Introduction - EK Supreme LT - EK Supreme Classic Copper Mod - EK Supreme HF - EK Supreme Full Nickel - Swiftech Apogee XT
Koolance CPU-360 - WaterCool HeatKiller 3.0 Nickel - Test Results - Conclusions
2010 CPU Water Blocks Round Up
By Daz May 18, 2010
Swiftech Apogee XT
After having close look at EK Supreme family evolution, let check on successor of largely popular Apogee GTZ – the Apogee XT. Many reviews reported stellar performance for this block, which makes it especially interesting to compare it with Supreme HF and other usual suspects.
The Apogee XT retains the same mounting mechanism as Apogee GTZ, which is user friendly and was discussed in great detail in our 2009 round up. This time around we simply get rid of it and used EK mounting hardware already in place which Swiftech block fits with ease.
The first impression was favourable as block felt much heavier and less flimsy then GTZ. Finish of the block’s top is quite nice with dual color metal parts and Swiftech logo. Flipping block over reveals traditionally un-polished bottom of the block, just like with GTZ. Hold down screws go right trough the bottom part, so it has 6 small depressions.
Block’s bottom uses similar pin matrix as in GTZ, which looks like it was stamped, rather then machined. Pins looked a little smudged overall with two areas of pins being bent.
Apogee XT has very short distance between inlet and outlet and won’t fit most of straight compression fittings. The work around is flipping “inlet” plate for 180 degree turn to allow larger distance. The penalty for doing so is minus 0.2LPM from your flow rate as water will going trough two sharp 90 degree turns.
It needs to be mentioned that the screws on “inlet” plate of our sample were not tighten and were removed by hand, which didn't sound right, so we tighten them up properly.
Traditionally Swiftech prescribes both the block’s correct orientation on a motherboard and correct flow direction (i.e block's inlet and outlet order). Upon installation the very first surprise was that the Apogee XT’s flow rate was below Supreme LT and Supreme Classic numbers. This fact needs to be noted for anybody who has multiple blocks in their systems. In spite of much lower flow rate comparing to Supreme HF, Apogee XT demonstrated solid cooling performance at high fan speed.
Lower flow level for Apogee XT starts clearly showing with low fans speed results as system started choking. As any restrictive block the Apogee XT will benefit from more pump power and fewer blocks in the loop.
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