INTRODUCTION

   Watercooling kits for CPUs and GPUs have been around a long time and although in the past they were considered to be something unique aimed solely towards hardcore overclockers and enthusiasts today they've become quite common even amongst regular gamers and users. Still not everyone is willing to undergo the entire procedure needed to build a custom watercooling kit (from choosing the right parts and then installing them or to even install the parts if we are talking about a ready kit) since something like that obviously requires both time and effort not to mention plenty of space in your tower. AIO (All In One) liquid CPU cooling kits combine very good performance levels and easy installation at a relatively low cost so in a way they were created for that exact reason and since their first appearance roughly 5 years ago we've seen all the major players in the market launch their own solutions. Antec was amongst the very first to enter this market with the very good Kuhler H2O 620/920 Liquid CPU Coolers and today we will be taking a look at the successor to the 920 model the Kuhler H2O 950 Liquid CPU Cooling System.

   Antec, Inc., is the leading global brand of high-performance computer components and accessories for the gaming, PC upgrade and Do-It-Yourself (DIY) markets. Founded in 1986, Antec is recognized as a pioneer in these industries and has maintained its position as a worldwide market leader and international provider of efficient, quiet, and reliable products. Antec has also achieved great success in the distribution channel, meeting the demands of quality-conscious system builders, VARs and integrators. Antec’s offering of enclosures includes a large range of cases, such as its technically advanced Performance One Series, cost-effective New Solution Series and server grade cases designed for the needs of all workstation and server markets. Antec’s products also include front line power supplies such as its TruePower Quattro Series and EarthWatts, the most environmentally friendly power supplies available. PC gamers are an increasingly significant consumer of performance components, and many Antec products are geared toward the gaming demographic, like the Nine Hundred, the premier gamer enclosure. Antec also offers a computing accessories line comprised of many original products, including its patented LED Fans and Notebook Cooling solutions. Antec is headquartered in Fremont, California, with additional offices in Rotterdam, The Netherlands, as well as in Germany, China and Taiwan. The company’s products are sold in more than 40 countries throughout the world. Please visit www.antec.com for more information.

   Just like the Kuhler H2O 650 model the 950 model is aimed towards people who want to take their first steps into liquid cooling but don't have much free space inside their towers (thus a 240mm radiator is out of the question). Now exactly like with the Kuhler H2O 620/920 models the 950 model is based around an 120mm radiator almost two times thicker than the one that came with the 650 model and if that wasn't enough to further improve the efficiency of the cooler Antec also bundles a second 120mm fan which can be used in push and pull configuration (again just like the 920). Unfortunately as many of you already know the entire Kuhler H2O line launched by Antec just recently (650/950/1250) has the fans attached to the main body so unlike the previous line (620/920/1220) you can't replace the fans if you want to use quieter ones or in the case of them failing and that's the only drawback we know we will encounter in this review right from the get go. The 3 year warranty however makes things less terrifying so all that's left is to see how the 950 model performs both against its predecessor the 920 and against the new 650.