Corsair iCUE H150i ELITE CAPELLIX Liquid CPU Cooler Review

Corsair iCUE H150i Elite Capellix Overview

As we mentioned in our introduction, the iCUE H150i ELITE CAPELLIX is a 360mm AIO, which pairs up three of Corsair’s 120mm ML RGB series fans with a 27mm thick 2360mm radiator. Connected to the radiator via braided cooling lines is Corsair’s latest pump and CPU water block combination unit that resembles Corsair’s previous AIO offerings, but with some visual and performance upgrades.

iCUE H150i ELITE CAPELLIX

Starting off with the radiator, we find an aluminum design with a 27mm thickness, which we have found to be on the thin side off our latest round of AIO review units, though it matches the thickness of the previously reviewed iCUE H115i RGB PRO XT AIO.

iCUE H150i ELITE CAPELLIX

With 20 fins-per-inch, the tight fin density is able to provide adequate surface area while still confined to a 27mm thickness. Compared to the H115i, which uses 140mm fans capable of 3.0mm-H2O, the 120mm ML RGB fans included with this AIO have a static pressure rating of 4.3mm-H2O, which should allow them to push air through the fins a little more forcefully.

iCUE H150i ELITE CAPELLIX

The entire radiator exterior is outfitted with a satin black paint job, and centered along each of the long sides of the radiator is a chrome Corsair logo.

iCUE H150i ELITE CAPELLIX

Each braided cooling line exits from one end of the radiator’s end cap, and these lines are connected to the radiator via crimped connectors. We found the cooling lines, as with previous Corsair AIOs, to be quite flexible during installation, and their soft braided cover is some of our favorite we have seen on AIOs.

iCUE H150i ELITE CAPELLIX

Included with the iCUE H150i ELITE CAPELLIX, though not attached, are three of Corsair’s 120mm ML RGB series fans. Corsair leaves these fans off of the radiator so that you can choose whether to use a push or pull fan configuration. Of course, all of the necessary hardware is included to mount the fans to the radiator, and their installation is as easy as screwing in eight screws.

iCUE H150i ELITE CAPELLIX

A far as specifications go, these seven-blade fans have an operating range of 400-2400 RPM, and are capable of pushing up to 75 CFM of airflow. We do need to mention that these are not the ML120 PRO RGB LED fans, and therefore they do not have the rubber pads at the corners to help reduce system vibrations.

iCUE H150i ELITE CAPELLIX

The lighting found on the ML RGB fans consists of eight RGB LEDs mounted on the center hub of the fan. This lighting design results in a nice and even spread of light across the semi-transparent fan blades.

Taking a look at the CPU water block and pump combination unit, we immediately recognize this as a Corsiar product, even if we ignore the prominent logo. And while Corsair has been using the same general shape for their coolers for many iterations, the iCUE H150i ELITE CAPELLIX brings a more angular design to the table. Gone are the rounded corners and edges, and in their place are sharper corners and lines.

iCUE H150i ELITE CAPELLIX

Also much taller than previous designs from Corsair, this pump housing makes use of a split-flow copper cold plate with 128 micro-skived fins per inch to provide the most surface area possible for the liquid flowing through the system to transfer heat to. And sitting on top of that cold plate is a low-noise centrifugal pump that is capable of moving 0.82L/min while remaining under 20dBA.

From the top down we see an eight-sided design dressed in what appears to be glossy black plastic. We say it appears to be black, because Corsair actually includes an alternative top plate for the pump housing that is much more transparent, allowing a lot more light to shine through and illuminate your system.

iCUE H150i ELITE CAPELLIX

The included allen wrench easily removes four screws at the top of the pump to allow you you to swap covers or adjust their orientation.

iCUE H150i ELITE CAPELLIX

With the top cap removed, we see a white plastic top, which is covering 33 of Corsair’s Capellix RGB LEDS. The tiny size of these LEDs is what allows Corsair to fit so many into this product, which results in fine-tuned RGB lighting options not found on other AIOs.

iCUE H150i ELITE CAPELLIX

Making our way around the cooler, exiting from the right side we have the two cooling lines. Each line is paired up with a swiveling fitting to make installation and fitment much easier than with fixed connections.

iCUE H150i ELITE CAPELLIX

Along the top side of the cooler we find a sleeved bundle of cables that connects the various pump components to the included iCUE Commander Core, which we will discuss in more detail later on, as well as a single wire attached to a fan header in order to provide the motherboard with a CPU_FAN readout. We like this new design compared to previous Corsair AIOs that utilized a Micro-USB connection and a proprietary flat connection for power and control functions.

iCUE H150i ELITE CAPELLIX

The left and bottom sides of the pump housing are not much to talk about, aside from the circular port on the left side that we can only assume is for maintenance purposes, and not intended for consumer adjustments.

iCUE H150i ELITE CAPELLIXiCUE H150i ELITE CAPELLIX

Taking a look at the underside of the cooler, we see a copper cold plate, secured to the pump via eight screws. While there is a bit of machining visible on the surface of the water block, these lines were not noticeable to the touch.

iCUE H150i ELITE CAPELLIX

Corsair has preapplied thermal interface material to the cooler for quicker installation, so if there are any problems during installation that require the removal of the cooler from your CPU, you will need to supply your own TIM.

iCUE H150i ELITE CAPELLIX

iCUE Commander Core

One really nice feature of the iCUE H150i ELITE CAPELLIX is the inclusion of an iCUE Commander Core. This device allows you to monitor and control the AIO’s pump and lighting, in addition to the three fans.

iCUE H150i ELITE CAPELLIX

But it doesn’t stop there. The iCUE Commander Core can support six PWM fans in total, as well as six Corsair RGB devices. So with everything included in this kit connected, you still have room for three additional fans and RGB devices. That could be three Corsair RGB fans, or three non-RGB fans and a few light strips. And the best part is that this is all managed via iCUE software. A single SATA power connection is required to power the controller and connected devices, while an internal USB header is needed for control functions.

iCUE H150i ELITE CAPELLIX