ENZOTECH SCW1 vs APOGEE GT

[xpatar]

I just got some new equipment and I decided to make a test in order to see how well my new Enzotech SCW-1 (sapphire series) performs against my good old Apogee GT.
I have to mention that I don’t have any special equipment in order to measure thermal resistance or flow rate.
All the tests were software based.


http://i286.photobucket.com/albums/ll104/mpamphs70/100_0269scaled.jpg


Software used:
The software I used was: OCCT v. 2.0.0a, a very stressful program capable of utilizing 100% for all four cores concurrently, you can find it at:
http://www.ocbase.com/perestroika_en/index.php?Download
and Riva Tuner v2.09 with the necessary C2D plug in, you can find them here:
http://downloads.guru3d.com/RivaTuner-v2.09-download-163.html
http://downloads.guru3d.com/Rivatuner-Core-2-Duo-Temperature-Monitor-Plugin_d1545.html

hardware used:
CPU: C2DQ 6600 oc @ 3.2GHz 1.3v
M/B: ASUS MAXIMUS FORMULA (bios v.1102)
MEM: OCZ OCZ2RPR800C44GK DDR2 4GB PC2-6400 REAPER CL4 EDITION @ 4-4-4-15 2.0v
VGA: ASUS 8800 GTX 768MB HTDP
HDDS: SEAGATE ST3250410AS 250GB SATA2, SAMSUNG HD502IJ 500GB SATA2, SEAGATE BARRACUDA 7200.11 ST3750330AS 750GB SATA2
DVD-RW: NEC AD-7173S
SOUNDCARD: CREATIVE SOUND BLASTER FATALITY
PSU: PC POWER & COOLING inc, 750W Silencer Black
CASE: LIAN LI PC-V1200B
MONITOR: EIZO Flexscan S1911

Watercooling parts:
WBs: Enzotech SCW-1, Swiftech Apogee GT
Pump: Swiftech MCP655™ series 12 VDC Pump
Radiator: Alphacool NexXxoS Pro II - Rev. 2
Reservoir: Swiftech MCRES-MICRO
Tubing: PrimoFlex Tubing 1/2 ID x 3/4 OD – Clear
Rad fans: Silenx Case Fan 120mm Pro.

The procedure:
In both scenarios I left for a few minutes the processor idling in order for the temps for all four cores to stabilize and then OCCT started running for the default one hour test. Room temp was stable at 25 °C in both tests (you see now In Greece temps are going high).



http://i286.photobucket.com/albums/ll104/mpamphs70/100_0256scaled.jpg

Apogee GT
At idle we see that with the Apogee GT the four cores had the following temps:

http://i286.photobucket.com/albums/ll104/mpamphs70/Apogeeidle.jpg
CPU0=34 °C, CPU1=36 °C, CPU2=32 °C, CPU3= 34 °C


While at full load with OCCT the temps had the following values:

http://i286.photobucket.com/albums/ll104/mpamphs70/Apogeefullload.jpg
CPU0=55 °C, CPU1=55 °C, CPU2=51 °C, CPU3= 54 °C.


In the end of the test we got the following charts for all four cores.

http://i286.photobucket.com/albums/ll104/mpamphs70/2008-05-28-18h43-CPU1.png

http://i286.photobucket.com/albums/ll104/mpamphs70/2008-05-28-18h43-CPU2.png

http://i286.photobucket.com/albums/ll104/mpamphs70/2008-05-28-18h43-CPU3.png

http://i286.photobucket.com/albums/ll104/mpamphs70/2008-05-28-18h43-CPU4.png

Enzotech SCW-1
At idle we had the following temps:

http://i286.photobucket.com/albums/ll104/mpamphs70/Enzotechidle.jpg

CPU0=32 °C, CPU1=35 °C, CPU2=30 °C, CPU3= 32 °C.


While at full load we had the following temps:
http://i286.photobucket.com/albums/ll104/mpamphs70/Enzotechfullload.jpg
CPU0=52 °C, CPU1=52 °C, CPU2=48 °C, CPU3= 49 °C.


In the end of the test we got the following charts for all four cores.
http://i286.photobucket.com/albums/ll104/mpamphs70/2008-05-29-18h25-CPU1.png

http://i286.photobucket.com/albums/ll104/mpamphs70/2008-05-29-18h25-CPU2.png

http://i286.photobucket.com/albums/ll104/mpamphs70/2008-05-29-18h25-CPU3.png

http://i286.photobucket.com/albums/ll104/mpamphs70/2008-05-29-18h25-CPU4.png

So with the Apogee GT we got the following DT values:

http://i286.photobucket.com/albums/ll104/mpamphs70/Apogeeidle-max.jpg

while with the Enzotech SCW-1 we had the following values:

http://i286.photobucket.com/albums/ll104/mpamphs70/Enzotechidle-max.jpg

We clearly see now that the DT values with the Enzotech waterblock are better than with the Apogee one, mentioning also that we have lower temps (idle, max) with the Enzotech waterblock in all four cores


Comparing each core

The next step was to compare each core independently with the two waterblocks. So we got different core temps across the one hour OCCT test.

For the first core ( CPU1) we have the following graph:

http://i286.photobucket.com/albums/ll104/mpamphs70/CPU1.jpg


We notice that the Enzotech SCW-1 waterblock outperforms the Apogee GT in the one hour OCCT test. With the Apogee GT we got a max temp of 55 °C at the 53rd minute of the test while with the Enzotech a max temp of 51 °C at the 48th minute of the test.


For the second core (CPU2) we have the following graph:

http://i286.photobucket.com/albums/ll104/mpamphs70/CPU2.jpg


Again the Enzotech SCW-1 outperforms the Apogee GT in the one hour OCCT test. With the Apogee GT we got a max temp of 55 °C at the 53rd minute of the test while with the Enzotech a max temp of 52 °C at the 48th minute of the test.

For the third core (CPU3) we have the following graph:

http://i286.photobucket.com/albums/ll104/mpamphs70/CPU3.jpg


The same results here for the Enzotech waterblock which outperformed the Apogee one. With the Apogee GT we got a max temp of 51 °C at the 53rd minute of the test while with the Enzotech a max temp of 48 °C at the 48th minute of the test.


And finally we had the last core of the test (CPU4).


http://i286.photobucket.com/albums/ll104/mpamphs70/CPU4.jpg


The Enzotech again leads the way. With the Apogee GT we got a max temp of 54 °C at the 53rd minute of the test while with the Enzotech a max temp of 49 °C at the 48th minute of the test.


Summarizing

It’s clear from the above tests that the Eznotech SCW-1 outperformed the Swiftech Apogee GT in every separate core test. I’m much happier now with my new waterblock.
Also take note that with Rina Tuner the cores referred as CPU0, CPU1, CPU2, CPU3, while with OCCT the cores referred as CPU1, CPU2, CPU3, CPU4. There was also a difference in the max temp of CPU0 where Riva Tuner reported a temp of 52 °C while with OCCT max temp was 51 °C, so in the graph I used what OCCT reported.
All the tests I did were software based so if anyone has any better information I’ll be glad to know.

[MomijiTMO]

It is a lovely looking block and I want one ;). Enzotech really needs to make a universal GPU block rival the MCW60.

Thanks for the test!

[generics_user]

plz do at least 2 remounts and repeat the tests :up:

[xpatar]

It is a lovely looking block and I want one ;). Enzotech really needs to make a universal GPU block rival the MCW60.

Thanks for the test!
It's a lovely looking waterblock, but we have to see how it does with the new D-Tek waterblock rev. 2. Thanks for your kind words.

plz do at least 2 remounts and repeat the tests :up:
In both tests I used artic silver 5, I left it warm up for many hours in order for the temps to reach the best they possibly could.

[jonny_ftm]

First great attempt, but:

1- Like you were told, you have to use many mounts to post a conclusion, using AS5 doesn't mean nothing. Better use some MX2 not meant to settle

2- Using OCCT in mix mode is a bad idea. Either use OCCT v2.x in CPU mode or Prime95 small FFT which will give you a constant CPU load not those oscilloscopic temp curves

3- SCW-1 should be compared to the Apogee GTX rather on a quadcore.

Finally, keep in mind that an acrylic top is really a long time bad idea because of cracking risks. Despite its great look, I'll never buy such a WB

[Eddie3dfx]

Is the Apogee Gt Bowed?

[RockfordFosgate]

Nice review ;)

[rogard]

nice review...just a shame the Enzotech tends to crack :(

[Nanometer]

Nice review work. Kind of over load on the graphs but very detailed. :)

[xpatar]

First great attempt, but:

1- Like you were told, you have to use many mounts to post a conclusion, using AS5 doesn't mean nothing. Better use some MX2 not meant to settle

2- Using OCCT in mix mode is a bad idea. Either use OCCT v2.x in CPU mode or Prime95 small FFT which will give you a constant CPU load not those oscilloscopic temp curves

3- SCW-1 should be compared to the Apogee GTX rather on a quadcore.

Finally, keep in mind that an acrylic top is really a long time bad idea because of cracking risks. Despite its great look, I'll never buy such a WB
Thanks for the notes, mounting and remounting will give a better database but I don't believe in the end that we will have significant changes. To tell you the truth I liked the enzotech and I'm looking forward for the D-Tek Fusion rev.2.

Is the Apogee Gt Bowed?
No it' not bowed.
To all the people for their good words a very great thanks.

[jonny_ftm]

Well, if you didn't use a backplate for the GT than you need to mount it many times before getting the best contact.
Same applies if you bow it and yes, it should be bowed for better comparision

[xpatar]

Well, if you didn't use a backplate for the GT than you need to mount it many times before getting the best contact.
Same applies if you bow it and yes, it should be bowed for better comparision

I've been using the Apogee GT for a long time now (almost six months), mounting and remounting was a frequent job with my pc, believe me I did't notice better temps with the Apogee GT using either occt or prime 95 for many hours, or in gaming or at daily work. Sure the Apogee GT doen't have a backplate but it has its own reliable secure mechanism. As for the bowing I think that would't be fair for the comparison. If I bow the Apogee GT then I must find a way to bow the Enzotech too, that would be a fair comparison.

[Martinm210]

Nice work, thanks!!

[xpatar]

Nice work, thanks!!

Thank you:)

[Snyxxx]

Thanks for taking the time to do all this work.

[xpatar]

Thanks for taking the time to do all this work.

Your welcome, when at first decided to do that test, prior to that I was searching information about the Entzotech waterblock. The information I found was a little bit confusing. So I decided to go on my own, buy that waterblock and start testing in order to see how well that specific w/b performs. It took me days to complete that work, cause apart from the testing I had to write down all ther information, make a sketch, calculating and editing all the data with microsoft excel and of course post all the information I gathered. There are also other great w/b and when I get the new D-Tek fusion rev.2 another new test will follow, but you know that takes time.;)

[Snyxxx]

Xpater,

Keep the testing going. Do not let people get you down from not mounting everything five times and such. Any results are better than no results.

If the results please you, then great. I do testing myself and if the results are good for me, then great.

[xpatar]

Xpater,

Keep the testing going. Do not let people get you down from not mounting everything five times and such. Any results are better than no results.

If the results please you, then great. I do testing myself and if the results are good for me, then great.

I fully agree with you,:clap:

[Daveburt714]

Holy Thread Resurection!!

I just wanted to say thanks for the review xpatar ... :up:

I was in the market for a new block to replace my aging Apogee GT, I really wanted an HK V3 but just couldn't justify $80+.

This thread convinced me to give the ENZO SCW-Rev.A a try, and I'm glad I did!
$40 well spent AFAIC, I can definitely tell a difference over the GT, it's more attractive and was easy to mount on an AM3 Mobo (didn't require pulling the board).

My system is all based on 3/8" tubing so I had to get new barbs, 1/2" were supplied but it was easier for me to change them out. ;)

I remounted it a few times and found the best performance (vertical) to be with the inlet in the center (obvious) and the outlet at the top right.

I didn't test as extensively as you did. I only have results comparing SPi 32 temps, but it's pretty clear this block out performs the GT. :yepp:
Here are my results compared to the GT:

APOGEE GT:
http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c330/Daveburt/1209_32meg.png

ENZO SAPPHIRE Rev.A:
http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c330/Daveburt/1230_EnzoSapphire_32meg.png

I should have tested the GT in more detail for a better comparison. These SS's don't really do this block justice, but if you look at it (circled in red)
you can see that ambients were 2c higher, while core temp was 6c lower. ;)

I'm VERY happy with the Enzo! I don't have the data to prove it, but I can tell you it's a big improvement over the GT...

If anyone is looking for an economy (bang for the buck) block, this one has to be one of the best!

[xpatar]

I'm glad it helped you. Thank you for your kind words.;)