Swiftech H2O-120 Compact and Corsair Nautilus 500: Is Water Better?
by Wesley Fink on September 17, 2007 6:00 AM EST- Posted in
- Cases/Cooling/PSUs
Swiftech H2O-120 Compact Specifications
Our test system is Intel Socket 775, but the H2O-120 Compact will also mount on socket AM2 as well as socket 754/939/940 and socket F. All accessories for mounting are included, but mounting on AMD/AM2 sockets requires adapting the Apogee drive block by replacing the bottom half of the Apogee with an AMD specific mounting block. The CPU cage is then removed from the motherboard for the two or four screw direct mount of the drive block
The included fan is specified at a high 81.3 CFM at 12V, but it is rated at a bit higher noise than we normally see at this output. The 12V rated noise is 36 dB(A). Lowering the fan voltage to 7V with the included electrical adapter drops the noise to 26 dB(A) with the trade-off of much lower airflow. Sleeve bearings are not noted for a long service life, but Swiftech does not specify an average MTBF for this fan.
The Reservoir/Heat Exchanger utilizes louvered copper fins for best performance. Swiftech claims the system is optimized for high performance at low fan speed where low noise is required.
The Apogee Drive Block is extremely small compared to the size and weight of most of today's better air coolers. This makes the Apogee drive block an easy fit on virtually any motherboard. The only potential issue is the side-mounted 3/8" barbs on the combo block. On some motherboards with tall heatsinks for the power MOSFETs the barbs are potentially not tall enough to clear the tall MOSFET sinks However, we did not encounter this issue with any of the boards we looked at for potential mounting problems.
There are no mounting issues with the EVGA 680i board. Installation was also an easy task on the ASUS Striker and ASUS Commando, and on the two new P35 boards - the ASUS P5K Deluxe and P5K3 Deluxe. The P5K3 Deluxe will likely become a fit test for any motherboard, since the heatpipes completely circle the CPU socket and connect various cooling heatsinks around the CPU socket.
Corsair Nautilus 500 Specifications
The Nautilus 500 was tested on Intel Socket 775. The kit also includes retention brackets for Intel socket 478 and AMD 754/939/940/AM2 sockets. The vinyl tubing for the circulating water is attached to the water block at the factory. The water block remains the same in all possible installations and only the retention mechanism for mounting varies among the different installations. This is an important consideration since this approach ensures that the critical internal water connection is assembled at the factory and already tested for leaks.
The supporting components and self-contained design makes some small differences in the pump specifications between the Corsair and Swiftech designs. Corsair has also selected a different fan to be integrated in the external cooler. The 1800 RPM Nautilus 500 fan has a maximum air flow of 74.4 CFM, which is slightly less than the 81.3 CFM of the Swiftech. However, static pressure is higher on the Corsair fan.
The CPU clock looks very similar to the water block used in the Swiftech H2O-120 Compact. The Corsair design uses a stand-alone water block and does not integrate the block and pump as we saw in the Swiftech. This moves the pump noise from inside the case, as in the Swiftech, to outside the case in the cooling box on the Corsair. Which is the better design is a matter for debate, but as you'll see shortly we consider both designs noisier than the best air cooler designs.
There was no problem with fitting the Nautilus 500 waterblock to any motherboard we tested, and in fact we doubt you can find a motherboard that cannot mount the Corsair water block. Since the water block is standalone in the Corsair design there is no potential issue with side barbs as we saw on the Swiftech
Our test system is Intel Socket 775, but the H2O-120 Compact will also mount on socket AM2 as well as socket 754/939/940 and socket F. All accessories for mounting are included, but mounting on AMD/AM2 sockets requires adapting the Apogee drive block by replacing the bottom half of the Apogee with an AMD specific mounting block. The CPU cage is then removed from the motherboard for the two or four screw direct mount of the drive block
| Apogee Drive Block Specifications | |
| Motor | Electronically commutated, brushless 12V DC, spherical motor |
| Nominal Current | 0.69A |
| Weight | 286g (10.1 ounces) |
| Material | Diamond Pin Matrix copper base plate |
| Fittings | 3/8" barbs fittings for input and output |
| Normal Discharge | 300 LPH |
| Nominal Head | 10 ft |
| MTBF | 50,000 hours |
The included fan is specified at a high 81.3 CFM at 12V, but it is rated at a bit higher noise than we normally see at this output. The 12V rated noise is 36 dB(A). Lowering the fan voltage to 7V with the included electrical adapter drops the noise to 26 dB(A) with the trade-off of much lower airflow. Sleeve bearings are not noted for a long service life, but Swiftech does not specify an average MTBF for this fan.
| 120mm Fan Specifications | |
| Model | RDM1225S |
| Fan Size | 120mm x 120mm x 25mm |
| Fan Type | Low Noise Sleeve Bearing |
| Maximum Fan Speed | 2000 RPM |
| Maximum Noise Level | 36 dB(A) @ 12V, 26 dB(A) @ 7V |
| Maximum Airflow | 81.3 CFM |
| Current | 0.23A |
| Static Pressure | 27mm H2O |
The Reservoir/Heat Exchanger utilizes louvered copper fins for best performance. Swiftech claims the system is optimized for high performance at low fan speed where low noise is required.
| Radiator/Reservoir Specification | |
| Model | MCR120-Res Heat Exchanger |
| Description | 120mm Class Radiator with built-in reservoir. Designed for sealed system with 5 years between refilling |
| Dimensions | 7in x 5in x 1-3/8in (2" thick including barbs) |
| Material | Louvered copper fins, brass tubes & body |
| Design | Optimized for high performance at low fan speed for low noise operations |
| Fittings | Built-in 3/8 in barbs |
The Apogee Drive Block is extremely small compared to the size and weight of most of today's better air coolers. This makes the Apogee drive block an easy fit on virtually any motherboard. The only potential issue is the side-mounted 3/8" barbs on the combo block. On some motherboards with tall heatsinks for the power MOSFETs the barbs are potentially not tall enough to clear the tall MOSFET sinks However, we did not encounter this issue with any of the boards we looked at for potential mounting problems.
There are no mounting issues with the EVGA 680i board. Installation was also an easy task on the ASUS Striker and ASUS Commando, and on the two new P35 boards - the ASUS P5K Deluxe and P5K3 Deluxe. The P5K3 Deluxe will likely become a fit test for any motherboard, since the heatpipes completely circle the CPU socket and connect various cooling heatsinks around the CPU socket.
Corsair Nautilus 500 Specifications
The Nautilus 500 was tested on Intel Socket 775. The kit also includes retention brackets for Intel socket 478 and AMD 754/939/940/AM2 sockets. The vinyl tubing for the circulating water is attached to the water block at the factory. The water block remains the same in all possible installations and only the retention mechanism for mounting varies among the different installations. This is an important consideration since this approach ensures that the critical internal water connection is assembled at the factory and already tested for leaks.
| Water Pump | |
| Motor | Electronically commutated, brushless 12V DC, spherical Motor |
| Voltage Range | 8V to 13.2V |
| Max Static Pressure | 22 PSI |
| Normal Discharge | 350 LPH (@12V) |
| Nominal Head | 13.05 ft |
The supporting components and self-contained design makes some small differences in the pump specifications between the Corsair and Swiftech designs. Corsair has also selected a different fan to be integrated in the external cooler. The 1800 RPM Nautilus 500 fan has a maximum air flow of 74.4 CFM, which is slightly less than the 81.3 CFM of the Swiftech. However, static pressure is higher on the Corsair fan.
| 120mm Fan Specifications | |
| Fan Size | 120mm x 120mm x 25mm |
| Maximum Fan Speed | 1800 RPM |
| Maximum Airflow | 74.4 CFM |
| Current | 0.3A |
| Static Pressure | 32mm H2O |
| CPU Block | |
| Description | 100% solid copper supporting Delphi Micro-Channel Technology |
| Material | Solid Copper |
| Fittings | Built-in 3/8 in barbs |
The CPU clock looks very similar to the water block used in the Swiftech H2O-120 Compact. The Corsair design uses a stand-alone water block and does not integrate the block and pump as we saw in the Swiftech. This moves the pump noise from inside the case, as in the Swiftech, to outside the case in the cooling box on the Corsair. Which is the better design is a matter for debate, but as you'll see shortly we consider both designs noisier than the best air cooler designs.
There was no problem with fitting the Nautilus 500 waterblock to any motherboard we tested, and in fact we doubt you can find a motherboard that cannot mount the Corsair water block. Since the water block is standalone in the Corsair design there is no potential issue with side barbs as we saw on the Swiftech
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psychotix11 - Monday, September 17, 2007 - link
But water cooling has never been about the best price for the buck. The same can be said of any high end parts. Extreme intel, amd FX, 8800gtx, SLI, none of this makes sense for the price you pay.Water cooling falls right into that category. If you really want it to show it's teeth load up an 8800 SLI system, build a custom loop at the 300 and 500 price point, water cool everything, and then compare temps.
Obviously it's going to cost a lot more, but this is a given.
You're article seems to hint that air cooling is better then water cooling, this isn't the case at all. All it shows is that high end air cooling is a better value then a water cooling kit designed for a novice on a budget.
As for "might" and 300, that's wrong as well. My apogee gt + lian DDC, + mcr 220 2x yate loons push, pentosion did drop my temps over a tuniqu tower. The water blocks on the 8800's with an mcr 320 moved even more hot air out of my case and temps dropped more. That CPU loop costs less then 300.
So, DDC pump $65, mcr 220 45, apogee gt 45, and about 30 bucks for fans, tubing and anti corrosive. Brings you to about 200, hardly the 300.
EODetroit - Monday, September 17, 2007 - link
Next time water cool the video card as well, and compare it against the CPU and video card on Air. OC both the video card and CPU and see how far they go. Then measure system noise. I agree with your conclusion that if you're only going to water cool your CPU, that you might as well go with a new air cool instead. But the CPU isn't the only expensive, hot, noisy thing in the case. In fact, the GPU is for many or most of us more expensive, hotter, and noisier.You shouldn't pretend the GPU isn't there. Water cool it as well and compare it THEN against air cooling.
Lonyo - Monday, September 17, 2007 - link
You forgot another element of one of your watercooling setups.It's external.
PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE try looking at other temperatures, e.g. graphics card, motherboard, HDD, when doing these tests.
The heat has to go somewhere. With an air cooler it stays inside the case before passing by the graphics card and getting pushed out the back of the case.
With an external watercooling setup it gets transferred outside without going over the graphics card/motherboard, and hence internally other components beside the CPU should in theory be cooler.
My view is that the main advantage of watercooling is the low CPU temps combined with lower internal case temps, since I wouldn't think of running water with an internal radiator.
Nickel020 - Monday, September 17, 2007 - link
I don't understand how you reached the conclusion, that good air cooling is better than sub 300$ water cooling by testing two sub 150$ water cooling kits.I have recently upgrade from a lapped Scythe Infinity to a 300$ wattercooling setup and at a maximum fan speed of ~1300 rpm (two fans dual radiator) the watercooling beats air by 10K but is little bit noisier since the fans sit at the top of the case. At 7V it's less noisier than the Infinity and still about 5K cooler.
Please test a real 200+$ watercooling setup before drawing such conclusions. The test clearly shows that cheapw atercooling isn't worth it, but starting at about 200$ watercooling will beat air cooling if you choose good components.
Here's a link to jstu about the ebst setup for 250$:
http://www.petrastechshop.com/pecoel.html">http://www.petrastechshop.com/pecoel.html
The waterblock is one of the ebst available, the Swiftech radiators are great for the price and with a modded top the Laing pupm is very quiet and has a excellent performance.
I'd very much like to see Anandtech finally review some proper water cooling!
PS: The review is otherwise very nice, finally a good review that compares low end watercooling with top-end air cooling.
poohbear - Monday, September 17, 2007 - link
dude, that link shows it's $250!!! i can get the thermalright 120 extreme for $65... the choice seems like an absolute no brainer to most.
retrospooty - Monday, September 17, 2007 - link
"'d very much like to see Anandtech finally review some proper water cooling!PS: The review is otherwise very nice, finally a good review that compares low end watercooling with top-end air cooling."
Agreed. It would be great to see a full review, including a few high end kits, cooling graphics cards as well, since that IS how they are used.
This is a high end "best of the best" air cooler against 2 low end "mediocre" water kits.
Wesley Fink - Monday, September 17, 2007 - link
We have also tested two kits closer to $300 in price from top water cooler manufacturers and they did not beat our top air cooler results. The Infinity was not a top performer in our test results unless it was driving a dual push-pull fan configuration. Stock it was slighly worse than the two water coolers we tested in this review.Also, Intel, Swiftech, Thermalright and others have now found that a convex base improves cooling performance mounted to current Intel CPU caps which are manufactured not flat to improve cooling performance. Lapping your Infinity prbably did no harm but lapping a thermalright would likely decrease performance. Swiftech in the past was a strong advocate of flat mirro-finish bases, but they now use the intentionally bowed plate on their top water blocks to improve cooling and overclocking.
Nickel020 - Monday, September 17, 2007 - link
Well the problem with watercoolig is that no big manufacturer offers a good kit, you absolutely need to mix and match parts from different manufacturers.Go to the forums here or at xtremesystems.org and everybody will confirm that a *well chosen* 300$ watercooling will beat any air cooling. You just need the right components, like in the ones in that kit.
And I know about the lapping/bowing, I lapped my CPU as well and got a 13K lower temperature with both lapped than before. A bowed cooller usually has the advantage since almost all heatspreaders are concave, therefore a convex cooler is needed to make a good contact. But if you lap both CPU and cooler you're usually better off if you do it right.
I would love to see you review a watercooling setup with good components, there almost no reviews on the net comparing good watercooling to top-end aircooling.
yyrkoon - Monday, September 17, 2007 - link
I think the real questions are . . . is it really worth the Hassle/danger/cost.
Even a $300usd water cooling system is not a good water cooling system, and one that uses less than 1/2 tubing/waterbloccks etc, is not a good water cooling setup.
Anyhow, I am not an advocate of water cooling, and I have been saying air is better than water for a long time now (couple of years), not because of cooling performance alone, but because of the three things mentioned above . . .Hassle/danger(or risk if you like)/costs. Building a top notch cooling system would set you back about $400 a year ago, now, probably more like $500-$600, but I wouldnt know for a fact, beause water cooling for PCs is like 4x4's with a 128 inch lift kit, its made to compensate for something, perhaps a small . . . CPU( or more likely something else) ?
poohbear - Monday, September 17, 2007 - link
well i'll be damed, i never considered watercooling cause it was too exotic and expensive, but it seems there's no point considering it to begin w! the best aircoolers are quieter AND run cooler than watercooling. Thanks for showing this fantabulous change of events anandtech.