INTRODUCTION

   Water cooling has always been the most "disputed" cooling solution for PCs and that even includes all-in-one (AIO) liquid CPU coolers especially since in some cases they can't surpass the best CPU air coolers available. Performance however is not something that interests every single consumer out there since there are many who are just looking to equip their cases with a CPU cooling solution that doesn't require much free space. Well let's face it AIO liquid CPU coolers are far more convenient than regular CPU air coolers and complete water cooling kits/loops so it doesn't really come as a surprise that the most popular AIO type among micro-ATX and mini-ATX owners is single 120/140mm ones. Antec released their brand new KUHLER H2O line roughly a year ago and finally today we have finished all tests of their H600 Pro model (H1200 Pro will follow soon).

   For 30 years, Antec, Inc. has been the global leader in high-performance computer components and accessories for the gaming, PC upgrade and Do-It-Yourself markets, being the pioneer and market leader for quiet, efficient and innovative products such as the P280 and SOLO II enclosures as well as for their award-winning PSUs having the lowest returns in the industry. Antec continues to further the industry with performance-rich enclosures, efficient power supplies, reliable cooling components, the cutting-edge Antec Advance accessories line, and the Antec Mobile Products (A.M.P). Founded in 1986, Antec is headquartered in Fremont, California, with additional offices in The Netherlands, Germany, China and Taiwan.

   Although it took Antec quite a bit of time to introduce their new KUHLER H2O line of AIO liquid CPU coolers still the end result is really not much different compared to its predecessor the quite good KUHLER H2O 650. However although once again we see a 27mm thick single radiator paired with a 120mm PWM LED fan that can go all the way up to 2400RPM the fan model used with the H600 Pro is different than that used with the KUHLER H2O 650 (i was glad to see they moved away from the intergrated fan/pump combo) and ontop of that this time over Antec decided to use 315mm long FEP (fluorinated ethylene propylene) tubes instead of 300mm long PA (polyamide) ones. The pump used in the H600 Pro has a activity LED attached at the top and features a 3-phase liquid engine with graphite pump bearing which always according to Antec make it more durable and whisper quiet (unfortunately no performance numbers are available). So is this the AIO liquid CPU cooler to get if you own a very compact PC case?