SwiftTech Apogee GT CPU Water Block
Introduction, packaging, package and specification
Published: 8th May 2007 | Source: SwiftTech | Price: |
When you're choosing the various parts for your watercooling setup you look at a number of factors: cost, performance, suitability and flowrate among others. When SwiftTech launched the Apogee block enthusiasts slated it for it's simple design with lack of jet impingement.
However after a while it soon came to light that the Apogee was one of the top performing blocks out there, especially when you took into account the price. Never a company to lay back on it's laurels, SwiftTech made the Apogee GT, which we're taking a look at today.
Packaging
SwiftTech have chosen to go with the blister-pack style of packaging. This is a good way to go as CPU blocks don't tend to be too fragile and the pack protects the contact area whilst showing off the looks of the block.
This arrived wrapped up nicely in a cardboard box so not a scratch was on the packaging. I think this style of packaging would be fine with most couriers, but unprotected there is a possibility of damage.
Package
The package includes:
* Water-block,
* Hold-down plates,
* Retention hardware for Intel socket 478 (Intel® Pentium® 4), socket 775 (Pentium® 4, Celeron, Core 2 Duo, Core 2 Quad, Core 2 Extreme), socket 603-604 (Intel® Xeon™ 400, 533 FSB), socket 462 (AMD® Athlon®, Duron®, XP, MP), socket 754, 939, 940, AM2(AMD® 64 bit processors), Socket F
* Three sets of hose barbs (1/4", 3/8" & 1/2") & washers
* Arctic Céramique thermal paste
* Installation guide
An impressive and most importantly complete bundle accompanies the Apogee GT. SwiftTech are always very good at providing what you need in the box and it's all there.
Package
The package includes:
* Water-block,
* Hold-down plates,
* Retention hardware for Intel socket 478 (Intel® Pentium® 4), socket 775 (Pentium® 4, Celeron, Core 2 Duo, Core 2 Quad, Core 2 Extreme), socket 603-604 (Intel® Xeon™ 400, 533 FSB), socket 462 (AMD® Athlon®, Duron®, XP, MP), socket 754, 939, 940, AM2(AMD® 64 bit processors), Socket F
* Three sets of hose barbs (1/4", 3/8" & 1/2") & washers
* Arctic Céramique thermal paste
* Installation guide
An impressive and most importantly complete bundle accompanies the Apogee GT. SwiftTech are always very good at providing what you need in the box and it's all there.
The bundle goes that extra mile with clips of all sizes and barbs of all sizes so no matter what your setup is like, you should be catered for here. Good stuff from SwiftTech and I am impressed at all they have included.
Specification
The specification of the Apogee GT is pretty impressive for such a well-priced block.
Now we've seen the numbers let's look at the block.
Specification
The specification of the Apogee GT is pretty impressive for such a well-priced block.
| * Internal structure: the CNC machined C110 copper base plate is at the heart of Apogee™ GT cooling efficiency. Designed using Computational Fluid Dynamics, the Patent Pending Diamond Pin Matrix was further optimized in the "GT" version resulting in increased surface area and coolant velocity. The thickness remains at 3mm to promote a high compliance factor with its mating surface (i.e. the CPU heat spreader) thanks to the base plate flexing ability. This particular feature allows additional "tweaks" to the Apogee™ generation of water-blocks and may yield substantial performance gains as described in the tweaking guide HERE. Patent Pending Diamond Pin Matrix Copper base plate of the Apogee™ GT The Diamond Pin Matrix requires proper base-plate orientation in relation to the intlet and outlet ports as shown below: * The housing is injection molded out of Black Acetal. This process is key to allow mass production of the water-block, and thus economies of scale. Patent Pending Housing * The universal hold-down plate features mounting holes for all current Desktop and midrange server processors (Xeon™, Opteron™). Optional hardware is available for high-end server processors (Itanium™). Hold-down plate - Click to enlarge * Nylon Fittings: 1/4" NPSM to 3/8" and/or 1/2" barbs * Fitting O-ring: (2) EPDM O-ring AS568A Dash Number 112 * Base plate dimensions: 2" x 2" (50.5 x 50.5 mm) * Assembly weight: : 6.7 oz (190 g) |
Now we've seen the numbers let's look at the block.
Most Recent Comments
Wow a blister back for a water block. Good idea i think.
Nice job kemp
Nice job kemp
niiiiiiiiiiceeeeeeeeeee
kemp, you've just made me want to buy this block even more! thanks for making my bank account empty! LOL
kemp, you've just made me want to buy this block even more! thanks for making my bank account empty! LOL
lol nps 
Quote:
|
Originally Posted by name='Ham'
Wow a blister back for a water block. Good idea i think.
Nice job kemp |
great review as ever mate....
Really nice review there Kempez!
Nice water block too!
Oh, by the way.. on the graphs isn't it meant to be "Lower is better" instead of Higher? :eh:
Nice water block too!
Oh, by the way.. on the graphs isn't it meant to be "Lower is better" instead of Higher? :eh:
Oops
I'll fix that when I get home. Must have had remnants from other graphs
I'll fix that when I get home. Must have had remnants from other graphs
Quote:
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Originally Posted by name='Kempez'
Oops
I'll fix that when I get home. Must have had remnants from other graphs |
Apart from the little mistake awesome review..
How long does it take to makes these review.. for water cooling must be quite a long time!
All of them take quite a while tbh. If you look at methods each block had to have 200hrs curing time with AS5 which took a while
Quote:
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Originally Posted by name='Kempez'
All of them take quite a while tbh. If you look at methods each block had to have 200hrs curing time with AS5 which took a while
|
I salute you sir!
Great review, again, Kemp. Some excellent shots too.
I feel we went through a period of blocks having a chrome/shiney look to them - and tbf it helps the manuf abit cos u look inside the case and u can recognize what a dood is using, to an extent.
Be nice to see one of these blocks` chome finished off, by a user, with some design. A flame trim would be tempting fate perhaps
Oh Kemp, dust them LL fans
I feel we went through a period of blocks having a chrome/shiney look to them - and tbf it helps the manuf abit cos u look inside the case and u can recognize what a dood is using, to an extent.
Be nice to see one of these blocks` chome finished off, by a user, with some design. A flame trim would be tempting fate perhaps
Oh Kemp, dust them LL fans
I just noticed, on the graphs for the results. It says higher is better, isn't it supposed to be lower is better?
Other than that, great review man!
Other than that, great review man!
Quote:
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Originally Posted by name='darkorb'
I just noticed, on the graphs for the results. It says higher is better, isn't it supposed to be lower is better?
Other than that, great review man! |
Ahh, my bad :P
Cheers fella's - changed
@ rast - I would dust em if I had time
@ rast - I would dust em if I had time
Nice review mate. 200hrs curing time, that's dedication for you!
There was no mention about being able to artificially induce a bow in the GT base plate with the (included?) oversized o-ring for an extra bit of performance. I take it the GT was just tested as shipped (with flat base)?
Is that 1/4" BSPP metal barbs you are using? I take it you had no problems using them in the 1/4" NPSM threaded holes?
@ Ham: I also prefer the new blister-pack style of packaging over the old brown box "Made in Shed" style.
200hrs curing time, that's dedication for you! There was no mention about being able to artificially induce a bow in the GT base plate with the (included?) oversized o-ring for an extra bit of performance. I take it the GT was just tested as shipped (with flat base)?
Is that 1/4" BSPP metal barbs you are using? I take it you had no problems using them in the 1/4" NPSM threaded holes?
@ Ham: I also prefer the new blister-pack style of packaging over the old brown box "Made in Shed" style.
No I didn't test the block with a bowed base as I quite frankly didn't have time 
the 1/4" BSPP barbs work fine in the threads for the Apogee and Apogee GT
the 1/4" BSPP barbs work fine in the threads for the Apogee and Apogee GT
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