Installation
Now for the good stuff, let’s get this puppy installed! We start out as we always do, by installing the fans on the radiator outside of the case. First decide where in the case you want to install your radiator, and then how you will need to orient the fans. For us we want the fans pulling air into the case from the top, so labels down. Then we want the cables to the back with the tubing coming from the right. Once you’ve got that nailed down secure the fans at all four corners with the longest of the included screws. You want to start all of the screws before you snug any of them down all the way to ensure the fan shrouds aren’t pushing each other out of the way.
With the fans attached we are going to go ahead and install the radiator into the top of the case. Holding the assembly in place with one hand, secure it with a couple screws with the other. You don’t need to get these first couple in all the way, just enough to hold the rad while you get it properly aligned and secured with the rest of the screws.
With the rad now in place we’ll install the backplate that holds the pump to the CPU. The first thing you’ll need to do is set the post in the correct position. Ours is 115x so we set all four screws to the inside. Corsair has installed some double sided 3M tape to the inside of the bracket. Peel the protective layer off, align the bracket with the holes in the back of the motherboard and press it into place.
The 3M tape should hold the bracket for you while you attach the proper standoff posts to the four corners of the bracket.
We’re now ready to install the pump onto the CPU. You’ll be aligning the four corners of the Intel mounting bracket with the standoff screws you just installed. Before you do that, you will of course want to remove the protective plastic cup.
Align with those posts and press the pump firmly onto the CPU and hold. With your free hand thread the knurled thumb screws onto the posts. Tighten them in a cross pattern to achieve an even pressure on the CPU. This helps to ensure that the pre-applied thermal paste spreads evenly across the surface of the CPU and no hot spots occur.
Corsair has really cut down on the amount of hardware that you have to deal with which means we are actually completely done with that side of the installation. Now we move to connecting the H115i RGB Platinum electrically. There are of course a whole host of connections to make but first let’s get the wiring to the right places. Take all the connectors coming from the pump save for the three pin CPU_FAN plug and shove them to the back side of the case. The three pin you can connect right away.
While we’re working in the main compartment connect the micro USB cable to the side of the pump and route that to the back side of the motherboard tray as well.
Flipping your case around you’ll have a whole mess of wires waiting for you to join together. The fans should be plugged into the female connectors from the pump, likewise for the ARGB connectors. Note that the connectors are labeled with a 1. Make sure that you connect the same fan’s ARGB and power connectors to the same from the pump. Mixing these will result in inaccuracies later in the management software.
Lastly you’ll connect the SATA power connector to an open connector from your PSU. You should also have an internal USB connector floating around. Stick that back through to the main compartment near an open USB header, flip the case around and plug it in.
Installation is now complete, time to plug in your machine and fire it up!
