Chilled Swiftech Stealth + Single 8800 Ultra

[Charles Wirth]

System Configuration;

Intel QX6850 ES
Asus P5K3-D
Corsair DDR3 TWIN3X2048-1066C7
Enermax Galaxy 1000w
Vapochill LS
EVGA Nvidia 8800 Ultra
Swftech MCP655 12v Water Pump
Swiftech MCR-220 Radiator
Swiftech MCRES-Micro
Swiftech HydrX Extreme duty coolant
General Electric 8K BTU AC




Swiftech sent out a pair of Stealth blocks this week for review and testing. The boxes are nicely done yet economical in simplicity. The extras are packaged separately, my blocks arrived undamaged with all the correct contents. Nothing was missing.



The barbs are not installed, be sure to add the o-rings before installation. Swiftech uses its own screws for installation, the TIM tape is pre-installed on the block. I really like the tape used, a superior product when you get it right the first time. The tube only contained enough TIM for one application, be sure to apply a thin layer evenly, usually a dot in the center works good but this GPU is large so to ensure even distribution spread it first.



When you open the package it warns not to remove the blue tape and that may seem odd but the tape is key for proper TIM spread and reduces damage before placement. Its soft like bubble gum.



Your standard EVGA 8800 Ultra, stock cooling reached 733/1200 for benching with an 8K BTU AC unit blasting the case.



Here is a shot with the block completely installed. One thing I dislike is the additional sinks provided to cover the voltage regulators. They do not stick very well and fall off if left unchecked.





Onto the Loop, I am using a GE 8K BTU window AC unit, its slightly modified for air flow, the filter is removed and the temp probe is moved forcing the compressor to run continuously.



I mounted the radiator onto the blower where the cold air exits, you can see the evaporating coil below. That is where the cold are is recycled back into the unit.



A very small loop, the pump and res sits just below the unit. I will modify the loop again when I setup SLI, I will have DICE assisted cooling.



A shot inside my case, yep its there. Onto the temps and benches.

With the ambient room temperature at 75F, my AC chilled the GPU down to 20c at idle. During all benches I did not see the temperature rise above 25c. I would often jump back into Rivatuner to check temps when I was bumping up the speed. The AC units discharge air temp is 17c. The AC unit sits along side the Vapo blasting air inside at video card level. The radiator does block air flow some but the air recirculates back into the AC to maintain temp nicely.

I reached a top "on the edge" bench able speed of 766Mhz on the GPU and 1250Mhz on the memory.

http://service.futuremark.com/compare?2k1=9234130


http://service.futuremark.com/compare?2k3=5457239


http://service.futuremark.com/compare?3dm05=3285628


http://service.futuremark.com/compare?3dm06=2562350


450x10 4.5Ghz 766/1200


Here is a Sandra memory shot to show where the system is at in bandwidth.



Installation was simple, all parts accounted for, very high flow, definite improvent over chilled air cooling by 66Mhz on the GPU and 50Mhz on the memory.

Swiftech also included a pair of chipset coolers, one is air/TEC and the other has 1/2" barbs. I will definitely be taking the cascade benches up a notch this weekend.

I will show more load temps with the SLI setup.

Many thanks Oppainter and Gabe

[Solarfall]

excellent finally a review about Swiftech Stealth block
those temps are really awesome..

good jop on the review FUGGER

[wittekakker]

Yeah, I've noticed the same with Swiftech MCW-60 + MC8800 cooling kit, heatsinks do not attach very well. On a short period, you can try to fix it by adding white thermal goop between the memory IC's and the heatsinks, worked out OK for me, but I've no idea if the heatsinks will stick forever this way. Once the paste dries out...

excellent finally a review about Swiftech Stealth block
those temps are really awesome..

good jop on the review FUGGER

Don't forget that he did decrease case temperature with an AC blowing onto his pc housing, though it does make sense that Swiftech's block outperforms your EK by quite a margin. The diamond pin design has prooved itself multiple times.

[chunkylover77]

Is this the newer revision of the Stealth blocks?

[Solarfall]

Don't forget that he did decrease case temperature with an AC blowing onto his pc housing, though it does make sense that Swiftech's block outperforms your EK by quite a margin. The diamond pin design has prooved itself multiple times.

yeah i know... its still pretty awesome.. my ambient is 27c at the moment and the gpu is idling at 48c right now..
it might be a time to take the gpu loop apart and clean the components

[Charles Wirth]

Not sure, the box does not state rev 2 or could I find anything different from the rev 1 in the pics on the Swiftech website.

[Anemone]

Slightly confused. The blue tape is a TIM material to which you then apply paste on top of the tape? (seems very weird) Or do you simply leave it on to line things up then remove it before applying paste?

I thought, from the pics that the stealth was designed to sit using purely paste on the mem and nvio chip.

[Charles Wirth]

The blue tape comes on the Stealth, just install the block as is.

I should have left the foam insert on the block, it clearly states "DO NOT REMOVE BLUE TAPE"

[Sampsa]

I reached a top "on the edge" bench able speed of 766Mhz on the GPU and 1250Mhz on the memory.

Installation was simple, all parts accounted for, very high flow, definite improvent over chilled air cooling by 66Mhz on the GPU and 50Mhz on the memory.

Are sure about the 1250 MHz for GeForce 8800 Ultra memory? All the screenshots show 1200 MHz.

I gained only 1200 MHz -> 1215 MHz with vmem-mod (and stock cooling).

[Charles Wirth]

Yep, positive on the memory despite screen shots.

I can complete all benches at the higher memory speed, no artifacting. 1260Mhz the card fails the test in rivatuner.

I thought about re-running all tests at the higher speed after I had everything done. I spent some time trying 770Mhz GPU.

I will re-run them again tomorrow, I want to get temps for all the benches done before I switch over to the Koolance.

[afireinside]

You can disable that test

The stealth is a nice looking block. Is the card unmodded? Pretty impressive clocks if so.

[Praz]

I see where 766MHz is displayed in the Overclocking tab. If that's the real frequency why is the monitor utility showing 612MHz?

[Micutzu]

Nice stuff FUGGER
It seems DDR3 is picking up speed pretty fast, what RAM clocks did you have in the 3DM01 run ? Here's compared with mine at 10x447 1:1 3-3-3 on 975X, 700/1200 on the VGA:

[Charles Wirth]

Forgot about disabling that lock. I will take home a laser temp probe to measure the radiator and stuff.

I need to take pictures of the card now, the way the TIM tape spreads over the parts is perfect. I really like that tape, its near perfect or can be pushed into place to seal the memory chips completely.

450 3:5 x 2 = 1500Mhz 7-7-7-15, memset shows ratio

[Anemone]

I guess the tape is ok. I've a general preference for the thermal transfer of real pastes vs tapes, but I suppose the memory doesn't put tons of heat.

To me it's a statement on the manufacturing tolerances that they couldn't get the appropriate contact without tape. But counter to that thinking is that no one really seems able to do that.

[Cupcake]

Were you just running stock voltage ?

[Eightballrj]

Fugger nice idea man!! Any condensation problems?

[SafeFire]

Congrats on the review

I would personally like some pictures of the AC unit you modded, if you wouldn't mind taking some pictures

[Charles Wirth]

No condensation problems, its been very dry in Vegas.

Nothing special, looks like an AC unit with the front removed. There was a sensor attached to the condenser, I moved that to a warmer area.

I don't have it sealed up right now but it would recirculate 100% of the cold air in teh case but right now its about 50% with the sides open.

[Eightballrj]

Oh, I missed the part about ducting the air into the case. My skill for reading fades after about 1:00 AM, haha.

[Ashraf]

How do you like the RAM? Is it any better than OCZ PC3-14400?

[SiGfever]

Excellent review but as an HVAC tech I have a few suggestions.

1) Please put a filter on the evap coil or cleaning will require foaming chemical cleaner eventually.

2) Duct the discharge from the rad directly into the case and create a return duct off of your case to feed the evaporator on the window shaker. The more that you can isolate the two duct systems the better job will be done. Too much recycled discharge air in low ambient conditions can cause "flooding" of liquid refrigerant back to the compressor and that ain't good.

[Charles Wirth]

I had this image to add, a clear shot of how the tape seals nicely to the board.



The memory was ok, it could do the lower timings and could be pushed much farther than the rated spec. Nothing like what Z9 can do but not priced like Z9.

SiG, this is a temporary setup. I used the stronger fans of the ac to push more air through the radiator.

[SiGfever]

I had this image to add, a clear shot of how the tape seals nicely to the board.



The memory was ok, it could do the lower timings and could be pushed much farther than the rated spec. Nothing like what Z9 can do but not priced like Z9.

SiG, this is a temporary setup. I used the stronger fans of the ac to push more air through the radiator.

It is actually a great idea and could be adapted for easy connection to a PC case.

[railmeat]

will it fit on the new g92 9800 coming out in nov,if so i might grab 1 of those blocks for my loop.i been eyeing em up hardcore.but it must be confirmed fit for the g92.can u find out anything on that fugger?...anyone?

good review\pics btw