Corsair Hydrocool 200

In the past, water cooling was a solution only used by the most serious of enthusiast. Overclocking processors and pushing speeds to the limits was reserved to only the most knowledgeable user. That was then, and this is now. With processors producing more and more heat and becoming more and more overclockable, keeping that chip cool is a daunting and exciting task.

Now pushing your PC to the limits is an option even your grandparents can enjoy. Finding bigger and better solutions to chill your processor has become a priority in the avid PC user's life. One of the finest solutions available today has been sent to us by the wonderful people over at Corsair. The Hydrocool 200 is an all-in-one water cooling kit that both the hardcore enthusiast and the average end-user can utilize. Using cooling technology produced by Delphi, the largest manufacturer of liquid cooling systems in the world, Corsair has produced a highly effective and attractive package. I myself have considered using water cooling but have always seen it as an unsafe and very difficult undertaking. I remember those elementary school days where it was taught that WATER PLUS ELECTRICITY IS BAD! Those thoughts of dropping the hair dryer in the bathtub haunted all of us for years. With such a kit as the Hydrocool 200 on the market, more people like me are willing to take the plunge into water cooling heaven.

This is truly an all-in-one kit with everything needed to get this baby up and running. The only thing you need to worry about is the water. Here are some of the highlights of this system taken directly from Corsair's web site.

Features:

• CPU water block fits both P4 and K7 processors
• Extracts up to 200W of heat from a PC CPU
• Real time temperature display in both Centigrade and Fahrenheit
• Visual flow meter confirms water flow
• Quick connect, non-drip hoses
• 12V inline water pump
• Programmable alarm and emergency shutdown

Package Contents:

• Water block with 10ft tubing and temperature monitor
• Interface slot card
• AMD and Intel retention brackets
• Syringe of thermal grease
• 15 pin control cable
• 2 pole power control cable
• 4 pole power extension cable
• Quick connect self sealing connectors
• Quick grip clamps
• Water additive
• Small funnel

The main pump assembly is made of a transparent plastic with a metal handle and fan grilles. Its size is a little on the large side. I would compare it to a shoe box in dimensions. I wasn't sure where I was going to put such a big piece of equipment, but after putting it beside my PC it didn't take up much room at all.

One of the best features of Hydrocool 200 are the quick connect non-drip hoses. When detaching a hose from the main unit, very little water is lost. I was able to move the system from one room to another without losing, or worrying about losing, any of the water. This will help anyone who takes their PC with them. Whether it's from one room to another, or to a LAN party, this system is very portable.

Other great features on this kit are the temperature display, alarm, and emergency shutdown. The large display lets you keep an eye on how warm your system is getting in both Fahrenheit and Celsius. It's also a great reminder of how COOL your system is running at the same time. The built in alarm will shut down your PC in the event that it reaches a critical temperature. This helped ease my mind a little when the thoughts of a water loss emergency started running through my head. The system interacts directly with the power switch with the included pigtail. The Hydrocool 200 has the ability to completely power down your machine in the event your pet chews through the hoses or any other unforeseeable circumstances that may arise.