Trace
06-07-2008, 04:58 PM
Well, I recently ordered Swiftech's H20-220 Compact Watercooling Kit, after suggestions from you guys, especially Spawn-Inc.
It arrived, and after a little modding, I got to test it out.
<a href="http://s265.photobucket.com/albums/ii232/TraceHagan/?action=view¤t=P1090153.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i265.photobucket.com/albums/ii232/TraceHagan/P1090153.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>
(Arriving)
Packaging 10/10
<a href="http://s265.photobucket.com/albums/ii232/TraceHagan/?action=view¤t=P1090157.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i265.photobucket.com/albums/ii232/TraceHagan/P1090157.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>
(out of the shipping box, front side)
<a href="http://s265.photobucket.com/albums/ii232/TraceHagan/?action=view¤t=P1090158.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i265.photobucket.com/albums/ii232/TraceHagan/P1090158.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>
(back side)
If you look closely, you can see a chart of its performance in different scenarios.
<a href="http://s265.photobucket.com/albums/ii232/TraceHagan/?action=view¤t=P1090159.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i265.photobucket.com/albums/ii232/TraceHagan/P1090159.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>
(the chart)
When you pull it out of the box, you notice a beautifully cut piece of foam with chambers for every different piece:
<a href="http://s265.photobucket.com/albums/ii232/TraceHagan/?action=view¤t=P1090162.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i265.photobucket.com/albums/ii232/TraceHagan/P1090162.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>
(front)
<a href="http://s265.photobucket.com/albums/ii232/TraceHagan/?action=view¤t=P1090161.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i265.photobucket.com/albums/ii232/TraceHagan/P1090161.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>
(back)
What's included
Waterblock with pump, pre-assembled for LGA775. (Random fact, LGA = Land Grid Array)
<a href="http://s265.photobucket.com/albums/ii232/TraceHagan/?action=view¤t=P1090166.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i265.photobucket.com/albums/ii232/TraceHagan/P1090166.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>
<a href="http://s265.photobucket.com/albums/ii232/TraceHagan/?action=view¤t=P1090167.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i265.photobucket.com/albums/ii232/TraceHagan/P1090167.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>
Mounting bracket for AMD sockets (AM2, 939)
<a href="http://s265.photobucket.com/albums/ii232/TraceHagan/?action=view¤t=P1090168.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i265.photobucket.com/albums/ii232/TraceHagan/P1090168.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>
2 X 120MM fans, with speed adapters
<a href="http://s265.photobucket.com/albums/ii232/TraceHagan/?action=view¤t=P1090164.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i265.photobucket.com/albums/ii232/TraceHagan/P1090164.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>
http://i265.photobucket.com/albums/ii232/TraceHagan/P1090169.jpg
Misc Items.
http://i265.photobucket.com/albums/ii232/TraceHagan/P1090172.jpg
http://i265.photobucket.com/albums/ii232/TraceHagan/P1090171.jpg
http://i265.photobucket.com/albums/ii232/TraceHagan/P1090170.jpg
Patented Radbox (tm) lol
http://i265.photobucket.com/albums/ii232/TraceHagan/P1090165.jpg
Rad and Tubing
http://i265.photobucket.com/albums/ii232/TraceHagan/P1090176.jpg
Installation 9/10
The only reason I gave it a 9/10 is because the lack of support for HTPC cases. I had to do a little modding to make it work, more on that later.
Before disassembling:
http://i265.photobucket.com/albums/ii232/TraceHagan/P1090177.jpg
Motherboard tray removed:
http://i265.photobucket.com/albums/ii232/TraceHagan/P1090181.jpg
We need to remove the Intel cooler:
http://i265.photobucket.com/albums/ii232/TraceHagan/P1090183.jpg
Baby bottom smooth, very nice quality:
http://i265.photobucket.com/albums/ii232/TraceHagan/P1090185.jpg
This is where I diviate from their installation instructions. It would be too hard to do it their way in my case.
Apply thermal paste, included.
Attach water block, screw down.
http://i265.photobucket.com/albums/ii232/TraceHagan/P1090186.jpg
http://i265.photobucket.com/albums/ii232/TraceHagan/P1090187.jpg
Attach tubes:
http://i265.photobucket.com/albums/ii232/TraceHagan/P1090188.jpg
Bring tubes through back PCI bracket (included) and attach to radiator, out side
http://i265.photobucket.com/albums/ii232/TraceHagan/P1090189.jpg
Adjust tube lengths, leaving room for video card:
http://i265.photobucket.com/albums/ii232/TraceHagan/P1090191.jpg
Get ready to jump power supply
(i used this old one, just in case)
http://i265.photobucket.com/albums/ii232/TraceHagan/P1090190.jpg
Fill, prime, leak test. No leaks? Let's move on
The way the tubes were didn't allow installation of my PSU:
http://i265.photobucket.com/albums/ii232/TraceHagan/P1090193.jpg
Back together:
http://i265.photobucket.com/albums/ii232/TraceHagan/P1090197.jpg
Radiator mounting
I decided to mount it as such:
http://i265.photobucket.com/albums/ii232/TraceHagan/P1090200.jpg
We ended up making a custom stainless steel bracket, I even got my dad into it!
http://i265.photobucket.com/albums/ii232/TraceHagan/P1090203.jpg
http://i265.photobucket.com/albums/ii232/TraceHagan/P1090205.jpg
http://i265.photobucket.com/albums/ii232/TraceHagan/P1090206.jpg
Performance 9.5/10
Temps are taken with fans on silent 5 volt operation, and stock cooler on full.
Only CPU in loop. Records of hottest core in Q6600 @ 3.0GHz stock vCore.
Graph of temps:
http://i265.photobucket.com/albums/ii232/TraceHagan/graph.jpg
Consider my socks blown off.
Ratings and conclusion
Overall: 9.5/10 (first watercooling attempt, went off without a hitch)
Packaging: 10/10 (looks great, keeps everything safe)
Installation: 9/10 (not great for HTPC cases)
Performance: 9.5/10 (Excellent temps, a little loud)
All in all, Swiftech has made an awesome kit with this one. They really out did themselves. Even on 5 volts though, the fans can be a little noisy. I hope to be replacing them with some quieter ones. Also, be careful about what screws you use to mount the fans, there are 3 types and they are all almost the same size. 1 will be slightly short, and the other will puncture the rad, which I almost did.
I would recommend this product to anybody new to W/C, but if you have been around a little, you might consider using individually chosen parts.
It arrived, and after a little modding, I got to test it out.
<a href="http://s265.photobucket.com/albums/ii232/TraceHagan/?action=view¤t=P1090153.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i265.photobucket.com/albums/ii232/TraceHagan/P1090153.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>
(Arriving)
Packaging 10/10
<a href="http://s265.photobucket.com/albums/ii232/TraceHagan/?action=view¤t=P1090157.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i265.photobucket.com/albums/ii232/TraceHagan/P1090157.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>
(out of the shipping box, front side)
<a href="http://s265.photobucket.com/albums/ii232/TraceHagan/?action=view¤t=P1090158.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i265.photobucket.com/albums/ii232/TraceHagan/P1090158.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>
(back side)
If you look closely, you can see a chart of its performance in different scenarios.
<a href="http://s265.photobucket.com/albums/ii232/TraceHagan/?action=view¤t=P1090159.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i265.photobucket.com/albums/ii232/TraceHagan/P1090159.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>
(the chart)
When you pull it out of the box, you notice a beautifully cut piece of foam with chambers for every different piece:
<a href="http://s265.photobucket.com/albums/ii232/TraceHagan/?action=view¤t=P1090162.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i265.photobucket.com/albums/ii232/TraceHagan/P1090162.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>
(front)
<a href="http://s265.photobucket.com/albums/ii232/TraceHagan/?action=view¤t=P1090161.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i265.photobucket.com/albums/ii232/TraceHagan/P1090161.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>
(back)
What's included
Waterblock with pump, pre-assembled for LGA775. (Random fact, LGA = Land Grid Array)
<a href="http://s265.photobucket.com/albums/ii232/TraceHagan/?action=view¤t=P1090166.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i265.photobucket.com/albums/ii232/TraceHagan/P1090166.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>
<a href="http://s265.photobucket.com/albums/ii232/TraceHagan/?action=view¤t=P1090167.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i265.photobucket.com/albums/ii232/TraceHagan/P1090167.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>
Mounting bracket for AMD sockets (AM2, 939)
<a href="http://s265.photobucket.com/albums/ii232/TraceHagan/?action=view¤t=P1090168.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i265.photobucket.com/albums/ii232/TraceHagan/P1090168.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>
2 X 120MM fans, with speed adapters
<a href="http://s265.photobucket.com/albums/ii232/TraceHagan/?action=view¤t=P1090164.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i265.photobucket.com/albums/ii232/TraceHagan/P1090164.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>
http://i265.photobucket.com/albums/ii232/TraceHagan/P1090169.jpg
Misc Items.
http://i265.photobucket.com/albums/ii232/TraceHagan/P1090172.jpg
http://i265.photobucket.com/albums/ii232/TraceHagan/P1090171.jpg
http://i265.photobucket.com/albums/ii232/TraceHagan/P1090170.jpg
Patented Radbox (tm) lol
http://i265.photobucket.com/albums/ii232/TraceHagan/P1090165.jpg
Rad and Tubing
http://i265.photobucket.com/albums/ii232/TraceHagan/P1090176.jpg
Installation 9/10
The only reason I gave it a 9/10 is because the lack of support for HTPC cases. I had to do a little modding to make it work, more on that later.
Before disassembling:
http://i265.photobucket.com/albums/ii232/TraceHagan/P1090177.jpg
Motherboard tray removed:
http://i265.photobucket.com/albums/ii232/TraceHagan/P1090181.jpg
We need to remove the Intel cooler:
http://i265.photobucket.com/albums/ii232/TraceHagan/P1090183.jpg
Baby bottom smooth, very nice quality:
http://i265.photobucket.com/albums/ii232/TraceHagan/P1090185.jpg
This is where I diviate from their installation instructions. It would be too hard to do it their way in my case.
Apply thermal paste, included.
Attach water block, screw down.
http://i265.photobucket.com/albums/ii232/TraceHagan/P1090186.jpg
http://i265.photobucket.com/albums/ii232/TraceHagan/P1090187.jpg
Attach tubes:
http://i265.photobucket.com/albums/ii232/TraceHagan/P1090188.jpg
Bring tubes through back PCI bracket (included) and attach to radiator, out side
http://i265.photobucket.com/albums/ii232/TraceHagan/P1090189.jpg
Adjust tube lengths, leaving room for video card:
http://i265.photobucket.com/albums/ii232/TraceHagan/P1090191.jpg
Get ready to jump power supply
(i used this old one, just in case)
http://i265.photobucket.com/albums/ii232/TraceHagan/P1090190.jpg
Fill, prime, leak test. No leaks? Let's move on
The way the tubes were didn't allow installation of my PSU:
http://i265.photobucket.com/albums/ii232/TraceHagan/P1090193.jpg
Back together:
http://i265.photobucket.com/albums/ii232/TraceHagan/P1090197.jpg
Radiator mounting
I decided to mount it as such:
http://i265.photobucket.com/albums/ii232/TraceHagan/P1090200.jpg
We ended up making a custom stainless steel bracket, I even got my dad into it!
http://i265.photobucket.com/albums/ii232/TraceHagan/P1090203.jpg
http://i265.photobucket.com/albums/ii232/TraceHagan/P1090205.jpg
http://i265.photobucket.com/albums/ii232/TraceHagan/P1090206.jpg
Performance 9.5/10
Temps are taken with fans on silent 5 volt operation, and stock cooler on full.
Only CPU in loop. Records of hottest core in Q6600 @ 3.0GHz stock vCore.
Graph of temps:
http://i265.photobucket.com/albums/ii232/TraceHagan/graph.jpg
Consider my socks blown off.
Ratings and conclusion
Overall: 9.5/10 (first watercooling attempt, went off without a hitch)
Packaging: 10/10 (looks great, keeps everything safe)
Installation: 9/10 (not great for HTPC cases)
Performance: 9.5/10 (Excellent temps, a little loud)
All in all, Swiftech has made an awesome kit with this one. They really out did themselves. Even on 5 volts though, the fans can be a little noisy. I hope to be replacing them with some quieter ones. Also, be careful about what screws you use to mount the fans, there are 3 types and they are all almost the same size. 1 will be slightly short, and the other will puncture the rad, which I almost did.
I would recommend this product to anybody new to W/C, but if you have been around a little, you might consider using individually chosen parts.