So there we have it, the Corsair H50. The cooler certainly lives up to the expectations of the Corsair branding. In many ways, I\'ll probably end up repeating what I said on the CoolIT ECO but Corsair have gone a step ahead with the help of Asetek to deliver a slightly better end product. Performance wise, it matched many of the high end air coolers such as the Noctua NH-U12P, Alpenföhn Nordwand, Prolimatech Megahalem and the Thermolab Baram. When a push/pull configuration was employed, the H50 delivered even better results pitting it against the like of the Thermalright Ultra Extreme. The system coped very well both under stock condition and with an overclocked i7 making it an overclocker\'s choice without doubt.

But that isn\'t to say that the H50 is a perfect product. Like the CoolIT ECO, it is let down by the noise it produces. For a product marketed as being quiet, it\'s disappointing to see that it was audible throughout testing. While remaining quieter than CoolIT\'s solution, it does also come at a higher premium. Furthermore, it required two high RPM fans to truly show its potential. Fans with good static pressures are definitely recommended for push/pull setups but often this will sacrifice quietude. The result is that other air cooling solutions such as the Noctua NH-D14 and the Thermalright Venomous X still reign supreme with their ability to deliver excellent temperatures even when using slower fans. This conveniently brings me to my next point and that\'s ease of installation. An all contained unit ensures that the system is maintenance free and with Asetek\'s engineering expertise, the H50 promises to be very reliable. The compact design is a clear advantage it holds over the aforementioned air coolers so those worried about the weight of tower heatsinks on their motherboard should consider the H50.

To conclude, the H50 is an excellent product taking innovation to the next level compared to the CoolIT ECO. Saying this, the H50 does hold a premium but the performance benefits reflects the price. To say that the ECO has lost its place in the market would be wrong because both come at unique price points to justify their performance.

*Update 19.05.2010*

With the new CoolIT ECO A.L.C results added in using the intake fan configurations, it becomes harder to choose one solution over the other. Both the Corsair H50 and CoolIT ECO A.L.C perform very similarly. While the ECO ends up cheaper in most shops, the H50 compensates for its premium with a cleaner looking product using pre braided cables and a perfectly finished radiator (no out of shape fins). In their default configurations, the Corsair still comes out slightly ahead.



Pros
+ Very well packaged
+ Sleek and robust
+ Compact and all contained
+ Easy to install and maintenance free
+ Good cooling performance
+ Highly efficient in a push/pull configuration

Cons
- Performance still behind top end air coolers
- Noise

The Corsair H50 deserves the Vortez Hardware Silver award.