MCW50 GPU Water-block

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Most sane people would be happy running their 9700 at stock speeds, and still have no other video card out today that comes close to its performance. Then there's the few that want to push the stock speeds of the card further to increase its performance even more. Then there's us...the one's who want to take the risk of pumping water over their +$300 investment to bring the card to its knees. Enter Swiftech with their renowned performance in the cooling industry. They are making a cooling solution to fit the ATI 9700, without having to worry about the shim on the VPU getting in the way. The block fits the GeForce 4 line of cards as well. We're gonna take a look today to see how this puppy does...

Manufacturer:	Swiftech
Product:	MCW50 GPU Water-block
Price:	USD$38.95
Availability:	NOW
Reviewed By:	Cygnus_X_1
Edited By:	SPeeD

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Intro: Most sane people would be happy running their 9700 at stock speeds, and still have no other video card out today that comes close to its performance. Then there's the few that want to push the stock speeds of the card further to increase its performance even more. Then there's us...the one's who want to take the risk of pumping water over their +$300 investment to bring the card to its knees. Enter Swiftech with their renowned performance in the cooling industry. They are making a cooling solution to fit the ATI 9700, without having to worry about the shim on the VPU getting in the way. The block fits the GeForce 4 line of cards as well. We're gonna take a look today to see how this puppy does...

 

 Made in the USA

Packaging and Contents: Swiftech packages their solutions in no-frills packaging, but upon opening the box you are greeted with the familiar blue and copper block with craftsmanship written all over it.

 

Once you get the block out, you can feel how well made it is. The block comes well protected by styrofoam, and Swiftech includes hardware, and allen wrenches for both the ATI 9xxx series and GeForce 4xxxTi series of cards.

 

The block comes ready for 1/2" OD tubing, so if you're running anything other than that type of tubing, you have to order the appropriate fittings. The system it is being tested in today is a 1/2" ID system, so the proper fittings were ordered.

 

The block comes machined to a mirror finish on the bottom and as you can see has mounting holes for both the ATI series (the two holes on the outside flange) and the GF4 series (the four holes on the bottom of the block).

 

You can also see where Swiftech had their thinking caps on, and machined the base to be compatible with ATI's shim design on their current cards, so it makes full contact with the VPU. Taking a look inside the block, you can see Swiftech's Patent Pending Diamond-Pin Matrix design that promotes turbulence in the block to dissipate heat quickly, and improve the efficiency of core cooling.

 

Specs
Here are the specifications as listed on Swiftech's site:

• Housing:
  • CNC machined aluminum L2"xW2"xH1"
  • Type II, class 2 blue anodized anti-corrosion treatment
  • Built-in quick-connect fittings for 1/2" OD tubing (3/8" ID)

 

 

• Base plate:
  • 0.300" thick CNC machined copper base plate
  • Submersed face is CNC machined from billet to form Patent Pending Diamond-Pin Matrix©. Design increases heat dissipation surface, and flow turbulence to enhance heat transfer to cooling fluid.
  • Outer face is lapped flat to 3/10 of 1/1000", and mirror polished. Center section is raised to provide clearance for ATI® Radeon™ stabilizer frame assemblies

 

• Assembly:
  • Overall dimensions: L2.0" x W2.0" x H1.22" (L50.8 x W50.8 x H31.0 mm)
  • Retention mechanism:
    • NVidia: 4 spring loaded 2-56 S/S socket screws, providing ~20 lbs of pressure overall
    • ATI: 2 spring loaded 4-40 S/S socket screws, providing ~15 lbs of pressure overall
  • Tubing compatibility: 1/2" OD (3/8" ID), tube inserts included for use with soft vinyl tubing

Next: Installation page 2 >>
 

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