corsair icue h170i elite lcd display liquid cpu cooler made in china

FeaturesA premium all-in-one CPU cooler that combines powerful, low-noise cooling and vibrant RGB lighting with a personalized LCD display, offering custom graphics to accent your system"s aesthetics and track its real-time performance at a glance.

Showcase your live CPU temperature, favorite animated GIF, funniest meme, your team"s logo, or anything you like on a custom 2.1" IPS LCD screen with 480x480 resolution, ultra-bright 600cd/m2 backlight, 24-bit true color depth, and over 16.7 million colors.

A high-performance pump head provides powerful, low-noise cooling for your CPU, with a ring of 24 individually addressable RGB LEDs encircling the screen for even more vibrant lighting effects.

Three all-new 120mm CORSAIR ML RGB ELITE magnetic levitation fans with eight RGB LEDs per fan and AirGuide technology channel airflow for extreme CPU cooling performance.

CORSAIR iCUE software enables you to switch between a variety of display options such as fan speeds, CPU temps, images and GIFs, and more, adjust fan and pump speeds, and control and synchronize RGB lighting with all iCUE-compatible devices.

We have already featured the iCUE H170i CAPELLIX from Corsair on our site. Another well-done addition to Corsair’s high-quality AiO lineup. Now there is the iCUE H170i ELITE LCD, which counts as an upgrade of the Elite CAPELLIX-AIO and wants to put a scoop on it. Probably the biggest innovation: a pump housing with an LCD display. In addition, the 420 mm radiator gets new ML RGB ELITE fans with improved airflow and much more. How well the iCUE H170i ELITE LCD does, you will learn in the following test!

The iCUE H170i ELITE LCD comes in a somewhat plain packaging. The product image is shown on the front, with information about the AiO and about the LCD display on the back. Thereby, a cool white cat wearing sunglasses is demonstratively depicted so that ROCCAT gets competition in the cat game – of course, just a little fun on the side. True to the motto “Super Chilled” as it is labeled on the top of the packaging.

First of all, let’s talk about the scope of delivery: apart from the 420mm radiator including the pump block, there is also a Commander Core fan controller to control the three 140mm ML RGB ELITE fans. Furthermore, the various brackets for the different CPU sockets, additional screws and a useful USB header splitter cable are also included. At the same time, everything was packed safely from scratches and damages in foil and cardboard.

To start the review, let’s first take a look at the centerpiece of the package. The matte black pump block has received a clearly visible update with the 480×480 pixel resolution display. But the case has also received a significant update and now has rounded corners. There is also an RGB circle around the display, which can be illuminated later. Small lettering in gray rounds off the exterior. For later installation, the upper part including the LCD display can be removed and a fine layer of thermal paste is applied to the reflective copper base plate. A step that can be saved for later installation. The metal rails for mounting can be pulled out of the pump block without screws and exchanged according to the application.

As far as the radiator itself is concerned, nothing exciting has changed externally, and as far as we can tell, internally as well. Furthermore, the radiator is quite narrow, matte black and on both sides there is still a silver Corsair logo. About the quality standard can be determined only one thing with our specimen: everything is at a near-perfect level. The individual fins are fine and have no dents in the middle as well as at the screw connection points. The two hoses are high-quality sleeved and thus only strengthen our impression. There is also a small blow-off valve on the hoses, for changing the coolant.

Another innovation is the three ML RGB ELITE fans. The new stickers in the middle of the rotor blade are visually striking. These are no longer simply black, but now sparkle chrome in the light. We didn’t notice any changes to the rotor blade itself – size, color and the type of illumination from the center are identical. The surrounding fan case, on the other hand, is somewhat different. This no longer has as many edges and now creates a visually more stable and noble impression. However, these changes do not affect the performance itself.

For an easier installation of the iCUE H170i ELITE LCD, Corsair offers a short video on the YouTube channel Corsair Lab. For the sake of the environment, Corsair deliberately does not include a paper installation guide. If the video itself does not help, there is a QR code on the inside of the packaging’s lid, which takes you directly to the online assembly instructions.

Now that the iCUE H170i ELITE LCD is installed in our system, the power and cooling test can begin. To test this, we loaded the CPU using Prime95 over a 30 minute interval while reading the temperature under load using CPUID Hardware Monitor. At the same time, we used the idle temperature as a comparison value. The room temperature was 22 °C. We also observed the temperature course to avoid sensor readout errors. We repeated this procedure for a total of three times and entered the average values in the table now below.

The collected results look very solid in our eyes. To classify them a bit better, here is a table with other AiO watercoolers we tested in the same system:

During the test, we noticed one thing increasingly – the volume of the pump. In “Intensive” mode, you can hear a distinct low hum, which could be distracting while gaming depending on the position of the computer. However, in the closed ASUS ROG Strix Helios, the volume of the hum dropped significantly – so a good insulation solves the problem to a large extent. If we may recommend one mode, it is definitely the “Balance” mode. Here, the volume drops significantly and the CPU remains more than cool enough. Finally, something about the fans. Due to the 140 mm, the fans don’t have to spin as fast as the 120 mm fans to get the same performance. An advantage you have to consider with a 420 mm AiO water cooling and at the same time we can only recommend.

In the last chapter, we finally examine the LCD display in operation. For this, the now universally known Corsair iCUE software must first be installed. Here, the fans can be configured in the lighting and speed, the LCD display including RGB ring and other RGB-capable devices. The software is visually appealing. It is especially nice that you can address the individual LEDs of the fans and set them in the appropriate RGB colors as desired.

Aside from custom RBG lighting, you can choose from one of the many RGB modes. Once again, everything is available here and a very large spectrum is covered. The colors are first class and thus meet our requirements. We have the same opinion about the LCD display. Here you can choose to display the computer’s stats, such as CPU or GPU temperature. But pictures or animations as PNG or GIF are also possible. This gives creative minds another option for individualization.

The iCUE H170i ELITE LCD from Corsair is an AiO water cooler that packs a punch. A large and quite flat 420mm radiator is supplied with enough coolant by a pump that is a bit noisy at times. The build quality is on the highest level and convinced us once again. The new ML RGB ELITE fans enhance this impression not only with their quality, but also with their performance on the radiator. As usual, the AiO water cooling system once again delivers what Corsair has been known for for years. The cooling performance keeps up in the upper range of the tested water coolers. Those who own the predecessor can optionally upgrade their AiO with an LCD kit, which gets a buy recommendation from our side, just like the iCUE H170i ELITE LCD.

The H170i Elite Capellix squeaks out some impressive thermal load results, narrowly passing some of the best-performing coolers we’ve seen on our Intel i9 platform.

While the H170i Elite Capellix does provide the lowest overall thermal load temperatures of the testing group, the noise levels are a bit elevated, which results in an offset on our acoustic efficiency comparison.

The Corsair H170i Elite Capellix has a current price of $230, giving it a higher-than-average group price, although the Aorus Liquid Cooler 360 manages to be more expensive. The large-heatpipe air coolers show the most performance value, primarily due to their significant price difference and lower noise levels.

Price and noise level ultimately has the final impact in our performance value comparison, as the H170i does tip the scales on retail pricing. The upside is that it also provides the best cooling capability we’ve seen in any standalone cooler size or format.

Side-by-side photos of the H170i Elite Capellix mounted on the Intel i9-10850k from our FLIR ONE Pro shows a slight thermal load difference along the lateral side of the 420 radiator at 50% PWM, as well as along both coolant lines between the pump unit and radiator.

Looking at the H170i on the 32-core Threadripper 2990WX under the nose of our FLIR ONE Pro, we can see a distinct difference between 100% and 50% PWM, most notably along the same areas we saw on our Intel platform; radiator and tubing. However, there is also a noted difference at the pump unit itself, with the 50% PWM image showing a bit of a heat bloom over the 100% image.

The Corsair H170i Elite Capellix is an excellent performer that provides maximum cooling capability (at least, outside of a custom loop), provided you can fit it into your build and budget. With its massive 420 (3x140mm) radiator, this cooler requires careful planning to account for compatibility. It certainly makes a strong argument for being the choice for high end builds featuring high core counts and strong overclocks.

The H170i Elite Capellix is also the best cooler we’ve tested to-date when it comes to taming our high-end overclocked Threadripper 2990WX and Intel i9-10850k. There’s no shortage of cooling performance here. It’s just a matter of whether you need this much or not, and if the radiator will fit in your case.

Computers are some of the most flexible, powerful devices in the world, but that power can come at a cost. Running the most powerful components (or overclocking those parts) can cause them to run hot, which can lead to hardware throttling and even failure. While PC fans have been a go-to for a long time, water coolers (and other liquid coolers) are vastly more efficient.

Thankfully, you don"t have to be a professional to get a cool (pun intended) rig these days, thanks to the availability of all-in-one (AIO) liquid coolers. These cooling units are self-contained, meaning you don’t have to worry about spilling water on your expensive gaming PC components, and they are incredibly easy to install. As an added bonus, they are usually far quieter and take up less room than air cooling components (making them perfect for mini ITX cases). Read on to find our list of the best liquid CPU coolers.

This 240mm cooler comes with socket support for the latest AMD and Intel processors, including AMD’s Threadripper processors. Pulling heat away from your CPU with a copper cold plate, it pumps liquid into a 240mm radiator fitted with two Corsair ML Series 120mm fans. It runs quietly and efficiently when your CPU is running cool, and it tops out at 37dBA when running at maximum (75CFM).

Managing the AIO cooler is also simple. You can control fan and pump speeds from within Corsair’s iCUE software right on your PC, and monitor CPU temperature to make sure your settings are giving you optimal performance. If visual flair is also your thing, the pump has 16 RGB LEDs on the head, and you can manage each light with the iCUE software, too. Corsair is a well-known and respected brand, and there is a reason for that. This is a high-quality liquid cooler, which is why it gets our top spot.

If you’re looking for a powerful way to cool down your computer at an affordable price, Lian Li Galahad GA-240A is the way to do it. This AIO cooler comes in under $120 but has a sizable 240mm radiator and dual 120mm fans. Those fans generate 2.6 mmH2O of air pressure and 69.17 CFM of airflow, ensuring ample air movement throughout your PC while remaining quiet.

The fans and the water pump housing of Lian Li Galahad GA-240A feature 47 addressable RGB lights to keep your system glowing. It’s also easy to switch between the 17 different lighting effects thanks to a handy little controller. Beyond that, the kit includes thermal paste and ensures compatibility with most major CPU sockets, meaning you’ll have everything you need to get up and running.

Looking for an all-in-one liquid cooler with a 240mm radiator, wide compatibility, RGB options, and a bargain price? The DeepCool LS520 is the one for you. It has a big radiator with two fans designed for higher static pressure and a strong, concentrated airflow. And the water pump has a powerful three-phase drive motor and great coolant flow. This cooler even manages to keep everything running quietly, as the pump noise only reaches 19 dB

Beyond the DeepCool LS520’s cooling prowess, you get adjustable RGB lighting on those fans, and the water pump features an infinity mirror to make its lights really shine. Motherboard connectivity even allows you to link and sync it with your existing RGB setup. And if you’re worried about the cooler working with your CPU, it complements a variety of builds thanks to its extensive socket compatibility, including LGA1700, AM5, and sTR4.

The NZXT Kraken X53 is the successor to our longtime favorite NZXT Kraken X52 that features some major improvements to look better and cool more efficiently. (We"ve seen this cooler easily keep an Intel Core i7-9700K running at full tilt, well under 50-degrees Celsius.) It’s available in 120mm, 240mm, and 360mm.

If you need the biggest, most powerful liquid cooling unit, look no further. The Corsair iCUE H150i Elite LCD has a large, 360mm radiator to handle the hottest CPUs and the highest overclock speeds. The Corsair ML RGB Elite fans can adjust to higher or lower levels, according to the moment’s cooling needs.

As far as lighting, the fans’ RGB lighting can also be adjusted with Corsair’s iCUE software, but the unit really raises the bar with the pump’s 2.1-inch IPS LCD display. It has 8-bit color depth for millions of color options. The display can show visual effects, and even GIFs or memes, all at 30fps (and, of course, it can display handy system performance data, like your CPU temperature).

When it comes to liquid CPU coolers, there’s a good reason the Cooler Master MasterLiquid ML240 Illusion stands out. It pairs RGB lights with translucent material for maximum visual impact. Imagine a glow stick dancing in the middle of your PC while it’s running, and you’ll have a good idea.

Cooler Master pairs the dual-chamber radiator with two MasterFan MF120 Halo fans (also translucent), which have a total of 24 ARGB LEDs each, and you can customize your look from the included ARGB controller, so you don’t need to have motherboard RGB controls to make use of it.

The Alphacool Eisbaer Aurora offers just about everything you could want in an AIO water cooler. Its 240mm radiator provides powerful cooling, and the two 120mm Aurora Lux Pro fans are capable of 2.0 mmH2O of static pressure and 61.5 CFM of airflow. The biggest way this cooler sets itself apart is that you can open the fluid chamber and refill it, meaning it can have a longer life as part of your rig.

There’s a good amount of RGB lighting on display here as well, although it’s not as flexible as other options on this list. Both fans sport RGB light rings and the pump includes a transparent window with RGB lighting inside.

Several cooler manufacturers have displays, but NZXT’s Kraken Z63 truly stands above the rest. The display contains important information like the CPU and GPU temperatures, but you can also have it display animated GIFs and other things, letting you truly personalize your setup.

The Kraken Z63 isn’t lacking in power, either, as it comes with a powerful pair of 140mm fans and an advanced Asetek water pump. If you like the idea of having a display, but don’t need tons of RGB light flooding your system, this is the one.

The EKWaterBlocks EK-AIO 240 D-RGB cooler is primed and ready to keep the hottest, high-end gaming rig cool. It"s compatible with Intel and AMD setups, and is easy and quick to set up. The Vardar S 120mm fans on this beast can produce 2.89 mmH2O of static pressure and 66 CFM airflow to enable the 240mm radiator to handle whatever your CPU can throw at it.

Includes a CORSAIR iCUE COMMANDER CORE Smart RGB Lighting and Fan Speed Controller, for precise speed and lighting control for up to six RGB PWM fans.

Three 140mm CORSAIR ML RGB Magnetic Levitation PWM fans deliver immense airflow to cool the most powerful systems with the latest high-performance components, with eight RGB LEDs per fan.