INTRODUCTION

   Just a few years back you needed to spend a very respectable amount of money in order to take your first steps into watercooling and because of that even today serious watercooling solutions are considered to be a niche market aimed primarily at people who place cost beneath performance such as enthusiasts and overclockers. However today we have something that we didn't back then namely AIO (All-In-One) Liquid CPU Coolers that offer hassle-free installation and good performance levels at low prices making them ideal for use by regular consumers, gamers and even professionals alike. Naturally because the market for such devices is quite large many companies have released AIO models over the years one which is Antec and since they've been around since the beginning their solutions are without doubt amongst the ones at the top (largely thanks to their successful cooperation with Asetek). We have already reviewed their latest KUHLER H2O 650 and 950 AIO Liquid CPU Cooling Systems and today on our test bench we have the flagship 1250 model.

   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.

   No one can really deny the popularity of both the KUHLER H2O 650 and the 950 models and the main reason behind that popularity is obviously their size followed very closely by their performance. So since both are single 120mm AIO solutions that pretty much means that every user out there can attach one at the towers rear exhaust port with ease and be done in just a matter of minutes. Well the 1250 model is a much larger 240mm long AIO solution (actually 280mm in length) ideal for people who seek even better performance but unfortunately not every PC Case out there has the required space to accommodate such a cooler. The real question here that we need to answer however is just how much of a difference the extra size of the radiator and the addition of an second 120mm fan with an integrated pump can make compared to the previously reviewed 650 and 950 models so let’s find out.

SPECIFICATIONS AND FEATURES

PACKAGING AND CONTENTS

At the front of the rather large box we see a large product image surrounded by blue illumination, the main product features and the mainboard compatibility list.

The product specifications are placed on the left side while on the right once again wee see a chart comparing the product in hand with the 2 other models in the new KUHLER H2O line, another AIO cooler and the stock Intel HSF.

Moving at the bottom of the box we see the 3 years warranty statement and the socket compatibility.

The features of the 1250 are listed at the rear of the box in 8 languages.

Both the 1250 and the bundle are placed inside a thick piece of cardboard.

Inside the box you will find the KUHLER H2O 1250 cooler, installation guide, software CD, backplate, bracket, radiator mounting screws and all the necessary screws for mounting on Intel LGA775/1150/1155/1156/1366/2011 and AMD AM2/AM2+/AM3/AM3+/FM1/FM2 mainboards.

KUHLER H2O 1250

The KUHLER H2O 1250 is basically an 240mm radiator with two 120mm fans, two integrated pumps, two rubber tubes and a waterblock.

Just like with the 650 and 950 models the two high-RPM 120mm fans attached on the 1250 are fixed and can't be replaced (both fans can spin up to 2400RPM).

An integrated high performance pump is placed on top of each of the two fan motors.

The radiator is 280mm long, 120mm wide and just 27mm thick (would had been much better if it was 50mm thick like the one of the 950 model).

As you can see the fins are in perfect condition which is more than i can say for a few other similar solutions.

The rubber tubes are 300mm long and very flexible.

Once again the thin waterblock has the company name on top of a LED that changes color according to the temperature of the liquid.

Both tubes can swivel up to 90 degrees to make installation easier.

The copper base comes ready with a thin pre-applied layer of thermal conductive material.

To use the KUHLER H2O 1250 you need to plug it into a USB 2.0 header in order to control it via the GRID software and a 3pin fan header to give it power. There are also two extra 4pin power fan headers in case you decide to use two more 120mm fans in push and pull.

ANTEC GRID

With the KUHLER H2O line Antec bundles their GRID v2.0 control software which allows you to check the temperature of the liquid, switch between silent, performance and custom mode, change the waterblock LED illumination effect and finally change the skin of the program.

TEST BED

TESTING METHODOLOGY

   We always take things quite seriously when it comes to work so just like with the previous LGA1366 database we will not be testing each CPU Cooler on its own and with different ambient temperature levels and thus we can actually have yet another valid CPU Cooler database. Testing a CPU Cooler automatically means that you need to know where it stands against the immediate competition and to accomplish that we have spent both money and time through the years, something that we plan to continue to do so in order to get the most accurate results for the end consumers who read these lines. Every CPU cooler in this database is tested with the bundled 140mm/120mm/92mm/80mm fans while working at both idle speed and 100% of their speeds for all the temperature tests. CPU Coolers that do not come bundled with a fan/s are measured using a Noctua fan (size dependent on the model) to test for the temperature tests but due to the lack of a stock fan dBA level tests are obviously skipped. Single (120/140mm) watercooling solutions are tested with the radiator mounted at the rear of our test rig while dual/triple/quad (240/260/280/360/420/480/560mm) solutions with the radiator mounted at the top. For the dBA tests every cooler in the database was measured both while on idle mode or with the fan controller in the minimum setting and while on extreme load or with the fan controller all the way to the highest possible setting (PWM fans do that on their own without our intervention). Every single test takes place in a temperature controlled room of 23 degrees Celsius Ambient Temp with the help of two AC units placed diagonally inside the room. The Arctic Silver 5 thermal paste is used with every CPU Cooler in our latest LGA2011 database (although initially this was not the plan we had to change things to get the most accurate results). Finally it's very important to point out that just because a CPU Cooler is better than another when tested with our test rig that does not necessarily mean that the same performance differences will apply 100% for other CPU models and in other situations (such as different ambient temps and system configurations).

     To successfully record the load temperatures we use the latest OCCT application for around 6-10 minutes to push the processor to its limits and after that is done and the temperatures are recorded we wait for about 10-20 minutes for the CPU to cool down and record the idle temperatures. This is done to allow time for the thermal conductive material to achieve the optimal performance level. Same procedure is then repeated with the Passmark BurnIn Test as a failsafe just in case the OCCT results are wrong. This procedure takes a lot more time than the usual peltier/thermometer tests but this way not only can we deliver real world results to our readers based on real CPUs but we can also triple check the results using a variety of programs. Last but not least the temperatures were recorded using both the latest versions of AIDA64 and RealTemp while the noise level tests are performed using a high precision ExTech HD600 Decibel Meter placed about 10-15cm above the CPU Cooler. Still although the same testing procedure applies to all units do take into consideration that unlike the official numbers which are measured in special noise isolated labs with just the fans here we also have both the rest of the cooler and the rest of the system (although all system fans are turned off when recording noise levels).

TEST RESULTS

CONCLUSION

   Since we're talking about a 240mm radiator we knew right from the start that the KUHLER H2O 1250 would outperform the 950 model even if just by little (since the radiator used with the 950 is quite thicker) but in the end at least in Extreme mode the difference is quite substantial and what really steals the show is that the 1250 managed to get very close to the Raystorm 750 EX280 watercooling kit by XSPC something which we didn't really expect. However it's very clear that it did so at a price and so although the KUHLER H2O 1250 is the 2nd best CPU Cooler in our database right after the Raystorm 750 EX280 it's also the second loudest one and although that may not be enough to drive away serious gamers (since many graphics cards are equally loud when at load) and overclockers it will most certainly drive away some casual gamers and users. Both fans being fixed between the radiator and the pumps is also something that doesn't help things and although we've already mentioned in the past that the 3 years warranty is plenty for such a device and that fans rarely fail still many users would like to know that they can use their own if something goes wrong or if they want something better. The GRID software does a very good job in allowing the user to control the speed of the fans at will (all 4 if you add 2 more in push and pull) and the overall installation is extremely easy so no complains here.

   Much like the 650/950 models the KUHLER H2O 1250 Liquid CPU Cooling System by Antec has price on its side and so currently you can find it for USD119.99 inside the USA (Newegg) and for 97Euros inside the EU (Amazon.co.uk). Of course at around the same price point there are other similar solutions by Corsair and other companies but as far back as i can remember Antec always had the upper hand in terms of performance so if that's what you're after in such a solution and your tower has room for an 240mm radiator then the KUHLER H2O 1250 is the proper choice. Unfortunately however because of its high noise levels and fixed fans it just marginally missed receiving our Platinum award (not that our Golden Award is bad).

PROS

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

CONS

- Built-In Fans (Can't Be Replaced)
- Noise Levels (Extreme Mode)