Swiftech Storm vs. Apogee and Intel Quad-Core Cooling - Definative Results

[freecableguy]

Yep, thanks I see it in the excel sheets. Very nice and detailed FCG, gotta give you props on this one

I have a few ideas for making the next round of testing even more accurate...but I'm always open for suggestions in the name of science.

[IanY]

Anyone know where I can find a MCW6002 ? I so badly want to buy one so that I can see for myself. You guys insist a 6002 is better than an Apogee, and I want to find out.

[NickS]

eBay most likely.

[bruce+]

I have a few ideas for making the next round of testing even more accurate...but I'm always open for suggestions in the name of science.

Excellent work here.

How about measure the flow rate etc.

Which pump did you used in this test? Your Dual D5?

If the test system use one Laing D5, I think the Storm loop only have 1/2 flow rate as Apogee.

I would say this test tells me which block will be better in given situations (pump, rad, etc). The Swiftech challenge is same thing.

Just my 2 cents.

[IanY]

eBay most likely.

You know.. that's the standardized response. No offense to you, but I get that unconditioned response every time I ask to buy a G5. Ebay is not the panecea of all things. Again no offense to you. And I don't want someone's used block.

[NickS]

Welp, found this uber cheap.

http://cgi.ebay.com/Water-Cooling-St...QQcmdZViewItem

http://hardforum.com/showthread.php?...hlight=MCW6002 There too.

[granulf]

I think it's time to rewrite this in the sticky

7. Swiftech Apogee - 45USD - The newest block from Swiftech that takes a step backwards in performance. It is essentially a MCW5000 respun with a new manufacturing process (cheaper), and new delrin top. While Swiftech says its the best thing since sliced bread and Television, please try to avoid it as EVERY other block on this list performs superior to the Apogee.

[makatee]

Very nice review, however I feel like it isn't exactly well formatted for viewers ( does this make sense? ) Again, the accuracy and the methodology is flawless, but maybe try a different format for posting next time. And please dont take this as a cheap shot, its just constructive criticism. Cheers

[johnanderson]

LOL. I just sold my mcw6002 and got a storm. I guess I'll have to wait till they put all the cores on one die before I'll get the most out of it

[NickS]

LOL. I just sold my mcw6002 and got a storm. I guess I'll have to wait till they put all the cores on one die before I'll get the most out of it

And when they stop using IHS'.

[eva2000]

Today's a hot and humid day with room temps at 31.8+ C so decided to make use of the Swiftech Apogee waterblock I bought just before Xmas

H20 setup:

Swiftech Apogee -> Radiical Triple fan single pass radiator -> T line -> Swiftech MCP655 @12.25v -> Swiftech Apogee

System:

• Intel Core 2 Duo E6600 QPGE B1 Step 5
• Swiftech Apogee/Radiical Triple Single Pass/MCP655@12.25v Kayl Custom 100W Psu
• 2x 640MB Gainward 8800GTS SLI
• Asus 680i Striker Extreme rev1.0 0402 bios
• 1x 160GB Seagate 7200.7 SATA NCQ on SATA2 port
• Pioneer DVR-05 DVD Burner
• 600W OCZ EvoStream Modular Power supply

E6600@9x266 = 2400Mhz at 1.18v
I know it ain't directly comparable with other results as they were run at 0.07v to 0.10v higher vcore. But best to look at the cpu load to room ambient delta figures

Idle


Load


Room temp: ~31.8-32.8C
Cooling used: Swiftech Apogee/Radiical Triple Single Pass/MCP655@12.25v Kayl Custom 100W Psu
Bios idle: 31-33C
Windows idle: 35-36C
Windows load: 45-46C
Rise above ambient delta = 12.2-13.8C
Rise above windows idle delta = 9-11C

Looks like moving from Scythe Infinity air cooling to Swiftech Apogee water cooling resulted in drop in temps as follows:
Rise above ambient delta = dropped from 22.2-24.5C to 12.2-13.8C. ~10C drop
Rise above windows idle delta = dropped from 12-14C to 9-11C. ~3C drop.

Pretty nice... thanks to FCG for motivating me to use the Apogee

[Mr. Peanut]

Anyone know where I can find a MCW6002 ? I so badly want to buy one so that I can see for myself. You guys insist a 6002 is better than an Apogee, and I want to find out.

New Type Computer Workshop. They're based in Canada, but they do ship to the US. Also, they charge a high price for their 6002's, but you'll be hard-pressed to find one any other way. Trust me, eBay will not work. I have only seen one on eBay in several months.
EDIT: The pricing is in Canadian dollars so you won't be paying quite as much, but its still a lot.

[IanY]

Thanks very much, Mr. Peanut. Have one on its way. CAD 67 is not much at all.

[Mr Footlong]

I think it's time to rewrite this in the sticky

HERE HERE. I always thought that comment in the sticky was based on no prolonged real world experience with it across the board imo. I have been in the Apogee camp ever since I was an early adopter of this block. It has performed brilliantly in all of my rigs since, has great cooling, minimal flow resistance and has never needed to be taken apart for cleaning every so often due to possible cloggging. That last one was the killer reason why I never got a Storm and as the results show this is a cracking block, contrary to what the naysayers have been preaching .

No this isn't a knock against the Storm. It's a great block too. The new D-tek block looks promising too.

[clokker]

How many times were these tests run and has anyone else verified the results?
Till such time as multiple (independent) sources have repeated the procedure and similar results are reported, I object to the inclusion of "definitive" in the title.

[calvin]

It has performed brilliantly in all of my rigs since, has great cooling, minimal flow resistance and has never needed to be taken apart for cleaning every so often due to possible cloggging. That last one was the killer reason why I never got a Storm and as the results show this is a cracking block, contrary to what the naysayers have been preaching

I've gotten into the habit to open up my G4 each time I upgrade cpus or make other changes that require mb removal. Always see nozzles that are either partially or fully clogged.

Next block I'm going to go with a less restrictive design.

[Jochenp]

See, the thing that keeps on bugging me, is not that the Storm isn't the king of all blocks, but that the Apogee seems like the only, and best alternative to everyone.
There are a lot of low restriction blocks that outperform the Apogee in tests (check procooling/systemcooling sites) and are cheaper, that people refuse to look at.
The sticky is still right, Apogee is a step back in performance if you compare it to the 600X series, and a little step forward if you compare it to the 500X series.
Whitewater copy's outperform it, and they are dirt-cheap.

[freecableguy]

Working to add the following to the comparison:

1) Swiftech's new Apogee GT
2) D-TEK FuZion
3) AquaXtreme MP-05 PRO LE

[eva2000]

don't suppose you could add the old MCW6002 775 in there for comparisons ?

[freecableguy]

don't suppose you could add the old MCW6002 775 in there for comparisons ?

If I had one...

[Helmore]

And also some more information on the cooling performance of these blocks if you only have a dualcore. Now that I think about it, won't a AMD quadcore (star series) have around the same thermal propperties as a current dualcore aka athlon X2 as it is only one single die? Or will an apogee even perform better on an AMD quadcore then a storm because the die is so big and there is a IHS inbetween? This data is hard to verify at this point in time, but what do you guys predict?

Oh wow, you already got yourself an Apogee GT, can you please tell us some more on how it looks and maybe some information about its internal disign?

[skaktuss]

i don't think that future processors are going to use multiple die technology. kentsfield is two conroes sticked together, thus showing intels power.
i think next generation processors will be with single die. perhaps bigger, but we have to remember that storm beats apogee even on 35mm surface.

[kemist]

Thanks very much, Mr. Peanut. Have one on its way. CAD 67 is not much at all.

That site only had flat base versions, if you check swiftech you will see there are stepped-base and flat-base versions. To mount on LGA-775 you need to get a stepped-base mcw-6002. Im sure you could probably take a dremel to one side or something, but i dont think it will mount stock, just a heads up.

Actually that socket-A 6002 on hardforums should be stepped i believe. These are all but impossible to find anymore so that might be your best bet, or just wait on the fuzion, the fuzion looks like its going to be nice.

[Fr3ak]

Very nice review Kris!
I am lookin forward in seeing the results with the other blocks you just mentioned.
Great work!

[WeStSiDePLaYa]

one thing i kinda noticed, is it takes an XIP like FCG to get this accepted.

many people have said this before, and many have shown other comprehensive testing to show this as well. but they were all flamed.

now is the time for all the people who think storms are over rated to stand up and unite! lol