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The Swiftech Apex Kit Discussion Thread

D

DangerIsGo

2[H]4U
Joined
Apr 16, 2005
Messages
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If you have (or had) an apex kit from swiftech, post here and tell us what you think. This can be extreme and ultra. If you like it, tell us why. If you dont, tell us why not. If you can, pictures of your setup would be great. Tell us about your setup (any modifications, changing blocks...) Anything. Im sure many people would like to hear about this kit as its gotten many highly rated reviews. So if you had one, have one, or plan on getting one, this is where you can go. Personally, I plan on getting on ASAP but I just want to hear what people have to say about it from [H]. (Also surprised that it hasnt been reviewed :( )
 
I've had 3 different kits and several seperate blocks, all have worked great. Sold most of the stuff off over time, but I'm still using the MCP655 pump, Storm and APOGEE blocks............. :eek:
 
the Rad that comes with the Apex seems decent but i dont hear much about it. Does it prefer high CFM fans? How is it in comparison to the BIP or BIX or PA series?
 
This thread died too fast and I have questions. Are the barbs 1/2 inch? If yes, the I/D for the tubing used is 7/16 inch?
 
Anyone is using the apogee block with a evga sli board, let me know if the stock back plate works or if I will have to order one.
 
Running an Apogee on a DFI eXpert here... Swiftech 120MM raddy, with the pump, resevoir combined...
 
Swifty rads are slightly thicker than BIP's but less fins per inch. Not as sparse as a PA series but also not as thick. Probably performance in between BIP and PA with low speed fans (though likely closer to a BIP than a PA).
 
CRXican said:
This thread died too fast and I have questions. Are the barbs 1/2 inch? If yes, the I/D for the tubing used is 7/16 inch?
Click to expand...

correct. the slightly smaller tubing size makes it more flexible and a tighter fit over the barbs as well, with not much pressure loss. although, they are quite a pain in the ass to get on.
 
blackrose said:
correct. the slightly smaller tubing size makes it more flexible and a tighter fit over the barbs as well, with not much pressure loss. although, they are quite a pain in the ass to get on.
Click to expand...
Thanks for the reply, I was pretty sure that's what I had been reading and a search finally produced a solid answer. I have a Swiftech Storm and a DD Maze 4 on the way to me and wanted to make sure 1/2" barbs on the Maze 4 was correct.
 
I convinced myself... Im prepared to order the apex kit. But I have a few questions:

1. Does the radiator use the standard 120mm fan mounting holes so I dont need to drill holes?

2. Is everything in the kit all that I need for a WCing setup? Im assuming Ill need some arctic silver for installing the waterblock correct?

3. Would it be possible to somehow route the tubes through a card slot and up to the radiator externally without drilling holes?

I am very anxious to order this kit, so any quick answers are appreciated. :p
 
Just setup my extreme this weekend (my first wc project, and after lots of reading threads here, thanks everyone :) ). Works very nicely now, although Swiftech's quality control could use some work. Admittedly I bought the kit a month or two ago (hence the extreme not the ultra) when a few people were complaining about bashed radiators. Mine has a minor dent, but more importantly the micro res leaked like a sieve (a visible gap between 2 of the acrylic panels) so I ended up buying the older drive bay res, which worked out better for me because i didn't have an obvious place to put the micro.
But, like I said, it's working beautifully now. Noise reduction was my main concern and it's whisper quiet (pump set at the factory default speed), and I'm getting good temps on everything except my additional nf4 block, which probably just needs re-seating.
And yes that 7/16 was a bugger to get on some of the barbs, specially the pump's.
 
Mine came with arctic silver ceramique, which was a nice touch I thought. Everything I needed was included, except that I added an extra couple of blocks so I needed to get extra clamps & tubing. There were 2 or 3 sets of mounting bolts for the various cpu sockets too.
I mounted my radiator directly to the 120mm case fan holes. The mounting plate is designed to be slightly adjustable if you're mounting over smaller fans, but isn't for 120. Because my Lian Li case is sort of upside-down, the rad hangs over the psu rather than the gfx card cable etc which is sort of good, although my psu cable is pressed against the fan grill because the mounting spacers aren't quite long enough for my setup. I routed one of the rad tubes through a slot cover, but they're way too thick to do it without some additional cutting/filing. Also there's not really enough space to have any real bends between the rad and the case unless you stick a 90deg joint in there or something which I wouldn't want to do.
Also I'm currently using the adhesive foam pad to attach the pump to the case, although I'll probably drill holes eventually. But getting the tubing to the rad will almost certainly require some work unless you mount it internally.
 
What is the difference between the Extreme and Ultra? I have the Extreme that i bought 3 months ago but haven't installed it yet. Is the Ultra better since it replaced the Extreme version?
 
jhego said:
What is the difference between the Extreme and Ultra? I have the Extreme that i bought 3 months ago but haven't installed it yet. Is the Ultra better since it replaced the Extreme version?
Click to expand...
Not better just different. Apogee CPU block instead of the Storm and a different res.
 
i checked the prices for the individual CPU blocks and the Storm is more expensive than the the Apogee for some reason. Anybody know why?
 
jhego said:
i checked the prices for the individual CPU blocks and the Storm is more expensive than the the Apogee for some reason. Anybody know why?
Click to expand...
Storm is bigger and better, likely higher production cost.
 
Comparative performance and flow data measured vs. the earlier Apex kit
To substantiate the performance benefits of a less restrictive water-block in multiprocessor multi-VGA environments, we measured the flow rate of the Apex initial release vs. the Apex "Ultra", using (1) CPU water-block, (2) CPU water-blocks, and finally (2)CPU water-blocks + (1) GPU water-block (the MCW55), and obtained the following results:

SYSTEM CONFIGURATION Flow Rate

GPM

Apex (1) CPU water-block 1.07
Apex (2) CPU water-blocks .82
Apex (2) CPU water-blocks + (1) GPU water-block .75
Apex "Ultra" (1) CPU water-block 2.07
Apex "Ultra" (2) CPU water-blocks 1.77
Apex "Ultra" (2) CPU water-blocks + (1) GPU water-block 1.36

The Apex Ultra shows twice the flow rate of that of the Apex initial release.
Click to expand...

Got a question though.
I pulled this out of the website. How is the flow rate twice as the old one when all they changed was the CPU block?
 
The flow rate could be "doubled" becuase the Storm block is an impingement design, whereas the Apogee uses pins. Impingement causes greater turbulence, whence the lower flow rate.
 
paintb4707 said:
3. Would it be possible to somehow route the tubes through a card slot and up to the radiator externally without drilling holes?
Click to expand...

Anyone know??
 
I am also strongly considering this kit however I alreday have a Storm block. In addition I really don't want to have to drill holes in my case. I really like the setup TehRoflCopter from the forums has and may try to mimic this setup as I have a 120MM rear case fan spot. However I have the Centurion 5 and it seems even smaller than his Antec Super Lanboy.

darrenscomp0xe.jpg
 
Litfod said:
Fine, ignore my post ;)

my radiator, YMMV:
Click to expand...
You have a li-li dude (reverse atx). The card slots in my centurion 5 would be below the radiator.

Would it be possible to flip the radiator upside down so that it is closer to my card slots?

I may get 2 of those 90 degree joints you mentioned if it is.
 
Yeah I did mention that :) and I assumed you probably wouldn't be able to go straight in throught the slots, but I thought it might be useful to show where the barbs end up in relation to the case. That's with the extra 1/2" spacers on the mounting bracket, too. I would have liked to have not gone through a slot but didn't have much choice in the space available.
 
I did wonder about having the rad upside down. It's certainly possible ot mount it that way, but don't know if it would make a difference to purging or whatever.
 
I have also been looking at putting this kit on/in my Centurion 5. I was looking at options last night becuase I don't want to take a drill to my case. What I wouldn't mind doing however is using a nibbler to cut out the small grill on the rear of the case on the bottom right side. You can mount the rad upside down and if the bend wasn't too extreme it might be possible to route them through that cut-out. Just some brainstorming.
 
On a V1000 or V1100 would it be possible to snake both tubes from the Apex rad through that pci slot ? I don't want to puncture the grill like that, I want something that wouldn't show at all if I decide to remove the kit.
 
You know you might get away with a 90 degree bend if you go to town with the cool sleeves stuff, but it would be tight. What you can't see in that pic is that I had to take about 1/4" off the slot dividers above and below the tube for it (and the grommit) to fit between them, so even going in that way it would leave a trace if you remove the kit later.
 
ill make another post later once things are more panned out, but just got the kit installed in my tt xaser3 tower. i have no problems with the apogee, running 1.77v(!) through my poor CBBID 3200+ at 281x9=2.53ghz and getting 34c at prime95 load! i unlidded the proc, but unfortunatly there's nothing left in her, all the voltage from before killed its potential :( regardless, that load temp is nuts, primochill ICE temp is 29c (modded the res cap with a temp sensor :p ). room temp was around 70-72. Here's a blurry pic of the work in progress...
blue!.jpg
 
Oh wow, did you guys see this?

MCB120WaveM1-400x527.gif


pass-thru-accessories.gif


Does the apex kit come with that pci pass through? Because thats perfect.
 
That's sweet, the kit does come with a cover that looks exactly like that, although they describe it as being for the fan power leads and I didn't get the pass-through pipes. Still looks a tight fit for the tubes as they come off the rad but it's definitely a nice clean solution.
 
paintb4707 said:
Oh wow, did you guys see this?

MCB120WaveM1-400x527.gif


pass-thru-accessories.gif


Does the apex kit come with that pci pass through? Because thats perfect.
Click to expand...

Now, if I had to mount the rad outside....that would be the way I would want to do it. The only problem with the LL V1100 would be the fact that they use an upside down config. I doub't if I could use 1/2" tubing. I would be forced to use 3/8" and have to bend it to get it in the PCI slot.
 
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