[ User Review ] Swiftech MCP35X Pump + Reservoir

[bundymania]

Update - available as D5 PWM Version from Swiftech:

In response to the overwhelming demand and popularity of the MCP655 Series FrozenCPU.com has worked with Swiftech to bring you a more versatile version. Want your pump to run as quiet as possible? Now you can have that as well as the available power of the MCP655 in the all new MCP655-PWM. That is right, a PWM version on the MCP655!!

The MCP655 pump is a high reliability, high pressure industrial pump, featuring a 50,000 hour MTBF (5 year lifetime). Such reliability is afforded by the unique design of this pump, which contains only one moving part: the magnetically driven spherical impeller spins on a single ceramic bearing, thus extending the life of this pump beyond existing standards.

The pump is completely plug-and-play, and connects directly to any computer power-supply through standard 4 pin power connectors and a PWM 4-Pin header. It's compact design, quiet and powerful motor make it ideally suited for heavy duty cooling in environments where space is at a premium.

50,000 hours MTBF (Mean Time Between Failure) equivalent to 5 years lifetime
Superior 12 Volts DC convenience: plugs into the computer power supply
The MCP655-PWM can be used with full confidence in any MP servers, and high-end workstations
Superior real world performance versus any aquarium pump we have tested to this date
The high pressure capability of the MCP655-PWM is particularly well adapted to high-flow systems using 1/2" ID or 3/8" ID Tubing
Compact Design
No maintenance when used with de-mineralized water, and anti-fungal additives (Swiftech HydrX additive is recommended)

Nominal voltage: 12 V DC
Operating voltage range: 8 to 24 VDC
Nominal power (@ 12 V): 37 W Max
Nominal current (@ 12 V): 2 amps
Motor type: Brushless, microprocessor controlled
Maximum head: 13 ft (4 m)
Maximum discharge: ~ 317 GPH (1200 LPH)
Performance will vary based on housing used

The Pump with XSPC Top:







The Swiftech MCP655-PWM 12v Water Pump is exclusively available at www.frozencpu.com

http://www.frozencpu.com/products/17...l=g30c107s1802

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Hey guys,

Today, I want to present a new pump to you, the Swiftech MCP35X with PWM. This pump is another relabeled Laing, but coming with a few important mods. Both the pump and the reservoir (sold separately) were given to me by Swiftech and Jab-tech.com.

Nominal voltage: 12 V DC
Max. nominal power (@12 V): 18 W
Max. nominal current (@12 V): 1.5 A
Max. nominal head (@12 V): 14.7 ft (4.4m)
Max nominal discharge (@12 V): ~ 4.75 GPM (17.5 LPM)
PWM



These specs are almost the same as those of a Laing "plus", but I kept wondering where those 50% more performance were coming from. Then I read "PWM"...if this works the way it's supposed to, it allows the pump to be controlled via any motherboard offering a PWM-4-pin-fan-power-port.
Two major differences are also visible on the outside: the case is clean and doesn't have to usual mounting holes and the top is made out of POM and comes with one G1/4" in- and one outlet. The white box also includes the following:

- the pump itself
- a decoupling-pad made out of neoprene
- a printed manual
- two bard fittings for 10mm to 13mm tubing and two hose clamps

There's not a lot to add when it comes to the pump's quality, as it's well known already. The top was also flawless: very well made, not sharp edges and the threads were perfect, too.


Here are some pictures:












You can easily spot the differences to the standard Laing DDC. To be able to compare even more closely, I quickly added the Ultra I use for testing:



The impellers and the interior is almost the same. Only the 35X's impeller is blue on the outside and red on the inside, just like the early, first genereation Plus-models.
When looking at the PCB, you can also see, that the connectors have changed:



So let's get to testing. My test setup looks like this:

- Pump: Sanso PDH054 (called ?the Monster? with a pressure of almost one bar!)
- Aquacomputer Cuplex Evo Rev.1 CPU block
- Mips Fusionblock NB + Mosfets
- EK Waterblocks Kühler for the Radeon HD 3870
- Radiator BlackIce GT Stealth 240
- Aquacomputer flowmeter Highflow
- Aquacomputer Water-Temp.-Sensor
- Tubing: Masterkleer 16/10mm
- Fittings: Perfect Seal

This setup offers a flow rate of around 275 and 280l/h.

On a setting of 100%, the new 35X delivers flow rates of around 240l/h - a remarkable performance. Another Laing DDC Plus with a mounted Alphacool-top achieves around 235l/h. The new top made out of POM also quiets down the pump by a considerable amount, while the aesthetics of it will always be subject to debate.

The PWM-Control, which is working perfectly, was what I was most anxious to test, though. Just plug the molex-connector into your PSU, the PWM-connector onto the motherboard, set the setting in the BIOS and you're set. It's as easy as it sounds. I set the pump to start powering up when the CPU-temperature reached 30?C in the BIOS of the DFI LanpartyDK 790FXB-M2RS and, well, when the CPU was idle, the pump revved at around 1250-1300rpm, but when I started Prime95, it powered up to 100%, so around 4500rpm.

With a good motherboard with good fan control-settings in the BIOS, you can create a very, very quiet pump, that can power up to 100% when needed. The times when you needed additional hardware like the Aquaero, Heatmaster and so on are over.

Here's a video showing the PWM-capability of the pump:

YouTube - Swiftech MCP35X Pump

You can see the pump at around 1300rpm and the corresponding 45l/h. When starting Prime95 (I also overclocked the CPU using K10STAT), the temperature quickly rises and the pump gets up to full performance (4500rpm and 240l/h). When aborting Prime and removing the overclock, the pump also quiets down again.
Here are a few illustrations on this subject (source: Swiftech):



For testing, I also received a reservoir, specially made for the 35X: the Swiftech MCP35X-Res. It's a reservoir that's supposed to work very well with the new pump. The box contained the following:

- the reservoir
- a tube clamp
- a filter
- a sponge for filtering
- a G1/4 - sealing cap
- a connecting screw for connecting the pump and the reservoir
- an O-ring
- a little metal stick
- a printed manual
- a cap made out of massive, glossy metal

Let's start out with a few words on the quality of the reservoir. It's just as flawlessly made as the cap. The scope of delivery is fine, everything needed is included. The extremely heavy, nickel plated sealing cap was what impressed me most, you immediately get the impression of having something valuable in your hands, even though an additional thread in the top wouldn't have hurt. Installing the reservoir was easily done using the included manual.
Something noteworthy: the reservoir is held in position by a little metal pin, that you stick in a matching hole in the top of the pump and in another one in the bottom of the reservoir. The reservoir base itself comes with six of these holes, so that you can choose the one that makes it the easiest to align the fittings properly - a great idea in my opinion.

Let's have the pictures do the talking:








Using the manual, it was easy to mount the reservoir on the pump:



If anyone wants to split their loop: 19/13-screw-on-fittings don't fit next to each other on the reservoir, while 16/10s do.






Let's get to the test, in which this combination performed very well: on 100% performance, the filtering sponge was able to stop the air bubbles, making it completely high-flow-compatible. When revving down the pump, you can hardly see any bubbles in the reservoir.



Here's another video:

YouTube - Swiftech MCP35X-Reservoir

The pump is offered for around 100US$, the reservoir for around 30US$.

Conclusion:

Well, what's there left to say? The new Swiftech MCP 35X completely convinced me of its qualities. It's not the new looks, not the new top: it's the perfectly working PWM control of this pump, making it possible for every user to control the pump, even without separate controllers. The reservoir made for the 35X also impressed me, both optically and technically.

Thanks go out the the companies Swiftech and Jab-tech for providing these samples and also my assistant sonnyboy!

[MagisD]

What did you think of the weight of the res top, when I hashed this out with Gabe in the release thread( page 6) hes changing the Top to delerin with G1/4 port and spreading/Resizing the Side access ports for revision 2 to fit larger fittings.

[Church]

You should test 35X top on old DDC+ pump aswell, to see top's itself relative performance.
And when someone will manage to successfully mod DDC+/3.2[0,5] to PWM? :/

[Martinm210]

Great job!...thanks!

[scutzi128]

You should test 35X top on old DDC+ pump aswell, to see top's itself relative performance.
And when someone will manage to successfully mod DDC+/3.2[0,5] to PWM? :/

I would be very interested in this.

[Big Myke]

Does the pump/reservoir combo allow compression fitting size of 1/2'' with OD tubing size of 3/4"" Good lookin review.

[bundymania]

Does the pump/reservoir combo allow compression fitting size of 1/2'' with OD tubing size of 3/4"" Good lookin review.

not this rev. but there is newer a rev.2 available now, where you can use such fittings

[Guapa5000]

Does the pump/reservoir combo allow compression fitting size of 1/2'' with OD tubing size of 3/4"" Good lookin review.

19/13-screw-on-fittings don't fit next to each other on the reservoir, while 16/10s do.

Compression fittings: 19/13 = 3/4" OD tubing size / 1/2" ID tubing size

0.75 inch ~ 19 mm and 0.5 inch ~ 13 mm

[Big Myke]

not this rev. but there is newer a rev.2 available now, where you can use such fittings

Are these Rev.2 the ones in stock at jabtech, sidewinders etc?

[MagisD]

Are these Rev.2 the ones in stock at jabtech, sidewinders etc?

Nope gabe had trouble had to reject entire first batch of rev 2. And hasn't announced anything different.

Use a extender or 45 on each and you should be fine. Any tricks you use for putting ditting on processor blocks should work.


Waiting on rev 2 myself so i can get rid of huge res i have.
Sent from my X10a using Tapatalk

[Big Myke]

Nope gabe had trouble had to reject entire first batch of rev 2. And hasn't announced anything different.

Use a extender or 45 on each and you should be fine. Any tricks you use for putting ditting on processor blocks should work.


Waiting on rev 2 myself so i can get rid of huge res i have.
Sent from my X10a using Tapatalk

ahh, thanks mate. I'm assuming the REV.2 will allow 1/2 compression fittings and 3/4 OD tubing? If not its an instant no sale from me.

[Brodholm]

Thanks for the review!

A question, what is preferable. Controlling something via voltage or pwm?

Here is a quote from Sven over at aquacomputers

The aquaero 4.00 works with analog voltage regulators. Only the really old version 3.07 was using PWM but also only with 3-pin connectors. Normally every PWM fan should work on a regular 3-pin connector since the 4th pin is only optional for the PWM function. If you don't know it so far: PWM means no real voltage regulation and is something that you should avoid.

[bundymania]

You should test 35X top on old DDC+ pump aswell, to see top's itself relative performance.
And when someone will manage to successfully mod DDC+/3.2[0,5] to PWM? :/

There is a PWM Mod from a german user:

http://www.hardwareluxx.de/community...en-758652.html

35X = "old" DDC+ with pwm output cable = same performance @12v with the top

[Martinm210]

There is a PWM Mod from a german user:

http://www.hardwareluxx.de/community...en-758652.html

35X = "old" DDC+ with pwm output cable = same performance @12v with the top

Interesting, new PWM board is even labeled "Laing DDC 3.1-PWM". I was on Laing's site the other day and notice they also can make D5 PWM controllable.

Looks like you just need a pump with this PCB. The "Spare" contact is the PWM control wire I presume..


Thanks for the link..

Buddy, what does you're PCB say? Is it 3.1PWM or is there also a 3.2??

[Brodholm]

There is a PWM Mod from a german user:

http://www.hardwareluxx.de/community...en-758652.html

35X = "old" DDC+ with pwm output cable = same performance @12v with the top

Wow, that was easy. No need to get new pumps if you have a good top and the old model then? Or is there something else thats fixed in this new model?

Interesting, new PWM board is even labeled "Laing DDC 3.1-PWM". I was on Laing's site the other day and notice they also can make D5 PWM controllable.

Looks like you just need a pump with this PCB. The "Spare" contact is the PWM control wire I presume..
[IMG]snip[/IMG]

Thanks for the link..

Buddy, what does you're PCB say? Is it 3.1PWM or is there also a 3.2??

Hmm, what MFR year is that from? I have a ddc here from 08/09 and this one does not say pwm:



What is the MFR year on the new pcbs?

The old pcb is smaller also.

[Waterlogged]

Guys, I have to call shens with that link as all he does is shows how to solder a wire there and doesn't provide one shred of proof it actually works and no one else that posts verifies that it does...because I also tried to PWM a new 3.1 and 3.25 the same way without success.

http://www.xtremesystems.org/forums/...9&postcount=78

Interesting, new PWM board is even labeled "Laing DDC 3.1-PWM". I was on Laing's site the other day and notice they also can make D5 PWM controllable.

Looks like you just need a pump with this PCB. The "Spare" contact is the PWM control wire I presume..


Thanks for the link..

Buddy, what does you're PCB say? Is it 3.1PWM or is there also a 3.2??

IIRC, all new DDC's share the same PCB, it's what they program the chip with that determines what the pump is capable of.

[Martinm210]

Guys, I have to call shens with that link as all he does is shows how to solder a wire there and doesn't provide one shred of proof it actually works and no one else that posts verifies that it does...because I also tried to PWM a new 3.1 and 3.25 the same way without success.

http://www.xtremesystems.org/forums/...9&postcount=78

IIRC, all new DDC's share the same PCB, it's what they program the chip with that determines what the pump is capable of.

Did the one you try have PWM written on the PCB? Maybe it was just a new "Old Stock"...?

[Waterlogged]

Did the one you try have PWM written on the PCB?

I've got 4 "DDC3.1-PWM" version PCB'ed pumps, 2x3.1's, 1x3.25, and a 35X, all have PWM written one them...in fact, the 3.25 still has the mod on it.

[Martinm210]

I've got 4 "DDC3.1-PWM" version PCB'ed pumps, 2x3.1's, 1x3.25, and a 35X, all have PWM written one them...in fact, the 3.25 still has the mod on it.

Ahh, OK. He probably never actually tested it then..

[MagisD]

Lol

Waterlogged is to DCC's
As
Martin is to fans

Lol.

Sent from my X10a using Tapatalk

[Church]

Damn, WL, you shattered my hopes of DDC PWM mod i got up for two minutes while was progressing through reading this thread

[Waterlogged]

Please note that no one confirmed my claim either, would be nice if someone else "manned up" and tested this mod as well, just to put it to bed once and for all. Honestly, I'd really like to be wrong.

[Church]

WL: .. also if it's upto chip's programming .. i wonder if someone can manage to dump firmware from 35X and write it in similar chips and sell for cheap like some preflashed motherboard BIOSes out there on ebay .. though then again, even if it's only issue of resoldering of such multipin chip, it won't be simple mod for everybody

[mlee49]

Um my flow is trash compared to your videos. I do have a cpu block and gpu block in the mix but even then it barely stumbles in the res. IIRC when you dont connect the PWM cable to anything it's running at 100%, is that true?

[bundymania]

Yes, that´s correct