Tuesday, May 29th 2012
Swiftech Launches the Apogee Drive II CPU Water-Block with Integrated Pump
Swiftech today announced the release of the Apogee Drive II, a CPU waterblock featuring an integrated pump. "Like a phoenix rising from its ashes, the Apogee Drive II returns to take its place at the helm of Swiftech's CPU waterblock product line and it includes all the latest and greatest technological advancements that we have to offer today" said Gabriel Rouchon Swiftech's Chairman and CTA.
Derived in general concept from the company's Apogee Drive initially released in 2007, the Apogee Drive II much differs from the original in terms of its execution. The original was conceived as a moderate cost unit, using plastic injection molding for its body, the entry-level MCP350 pump and it came with bare essentials. In contrast, the Apogee Drive II is conceived as a luxury vessel: its uses the PWM controlled MCP35X, Swiftech's most powerful pump to date, a precision CNC machined water-block body that lends itself to easy upgrades for future socket form factors, adjustable inlet and outlet ports, a heatsink to further cool the pump, LED illuminated logo in a choice of 3 colors, braided cables, and the company's now famous retention system. The only concession to cost and waste-cutting measure the company made was to not bundle all the retention systems into one SKU, and to make 3 separate product versions.
According to the Company's own benchmarks, the Apogee Drive II edged the current Apogee HD in thermal performance, which is no small feat considering that the HD is currently hovering at the top of the world's performance charts. Given the considerable headroom afforded by the pump, uses for this type of device span across the entire spectrum of the high-end liquid cooling arena, but will particularly please system builders with space-constrained applications. The initial SKU being released is compatible with Intel CPUs using socket LGA 775, 1155 and 1366. Two more versions are expected to be released in June: a version compatible with Intel socket LGA 2011, and one compatible with all current AMD processor sockets.
MSRP
1155/1366 version: $144.95
2011 version: $135.95
AMD version: $138.95
Product Page
Derived in general concept from the company's Apogee Drive initially released in 2007, the Apogee Drive II much differs from the original in terms of its execution. The original was conceived as a moderate cost unit, using plastic injection molding for its body, the entry-level MCP350 pump and it came with bare essentials. In contrast, the Apogee Drive II is conceived as a luxury vessel: its uses the PWM controlled MCP35X, Swiftech's most powerful pump to date, a precision CNC machined water-block body that lends itself to easy upgrades for future socket form factors, adjustable inlet and outlet ports, a heatsink to further cool the pump, LED illuminated logo in a choice of 3 colors, braided cables, and the company's now famous retention system. The only concession to cost and waste-cutting measure the company made was to not bundle all the retention systems into one SKU, and to make 3 separate product versions.
MSRP
1155/1366 version: $144.95
2011 version: $135.95
AMD version: $138.95
Product Page
42 Comments on Swiftech Launches the Apogee Drive II CPU Water-Block with Integrated Pump
What would be the compatibility be like for taller ramsinks.
Still wish 6970 waterblocks werent so damn expensive.
I do think that I wil lpick up this unit when 2011 kits are available, though.
I have been discouraged that even used blocks for 480s still seem to be going around $100 but may have found one for less just recently.
This Swiftech block looks nice.
Anyway I did a google search too... no secondhand ones but the cheapest one is around $109 for a EKS FC6970.
untill im made of money, I can wait.
Let's hope Aquatuning stock this, I'm still waiting for 7970 komodos -.-
forums.legitreviews.com/about21686.html
This whole thread seems to be full of trolls and poor boys. stop posting and go get a job
:respect:
The block consists of a 35X pump as well. Let's see: A Swiftech Apogee block would run you $70, and an MCP-35X goes for $90 at the cheapest, most retailers sell it for $99.95. That's $170 if you bought the parts by themselves. Considering this block encompasses both, with new tech, and is $20 cheaper...
either way those bumps can do the job needed, could put a massive rad, res and that block and have a full loop that would chill the CPU.
Cant wait to see reviews on this, I wonder if the pump heat would hurt performance at all. those pumps don't run cold... even more so with a restrictive loop.
I am sure Swiftech already didn't months of testing and have made sure those issues aren't present, 1 would hope.
Still WAY overpriced IMO.My old Koolance case with rad,pump,fans,cpu cooler,tubing etc... was only $200 brand new.
Nice idea.
OOooops ! But you also need a reservoir...
Anyway not to be a Koolance fanboy, years ago I would never touch any of their products but today they are almost comparable to Swiftech, their quality has really step up.