The Swiftech H240-X is an interesting high-end open loop liquid CPU cooler that’s also pre-assembled/filled and plug-and-play like all-in-one units.
December 16, 2014 by Lawrence Lee
Product | Swiftech H240-X CPU Liquid Cooling Kit |
Manufacturer | Swiftech |
Street Price | US$150 |
PC water cooling has traditionally been and expensive hobby reserved for the most adventurous of enthusiasts. Putting together an open loop system is an involved process requiring the purchase of several different components including a waterblock, pump, reservoir, radiator, fans, fittings, tubing, and coolant. Assembling and filling the system is also daunting compared to mounting a simple air-cooled heatsink. All this complexity creates a barrier to entry, making for a limited niche market and high component prices.
The advent of closed loop coolers brought liquid cooling to a wider audience. These cheaper pre-assembled units with simpler combined parts are much easier to install but they are limited in scope. Originally designed for CPUs only, some products have begun appear that adapting them for GPU use as well, like Arctic Accelero Hybrid II-120 and NZXT G10 GPU mounting kit. It’s now feasible for less sophisticated users to water cool both of the main heat-generating PC components without having to assemble an old school loop.
This represents somewhat of a problem for Swiftech, a manufacturer that has been supplying enthusiasts with individual water cooling components for years. While AIO units have brought the idea of liquid cooling into the mainstream, they offer a possible alternative to the custom solutions users have been building with Swiftech’s off-the-shelf parts. Their response to this is a series of liquid cooling kits that users can install just as easily as closed loop models, but also can be expanded into full water cooling systems.
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Swiftech offers three models, the H140-X (1×140 mm radiator), the H220-X (2×120 mm radiators), and the flagship H240-X (2×140 mm radiator), all of which feature the same “enthusiast grade components” including their MCP30 pump, Apogee XL waterblock, and a revised version of the MCR-X20 series of radiators. To make things simpler, the pump and reservoir are integrated into the radiator, so you don’t need any external bays to house them; the structure is just as simple as an AIO unit. These pump and reservoir can’t be replaced but it does have standard G 1/4 tubing and fittings, making it an open loop cooler that can support additional components.
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The H240-X sells for US$150, which sounds like a lot if you’re new to full water cooling systems. For perspective, just the waterblock and a comparable radiator sell for US$65 a piece. It ships with two 140 mm fans and a 8-way PWM splitter to control the pump and up to 7 additional devices altogether. Also included is illustrated assembly guide (with no written instructions), a tube of thermal compound, three additional colored nameplates, and all the necessary cables and mounting gear (except for LGA775 and 1366).
Swiftech H240-X: Specifications (from the product web page) | |
Radiator with integrated pump (1 each) | |
Radiator Material | Brass tubes, louvered copper fins, 12~14 FPI |
Radiator Body dimensions | 290mm x 140mm x 115mm |
Radiator Fill-port thread class | G 1/4 |
Radiator Barb fittings | Integrated swivel 90° elbows, 3/8″ (10mm) OD |
Radiator Installation hardware | Standard: (8) 6-32 x 1 3/16 (30mm) Philips screws |
Pump speed control | PWM |
Pump Speed range | 1200 ~ 3000 RPM |
Pump nominal voltage | 12 VDC |
Pump nominal power | 6W |
Redundant fail safe | Software current limiting fail-safe AND hardware shutoff built-into the pump power wires. The hardware fail safe is only triggered in case of a firmware malfunction. |
Pump Bearing type | Ceramic shaft, PTFE bearing |
Pump Power connector | SATA |
Pump RPM & PWM connector | Mini 4-pin |
Pump MTBF | 60,000 hours |
ROHS | Compliant |
Pre-installed Fan (2 each) | |
Dimensions | 140mm x 140mm x 25mm |
Speed control | PWM |
Speed range | 700+/- 25% ~ 1800+/- 10% RPM |
Airflow range | 35 ~ 90 CFM |
Static pressure range | 0.25 ~ 2.29 mmH20 |
Noise level range | <8.3 ~ <28.8 dB/A |
Nominal Voltage | 12 V |
Nominal current | 0.25 A |
Bearing Type | Z-axis |
Connector | Mini 4-pin |
MTBF | 60,000 hours |
ROHS | Compliant |
Apogee XL Waterblock (1 each) | |
Base plate material | C110 copper |
Cooling engine | 0.25mm x 0.25mm micro-pin array |
Barb fittings | Swivel elbows, 3/8″ (10mm) OD |
Port thread | G1/4 standard |
Installation hardware | For Intel LGA 1150, 1155, 1156 (pre-installed by default) Back-plate (4) Spring loaded screws & washers For Intel LGA 2011 For AMD AM2, AM3, FM1,FM2, 939 Optional back-plate available for Intel legacy socket 775 and 1366 |
Clamps (4 each) | |
Material | Black anodized aluminum |
PWM splitter (1 each) | |
PWM Ports | 8 |
RPM signal port | Channel 1 |
Power connector | SATA |
PWM/RPM connector | Mini 4-pin |
Installation hardware | Peel-off sticker, mounting screws & nuts |
ROHS | Compliant |
Tim-Mate 2, 1g syringe thermal compound | |
Quick Installation Guide |
PHYSICAL DETAILS
The H240-X is composed of the Apogee XL copper waterblock, 1.6 cm thick EPDM rubber tubing, the MCP30 pump, a windowed reservoir, and a copper radiator with dimensions of 28.7 x 14.1 x 2.9 cm according to my measurements.
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INSTALLATION
The most critical aspect of installation is firm, maximum contact
between the base and the CPU heatspreader for efficient heat conduction. Ideally
it should also be a simple procedure with the user having to handle as few pieces
of hardware as possible. The H240-X definitely qualifies as it utilizes a simple bolt-thru design that pushes down on the waterblock and easily adjustable screws for correct positioning on Intel boards. Connecting all the cables is more difficult than the actual mounting.
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TESTING
Before thermal testing, we took some basic physical measurements of the radiator for comparison.
Large Heatsink Comparison: Average Fin Thickness & Spacing | ||
Heatsink | Fin Thickness | Fin Spacing |
SilverStone Heligon HE02 | 0.52 mm | 3.30 mm |
Thermalright HR-01 Plus | 0.45 mm | 3.15 mm |
Thermalright HR-02 Macho | 0.34 mm | 3.12 mm |
Thermalright HR-22 | 0.53 mm | 2.74 mm |
Scythe Ninja 3 | 0.39 mm | 2.64 mm |
Noctua NH-U12P | 0.44 mm | 2.63 mm |
Noctua NH-C12P | 0.47 mm | 2.54 mm |
LEPA LV12 | 0.51 mm | 2.38 mm |
Noctua NH-D14 | 0.43 mm | 2.33 mm |
Thermalright Archon SB-E | 0.49 mm | 2.33 mm |
Phanteks PH-TC12DX | 0.39 mm | 2.30 mm |
GELID Tranquillo Rev.2 | 0.40 mm | 2.30 mm |
GELID GX-7 Rev.2 | 0.31 mm | 2.25 mm |
be quiet! Dark Rock 2 | 0.38 mm | 2.22 mm |
Phanteks PH-TC14PE | 0.40 mm | 2.21 mm |
Prolimatech Armageddon | 0.51 mm | 2.08 mm |
Cryorig R1 Ultimate/Universal | 0.42 mm | 1.78 / 2.37 mm |
Zalman CNPS10X Quiet | 0.40 mm | 2.00 mm |
Prolimatech Megahalems | 0.50 mm | 2.00 mm |
Scythe Ashura | 0.43 mm | 1.97 mm |
NZXT Havik 140 | 0.41 mm | 1.91 mm |
Scythe Mugen-2 | 0.31 mm | 1.89 mm |
SilverStone Tundra TD03 (radiator) | 0.43 mm | 1.86 mm |
SilverStone Argon AR01 | 0.30 mm | 1.85 mm |
Thermalright Venomous X | 0.53 mm | 1.84 mm |
Scythe Mugen 4 | 0.30 mm | 1.82 mm |
Noctua NH-C14 | 0.38 mm | 1.79 mm |
Enermax ETS-T40 | 0.40 mm | 1.79 mm |
Noctua NH-D15 | 0.46 mm | 1.79 mm |
Scythe Yasya | 0.32 mm | 1.78 mm |
Enermax Liqtech 120X (radiator) | 0.46 mm | 1.76 mm |
be quiet! Shadow Rock Slim | 0.42 mm | 1.73 mm |
SilverStone Argon AR03 | 0.42 mm | 1.72 mm |
Noctua NH-U14S | 0.42 mm | 1.72 mm |
Cogage TRUE Spirit 1366 | 0.40 mm | 1.70 mm |
Scythe Kotetsu | 0.35 mm | 1.66 mm |
Scythe Grand Kama Cross | 0.38 mm | 1.66 mm |
Zalman CNPS9900 MAX | 0.16 mm | 1.59 mm |
Thermalright Silver Arrow | 0.32 mm | 1.57 mm |
Cooler Master Hyper 212 Plus | 0.43 mm | 1.54 mm |
Thermalright Ultra-120 eXtreme Rev.C | 0.56 mm | 1.52 mm |
Swiftech H240-X (radiator) | 0.13 mm | 1.80 mm |
NZXT Kraken X31/X41 (radiator) | 0.15 mm | 1.07 mm |
NZXT Kraken X61 (radiator) | 0.13 mm | 1.02 mm |
Testing on larger heatsinks like this one is done on our
LGA1366 heatsink testing platform. A summary of the test system and
procedure follows.
Key Components in LGA1366 Heatsink Test Platform:
- Intel Core i7-965 Extreme
Nehalem core, LGA1366, 3.2GHz, 45nm, 130W TDP. - Asus
P6X58D Premium ATX motherboard. X58 chipset. - Asus
EAH3450 Silent graphics card. - Intel
X25-M 80GB 2.5″ solid-state drive. Chosen for silence. - 3GB QiMonda
DDR3 memory. 3 x 1GB DDR3-1066 in triple channel. - Seasonic X-650 SS-650KM
650W ATX power supply. This PSU is semi-passively cooled. At the power levels
of our test platform, its fan does not spin. - Arctic Silver
Lumière: Special fast-curing thermal interface material, designed
specifically for test labs. - Noctua 140 mm fan (used when possible with heatsinks that fit 140x25mm
fans) - Nexus 120 mm fan (used when possible with heatsinks that fit 120x25mm
fans) - Nexus 92 mm fan (used when possible with heatsinks that fit 92x25mm
fans)
The systems are silent under the test conditions, except for the CPU cooling
fan(s).
Normally, our reference fans are used whenever possible, the measured details
of which are shown below.
Reference Noctua 140mm fan Anechoic chamber measurements | ||
Voltage | Speed | SPL@1m |
12V | 1250 RPM | 28~29 dBA |
9V | 990 RPM | 21 dBA |
8V | 880 RPM | 18 dBA |
7V | 770 RPM | 15~16 dBA |
6V | 660 RPM | 13 dBA |
Reference Nexus 120 mm fan Anechoic chamber measurements | ||
Voltage | Speed | SPL@1m |
12V | 1080 RPM | 16 dBA |
9V | 880 RPM | 13 dBA |
7V | 720 RPM | 12 dBA |
Reference Nexus 92 mm fan Anechoic chamber measurements | ||
Voltage | Speed | SPL@1m |
12V | 1470 RPM | 17 dBA |
9V | 1280 RPM | 14 dBA |
7V | 1010 RPM | 12 dBA |
Measurement and Analysis Tools
- Extech 380803 AC power analyzer / data logger for measuring AC system
power. - Custom-built, four-channel variable DC power supply, used to regulate
the fan speed during the test. - PC-based spectrum analyzer:
SpectraPlus with ACO Pacific mic and M-Audio digital
audio interfaces. - Anechoic chamber
with ambient level of 11 dBA or lower - Various other tools for testing fans, as documented in our
standard fan testing methodology. - SpeedFan,
used to monitor the on-chip thermal sensors. The sensors are not calibrated,
so results are not universally applicable. The hottest core reading is used. - Prime95,
used to stress the CPU heavily, generating more heat than most real applications.
All instances are used to ensure full stress. - CPU-Z,used to monitor the CPU speed to determine when overheating occurs.
- Thermometers to measure the air temperature around the test platform
and near the intake of the heatsink fan.
Noise measurements are made with the fans powered from the lab’s variable DC
power supply while the rest of the system is off to ensure that system noise
do not skew the measurements.
Load testing was accomplished using Prime95 to stress the processor, and the
graph function in SpeedFan was used to ensure that the load temperature is stable
for at least ten minutes. The temperature recorded is the highest single core
reading. The stock fans were tested at various voltages to represent a good
cross-section of airflow and noise performance.
The ambient conditions during testing were 10~11 dBA and 21~23°C.
NOISE MEASUREMENTS
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Specifications: Swiftech H240-X Stock Fan | |||
Manufacturer | Swiftech | Power Rating | 3.0 W |
Model Number | Helix-140-PWM | Airflow Rating | 35 ~ 90 CFM |
Bearing Type | Z-axis (sleeve) | Speed Rating | 700 +/- 25% ~ 1800 +/- 10% RPM |
Frame Size | 140 x 140 x 25 mm | Noise Rating | < 8.3 ~ 28. 8 dBA |
Hub Size | 45 mm | Header Type | 4-pin PWM |
Blade Diameter | 121 mm | Starting Voltage | < 4.0 V |
Cable Length | 35 cm | Weight | 180 g |
Corner Type | Open | Retail Availability | Yes |
Additional notes: |
The H240-X ships with a pair of Swiftech’s Helix 140 PWM fans which feature sleeve bearings. The hub is quite large for a 140 mm model and there’s also a considerable gap between the blade tips and the surrounding housing. The heavy curvature helps somewhat, but the blades are still rather short.
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According to ASUS’ Fan Xpert2 utility, its effective PWM control range bottoms out at just under 1000 RPM which is rather dismal if you’re trying to achieve some semblance of silence (though on our test motherboard it can go about 100 RPM slower). On voltage control, the floor is much lower but if you’re coming off a cold start, it has difficulty spinning up if set below ~650 RPM.
Noise Measurements: Swiftech H240-X | |||
PWM Setting | Pump Speed | Avg. Fan Speed | SPL @1m |
100% | 2910 RPM | 1780 RPM | 39 dBA |
70% | 2600 RPM | 1530 RPM | 34~35 dBA |
40% | 1980 RPM | 1250 RPM | 28~29 dBA |
30% | 1790 RPM | 1110 RPM | 25 dBA |
20% | 1520 RPM | 1020 RPM | 23 dBA |
10% | 1320 RPM | 970 RPM | 22 dBA |
0% | 1180 RPM | 860 RPM | 21 dBA |
0% (fans on DC control) | 1180 RPM | 790 RPM | 20 dBA |
600 RPM | 18 dBA | ||
off | 17 dBA | ||
Measuring mic positioned 1m at diagonal angle from the center of CPU. Ambient noise level: 10~11 dBA. |
All devices connected to the included PWM splitter are controlled by the same signal, so the pump and fan speeds cannot be adjusted separately using this method. As there’s only one PWM header connected to the motherboard, only the speed of the pump is reported. Also, if the PWM signal is not detected, a fail-safe kicks in, automatically bringing the pump speed up to 100%, so it can’t be run any slower (unless the SATA connector powering it is modified).
Using PWM, the cooler produces between 21 and 39 dBA@1m with pump speeds between 1180 and 2910 RPM and average fan speeds of 860 to 1780 RPM. These minimum speeds aren’t low enough for our standards but with DC control, a reduction of 2~3 dB can be achieved. The pump on its own, with the minimal PWM setting emits 17 dBA@1m, so there’s no easy way to quiet it further than that.
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The H240-X’s pump produces a grating, mostly low frequency buzz, even at minimum speed. The best thing I can say about it is the movement of the liquid inside isn’t audible, so there’s none of the sloshing or occasional gurgling you might hear from a typical AIO cooler. The fans on the other hand are surprisingly benign despite the aggressive shape of their blades. The stock fan has a mostly smooth, broadband profile, but at closer distances it hums somewhat, and this effect is amplified when mounted compared to in free air. As water coolers go, it sounds above average at lower PWM speeds, but only because the fans drown out the pump. The pump becomes more noticeable at about 1800 RPM and above, generating a harsh tone at ~300 Hz.
TEST RESULTS
Test Results: Swiftech H240-X | |||
PWM Setting | Pump/Fan Speed | SPL @1m | Thermal Rise |
100% | 2910/1780 RPM | 39 dBA | 29°C |
70% | 2600/1530 RPM | 34~35 dBA | 30°C |
40% | 1980/1250 RPM | 28~29 dBA | 31°C |
30% | 1790/1110 RPM | 25 dBA | 31°C |
20% | 1520/1020 RPM | 23 dBA | 32°C |
10% | 1320/970 RPM | 22 dBA | 33°C |
0% | 1180/860 RPM | 21 dBA | 35°C |
0% (fans on DC control) | 1180/790 RPM | 20 dBA | 36°C |
1180/600 RPM | 18 dBA | 39°C | |
Measuring mic positioned 1m at diagonal angle from the center of CPU. Ambient noise level: 10~11 dBA. |
The H240-X is an excellent cooling solution, producing a thermal rise of less than 40°C throughout its full range. At top speed the H240-X generates a rise of less than 30°C, a feat previously accomplished by only two coolers, the NZXT Kraken X61 and X41. However, there’s little differentiation in temperature at higher pump/fan speeds with only a spread of 4°C between the 10% and 100% PWM setting.
Test Results: Swiftech H240-X vs. NZXT Kraken X61 | |||
Swiftech H240-X | NZXT Kraken X61 | ||
SPL@1m | Thermal Rise | SPL@1m | |
34~35 dBA | 30°C | 29°C | 36~37 dBA |
25 dBA | 31°C | 31°C | 25 dBA |
21 dBA | 35°C | 33°C | 21 dBA |
20 dBA | 36°C | 35°C | 19 dBA |
18 dBA | 39°C | 37°C | 17 dBA |
Measuring mic positioned 1m at diagonal angle from the center of the heatsink. Ambient noise level: 10~11 dBA. |
Compared to the NZXT X61, an AIO cooler with a similar radiator size, the results are quite close, but the X61 does pull ahead slightly at lower noise levels.
COMPARISON TABLES
°C Rise Comparison: CPU Coolers with Dual Fans | ||||||||||||
SPL (dBA@1m) | 22 | 21 | 20 | 19 | 18 | 17 | 16 | 15 | 14 | 13 | 12 | 11 |
NZXT Kraken X61 | 33 | 34 | 35 | 37 | ||||||||
Prolimatech Genesis* (reference fans) | 35 | 36 | 37 | 39 | ||||||||
Thermalright Silver Arrow | 35 | 38 | 40 | |||||||||
Noctua NH-C14 | 36 | 37 | 39 | 41 | ||||||||
Thermalright HR-22* (reference fans) | 37 | 38 | 39 | |||||||||
Swiftech H240-X | 33 | 35 | 36 | 39 | ||||||||
Noctua NH-D15 | 38 | 39 | 40 | |||||||||
Thermalright HR-02 Macho* (reference fans) | 36 | 37 | 40 | |||||||||
Phanteks PH-TC14PE | 38 | 39 | 41 | |||||||||
Cryorig R1 Ultimate | 37 | 41 | 42 | |||||||||
Scythe Mugen 4* (reference fans) | 39 | 40 | 42 | |||||||||
NZXT Havik 140 | 39 | 41 | ||||||||||
Cryorig R1 Universal | 39 | 41 | ||||||||||
Phanteks PH-TC12DX | 41 | 44 | ||||||||||
Cooler Master Seidon 240M | 40 | 43 | 53 | |||||||||
SilverStone Tundra TD03 | 40 | |||||||||||
SilverStone Heligon HE02* (reference fans) | 44 | 46 | ||||||||||
Enermax Liqtech 120X | 44 | 45 | ||||||||||
Zalman CNPS9900DF | 48 | 50 | 53 | |||||||||
SPL (dBA@1m) | 22 | 21 | 20 | 19 | 18 | 17 | 16 | 15 | 14 | 13 | 12 | 11 |
Air-cooled heatsinks in dark green, liquid coolers in dark blue *Models lacking dual stock fans tested with dual reference Noctua NF-P14 fans. |
As silence is an important factor in my final judgment, our overall comparison charts only take into account noise levels of 22 dB@1m and lower. Against competing dual fan coolers, even though the H240-X trails the X61 by only 2°C, it lands five rungs down. It’s still an elite cooler and a much better performer than most of the AIO units we’ve tested in the past, but it trails some of the larger air-cooled heatsinks.
°C Rise Comparison: CPU Coolers with Single/Dual Stock Fan(s) | ||||||||||||
SPL (dBA@1m) | 22 | 21 | 20 | 19 | 18 | 17 | 16 | 15 | 14 | 13 | 12 | 11 |
NZXT Kraken X61 | 33 | 34 | 35 | 37 | ||||||||
Prolimatech Genesis* (reference fans) | 35 | 36 | 37 | 39 | ||||||||
Thermalright Silver Arrow | 35 | 38 | 40 | |||||||||
Noctua NH-C14 | 36 | 37 | 39 | 41 | ||||||||
Scythe Kotetsu | 35 | 38 | 41 | 42 | ||||||||
Thermalright HR-22* (reference fans) | 37 | 38 | 39 | |||||||||
Swiftech H240-X | 33 | 35 | 36 | 39 | ||||||||
Noctua NH-D15 | 38 | 39 | 40 | |||||||||
Thermalright Archon SB-E | 39 | 40 | 43 | |||||||||
Phanteks PH-TC14PE | 38 | 39 | 41 | |||||||||
Thermalright HR-02 Macho | 38 | 39 | 40 | 41 | 43 | |||||||
Scythe Mugen 4 | 40 | 42 | 45 | |||||||||
Noctua NH-U14S | 38 | 40 | 43 | |||||||||
NZXT Kraken X41 | 38 | |||||||||||
NZXT Havik 140 | 39 | 41 | ||||||||||
be quiet! Shadow Rock Slim | 40 | 41 | 42 | |||||||||
Cryorig R1 Ultimate | 37 | 41 | 42 | |||||||||
Scythe Yasya | 40 | 43 | ||||||||||
Cogage TRUE Spirit 1366 | 41 | 43 | 46 | |||||||||
Cryorig R1 Universal | 39 | 41 | ||||||||||
Zalman CNPS10X Quiet | 40 | 42 | 47 | |||||||||
Scythe Grand Kama Cross | 40 | 41 | 44 | 49 | ||||||||
Scythe Ashura | 42 | 44 | ||||||||||
Cooler Master Hyper 212 Plus | 41 | 44 | 54 | |||||||||
Phanteks PH-TC12DX | 41 | 44 | ||||||||||
Silverstone Argon AR03 | 41 | 43 | 48 | |||||||||
Scythe Ninja 3 | 44 | 46 | ||||||||||
SilverStone Argon AR01 | 42 | 44 | 50 | |||||||||
Titan Fenrir | 43 | 45 | 47 | |||||||||
Cooler Master Seidon 240M | 40 | 43 | 53 | |||||||||
SilverStone Tundra TD03 | 40 | |||||||||||
SilverStone Heligon HE02* (reference fans) | 44 | 46 | ||||||||||
Antec Kühler H20 620 | 42 | 44 | 47 | |||||||||
LEPA LV12 | 45 | 48 | 52 | |||||||||
Zalman CNPS9900 MAX | 45 | 47 | 49 | |||||||||
NZXT Kraken X31 | 43 | 44 | 47 | |||||||||
Enermax Liqtech 120X | 44 | 45 | ||||||||||
GELID Tranquillo Rev.2 | 48 | 49 | 50 | |||||||||
be quiet! Dark Rock 2 | 48 | 52 | 55 | 61 | ||||||||
Zalman CNPS9900DF | 48 | 50 | 53 | |||||||||
GELID GX-7 Rev.2 | 49 | 51 | 56 | |||||||||
Core i7-980X Stock Cooler | 53 | 62 | ||||||||||
Enermax ETS-T40 | 49 | 55 | 64 | |||||||||
Core i7-920 Stock Cooler | 64 | FAIL | ||||||||||
SPL (dBA@1m) | 22 | 21 | 20 | 19 | 18 | 17 | 16 | 15 | 14 | 13 | 12 | 11 |
Single/Dual fan air-cooled heatsinks in light/dark green. Single/dual fan liquid coolers in light/dark blue. *Fanless models tested with dual reference Noctua NF-P14 fans. |
Adding single fan models into the mix illustrates how little difference there is between the behemoths and some of the smaller, more efficient solutions like the Scythe Kotetsu.
MP3 SOUND RECORDINGS
These recordings were made with a high
resolution, lab quality, digital recording system inside SPCR’s
own 11 dBA ambient anechoic chamber, then converted to LAME 128kbps
encoded MP3s. We’ve listened long and hard to ensure there is no audible degradation
from the original WAV files to these MP3s. They represent a quick snapshot of
what we heard during the review.
These recordings are intended to give you an idea of how the product sounds
in actual use — one meter is a reasonable typical distance between a computer
or computer component and your ear. The recording contains stretches of ambient
noise that you can use to judge the relative loudness of the subject. Be aware
that very quiet subjects may not be audible — if we couldn’t hear it from
one meter, chances are we couldn’t record it either!
The recording starts with 5 second segments of room ambiance, then the fan
at various levels. For the most realistic results, set the volume so that
the starting ambient level is just barely audible, then don’t change the volume
setting again.
- Swiftech H240-X stock fans at 1m
— pump at 1180 RPM (17 dBA@1m)
— pump at 1180 RPM, fans at 600 RPM (18 dBA@1m)
— pump at 1180 RPM, fans at 790 RPM (20 dBA@1m)
— pump at 1180 RPM, fans at 860 RPM (21 dBA@1m)
— pump at 1520 RPM, fans at 1020 RPM (23 dBA@1m)
— pump at 1980 RPM, fans at 1250 RPM (28~29 dBA@1m)
— pump at 2910 RPM, fans at 1780 RPM (39 dBA@1m)
FINAL THOUGHTS
As a CPU cooler, the Swiftech H240-X is definitely a top tier product, though the low noise performance it provides is not commensurate with its US$150 price-tag. On our open-air LGA 1366 test platform, the H240-X is not quite as effective as the more affordable NZXT X61 AIO cooler and the short tube length restricts it to ceiling mounting only. It’s possible that with a hotter overclocked CPU, or perhaps inside a hot PC case, the Swiftec’s higher volume of liquid and larger pump would provide superior performance. Once the install is completed, it’s not as user friendly as the X61, as NZXT provides software pump/fan control, monitoring capabilities, and LED color manipulation. There are also a few air-cooled heatsinks that are slightly more proficient and much cheaper for low noise cooling.
Like many liquid coolers, the noise of the pump is somewhat of an issue, though the fans have a pleasant acoustic profile, and at lower PWM speeds, they can drown out the pump’s negative qualities. However, the way the system relies on PWM restricts how quiet it can get if you lack more than one PWM-capable header, something that applies to many motherboards. For most, a noise level of 20 dBA@1m or below isn’t possible without taking the fans off PWM control but this makes the provided 8-way PWM splitter redundant.
This as more than just a humble CPU cooler though, as it’s really a hybrid product that bridges the gap between closed and open loop water cooling systems. The unit is completely pre-assembled and pre-filled like an AIO model and has a simple mounting system so even an inexperienced DIYer can use it without much trepidation. However, the real audience for this product is the more sophisticated enthusiast who may feel uneasy about taking the plunge directly into assembling a full custom loop watercooling. The H240-X’s standard fittings and tubing make it a good jumping-off point to a more complex water cooling system that can take care of additional components like a graphics card. It could be a clever attempt to up-sell you on more Swiftech gear later on while also capturing some of the current revenue going to competing AIO cooling manufacturers. Only time will tell whether this is an effective strategy.
Our thanks to Swiftech
for the H240-X CPU liquid cooling kit sample.
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SPCR Articles of Related Interest:
Arctic Accelero Hybrid II-120 Liquid GPU Cooler
Cryorig R1 Ultimate & Universal CPU Coolers
NZXT Kraken G10 Graphics Adapter
NZXT Kraken X61 28cm Liquid Cooler
Enermax Liqtech 120X AIO Liquid CPU Cooler
LEPA LV12 Direct-Touch Heatsink
Recommended Heatsinks
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