The Corsair A115 CPU Cooler Review: Massive Air Cooler Is Effective, But Expensive
by E. Fylladitakis on January 22, 2024 10:00 AM EST- Posted in
- Cases/Cooling/PSUs
- Corsair
- CPU cooler
- Air Cooling
Conclusion
Overall, the Corsair A115 stands out with its impressive performance, especially given its relatively straightforward design. The build quality of the A115 is exceptional, showcasing Corsair's commitment to durability and reliability. However, its retail price of $100 positions it in a challenging spot within the competitive market.
The A115's superior build quality and aesthetically pleasing design are evident. Corsair's meticulous attention to detail and high craftsmanship standards are visible, contributing significantly to its durability and longevity. The A115 features robust materials, including sintered copper for the heat pipes that are soldered on the fin arrays and not just pressed, ensuring both good out-of-the-box performance and long-term reliability. The simple but stout construction of the A115 ensures it withstands long-term use.
The Corsair A115 excels in cooling performance, particularly when dealing with high loads and operating at high fan speeds. However, it shows a slight decrease in efficiency when managing low loads and running at lower fan speeds. While the A115 is not overly loud, it doesn't quite surpass its competitors in terms of noise-to-performance ratio. It performs admirably under demanding conditions but does not lead the pack in scenarios that require a delicate balance of minimal noise and cooling effectiveness.
In conclusion, the Corsair A115 CPU cooler is a solid choice for those seeking a well-built, reliable, and high-performance air cooling solution. Its design focuses on ease of use and durability, making it a dependable option for various computing needs. However, its high retail price of $100 is a notable factor that affects its competitiveness in the market. The cooler could present a more compelling value proposition at a lower price point or if it included advanced features such as top-tier MagLev fans. While its performance and build quality are commendable, the pricing positions it as a premium choice, potentially limiting its appeal to a broader audience.
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ballsystemlord - Wednesday, January 24, 2024 - link
Thanks for sharing.charlesg - Monday, January 22, 2024 - link
It seems like this would be bought by someone who likes Corsair, as anyone who does there research would quickly realize there are better options at this price point.thestryker - Monday, January 22, 2024 - link
Gone through a few reviews of this and it sounds like a top notch cooler when it comes to Intel. Once you go over to AMD though it is outclassed which makes me. wonder how well it will do with future Intel CPUs. If MTL is an example Intel is moving their CPU cores to the edge and will likely have the same problem as coolers with issues on AMD do now.All that being said Thermalright has come in and smashed the air cooling market. Unless you really like a specific look of a cooler they have products in the $30-50 range that keep up with or beat everything in the $100+ air cooler arena.
Threska - Monday, January 22, 2024 - link
Long as the fans are easy to put on and take off, I'll be happy. A lot use plastic tabs.erotomania - Tuesday, January 23, 2024 - link
Thermalright use thin wiry paperclippy metal to clip fans on. It works but it's not the most satisfying.m3city - Tuesday, January 23, 2024 - link
That's a detailed review, thank you. I'd like to know how it compares to stock AMD Ryzen coolers. Is it worth to substitute the basic ones? I guess that stock coolers are designed to withstand each DESIGN state of CPU, including PBO in case of ryzen. Would such cooler allow e.g. higher clocks that lead to significant (in terms of measured, perceived) time gain in x265 encoding, rendering etc? I believe that such review without comparison to baseline product is somehow lacking.TheinsanegamerN - Monday, January 29, 2024 - link
What you are looking for is a deep dive on AMD architecture performance under different temperatures. A review of a single cooler isnt the right place to find this information.zlandar - Tuesday, January 23, 2024 - link
This looks like a copy of Noctua's D15 except it's currently $10 less.$10 is not enough of a discount. I would rather spend $10 more and buy a Noctua.
SanX - Tuesday, January 23, 2024 - link
When you read about coolers that means that's time to take your computer outside, take garden blower and remove a megaton of dust on all its cooling surfacesPeachNCream - Tuesday, January 23, 2024 - link
Or just use a passively cooled computer so there's no worry about airflow. A fair number of laptops and mini PCs available for very reasonable prices fit such needs and work great for daily computing and light gaming fun too.