The H55 has a bigger radiator but the H60 has a better heat plate.
Bigger rad? Both are single thick 120mm rads.
The H60 actually has a larger area where the inlet and outlet ports are in comparison to the H55.
Thickness. Even though it looks like the fin surface area is smaller on the H55 by a tiny bit. Side by side though, the H50/55 is still thicker in comparison to the H60 and actually cools better. I have had both an H50 and H60 in my machine before.
Just to be clear, I'm talking the older style H60 and not the newer one with thicker tubing. The rad on it is still thinner though, but I think it has a better pump.
Edit: According to Hard the H60 is only slightly better in their testing. I'll admit, I never use the craptacular fans that come with these coolers. With dual Scythe Kaze fans the H50 was better than the H60 in my personal rig by 5c. Again, this isn't the newer units but according to them the new H60 isn't much better.
http://www.hardocp.com/article/2012/...olers_review/4
Do you have a pic that shows the H55 having a thicker rad than the H60? I always thought they were the same size so I am curious on how thick the difference is.
Just look at them, it's obvious. The easiest way to tell is by looking at the rivets. The space between the center and side is much smaller. In person it's extremely obvious at first glance.
http://www.hardocp.com/images/articl...jx5jlG_2_1.jpg
http://www.hardocp.com/images/articl...jx5jlG_3_1.jpg
Interesting however..., upon further investigation it looks to me that the fan shroud gives off the impression that the H55 has a thicker rad.
Take a look at the tops and bottoms of both rads and then compare the distance between the fan mounts.
http://images.hardwarecanucks.com/im...5_box_open.jpg
http://images.hardwarecanucks.com/im...0_box_open.jpg
http://images.hardwarecanucks.com/im...ir_H55_rad.jpg
http://images.hardwarecanucks.com/im...ir_H60_rad.jpg
Asetek (h55) uses more space for the screws to screw in as sometimes everyone knows... Radiators tend to strip if you screw a few too many times, they added more threads on it total pretty much so your fan screw goes deeps and can still stay in place.
Thats my view, and also another reason why I love em =)
It's not the shroud. The H60 is seriously a lot thinner. After the holidays I'm having a friend come over with her H60 so I can do some testing to see who is better. I don't have an H55, but it looks like the only changed the cold plate a bit (can't believe I put heat plate up there).
The one i got must be the old model of the H60 cause the fan and plate are different, but i must say for first time having water cooling it is nice, rather quite compared to my stock cooling that was in there. Overall i must say im happy with it for now.