Swiftech H20-220 APEX Ultra

Conclusion:

Drying off our hands coming out of the Swiftech H20-220 APEX Ultra, to say the least the water-cooling kit is simply a phenomenal unit. It used to be if you wanted the maximum water-cooling performance a custom designed water-cooling setup was definitive but looking over our APEX Ultra results, it certainly looks as if the Swiftech H20-220 can meet the needs of overclockers and enthusiasts. With the Storm waterblock retiring from Swiftech's line-up, the Apogee is an excellent replacement for CPU cooling and comes with a design advantage over the Storm and its competition. Looking specifically at the water temperature results, the MCR-220 radiator did an excellent job at dissipating the heat and returning the water to its base temperature even when the CPU voltage was increased. Of course, during testing, the two 120mm Delta fan speeds were supplied with 12V and the MCP655 pump was running at full speed so adjusting these variables will change the cooling performance accordingly. Even when the cooling performance was maximized, we were pleased with the quiet pump operation as well as the MCRES-Micro radiator performance with hearing no water moving around or related noise. Overall, this is simply an excellent kit for those looking to make a splash into the world of water-cooling or the veterans interested in keeping their desktop or server CPU cool as well as offering the abilities for achieving a high overclock. In addition, the black finish on the various components and UV green liquid (through use of Swiftech HydrX) is quite attractive to say the least. Even though there are a number of kits from such manufacturers Vantec, Cooler Master, 3R System, and Thermaltake, we are confident with Swiftech and its abilities to drown the competition; due to its exceptionally designed components with 7/16" tubing that allows for a high level of water flow while allowing for easy tube navigation throughout the system. However, the Swiftech H20-220 APEX Ultra does not come for the light hearted with a MSRP of $259.95 USD and not including the cost of any Chipset or VGA waterblocks. We at Phoronix are pleased to award the Swiftech H20-220 APEX Ultra with our Editor's Choice Award.