25 - 04 - 2024
Login Form



 


Share this post

Submit to FacebookSubmit to TwitterSubmit to LinkedIn

 

CONCLUSION

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

antec kuhler h2o 950b

   Since when we tested the KUHLER H2O 650 we saw that it came quite close to the KUHLER H2O 920 we had no doubt that the new 950 would perform even better but things are not so black and white in this case. Yes the KUHLER H2O 950 does manage to outperform its predecessor the very good KUHLER H2O 920 when used as advertised (sucking air from the interior of the case) but on one hand the performance difference between both models is not really great while on the other the fact that you can't use both fans to suck air from the exterior thus improving the cooling efficiency of the cooler (something you could do with the 920 model) will most likely disappoint some overclockers and enthusiasts. However it's clear to all of us here that the largest drawback of the KUHLER H2O 950 (and the entire KUHLER line) is that you simply can't replace the front fan in case it ever fails and although Antec gives 3 years warranty for their new KUHLER H2O line what happens if the fan does fail after that? Of course most people may not even keep the 950 for that long and there's always the fact that it may never fail (have used countless fans during the past 2+ decades and not even 1 ever failed) so things are obviously not as bad as they sound, still it’s our job to always consider and report all possibilities.

 

   When the KUHLER H2O 920 was launched it cost roughly USD120/110Euros a price tag which for some people was considered to be quite high. Well Antec improved that on the new KUHLER H2O 950 model since it currently retails for just USD79.98 inside the USA (Amazon.com) and 87Euros inside the EU (Amazon.co.uk). Now this may not be really better compared to that of the 920 model since its price has dropped quite a bit over the years (remember it was launched in 2011) but as you all know I’m always in favor of getting the best possible bang for your buck so even the slightest performance improvement compared to a previous model is welcome, still the truth is that if you happen to already own the KUHLER H2O 920 i see no reason to even think purchasing the 950 model. However for people who want to try an AIO liquid CPU cooler the KUHLER H2O 950 could be the ideal choice since it combines very good performance, easy installation, small size and a very tempting price tag which is why it receives our Golden Award.

gold

PROS

- Build Quality
- Performance
- Zero Clearance Issues
- LED RGB Light
- Dual Fan Solution (Push & Pull)
- Easy Installation
- GRID Control Software
- 3 Years Warranty
- Price (For Some)
 

 

CONS

- Built-In Fan (Can't Be Replaced)
- Noise Levels (Performance Mode)