Corsair Hydro H55 CPU Cooler Review

1. Introduction2. Packaging and Bundle3. The Corsair H554. Installing the Corsair H555. Testing Methodology and Results6. Acoustic Performance7. Closing Thoughts8. View All Pages

Overall we are quite impressed with what the Corsair H55 has to offer.  It fits into the Hydro Series range of coolers below the H60 so is targeted at those users looking for a mid-range water cooler to pair with a moderately overclocked processor.

In our tests, the thermal performance of the H55 was impressive.  It cooled our overclocked i7-3770K based system effectively. That said, you may need to limit the core voltage a little more restrictively, depending on the processor you are using.  Acoustic performance of the H55 is also a plus point as the H55 emits less noise than the H60 under load, thanks to the slower spinning fan.

The main drawback of the H55 is the mounting mechanism which seems unnecessarily complicated when compared with the version on the H60.  The main issue is the sheer number of little parts that you have to fit to the backplate and retention plate to set the cooler up for a specific socket.  These little parts could easily be lost and are quite fiddly to install.

The H55 can be yours for a price of £50 from Dabs. We think this offers very good value for money, especially considering it comes in around £10 cheaper than the H60.

We would certainly opt for the H55 over the H60 if you want to build a quiet system, as noise emissions are lower. That said, those who want to push their system to the limits should consider opting for the H60 or H80i as they should enable you to achieve a higher overclock with reduced temperatures under load.

Pros

• Good performance.
• Compatible with all major sockets.
• Inexpensive.
• Fairly Quiet.

Cons

• Fiddly mounting mechanism.

KitGuru says: A quality addition to Corsair's line up but it is a little fiddly to install.

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