Corsair iCUE H150i ELITE LCD XT full review

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The Corsair iCUE H150i ELITE LCD XT is the new all-in-one liquid cooling solution that debuts the Corsair AF120 RGB ELITE fans, which will provide even better performance than what was already one of the best liquid cooling systems on the market. Built for the most powerful CPUs, this 360 mm variant includes a Commander Core controller, iCUE management, and an integrated LCD display to add the perfect touch to your gaming setup. Fortunately, we also have the normal Elite LCD version.

Design and external features

The Corsair iCUE H150i ELITE LCD XT system consists of three variants such as the 240 mm H100i, the 360 mm H150i with a radiator, and the larger 480 mm H170i with a radiator. These three will be available in black, while ours is a bit special as it’s the only version also available in white.

The system will have many similarities with the normal Elite LCD model in terms of pump construction and features managed by iCUE. The difference lies in the fans, which are a new generation model that aims to increase air flow while keeping noise low.

Radiator and hoses

The heat exchanger of this Corsair iCUE H150i ELITE LCD XT will consist of the manufacturer’s usual measurements, with a thickness of 27 mm and a length of 397 mm, taking up slightly less space than other models that exceed 400 mm. This detail can be very important in some cases where space is too tight.

The white version uses paint both on the exterior metal frame and on the aluminum built-in exchange block. It consists of 12 longitudinal ducts through which the fluid travels, 6 for input and 6 for output, to the two hose ports placed at 90º as always, and using welded ports to the inlet/outlet chamber. These chambers have a square format when integrated into the protective frame, a detail that, for example, the custom radiator versions do not have.

Corsair iCUE H150i ELITE LCD XT radiator

Continuing with the hoses, they have been installed under pressure on the ports on both sides, using higher quality and more robust metal endings than previous models. This detail is important, as in some older models, the outer mesh has come out of this clip, being unlikely here. The hoses are made of low evaporation rubber, quite thick and with lengths of 400 mm in the 240 mm model and 450 mm for the two largest.

CPU block

The block responsible for cooling the CPU of this Corsair iCUE H150i ELITE LCD XT will initially integrate the same pump as the normal ELITE version. The manufacturer does not provide technical data for it, only that it supports PWM control from iCUE reaching 2700 RPM and generates noise below 20 dB. We have effectively confirmed that its performance is very good, although at maximum performance the characteristic high-pitched noise of Corsair pumps can be heard.

We see an exquisite design of the block in the new RL Corsair models, square, compact and with minimalist lines that improve the aesthetics compared to the hexagonal. It is made of plastic and divided into a fixed internal area where the pump is located, and the removable external head where we find the LCD screen. When installing it, this feature will be very useful so as not to scratch with the screws the external encapsulation.

Effectively this system has a 2.1″ round IPS LCD screen which offers 480 x 480p resolution @30 Hz, 24-bit color depth, and maximum brightness of 600 nits, which is not small. It is fully customizable from iCUE, displaying hardware information in real time, photos, and GIFs. In the end, it is an addition that increases the product’s price, but serves as another telemetry tool, at least it is more useful than a simple RGB. Around it, we have a ring with 24 RGB iCUE LEDs to maximize aesthetics.

On one side, we find the main connector that powers and manages the entire system, which will go directly to the controller, and an additional loose cable for the header that we will connect to the motherboard, this time with protection mesh. The outlets for the hoses will be similar to those of the radiator, but using plastic elbows with a rotating capacity. Finally, at the base, we have a large 65mm copper cold plate with perfect polishing and 128mm micro fins inside where the fluid passes to improve thermal efficiency. It will come with applied thermal paste, but the model is not specified.

Fans and controller

Continuing our analysis of the Corsair iCUE H150i ELITE LCD XT, we now focus on the Corsair AF120 RGB ELITE fans. It’s a new line of fans optimized for air flow (Air Fluid) as its own distinction indicates. They are available in 120 and 140mm versions, as well as in white and black.

Their aesthetics are similar to the Corsair QL series in their rugged plastic frame with a slightly rough finish, and at the corners integrating double-sided anti-vibration rubber covers. However, the propeller system changes and becomes much denser than other units with 9 wide and close propellers to create an anti-vortex system that concentrates the airflow more. They are translucent plastic, to be illuminated by the 8 iCUE RGB LEDs located in the rotation area.

In addition to their quality of manufacture, we have very interesting performance, highlighting their software PWM control and support for Zero RPM mode, that is, the fan can be turned off completely. The rotational system is based on dynamic fluid bearing (FDB), in a regime of 500 to 2100 RPM (20% – 100% PWM), generating an airflow of 65.57 CFM, static pressure of 2.68 mmH2O, and maximum noise of 34.1 dBA.

The controller included in the system looks as good as the fans. It is the Corsair Commander Core, the second most powerful controller in the brand, below the Commander Pro. It goes one step further than the competition by providing 6 PWM headers to connect fans and 6 ARGB for RGB control, as well as direct control for the water pump, all manageable from the Corsair iCUE software. And we can connect any fan from the brand.

Installation

We like the Corsair iCUE H150i ELITE LCD XT anchor system a lot, as it is based on a slot on the pump head where we will install the corresponding bracket depending on the type of socket used, Intel or AMD. It is obviously adapted for all current sockets including Intel LGA 1700 and AMD AM5, as well as sTRX4.

For installation on an Intel socket, the included backplate is used. In the case of AMD, the pressure-locking anchor has been changed to one similar to Intel’s with 4 screw points that provide more stability and pressure on the IHS. Thermal paste will be perfectly distributed over the surface using a grid pattern that improves uniformity in distribution, with the XTM70 version being of higher quality from Corsair.

If one small drawback of this system is that it generates a lot of cables, and in small chassis we may have some management problems. The versatility is beyond question and for example the Cooler Master systems also use an external controller, as we will not be able to connect individually to the elements in series to direct the LEDs. The process consists of connecting the fans and pump to the controller, and in turn to the internal USB port and SATA to power the system.

Corsair iCUE

Corsair iCUE is essential for taking advantage of the customization options of the Corsair iCUE H150i ELITE LCD XT and any other compatible Corsair device. It will be compatible with this system starting from version 4.32.129.

Regarding RGB lighting, we will have control over the fans, previously selected in the lighting setup section, and the pump head ring. The LEDs support individual color direction and effects through layers, so the possibilities are huge. The screen has different animated backgrounds on which temperature data, frequency or system RPM, images, or even animated GIFs can be displayed. We can modify its orientation to fit the 4 cardinal points.

In the cooling section, we have the possibility of jointly or individually managing the RPM profile of each fan and pump. Using the same dynamic as before, there is the possibility of creating different curves to our liking, fixed RPMs or Zero RPM mode, all depending on the temperature of the CPU or the refrigerant liquid.

Final words and conclusion about the Corsair iCUE H150i ELITE LCD XT

Corsair brings us a fortified system compared to the normal model, whose difference lies in the change from ML RGB ELITE fans to the new AF RGB ELITE fans. These slightly improve air flow while decreasing static pressure, generating almost the same noise. The quality of the system’s construction is impeccable, there is no discussion here.

The customization possibilities of Corsair are possibly the most extensive in the market, we have RGB fans and head, along with the IPS screen that will give us useful real-time information about our hardware. Thanks to the included Commander Core controller, we will add PWM management capability for the pump and fans with Zero RPM mode available.

The price of this Corsair iCUE H150i ELITE LCD XT will be $290 USD, while the normal version is priced at $395 USD on the official website. The question is, which model to choose from the two? The actual performance of both options is practically the same, so the choice will depend on our personal preferences, whether we prioritize white color for example, prefer more powerful fans like the AF, or prioritize the price.