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Liquid cooling kits are often a good way for those inexperienced with PC water cooling to "get their feet wet" so to speak, without having too difficult a time during installation or likely chance of failure due to mistakes or mishaps. Some systems like the recent CoolIt ECO or Corsair H50 really simplify things by being pre-assembled and sealed, making them no more difficult to install than most aftermarket air coolers. Others, like the Tt ProWater 850i or Swiftech H20-220 Compact, do require assembly but include all the parts you will need and/or combine some of the functions of each piece for ease of installation. The item that we have for review today falls into the latter category, Swiftech's latest series of water cooling kits, the H20-X20 Edge.
I'm not entirely sure if one day Gabe just had a vision of this, or if it was the more likely collaboration of emails and suggestions since the launch of the original kit that inspired a revision of the way the kit functions, and gives users more flexibility to cool more, and again, simplifies everything to make it easy to install - and great to look at. Most notably with the new "HD" kits is the option to run parallel loops off this one unit, negating the need for two of everything to add a second, or in this case, even a third loop to the mix. This will allow for less restriction in the flow to each of the loops. Versus the old method of running blocks in series, overcompensating for the restrictions with a pump supplying more pressure and flow was the way to deal with things. This system offers a very unique way of dealing with this and while doing so will offer that simplified look as the original system.
Today we will be delving into two, well actually three kits, and showing the sort of capabilities they can deliver. While D-I-Y guys will stick to their tried and true, I can build a loop for that kind of money attitude, I think Swiftech came up with a concept that should even make the elitists take notice. At this time I usually say get a drink and get comfy, but there is a lot to cover since we are looking at two systems here. If need be, grab a sandwich and let your dog out really fast before you continue on with finding out what the Swiftech H20-X20 Edge "HD", all inclusive, water cooling kits deliver this time around!
The H220 water cooled CPU cooler has hit the desk for testing. Take a look at Swiftech's idea of what all AIO's should be.
Swiftech has been a major player in the water-cooling industry since 2001, but up to this point it they had not created a self-contained AiO unit. The H220 changes this though, as it is the first unit designed by Swiftech, but it is no simple cooler that would be comparable to the CoolIT and Aestek coolers. Instead, the Swiftech H220 is a custom made cooler that is designed for high-performance at low acoustic levels via an advanced design only Swiftech could make.
When it comes to the world of All In One (AIO) liquid CPU cooling systems you'll be hard pressed to find something that isn't made by either Asetek or CoolIT and rebranded under various company's product lines, the Antec Kuhler and Corsair Hydro series to name a couple of examples. Very few companies have the know-how and expertise to devise their own custom built AIO systems from all their own parts. However, Swiftech stand out clearly from the crowd with their latest innovation, the Swiftech H220.
Swiftech is among the world's largest and leading manufacturers of water cooling.
Swiftech was founded back in 1994 and their brand is today recognized worldwide.
The product we are looking at today is the Swiftech H220 - a Dual 120mm All-In-One CPU
Liquid Cooling Kit, factory pre-filled for plug-and-play installation.
Long Beach, California based company Swiftech is known industry wide as one of the forefathers of liquid cooling. In 1999 they began developing peltier based cpu coolers for advanced overclocking which led Swiftech to begin working with liquid cooling solutions. Known today for their excellent quality water pumps, radiators, and liquid cooling blocks, Swiftech is easily one of the market leaders in the mainstream liquid cooling market. Until recently however, they have stayed out of the all in one (AIO) cooling solution game. Now, after 3 years of development, they have announced the H220. Aimed at the average user interested in liquid cooling but not yet ready to jump into a full blown custom loop, the H220 claims to be an affordable, adaptable, and silent cooling solution for all users. Follow along as we take the H220 through the gauntlet to see if it really is all it claims to be.
One of the biggest selling points of Swiftech’s all in one cooler, the H220 is it’s claim to be a fully expandable liquid cooling system. By this they mean it is possible to add other cooling elements to the self contained loop. This would mean that for the price of only $139.99 USD you can buy for yourself the complete set of core components needed for a custom liquid cooling loop, something that would normally cost around $300. The main components include; a pump, a radiator, a block for the component you wish to cool, and a reservoir. Starting off from these items you can now easily add any other element from your rig to the loop. If their claim is true, the sky’s the limit, you can liquid cool anything from your gpu to your chipset, to your ram. Not keeping cool enough with just the 240mm radiator? Throw an additional radiator into the loop as well! Follow along as we explore how to work with a liquid cooling loop, and find out just what the limits of this “expandability” are.
If you have ever pondered water cooling a computer, after a bit of shopping around I'm sure you will have seen the Swiftech brand in all aspects of your shopping list. When I got my start in water cooling, the Swiftech pumps came highly recommended; I just wish I had been directed to their radiators a little sooner than I had. When I started out, I had to use very high CFM fans on radiators that worked, but had a high FPI count, and really impeded the air flow through the radiators; hence the need for the loud, high CFM producing fans. If you read my review of the Danger Den GTX 470 block, I grabbed a Swiftech radiator for testing those and I was very pleased with the amount of heat that radiator is able to remove from the water, and I only needed 60 CFM fans to get those results. With that build came hours and hours of prep and set up time. Accounting for all of the barb, angled fitting, and multiple parts to connect to can drag the build out, an d almost drive you insane looking for the cleanest, yet still attractive layout.
Anyone keeping tabs on Swiftech lately has seen this reservoir, but the Maelstrom bay reservoir is finally in my hands.
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