Conclusion and thoughts
The aim of the Corsair Hydrocool 200, it seems , is to provide effective cooling in an integrated package. With that premise in mind, the Hydrocool starts off in impressive fashion. The Hydrocool unit, comprising of a reservoir, pump, radiator and fan, all housed in a good-looking case, seems to be constructed with thought and attention to detail. Each component appears to be well made and strong as the proverbial ox. However, if we may be so bold, a couple of suggestions might make it that little bit better.
Firstly, it would be preferable to have a rheobus-controlled fan. The powerful 120mm fan is a little too noisy for our tastes. Total control over this fan would be a measure that we'd be delighted with. A fan filter on the intake blowhole would stop erroneous objects from entering the system and perhaps help negate a little of noise emitted by the system.
Secondly, while we applaud the dual use of the supplied waterblock through Intel and AMD fittings, a little more care needs to be taken with respect to construction. The test block didn't appear to be flat, as evidenced by the lack of an AS3 imprint in the middle. This doesn't seem to be an isolated, but Corsair recommends that you use the entire tube of the thermal epoxy shipped with the product and this apparently resolves the situation.
We've mentioned a little of the bad but there's also a lot of good. The compact package is a doddle to setup, even if you're a novice user. The universal block won't find you looking for your credit card when (and if) you decide to change platforms, and the intelligent monitoring system is a cut above others we've seen. It provides useful information and has the ability to turn the system off in the event of a major problem.
How would we summarise our Hydrocool 200 findings ?. We'd say that it's an excellent platform from which to start your watercooling adventure. Decent component selection and integration takes most of the hard work out of it. Its external nature may be either a benefit or a hindrance to you. Priced at around £185, it isn't cheap. Recommended to those that want a hassle-free entrance into the world of watercooling.
Highs
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Excellent looks and decent components
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Totally integrated, external solution
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Easy to use. Excellent monitoring system
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Performance was decent given the block's nature
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Quick connect, self-sealing fittings are a Godsend for novice users
Lows
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Block wasn't polished finish (slight ridges)
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The Hydrocool 200 didn't seem to benefit from the Turbo function
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Quite expensive for a CPU-only cooling system
