Swiftech Caldera 4870X2 Released

[gabe]

We are glad to announce the release of the Caldera 4870X2 hybrid cooling system for AMD's HD4870X2 reference design graphics cards.

http://www.swiftech.com/products/Cal...ing-system.asp

Shipping to resellers will begin this coming Monday.

MSRP is $159.95, water-block and heatsink included.

[aspire.comptech]

Just to be certain water never comes in contact with the aluminum correct?

[gabe]

Just to be certain water never comes in contact with the aluminum correct?

correct.

[zanzabar]

why is it the same price as the EK nickle block, shouldent it be about the price of the xspc block since its a hybrid so it should be cheaper in theory

and if u trim the stock unisink would the culdera block work on it

[The[R]eaper]

looks good very cool idea.

[Utnorris]

why is it the same price as the EK nickle block, shouldent it be about the price of the xspc block since its a hybrid so it should be cheaper in theory

and if u trim the stock unisink would the culdera block work on it

Agree on the first part. Way over priced. The heatsink doesn't get cooled by the water blocks, you are not adding any sinks to the back of the board for the memory on the other side. The EK nickel is the same price, the Koolance and DD are $20 less and the XSPC is $60-$70 less depending on where you get it from.

And to boot the name is still upside down and yes you can see it, especially in a horizontally mounted MB.

[_G_]

Just 2 questions:does it fit in a single pci slot, and is performance on par with a pair of mcw60's?

[Chruschef]

I really like that the vram isn't cooled by the water, but I also agree way over priced. I love swiftech products, all very high quality, but this isn't worth it. The stealth blocks were much more attractive imo.

[SNiiPE_DoGG]

The stealth blocks were much more attractive imo.

and aluminumy

[Chruschef]

and aluminumy

I never commented on how good they were.
I certainly never owned one.

[Adam217]

What makes this design better than other similar products to warrant the higher price? The most expensive material; copper; has been significantly reduced and should allow for a less expensive product. The only benefit I see is not dumping the mem/vreg heat into the loop but in turn forces you to use a fan to move the heat into the case. I like the idea of the heatsink if it is used in conjunction with standard/re-usable blocks, but all of this is tied to one single card. This option makes no sense in cost or function. The only possible upside I see is bling factor, which I think is important for a good deal of people but not put ahead of overall performance and cost.

Please explain to me where I am wrong? I did not set out to attack this product, I just can't seem to find a place for it, this late and this pricey.

[Utnorris]

Also on the heatsink the grooves go up and down, not side to side, so air from a fan will not travel down the grooves. Correct me if I am wrong.

[YukonTrooper]

Don't mean to add to the bad vibes, but damn, that thing is you-gee-el-why. I knew I was getting a lump of coal for Christmas, but I didn't know it was coming this early.

[gabe]

And to boot the name is still upside down and yes you can see it, especially in a horizontally mounted MB.

Utnorris, explain to me how you can see the name when the motherboard is installed normally:



Now, if the motherboard is installed upside down, as is possible in several high-end cases, this is what you see:



So if you mean to criticize how the name is oriented because in Desktop PC's it would be upside down, then I ask: how many enthusiasts use tricked dekstop PC's (with windows for example) as opposed to towers?

Just give me one valid example please, because I would really like to understand where you are coming from.

[gabe]

Just 2 questions:does it fit in a single pci slot, and is performance on par with a pair of mcw60's?

I think this is the same question you asked once before. The card stock retention bracket uses two slots. It doesn't matter how much space the cooler takes since the card itself will use two slots.

But in the event you decided to cut the card' stock retention bracket with a dremel in order to free up the second slot, then I suppose that question becomes relevant. I'll have to double-check if there is enough space to do that, but I suspect there might be.

Performance: yes the C/W is exactly the same as the MCW60 since we use the MCW60 copper base. The pressure drop will be higher that of the MCW60 simply because you have the extra 90 degree elbow dictated by the inlet/outlet orientation. That is true for all full-cover blocks.

[Apollo4g]

So if you mean to criticize how the name is oriented because in Desktop PC's it would be upside down, then I ask: how many enthusiasts use tricked dekstop PC's (with windows for example) as opposed to towers?

Just give me one valid example please, because I would really like to understand where you are coming from.

Im guessing he meant on horizontal motherboards like in the MM cases.
There for it would look like this:

[SNiiPE_DoGG]

Im guessing he meant on horizontal motherboards like in the MM cases.
There for it would look like this:

ding ding ding, we have a wiener

yeah I think the log is indeed upside down for horizontal mobos, however it is correct for inverted ATX which is a MUCH more common configuration despite what you mm owners may think.

[philbrown23]

will this work on a 4850X2???

[Apollo4g]

ding ding ding, we have a wiener

yeah I think the log is indeed upside down for horizontal mobos, however it is correct for inverted ATX which is a MUCH more common configuration despite what you mm owners may think.

Haha very true, was just clarifying what he meant.

[gabe]

Im guessing he meant on horizontal motherboards like in the MM cases.
There for it would look like this:

Ok. So how many MM owners are interested see a cover option with the name cut in the other direction?

[gabe]

What makes this design better than other similar products to warrant the higher price? The most expensive material; copper; has been significantly reduced and should allow for a less expensive product. The only benefit I see is not dumping the mem/vreg heat into the loop but in turn forces you to use a fan to move the heat into the case. I like the idea of the heatsink if it is used in conjunction with standard/re-usable blocks, but all of this is tied to one single card. This option makes no sense in cost or function. The only possible upside I see is bling factor, which I think is important for a good deal of people but not put ahead of overall performance and cost.

Please explain to me where I am wrong? I did not set out to attack this product, I just can't seem to find a place for it, this late and this pricey.

The product is late indeed. Nothing I can do about that unfortunately.

GPU cooling performance is superior by design to any other full cover on the market, but not better than individual blocks such as the MCW60 or the Fuzion; in fact flow restriction is worse than these solutions, for the reason I explained earlier (the extra 90 degree elbow dictated by inlet/outlet orientation), but this is something full cover owners have accepted as a compromise.

Price is a reflection of the small quantity we made for what I see as a "limited edition". On the other hand, people who like the design and the added performance, and who spend over $500 on a card shouldn't worry that much whether the product is at the high-end of the price spectrum by a few bucks.

[TheShoura]

I have a DD Torture rack and I see his point but what the hell else do you expect when something like 5% of enthusiasts even, will never really look at that logo?

[SNiiPE_DoGG]

Methinks its time for an MM with an inverted horizontal mobo

[Arkangyl]

If this just uses the MCW60 base, is there any chance that the 'shell' will be released at a lower price? Or that in a year hte 5870 X2 (guessing at the name) will have a new 'shell' for sale (say $50) and we can just pop the bases into it?

[gabe]

Methinks its time for an MM with an inverted horizontal mobo

SNiiPE, I see you have a 4870x2 + single 4870. How's is that working for you ?
I am thinking of doing that for our demo system (which I also use for some gaming whenever I have time)?