on the louder side but I was quite surprised that it remained quiet through the testing period.
As mentioned, the Corsair iCUE H100i Elite Capellix and the entire Capellix line for that matter is primarily an RGB-driven set. They are meant to fulfill a role in the Corsair ecosystem and one has to consider that when making this decision. By itself, it is a great cooler and by itself, it is also a beautiful cooler. But its lighting capabilities as well as light effects are meant to stand together with other Corsair products like a Corsair iCUE chassis or something similar. That said, while it is easy to recommend the H100i Elite Capellix for anyone for its cooler performance, we do feel its waste of its full potential and urge anyone to check out any of Corsair’s cases and fans to fully take advantage of the Commander Core.
Corsair backs the iCUE H100i Elite Capellix with an incredible 5-year warranty. I give it B2G Silver Award.