The H80i GT picks up from where its predecessor left off, with the ‘i’ after the model number signifying its compatibility with Corsair’s Link control software. There’s a mini USB port on the side of the pump section, and an included cable connects it to a motherboard USB 2 header. As we saw with the H110i GT last month, the latest version of the Link software offers masses of customization and control, and you can even adjust the RGB lighting on the pump section to your own preference, or just to indicate the coolant temperature.
You can also use it to control the speed of the H80i GT’s fans, running at a fixed speed or assigned to one of several preset modes, such as Quiet or Performance. You can change the temperature input to the coolant or the CPU temperature too. Being able to change the pump speed is useful as well as, until now, it’s only been possible on custom water-cooling pumps, although the H110i GT was only a little quieter at its lowest setting. The cooler itself uses a single 120mm-fan radiator that’s 49mm thick, along with the same large, braid-covered tubing that’s present on the H110i GT. However, with the smaller H80i GT, the tubing’s lack of flexibility can get in the way when squeezing it into tight spaces.
You can also use it to control the speed of the H80i GT’s fans, running at a fixed speed or assigned to one of several preset modes, such as Quiet or Performance. You can change the temperature input to the coolant or the CPU temperature too. Being able to change the pump speed is useful as well as, until now, it’s only been possible on custom water-cooling pumps, although the H110i GT was only a little quieter at its lowest setting. The cooler itself uses a single 120mm-fan radiator that’s 49mm thick, along with the same large, braid-covered tubing that’s present on the H110i GT. However, with the smaller H80i GT, the tubing’s lack of flexibility can get in the way when squeezing it into tight spaces.
It’s practically impossible to kink, but it doesn’t bend as easily as previous models’ tubing. The H80i GT also ships with two fans, allowing push-pull setups – these fans add 25mm a piece to the depth, so you’ll need at least 100mm of clearance in front of a spare 120mm fan mount. Meanwhile, the fairly large pump section is powered by a 3-pin fan header, while a splitter cable attached to the pump section allows you to power both fans from the cooler, although you’ll still need to contend with a number of cables. Thermal paste is pre-applied. The H80i GT’s performance was more susceptible to low fan and pump speeds than the H110i GT, with big differences between minimum and maximum settings. It was cooler than the H75 at maximum speed, but the H110i GT performed better still, particularly at lower fan speeds. The H80i GT is blissfully quiet at low speed, though, and the pump is one of the quietest all-in-one liquid-cooler pumps we’ve heard at this setting.
Conclusion
If you can’t fit the humongous the H110i GT in your case, but still want to Corsair’s excellent Link software, the H80i GT is a great choice. It provides better cooling than the H75 and is very quiet on minimum settings, albeit at the cost of cooling power.
SPECIFICATIONS
Compatibility Intel: LGA2011, LGA2011-v3, LGA115x, LGA1366, LGA775; AMD: Socket AM3+, AM3, AM2+, AM2, FM2+, FM2, FM1
Radiator size with fans (mm) 154 x 123 x 99 (W x D x H)
Fans 2 x 120mm
Stated noise Up to 37.7dB(A)
