Corsair Hydro H105 CPU Cooler Review

1. Introduction2. Packaging and Bundle3. The Corsair Hydro H1054. Installing the Corsair H1055. Testing Methodology and Overclocking6. Thermal Performance7. Acoustic Performance8. Closing Thoughts9. View All Pages

There is no doubt that the Corsair Hydro H105 is an impressive cooler. It is ideal for the enthusiast audience who demand excellent cooling performance but who don't need Corsair Link and the related software fan profiles.

The build quality of the H105 is just as good as Corsair coolers we have reviewed in the past.  It is particularly similar to the H75 which features an Asetek design.

Corsair supply two high quality SP120L fans with the cooler which are PWM controlled, meaning you can strike a great balance between airflow and noise.  Unfortunately these particular models are very difficult to find in the United Kingdom. Those users who are looking for a quad-fan configuration will likely have to buy four additional, matching fans, unless you don't mind importing them, or risking an Ebay transaction. Amazon USA have them in stock, and you can buy them direct from Corsair in America for $14.99 each. Be aware, the SP120 variants are very different from the SP120L model.

The Corsair mounting mechanism has evolved with almost every new generation of cooler they release. The latest iteration makes it easier than ever to install, taking around two minutes from start to finish.  It offers great compatibility too, although AMD users will have to remove the preattached Intel bracket first, adding a little hassle to the process.

The performance of the H105 is exactly what we would have expected.  It slots in between the H110 and H100i, making it ideal for those who want better performance than the H100i but don't have room in their case for the H110.

We would recommend using the SP120L fans in PWM mode, as you only have to sacrifice a few degrees under load for significantly quieter acoustics.  It is painfully loud at full speed, to the point where it becomes extremely annoying after a few minutes use.

At £94 from Overclockers UK, the H105 is very expensive and will only be justifiable for those who are looking for the best possible performance. It is similarly priced to other competing models, though, and actually comes in slightly cheaper than both the Corsair H100i and H110.

The Corsair Hydro H105 is worthy of our ‘MUST HAVE' award.

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Pros:

• Excellent performance.
• Easy installation process.
• Compatible with all major platforms.
• High quality fans included.
• 5-year Warranty.

Cons:

• Very noisy at full speed.

KitGuru says: Another welcome addition to Corsair's range, which offers slightly better performance than their current 240 mm offerings.

 

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