I'm a new builder looking for something I can build relatively easily. Screening the internet for different fan controllers and the like was a nightmare, and putting it all together looked even worse. I'm a stickler for cord management and aesthetics, so the iCUE link honestly looked like a dream come true. From what I've heard, corsair makes decent products, and I can budget for the extra cost of a Corsair AIO and fans. Is it worth it? Here is my current thinking for the build: https://pcpartpicker.com/list/nFfhn6
Recently just sold most of my old system and used the money to upgrade. Cable management with the RM850x Shift and ICUE Link is so much easier. Last 2 images for reference on how bad it used to be.
Still waiting on the rest of my fans, but even with just the AIO, it looks stunning. Will definitely make an updated post when I finish the build.
Videos
I'm thinking about buying a PC case, specifically the 3500x, where there are 3 versions. One is just the base case, the second is ARGB which includes 3 fans. The last option includes the "icue link" hub.
From the way I heard it, the icue link system is this proprietary connection system that links up all case fans, cpu fans/aio, and basically everything. The problem is, it's proprietary. So does this basically mean to take advantage of the icuelink hub, I'd have to buy corsair brand fans only? Corsair brand AIOs?
I guess the benefit is how easy it is to link up fans using the icue link connectors, but that basically means I'm stuck in the ecosystem, and I can't just buy a random 3/4 pin fan, and any AIO that isn't "icue link compatible" would just have to be plugged into the motherboard.
So are my assumptions correct? To take full advantage of the icue link hub/system I'd need to basically be locked into corsair products? Cause there's no way I'm paying 50 bucks for a single "icue link" fan.
And what advantages does icue link have over a non proprietary fan hubs besides simplicity of installation?
During my review of the 6500x case, I searched for the optimal airflow and the optimal balance between cooling and noise level. The QX fans I used easily reached 80% of their capacity in some games. In addition to the lack of power reserve (especially for the summer), they tend to be loud (okay, the power has to come from somewhere), so I asked Corsair if there was a better solution or what they would recommend.
As part of the Ambassador Program, Corsair gave me the opportunity to compare different fan series. To my delight, Corsair also provided me with a Titan cooling system so that I could compare the two current 360 Link compact cooling systems with each other. I will also address your questions that I received via Discord, Reddit, and the Corsair forum.
Since I don't have a test lab at my disposal, I can only comment on temperatures, noise levels, and airflow to a limited extent. But I will do my best to provide you with data.
Let's take a look at the components I received from Corsair:
The kit consists of an iCUE LINK TITAN 360 RX LCD, 6 iCUE LINK RX120 MAX fans, and 6 iCUE LINK LX120-R fans.
Together with the iCUE LINK H150i LCD cooling and QX fans already in my setup, everything can now be compared to help you with your purchase decision.
First, let's look at the current situation and what has changed since the 6500x case review.
As mentioned before, and as you can read in the review, my PC is in an ideal location (okay, I lied, my desk is in the attic under the sloping roof).
In addition, with Intel Micro Code 0x12F, my 13700K CPU has become a little warmer. It doesn't make much difference, but it does mean that the temperature recordings and temperature curves of the Icue are no longer relevant.
But that's okay, let's start again from the beginning 😊
Now I'm glad that I'm already in the “Link ecosystem,” because instead of laboriously reconnecting the individual fan cables over and over again, I can now simply disconnect the Link cable from the existing fan and plug it into the new fan. The Icue immediately recognizes the currently connected fan series via the Link Hub.
This is a huge advantage and means no more annoying cable routing, just simple plug and play. There's no need to worry, as the cables and connectors are very well made, as usual from Corsair, and can withstand a lot (of plugging and unplugging).
Okay, like any other cable, these cables also have their limits. You can't “stretch” them to get that last millimeter of length (or extra length). But that's not necessary, because the “Link ecosystem” includes long cables, splitters, Y-cables, etc., so that every point in the case can be easily reached. If you do encounter a bottleneck or don't want to exceed 14 devices (full brightness of all Link components), a second hub can be integrated into the system, provided the PSU has another PCI-E port available.
As you can read in the review of my case, I had already equipped the QX case fans with Corsair “QuickTurn” screws. A big advantage of this is that all screws can be loosened with three turns and are just as easy to reattach. Since the screw heads are white, they are harder to see under the mesh grilles. But be careful, the screws can leave the same “marks” on the case as normal screws. So please work with the usual care.
Standard screw and Corsair "QuickTurn" screwBut let's take a look at the individual fan series:
Corsair fan series
Corsair currently has four fan series in its range. Each has its advantages and disadvantages. I hope I can help you find the right fan for your needs. All Link fans have a “zero RPM mode,” which allows you to switch off the fan when necessary. All Link fan series also come with “QuickTurn” screws.
To save you having to search for and compare all the fan data individually, I have summarized it here (all data is taken from the Corsair website).
This is what the Corsair fan series looks like: the back row consists of the RX and RX Max series. The LX series is on the left in the front and the QX series on the right.QX SERIES
Airflow: 16.44–63.1 CFM
Static pressure: 0.17–3.8 mm-H2O
RPM range: 400–2400 RPM
Noise level: 10–37 dBA
With the QX series, Corsair launched the first Link fan on the market. This fan is basically designed as a good case fan. With the built-in temperature sensor, you can adjust your PC cooling with pinpoint accuracy.
The QX series has basically the same lighting design as the conventional QL series. This means two separate RGB strips on the front and back, as well as LEDs in the fan hub. All in all, there are 34 RGB LEDs built into the fan, which provides beautiful RGB lighting.
RX series
Airflow: 10.4 - 73.5 CFM
Static pressure: 0.12 - 4.33 mm-H20
RPM range: 300 - 2100 RPM
Noise level: 10 - 36 dBA
The RX series takes a different approach. Unlike the QX fans, the RX fans are designed for high airflow with high static pressure. To achieve this, Corsair has reduced the RGB lighting to a minimum. It is comparable to the Corsair ML series, which also had 8 LEDs integrated into the fan hub. Instead of the QX's temperature sensor, stator blades have been installed on the back of the fan. In addition, the housing has been slightly enlarged to achieve the largest possible rotor radius. The cover with the Corsair logo can be easily removed and reattached in the desired direction (or can simply be omitted).
Here's the difference between the RX Max and the RX Fan.RX MAX series
Airflow: 16.3 - 71.3 CFM
Static pressure: 0.22 - 4.16 mm-H2O
RPM range: 400 - 2000RPM
Noise level: 10 - 29.5 dBA
The RX MAX has the same visual characteristics as the RX series. However, thanks to its 30 mm width (normal fans are 25 mm), the Max version can generate higher static pressure. This is ideal for mounting on a radiator (or radiator and case dust cover) while remaining comparatively quiet. However, depending on the case, the extra 5 mm may be a problem.
LX series
Airflow: 11.5 - 66.7 CFM
Static pressure: 0.14 – 4.72 mm-H2O
RPM range 400 - 2400 RPM
Noise level 10 - 37.7 dBA
There are two variants of the Lx series: Firstly, the normal LX fans and secondly, the LX-R fans.
The LX-R fans have reverse rotors, which means they reverse the airflow and thus draw air in from the rear of the fan. This has the advantage that you always look at the fan scar and not at the ventilation strut on the rear of the fan. They are therefore intended for air intake into the case. LX-R fans are quieter when used as normal fans in a pull configuration.
As pure case fans, the LX and QX are similar, but as soon as a radiator or other obstacle (air cooling) is installed between them, the LX has a performance advantage.
Visually, with 18 LEDs (12 on the RGB strip and 6 on the fan blade), they are behind the QX fan, but they have significantly better performance.
iCUE LINK TITAN 360 RX LCD or iCUE LINK H150i LCD
The question I asked myself was whether to keep my “old” LINK H150i LCD or swap it for the iCUE LINK TITAN 360 RX LCD. The LINK H150i isn't a bad cooler, but I decided to go for the iCUE LINK TITAN 360 RX LCD.
The biggest advantage of the Titan series is that it has a new pump design with the newly developed “FlowDrive cooling engine.” This three-phase motor enables a higher flow rate than the previous generation of Corsair pumps, but at a lower noise level. The “humming” of the pump, which many users complained about, has now been eliminated.
On the left is the "LINK H150i LCD" pump head and on the right is the "Link TITAN 360 RX LCD" pump head.Furthermore, the iCUE LINK TITAN has been equipped with RX fans. Compared to the QX fans, these RX fans have better airflow and higher static pressure, which makes them even more efficient.
What is identical in both series is the display and the pre-applied thermal paste.
The display is a 2.1-inch display with an IPS panel with 480 x 480 pixels.
The pre-applied thermal paste is XTM70 thermal paste. This high-performance paste ensures that heat is optimally transferred from the CPU heat spreader to the pump head.
The “CapSwap” pump caps can also be used on iCUE LINK AIO cooling. In addition to the familiar LED and LCD pump caps, there are now two additional modules:
The “Groove” module is a transparent LED pump cap with contoured grooves underneath to create a simple 3D effect.
The second pump cap is a VRM fan module (with integrated LEDs). This is a 70 mm fan that draws in air and blows it downwards in all directions to provide additional cooling for surrounding components such as voltage converters, M2 SSDs, or RAM.
All “CapSwap” pump caps can be installed as usual without tools. Simply remove the old pump cap and attach the new one. Done.
The pump head without a capAnother feature that makes work easier is that the iCUE LINK TITAN now comes with pre-made standoffs/knurled nuts for Intel and AMD. This eliminates the need to search for the right spacers.
However, the iCUE LINK TITAN 360 RX LCD is only compatible with the following current sockets: Intel 1851, Intel 1700, AMD AM5, AMD, and AM4. In contrast, the slightly older iCUE LINK H150i LCD is also suitable for Intel 1200 and Intel 115x.
However, I would have liked Corsair to have included the hub that was available with the “old” LINK H150i LCD in the Icue LINK TITAN 360 RX. This had allowed for almost invisible cable routing. Now each component has to be connected to a strand individually.
Airflow and cooling concept:
The first step was also the easiest. So I replaced the QX fans on my LINK H150i LCD with RX fans. This only cooled the system by 2 to 3 degrees, but it became a lot quieter.
However, the airflow was still not where I wanted it to be. My goal is to achieve effective airflow that provides reliable cooling while maintaining a tidy appearance inside the case.
The most difficult question was where to put the radiator. I decided on the top position because it is the better choice in my setup as it supports the natural airflow in the case and therefore fits better into my Icue concept. Warm air rises and the radiator can efficiently dissipate the waste heat via the top of the case.
Another positive effect is that the cool air from the side fans goes directly to the vertically mounted GPU and can thus cool the graphics card more effectively, which is crucial for the temperature of the RTX 4070 ti.
I installed the case fans provided to me as follows:
Top (AIO):
3x RX120 MAX RGB - Exhaust (Push) Directs CPU waste heat through the radiator to the outside.
Side:
3x LX120-R RGB – Intake (Pull) Directs cool air directly to the vertically mounted GPU and CPU1
Bottom:
3x LX120-R RGB – Intake (Pull) Pushes cool air upwards towards the GPU, motherboard, and CPU
Back:
1x RX120 MAX RGB – Exhaust (Push) Removes hot air behind the CPU socket / GPU
In the Icue software, I created two different cooling circuits so that the PC is quiet and cool during desktop operation and my components are sufficiently cooled under load (games or other applications). Each of the cooling circuits is controlled in Icue via a modified fan curve.
The first circuit is the AIO with the RX MAX fans. The curve uses the coolant temperature of the Titan AIO as a starting point, so that my PC does not exceed 35°C during desktop operation, but is also whisper-quiet. During gaming and/or under load, it does not exceed 40°C.
AIO fan curve based on coolant temperatureThe second circuit is all the case fans. This curve is based on the GPU temperature of the graphics card. As soon as the graphics card starts working, the fans run analogously. This means that the graphics card reaches a maximum temperature of 65°C.
Fan curve of the case fans based on the graphics cardAll in all, I have used around 2/3 of the possible power of the fans and AIO, and my PC is still normal to acceptably quiet (volume is always a subjective perception).
In comparison, “my” temperatures have dropped significantly. Instead of 45-49 coolant temperature with the LINK H150i lcd, I am now down to 40 to 41 with the iCUE LINK TITAN 360 RX. This means that the fans no longer run at 80% and above.
Unfortunately, this option is currently only available with Asus hardware and, to my knowledge, with a few select graphics card models from MSi and Gigabyte.
Conclusion:
In conclusion, I asked myself: Was it worth the effort?
To put it simply: “Yes.”
When I look at the temperatures and noise levels of my PC, I have now reached the point where I wanted to be. Of course, the effort I put into replacing the fans and the AIO was considerable. However, I hope that this has given you a better understanding of the individual fan series and made it a little easier for you to choose the right fan.
If you consider the QX series and the iCUE LINK H150i LCD to be the “first generation” of Link fans, the other Link fan series have developed very well. Now there is the right fan for every application, with or without RGB support. With the Icue LINK TITAN 360 RX, Corsair has also responded to its customers' wishes and developed a quieter pump that is quite efficient.
I also find the fan series' (except QX) equipment with Corsair “QuickTurn” screws to be an advantage.
If you have any questions or if anything in my review is unclear, feel free to get in touch 😉
I would like to thank Corsair for their support. And Corsair Lucky for giving me the opportunity to take a closer look at the Corsair Link fans and the Icue LINK TITAN 360 RX LCD.
Last but not least, I would like to thank Corsair Seaweed, who tirelessly helped me in his spare time to create and implement the cooling concept. A big thank you to both of them.
Old setup New setup with all new fans, Dominator Titanium "light enhancement kit" and the GPU power adapterHi all, in an attempt to make my cable management better and overall build cleaner, I’ve been looking in to getting into the Link system. What’s yalls experience with it been? It’s a pricey buy-in but if it’s worth it then I’d love to go for it. I’d be replacing 10 fans and my AIO.
Basically, as long as you plug-in cables before screwing in fans, it’s great.
Screwing in the fans first, and then trying to plug in the cables is kind of difficult depending on why you’re trying to hide things.
The end result is really clean and the backside of the computer is as much much less terrible.
Fan wires have always been the worst wires and RGB fans made it even worse.
This is a very good change I like it a lot.
I have iCue Link AIO and 10 Link fans, and I love it. Makes wiring so much cleaner and easier.
This is not the final result (I bundled them a bit better and used Velcro straps), but gives you an idea on amount of wires.
Hello,
I have a Hydro H80i for several years now. always used Corsair Link with good results... but I could not manage other (chassis) fans
Now I am getting a new cooler, a Hydro H115i PRO
And on top of that, I got me a Corsair Commander Pro aswell
I am about to install all of this, but it got me thinking: which software would I be using? I have no experience with iCUE, never used it
I'm the kind of guy that likes to have the "the least stuff installed, the better" so if I can use only ONE of the two softwares, the better.
Hi,
I just installed a H115i Pro for my i9-9900K. I haven't installed any Corsair management tool yet. Would you guys recommend Link or iCue if I only want to manage the fan speeds/noise ? (I don't mind the lighting, my PC is below my desk)
I'm reading contradicting information about iCue being very CPU consuming but also problems with Link, and I'd like to avoid the CPU spikes problems of course...
Cheers
I’m looking to upgrade to Corsair Link fans (QX120) as the fans I have right now have zeros fan control (either high or low speed) and controlled via a crappy RGB remote. iCUE has come a long way and has been working well enough lately that I’m looking to spend invest the money into their system.
The issue is the investment. Amazon has the fans for $140 for 3 (X2) and then a single fan for $50. Then if I wanted to get RGB strips, it would be even more expensive. I’m looking to upgrade my AIO in the future as mine runs well now so it’ll get replaced when it reaches EOL.
The last thing I want is to spend the money into the system to find out their fans die easily or don’t work as advertised. Can anyone with Corsair link give me their user experience? I appreciate any input.
Just got the rest of the fans delivered today and I won’t lie, this is my favorite build I’ve done so far. Last 2 pictures are comparing new vs old cable management.
The BETA release of the System Hub Firmware has been released!
We're excited to announce that we are increasing the maximum number of supported devices on iCUE LINK from 7 per port to 12 per port, bringing the total maximum supported devices from 14 to 24.
This firmware will also help resolve a brightness limitation issue that some may be experiencing since the release of iCUE 5.12.97.
Read more about the update and how to download here!
Known Issues & Troubleshooting:
-
This firmware is a BETA release because during regression testing, our team observed in a single PC, that after many sleep cycles, it is possible to experience minor connection/re-enumeration issues with the AIO LCD screens. If you experience this issue on sleep wake with this firmware, please go to the System Hub and click the Device Enumeration button to re-connect the screen.
-
The device enumeration button is a new troubleshooting tool we added to iCUE v5.12 to reboot the bus and force LINK device re-enumeration without a power cycle. If you are still having issues after completing the above steps: Contact our Customer Service team to create a ticket
New patch notes, new thread! If you are still waiting on an answer from the previous thread, please repost here and I will be sure to get to it asap!
-----------------------------------------------
NOTICE: With the CORSAIR.com Forums shutdown, all firmware patch notes can be found on our Explorer Site. This will include: SSD Toolbox, SSD Firmware, Thunderbolt Dock Software, and Controllers
-----------------------------------------------
iCUE System Link Hub 3.10.631 Notice
This is not related to iCUE but wanted to put all the notes in one place.
iCUE Link System Hub 3.10.631 has been pulled from download for investigation.
If you did install it and are experiencing issues with the iCUE Link System Hub 3.10.631 Firmware, we have added instructions below to go back to the previous firmware version. You can view instructions on how to do this here.
iCUE 5.41 Release Notes
The update will be on our downloads page or in iCUE itself in the next day or two if you don't already see it.
What’s New:
-
Updated Philips HUE SDK to allow support for the Hue Bridge Pro
Bug Fixes:
-
Fixed an issue for iCUE Dashboard where after saving the custom name for the battery sensor, the sensor icon was lost
-
Fixed an issue where Sensors were randomly freezing under load and randomly switching upon reboot
-
Fixed an issue for Xeneon Edge where If iCUE is minimized, users could not type on web based widgets
-
Fixed an issue where after deactivating the sensor group on the home page, iCUE would not respond
-
Fixed an issue for Media Editor in iCUE profile where after using the "Reset" button, the image/videos did not fit and align/were cropped on the maximum side
-
Fixed an issue where CPU load % changes on iCUE Restart to last CPU core
-
Fixed an issue for MAKR PRO 75 where iCUE would crash after unplugging device and deleting an assignment
-
Fixed an issue for Void Pro USB/Void Elite USB where the Force Update process stalled on MacOS M4 devices
-
Fixed an issue for HS80 Wireless that After detecting device and quitting iCUE, app crashed
-
Fixed an issue for iCUE Link Hub where Time Warp was disabled after selection in the Lighting Setup
Known Issues:
The below issues are ONLY the major tier issues - there are a number of other minor fixes and tweaks as well that are being fixed but really not classified as "major" issues due to the small number or relatively low impact.
| STATUS | Issue Reported | ETA for Fix | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Work Around Established | Commander Core XT - onboard memory mode issue. When iCUE is closed, fans ramp up. | TBD | Team is aware and are working on it. WORK AROUND: Assign a fixed % setting to the onboard memory. |
| Investigating | GPU Sensors Swapping | TBD | This issue was reported to me in the previous patch notes, if you have this issue, collect your logs after the issue happened, submit a ticket, and please post your ticket number below for me to collect. |
| Currently Testing | Vanguard 96/Sabre Pro v2 iCUE Support | March 2026 | Please follow this thread and post any concerns about this there! |
Let us know your experience with the latest update or any issues you've been experiencing with iCUE, below!
Please upvote any comment that represents your issue as that gives me another visual way to track ongoing issues.
If you find that you're having an issue that is noted as fixed, please grab your iCUE logs and send in a ticket to our team. Then comment down below your ticket number and the issue you're having so we can help get those tickets sent to the right person!
Thank you all for being part of the community and reading through this thread!
My ICUE link system hub is detected, but not showing. All fans and AIO are running but can not be optimized for performance Not so concerned about the RGB as I am with controlling the equipment I have done all basic/advance TS to the point of reinstalling windows still no luck. In the process of speaking with Corsair, but the response rate is so slow that I have already executed what the have recommended Looking for help
Just very recently I stopped seeing my Link system hub in the dashboard of iCUE. I can't edit my fan speeds or AIO settings. I have QX fans and the new Link AIO. I can see it in iCUE if I go to software updates but not on firmware updates. Also, every time I open iCUE now, I get a notice that there's an update FOR the Link system hub. I click download and update every time but I don't think it updates anything. I've made sure wallpaper engine doesn't control the rgb lights and I don't have any 3rd party software for my motherboard or anything else that should control the lights. I've made sure all my drivers are up to date on my pc so I'm not sure what it is.
So I'm debating whether to add link fans to my build but I'm confused on what's different about them to fans like af and ml apart from reduced cables so I was hoping you guys could shed some light on if the link fans are worth getting
My main question is what exactly is the deal with the icue link hub? Is it necessary? Is there a certain amount of connections needed prior? I plan to run an aio and 7 individual fans, 2 ram and two light enhancements. Just wasn't sure what the deal was, benefits and drawbacks.
Additionally, if anyone has any thoughts on the below build (specifically psu and mobo, as That mobo is out of stock and going way over msrp and I just haven't picked a psu yet), let me know. I have the cpu/gpu already.
Anyways, any opinions or advice would be appreciated.
PCPartPicker Part List: https://pcpartpicker.com/list/YM8N6Q
CPU: AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D 4.7 GHz 8-Core Processor ($764.98 @ Amazon)
CPU Cooler: Corsair iCUE LINK TITAN360 RX RGB 73.5 CFM Liquid CPU Cooler ($169.99 @ Best Buy)
Motherboard: ASRock Phantom Gaming X870 Riptide WiFi ATX AM5 Motherboard ($481.92 @ Amazon)
Memory: Corsair Vengeance RGB 64 GB (2 x 32 GB) DDR5-6000 CL30 Memory ($199.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Crucial T700 2 TB M.2-2280 PCIe 5.0 X4 NVME Solid State Drive ($269.99 @ Best Buy)
Video Card: PNY VERTO OC GeForce RTX 4080 SUPER 16 GB Video Card ($1399.99 @ Amazon)
Case: Lian Li O11D EVO RGB ATX Mid Tower Case ($159.99 @ Amazon)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 11 Home OEM - DVD 64-bit ($109.99 @ Newegg)
Case Fan: Corsair iCUE LINK RX120 74.2 CFM 120 mm Fans 3-Pack ($79.98 @ Amazon)
Case Fan: Corsair iCUE LINK RX120 74.2 CFM 120 mm Fans 3-Pack ($79.98 @ Amazon)
Custom: Corsair Vengeance RGB Pro Light Enhancement Kit - Black PC Memory CMWLEKIT2 ($39.98 @ Corsair)
Custom: Cooler Master MasterAccessory Vertical Graphics Card Holder Kit V3... ($50.98 @ Newegg