Are you tired of your CPU overheating or don’t want to deal with the complications that your PC develops after prolonged use? You need the assistance of a liquid CPU cooler to keep your PC cool even after using it for an extended period of time.
The system temperature is expected to rise as computers gain more physical cores and higher frequencies. And there are times when air cooling is insufficient. Liquid coolers, on the other hand, are the best solution for rapid heat removal.
The Corsair H100i and H115i are two of the best liquid CPU cooler options in the market. Each of these CPU coolers offers both cooling and noise-free performance, allowing you to work with your PC without concern.
If you’re looking for one of the best Hydro series liquid cooler options for your new PC build, here’s a comparison between Corsair H100i and H115i.
Main Differences
Both CPU Liquid Coolers are very similar. The only major difference between the two models is that Corsair H115i has a larger radiator as well as larger fans than the H100i. Accordingly, the cooling performance is also a bit higher.
Comparison – Corsair H100i v2 vs H115i
Corsair H100i v2 | Corsair H115i Pro | |
 |  | |
Radiator Size | 240 mm / 9.45" | 280 mm / 11.02" |
Fans | 2 | 2 |
Fan Size | 120 mm / 4.72" | 140 mm / 5.51" |
Fan Thickness | 25 mm / 0.98" | 25 mm / 0.98" |
Fan Speed | up to 2,435 rpm | 1,200 rpm |
Maximum Airflow | 70.69 CFM | 55.4 CFM |
Fan LED | ||
Pump LED | RGB | RGB |
Noise Level | up to 37.68 dBA | 10 to 20.4 dBA |
Control Method | 3-Pin PWM (Pulse Width Modulation) | 4-Pin PWM (Pulse Width Modulation) |
Intel LGA 115X | ||
Intel LGA 1200 | ||
Intel LGA 1366 | ||
Intel LGA 2011-3 | ||
Intel LGA 2066 | ||
AMD AM4 | bracket not included | |
AMD sTRX4 | bracket not included | bracket not included |
AMD TR4 | bracket not included | bracket not included |
Warranty | 5 years | 5 years |
Corsair H100i v2 | Corsair H115i Pro |
| | |
Radiator Size 240 mm / 9.45" | Radiator Size 280 mm / 11.02" |
Fans 2 | Fans 3 |
Fan Size 120 mm / 4.72" | Fan Size 140 mm / 5.51" |
Fan Thickness 25 mm / 0.98" | Fan Thickness 25 mm / 0.98" |
Fan Speed up to 2,435 rpm | Fan Speed 1,200 rpm |
Maximum Airflow 70.69 CFM | Maximum Airflow 55.4 CFM |
Fan LED | Fan LED |
Pump LED RGB | Pump LED RGB |
Noise Level up to 37.68 dBA | Noise Level 10 to 20.4 dBA |
Control Method 3-Pin PWM (Pulse Width Modulation) | Control Method 4-Pin PWM (Pulse Width Modulation) |
Intel LGA 115X | Intel LGA 115X |
Intel LGA 1200 | Intel LGA 1200 |
Intel LGA 1366 | Intel LGA 1366 |
Intel LGA 2011-3 | Intel LGA 2011-3 |
Intel LGA 2066 | Intel LGA 2066 |
AMD AM4 bracket not included | AMD AM4 |
AMD sTRX4 bracket not included | AMD sTRX4 bracket not included |
AMD TR4 bracket not included | AMD TR4 bracket not included |
Warranty 5 years | Warranty 5 years |
Installation and Compatibility
When talking about compatibility, the first thing you should look for is the cold plate dimensions. Thermals will be terrible if this dimension is not large enough to span over your processor. Cold plates are found on the majority of CPU coolers. Some have different designs to improve their efficiency and overall performance.
The cold copper plate on the Corsair H100 is somewhat circular, with a diameter of around 50mm. Moreover, its tubing is 300mm long, which is sufficient for most PC builds. However, if you own a full-tower PC, you may encounter some compatibility issues.
In contrast, the Corsair H115i has a square copper cold plate that is ideal for most processors. The dimensions of this cold plate are 56mm x 56mm. It has a larger surface area than the H100i, which aids heat transfer. Furthermore, it has a longer tubing with a length of 380mm, which reduces the possibility of incompatibility.
Installing the Hydro Series H100i and H115i on an Intel socket 2011-v3 motherboard is a breeze. Chassis mounting is also simple, as long as the dimensions of the fans and radiator are taken into account.
Cooling Power
Both the Corsair H100i and H115i have excellent cooling performance. Their fans are designed differently, but they are both effective. The H100i’s fans have 120mm blades and can run at speeds ranging from 850 to 2435 RPM. The blades have a common design but still produce a good push and pull of airflow performance.
The H115i, on the other hand, has blades that are designed differently but still maintain efficiency. With blades that measure approximately 140mm in length, this fan provides high static pressure, allowing you to achieve an optimal balance of coldness.
Dual-fan radiator
When it comes to their radiators, Corsair’s H15i and H100i CPU coolers share the same feature. This is due to the fact that these two CPU coolers have a dual radiator. However, there are differences in this aspect. The H100i CPU cooler has a 240 mm dual radiator. The H115i, on the other hand, has a larger dual radiator because it has a 280 mm dual-fan radiator, which allows it to produce more cooling capacity.
Test Results
According to the results of the tests done by other tech reviewers, the Corsair H100i’s fan speed was 1530 RPM, which is not the maximum fan speed. The idle temperature is around 6.6 degrees Celsius at 1530 RPM. When tested against a workload, it increased to 42.0 degrees Celsius.
On the other hand, the Corsair H115i, which has a larger radiator and fans than the Corsair H115i, displayed excellent performance. Even when the fans are only running at 1200 RPM, the idle temperature is 5.5 degrees, which is 1.1 degrees lower than the H100i. Furthermore, when the bench PC was loaded, it only reached an average temperature of 37.9 degrees Celsius while still running at 1200 RPM.
Look
Corsair is also well-known for producing high-quality products. The H100i and H115i are made of high-quality, durable materials as well.
Color
Both the H100i and H115i have an all-black design that is both appealing and elegant, complementing the majority of PC builds. In addition, both have radiators with nice silver accents.
Copper Cold plate
The cold plate, the surface that comes into direct contact with your processor, is made of copper, ensuring excellent heat transfer from your processor to the radiator.
Aluminum Radiator
Speaking of radiators, both AIO liquid coolers have lightweight yet durable aluminum radiators.
Rubber Tubing
Furthermore, both of the liquid coolers tubings that transport heated liquid from the copper slug to the radiator are made of Low-Permeation Rubber wrapped in black sleeving for a more subdued and professional appearance.
RBG lighting
In addition, both of these CPU coolers have an additional feature called RBG lighting. Only the H100i, however, has a well-emphasized RGB lighting system for effective customization and illumination.
Link Software
The Corsair link software, which is present in Corsair’s two CPU coolers, has been added to its features. The H115i includes a Corsair link cable, allowing you to easily download and use the software. With this software, you have the ability to customize its performance, coolant, CPU temperature, and even the color of its RGB LED lighting.
The H100i, on the other hand, shares the same software link as the H115i. It also adjusts the RGB lighting, fan speed, and pump speed, as well as provides clear monitoring of the CPU and coolant temperatures.
Noise Level
One of the best features of a CPU cooler is its ability to operate quietly. That is, almost everyone enjoys this feature. These CPU cooler options, fortunately, include a noise-free feature. With its cold plate, the H115i maintains its quietness up to 37 dBA. If the cold plate is responsible for the quiet performance of the H115i, the H100i uses an adjustable pump speed pump that allows you to choose between low noise and quiet operation with the same fan noise as the H100i.
Power Consumption
The actual power consumption of the H100i is 2.2 W, while the H115i is rated for 4-5 W, which can supply more electrical power than the H100i.
Price
The Corsair H100i costs around $139.99 on average. It’s a reasonably priced solution for what you get, and it provides adequate cooling without making too much noise.
On the other hand, the Corsair H115i has an MSRP of 159.99 USD, which is an affordable price for the provided cooling and low noise performance.
Conclusion – Corsair H100i v2 vs H115i
Both the Corsair H100i and H115i perform admirably. Each of them has excellent features that contribute to its effectiveness. Before you choose between the two, summarized below are the factors to consider.
H100i has a variety of features, all of which contribute to the overall effectiveness of this CPU cooler’s performance. It has an adjustable speed pump, allowing you to select the speed that best suits your needs. It provides light illumination through its built-in RGB lighting, allowing you to customize it. Its fans and radiator all work well together to help this CPU cooler achieve good performance.
The H115i is also an excellent choice. It has a cold plate, well-designed fans, functional radiators, a software link for customizing with your own, and RGB lighting. Most importantly, its fans are perfectly designed to provide an effective push and pull of air. This CPU cooler is significantly larger than the latter in terms of the size of the fan blades and the radiator.
Finally, both of these CPU coolers perform efficiently. To make an informed decision, you must first understand what you truly desire and what will meet your needs.
The H115i is a decent choice if you want a CPU cooler with a large surface area. The H100i, on the other hand, is a great option if you want a CPU cooler with a variety of features for greater convenience.
