INTRODUCTION

   Despite what may or may not apply in other areas size does matter when it comes to cooling systems so as we’ve mentioned countless times already in our reviews the easiest and most efficient way for any manufacturer to improve cooling performance is to increase the total fin area (faster heat dissipation). Of course, just increasing the total surface of a cooler may not be quite enough so the addition of thicker heatpipes (faster heat transfer) and extra fans is always recommended (push & pull) for optimal results. Noctua and Thermalright were among the very first manufacturers to release dual-fan models roughly a decade ago but since then pretty much everyone else has also done so and the latest name on that list is none other than CORSAIR with their brand new A500 model.

   Founded in 1994, CORSAIR has grown from pioneering the high-performance DRAM market into one of the world’s leading providers of high-performance gaming and streaming products. CORSAIR offers a complete range of products to equip gamers, enthusiasts, and esports athletes, including mechanical keyboards, precision gaming mice, wireless headsets, premium PC components, and the CORSAIR ONE fully-integrated gaming PC. With a company-wide commitment to quality, innovative design, advanced features and high-performance, CORSAIR products have won thousands of media and industry awards, earning their place in gamers’ hands and PCs following years of development and engineering by a team dedicated to building great products that they themselves would want to use. In 2018 CORSAIR acquired Elgato Gaming, a manufacturer of streaming products. In 2019 CORSAIR acquired Origin Computers, a manufacturer of custom high-performance gaming PCs and laptops, and SCUF Gaming, an innovator and creator of high-performance gaming controllers.

   The A500 is a massive CPU cooler based on a single large heatsink which CORSAIR has paired with two of their high-speed ML120 (magnetic levitation bearing) 120mm PWM fans (2400RPM/75CFM/4.2mmH2O/36dBA) in push & pull configuration. This design is of course not something new in the market so to spice things up CORSAIR has added an intuitive slide-and-lock fan mount system which allows for compatibility even with very tall memory modules (lowest 45mm - highest 85mm), top gunmetal grey brushed aluminum plate (removable), direct-contact nickel plated copper heatpipes and a pre-applied layer of their latest XTM50 high-performance thermal conductive material. I have to admit that i was somewhat surprised to see that CORSAIR chose not to use any of their latest RGB/ARGB fans with the A500 (would be nice to have control over the fans via iCUE) so that probably means there's another model on the way, time will tell.