Mini Apogee GT review

Printable View

09-22-2008, 09:24 PM
Martinm210

Mini Apogee GT review

I know, it's not something new, but I'm working my way through the pack. Since I did the GTZ last, I figured I'd see what sort of difference there is between the lower end model....My quest "What does "Z" mean or the lack of "Z"?..:D

Here is my site review if you want details:
http://www.martinsliquidlab.com/Swif...GT_Review.html

The block (sorry I don't like the plastic barbs, had to replace them with some D-Tek barbs)
http://www.martinsliquidlab.com/img/...ApogeeGT-1.jpg

You do get one heck of an accessory package, that's one area I really like about this block, backplate and all the goods are included:
http://www.martinsliquidlab.com/img/...ApogeeGT-2.jpg

And the bowed base is cool, it does a nice job at minimizing TIM thickness:
http://www.martinsliquidlab.com/img/...ApogeeGT-8.jpg

Flow rate was actually better than I expected, I'll know more after pressure drop testing, but these bar charts give you the actual as tested resulting flow rate:
http://www.martinsliquidlab.com/img/...ogeeGTFlow.png

My testing setup, ignore the case as I get my tech bench ordered...
http://www.martinsliquidlab.com/img/...-ThermTest.jpg

The raw summarized data of the 5 mount runs:
http://www.martinsliquidlab.com/img/...-Therm1Tab.png

Thermals of hottest core graphed:
http://www.martinsliquidlab.com/img/...eGT-Therm4.png

So while I didn't expect it to perform as well as the GTZ, it did pretty well and was only 2.5C behind. It's a good block for folks on a budget than are not worried about a couple of degrees, it's also fairly low in restriction which is good for multiple block loops.

And most importantly, I found Z = -2.5C...:D

Cheers!:toast2:
Martin
09-22-2008, 09:48 PM
[XC] riptide

Great Review. Concise and to the point.

/looks at old venerable GT in my Armour/ 'you're not so bad at all... even on a quad'
09-22-2008, 09:58 PM
Martinm210

Thanks!

Yeah, it did just fine with my overclock, wish I could say the same for my air cooler...it failed miserably.

The power of water!...:D
09-22-2008, 10:00 PM
YMAA

Great review Martin. Definitely seems like getting a super-expensive waterblock is more for bragging rights than getting more real-world performance. Good thing I've gotten all my waterblocks used, cheaply...one from a raffle :up:
09-22-2008, 10:10 PM
ownage

Thanks Martin.
Seems like you put allot of effort into testing. Great work and clean reviews.

Seems my old GT is not that bad at all. Better replace my rad then I think.
09-23-2008, 12:40 AM
Giannis86

Quote:

Originally Posted by Martinm210

And most importantly, I found Z = -2.5C...:D

Cheers!:toast2:
Martin

best discovery of them all:D

nice work as always btw:p:
09-23-2008, 12:56 AM
twwen2

Nice Martin, i really like this block. It's a bit of a classic actually. Great looks (i'm a sucker for the chrome/polished plate) and decent performance at a great price. :cool:
09-23-2008, 02:42 AM
Arni

Like always good review :)
09-23-2008, 03:09 AM
Eddie3dfx

Interesting. Certainly way better than my x3210 (q6600 younger cousin) at 1.5v and 3500mhz.
I was getting about 41c on each core at idle and 66-67c on stresstest with a gt bowed and an mcr320 on a D5. I'll see how things improve with the ek supreme and 38mm panaflos.
You are getting almost 17c lower temp than I am. :eek:
09-23-2008, 03:17 AM
JpopDude

A noob Qns

i'm having a Apogee GT now

but the mounting Screws is way to hard to mount
i saw some spring based screws mounted on it

anyone knows where can i get it ?

Thanks
09-23-2008, 03:26 AM
gillbot

Excellent review!! I'm actually suprised there isn't more of a difference between the Apogee GT and the Fuzion v1 an even more suprised at only a -2.5C gain with the GTZ. This really makes me wonder if dismantling my loop as it sits is going to be worth it to add a BIX3 and Fuzion V1 over my current MCR220 and Apogee GT.
09-23-2008, 03:29 AM
IanY

I also find the Apogee classic within a degree or two of the Apogee GT/GTX.
09-23-2008, 03:34 AM
gillbot

Quote:

Originally Posted by IanY

I also find the Apogee classic within a degree or two of the Apogee GT/GTX.

I have one of the Apogee Classics sitting here as well. :up: I didn't figure the upgraded pin matrix of the GT over the classic Apogee yielded much of a gain. It's just nice to have more people getting similar results.

I didn't expect much of a spread between the Apogee GT and the Fuzion v1 but I did expect a larget spread between the GT and the GTZ. I must say I am quite pleased! Many people thought that the GT wouldn't be able to handle the heat load of a Quad, and we can see here that (IMHO) it can!
09-23-2008, 04:07 AM
septim

would you say probably because of wide area cooling, unlike the Storm 2, focused on middle area cooling only...

it may not be the best now, but it can still handle mild OC good.
09-23-2008, 05:14 AM
[XC] riptide

Quote:

Originally Posted by IanY

I also find the Apogee classic within a degree or two of the Apogee GT/GTX.

Actually it was your post about GTX been 1C better than GT, back then, that got me to get a GTX. Pity that I didn't change the stock top in time.... nor use Swiftys fuid.... oops./ :ROTF:
09-23-2008, 05:30 AM
Martinm210

Quote:

Originally Posted by Eddie3dfx

Interesting. Certainly way better than my x3210 (q6600 younger cousin) at 1.5v and 3500mhz.
I was getting about 41c on each core at idle and 66-67c on stresstest with a gt bowed and an mcr320 on a D5. I'll see how things improve with the ek supreme and 38mm panaflos.
You are getting almost 17c lower temp than I am. :eek:

Yeah, this Q6600 GO doesn't run as hot as I figured. Perhaps it's a good chip, I'm not sure. Some preliminary experiements around heat measurements were showing somewhere around 130watts of heat coming off the processor. This was based on measuring a rise in a known volume of water so it would be more actual heat than power consumption. Regardless, some of the PSU calculators say it should be over 200W, but it's not nearly that much from what I can see.

Quote:

Originally Posted by septim

would you say probably because of wide area cooling, unlike the Storm 2, focused on middle area cooling only...

it may not be the best now, but it can still handle mild OC good.

Yeah, it has a fairly large cooling area with the inlet flow spreaders and large pin matrix. I've never tried a storm though, I'm not sure if it's the focus middle area cooling only, or a combination of that and not enough surface area.:shrug:
09-23-2008, 05:45 AM
IanY

Quote:

Originally Posted by [XC] riptide

Actually it was your post about GTX been 1C better than GT, back then, that got me to get a GTX. Pity that I didn't change the stock top in time.... nor use Swiftys fuid.... oops./ :ROTF:

Ooops is the right word. I'm fully guilty of thinking/promoting that the spreaded out barbs on the GTX were better, and they did make a small 1C difference. I didn't change the stock top as well from the get go, but I did use Hydrx. Then I changed to the copper top. That was,all in all, the most expensive water block I ever bought :ROTF:
09-23-2008, 06:25 AM
BulldogPO

What? Is this really old Apogee GT? Wooh!
Plain Apogee (non GT) does have different mountin system without backplate? Atleast one in my HTPC has.
Great review!
09-23-2008, 06:34 AM
gillbot

Quote:

Originally Posted by BulldogPO

What? Is this really old Apogee GT? Wooh!
Plain Apogee (non GT) does have different mountin system without backplate? Atleast one in my HTPC has.
Great review!

Yeah, the plain apogee has studs and no backplate though the Apogee GT mounting hardware will work with it fine.
09-23-2008, 06:42 AM
Xilikon

Nice review. I knew there isn't a lot of difference and for a computer with a mild overclocking or economic watercooling setup, it's a great pick ;)
09-23-2008, 09:57 AM
hotdun

Thanks Martin, great review....really appreciate your efforts!

The subtle difference between the current temp leader is really an eye opener...
09-23-2008, 10:14 AM
NaeKuh

gabe needs a Z (squared) and have it do -5C ! :rofl:
09-23-2008, 10:19 AM
Xilikon

Quote:

Originally Posted by NaeKuh

gabe needs a Z (squared) and have it do -5C ! :rofl:

-6.25 to be more exact :ROTF:
09-23-2008, 10:22 AM
systemviper

great review, as usual :up:

i just picked up the GTX copper top, i am excited to get that in my system!
09-23-2008, 04:09 PM
gillbot

What about a Z╥ that does -3.14159265
09-23-2008, 04:15 PM
majestik

Quote:

Originally Posted by Xilikon

Nice review. I knew there isn't a lot of difference and for a computer with a mild overclocking or economic watercooling setup, it's a great pick ;)

TFC480 = economic?
:rotf:
10-10-2008, 05:04 AM
freshy

hi all :D, been following xtreme systems forums for a while and finally thought id register and ask a question, hope im posting in right section

just wanted to know if i can change my barbs on my Apogee GT to 2 Feser Compression Fitting G1/4 Thread - 1/2in ID - 3/4in OD - High Flow

http://www.sidewindercomputers.com/fecofig1th1i.html

would they fit ok ?

thanks for your help
10-10-2008, 09:14 AM
Waterlogged

Quote:

Originally Posted by freshy

hi all :D, been following xtreme systems forums for a while and finally thought id register and ask a question, hope im posting in right section

just wanted to know if i can change my barbs on my Apogee GT to 2 Feser Compression Fitting G1/4 Thread - 1/2in ID - 3/4in OD - High Flow

http://www.sidewindercomputers.com/fecofig1th1i.html

would they fit ok ?

thanks for your help

:welcome:

Sorry to say this but , no, they won't fit on the GT.
10-12-2008, 03:20 AM
freshy

Quote:

Originally Posted by Waterlogged

:welcome:

Sorry to say this but , no, they won't fit on the GT.

no worries, thanx for letting me know, saved few $ :up: