Introduction

Corsair launched the Hydro Series H50 high-performance CPU cooler in June 2009, and since then it has taken the cooling market by storm. It has won worldwide critical acclaim for its superior cooling performance, quiet operation, and ease of use. Installing a Corsair H50 in place of your existing CPU cooler will significantly reduce CPU temperatures and allow for higher overclocking flexibility, and will provide better cooling at lower noise levels. But, as good as the H50 is out-of-the-box, it is possible to increase its performance even further with a simple fan upgrade known as ‘Push-Pull’, which uses two identical fans to increase airflow. We will compare the cooling performance of the H50 in single-fan and push-pull mode to that of a Noctua NH-U12P HSF, also in single- and dual-fan configurations. The test system will use an Intel Core i7-870 (Lynnfield) processor at stock settings, overclocked to 4133MHz with Hyper-Threading Off (max frequency) and overclocked to 4GHz with Hyper-Threading On (max multi-threaded performance). The results, summarized below, show that the Corsair Cooling Hydro Series H50 in a push-pull configuration outperforms the standard H50 by up to 4^oC in the overclocking tests. In addition, it significantly outperforms the Noctua NH-U12P, with temperature reductions of up to 12^oC. This is a significant reduction that will increase overclocking headroom, as well as allowing for minimal noise levels while maintaining low CPU temperatures.

The Corsair Hydro Series™ H50 High-Performance CPU Cooler is designed and tested to be mounted in its stock configuration using a single fan attached to the radiator. This single fan is configured to draw cool air from outside the computer case and blow it through the radiator for optimum CPU cooling. Our developmental testing supports this and we recommend a single or dual fan set up bringing cool air into the radiator for best results.

However, many users need to deviate from this optimum configuration for various reasons. This guide illustrates some of the more common configurations. Our recommended configuration is not the only way to mount the Hydro Series H50 and fortunately it is a versatile unit when it comes to mounting alternatives. 

Last year, Corsair announced what would become an enthusiast sensation, the Hydro Series™ H50 CPU Cooler, an all-in-one solution that requires no maintenance and provides outstanding performance. A lot of you guys really like the H50 — so much, in fact, that it’s got a healthy community of tweakers, modders, and overclockers all doing their best to get the last bit of performance out of it. From paint jobs to fan swaps to guys that put custom sleeves over the tubing, we’ve seen a lot of modifications out there on the forums.