Swiftech Launches the Apogee Drive II CPU Water-Block with Integrated Pump

[Cristian_25H]

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

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[Sp33d Junki3]

See in one of the images how close it is to the ram.
What would be the compatibility be like for taller ramsinks.

 

[dickobrazzz]

See in one of the images how close it is to the ram.
What would be the compatibility be like for taller ramsinks.

you can use another fitings

 

[Sinzia]

Gabe! Can I haz one for testing?!

 

[FreedomEclipse]

Nice, I can imagine me putting together a nice watercooling loop with this...

Still wish 6970 waterblocks werent so damn expensive.

 

[cadaveca]

Nice, I can imagine me putting together a nice watercooling loop with this...

Still wish 6970 waterblocks werent so damn expensive.

ME too, was talknig about jsut that last night. Got dual reference 6950's....would love to watercool them ,but paying $250 for blocks just isn't an option right now.

I do think that I wil lpick up this unit when 2011 kits are available, though.

 

[Wrigleyvillain]

$250? I am seeing a couple on Xoxide around $125 and there's one on eBay presently at $40...

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.

 

[cadaveca]

$250? I am seeing a couple on Xoxide around $125 and there's one on eBay presently at $40...

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.

$125x2 =250. I won't buy used stuff.

 

[Chaitanya]

Its been long time since Swiftech discontinued their older water blocks with integrated pump. awesome.

 

[FreedomEclipse]

and there's one on eBay presently at $40...

secondhand??

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.

 

[radrok]

Awesome, seen some days ago the post on XS, definitely gonna pick up one... I was really waiting for it.

Let's hope Aquatuning stock this, I'm still waiting for 7970 komodos -.-

 

[Major_A]

I'll pass, Swiftech Apogee screwed me over. After I finally got it working the pump only lasted for roughly 100 hours.
http://forums.legitreviews.com/about21686.html

 

[nickbaldwin86]

I'll pass, Swiftech Apogee screwed me over. After I finally got it working the pump only lasted for roughly 100 hours.
http://forums.legitreviews.com/about21686.html

pfft that was 2009. swiftech is a whole new company now. they have top notch parts and I have never had a issue with even the older products.

This whole thread seems to be full of trolls and poor boys. stop posting and go get a job

 

[cadaveca]

stop posting and go get a job

You gonna hire me?

 

[OneCool]

$150 for a single waterblock ....... somebody is smokin crack over there

 

[MT Alex]

$150 for a single waterblock ....... somebody is smokin crack over there

I'm not sure you even bothered to read the OP.

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...

 

[largon]

I bought the original a few years ago from a local shop clearance (cheap) just to get a higher density pin grid baseplate which I used as an upgrade to an old MCW60 with the old pin grid bp.

 

[cadaveca]

I'm not sure you even bothered to read the OP.

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...

+1. Swifttech says this about that:

When considering the cost of purchasing an MCP35X pump ($99.95)+ an Apogee™ HD ($74.95), the total cost at MSRP is $175; compare this to the $140 MSRP of the Apogee™ Drive II (average of three models), this is a $35 or 20% saving.

- http://www.swiftech.com/ApogeeDrive2.aspx

 

[nickbaldwin86]

I agree MT ALEX... worth each penny.... and it would be even nicer to run that pump and a pump on the other side of the loop for backup and extra flow.

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.

 

[radrok]

I agree MT ALEX... worth each penny.... and it would be even nicer to run that pump and a pump on the other side of the loop for backup and extra flow.

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 think you won't see more than 1-2 degrees of difference, once the loop is running the temperature gets almost even along the entire loop.

 

[Delta6326]

wow looks sweet and beats the HD! with WC getting easier everyday ima have to try it out.

 

[nickbaldwin86]

I think you won't see more than 1-2 degrees of difference, once the loop is running the temperature gets almost even along the entire loop.

I will wait for in depth reviews... but thanks for you opinion

I am sure Swiftech already didn't months of testing and have made sure those issues aren't present, 1 would hope.

 

[OneCool]

I'm not sure you even bothered to read the OP.

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...

Oh I read it.

Still WAY overpriced IMO.My old Koolance case with rad,pump,fans,cpu cooler,tubing etc... was only $200 brand new.

 

[Animalpak]

Just enough for 1 x 120mm radiator, but now you can choose the thickness and the quality of the radiator you want...

Nice idea.

OOooops ! But you also need a reservoir...

 

[MT Alex]

Oh I read it.

Still WAY overpriced IMO.My old Koolance case with rad,pump,fans,cpu cooler,tubing etc... was only $200 brand new.

Fair enough. Comparing Swiftech with Koolance is like comparing an Audi with a Yugo, but to each his own.

Just enough for 1 x 120mm radiator, but now you can choose the thickness and the quality of the radiator you want...

Considering the 35X is the most powerful mainstream consumer grade pump you can buy - you would have to go with an exorbitantly expensive Eheim or comparable to get better performance - you can put as many rads and blocks with it as you wish. I have 600mm worth of rad with three blocks on mine with tons of power to boot.