INTRODUCTION

   Between the rather expensive and somewhat complicated to setup custom water cooling solutions/loops and the far more affordable and ready to use all in one models there aren't really that many options available for consumers who may want the best of both. True certain manufacturers like EK Water Blocks and Alphacool have recently released AIO water cooling solutions which consumers can expand as they see fit (we've reviewed some of them already) but such models represent just a small percentage of the AIO market. Swiftech may not be a name we hear a lot in the EU (although they are very popular among overclockers and enthusiasts) since they just started selling their products here but they've been producing and selling AIO models in the USA market for many years now so when they asked if we'd be interested in testing their latest H240 X2 model we couldn't really say no.

   Swiftech® was founded in 1994 by Gabriel Rouchon, and incorporated in 2001 under the legal entity name of Rouchon Industries Inc., dba Swiftech. Its sales skyrocketed in early 2001 following the release of the famed MC370 line of heatsinks. Reviews of the heatsink in the Internet Press propelled Swiftech® into the limelight as the number one source for high-performance heatsinks in the aftermarket computer parts Industry. Over the course of the last decade, Swiftech® has emerged as one of the leading forces driving the high-end thermal management scene in the personal computer industry. Pioneering work, innovation, and an uncompromising dedication to high performance and quality have resulted in award winning products setting standards for others to follow. Swiftech® has consistently demonstrated leadership by thinking outside the box, and remains to this day driven by an intense competitive spirit. As a result, Swiftech® is considered by many as one of the founding fathers of the liquid cooling industry for personal computers. This has been accomplished despite intense pressure from heavyweight industry players with powerful sales and marketing acumen. Swiftech® 's name is recognized worldwide, and synonymous with Performance, Innovation, Quality and Value.

   Just like the EK-XLC Predator by EKWB and the Eisbaer by Alphacool the Swiftech H240 X2 can be customized/expanded with extra radiators and GPU waterblocks to cover the needs of more demanding users such as overclockers and enthusiasts. At the same time strangely enough (and unlike its competition) its name doesn't represent the size of its radiator but the size of the fans used so although when reading the model name (H240 x2) you expect a 240mm long radiator in fact Swiftech has used a 280mm long one with two Helix 140mm PWM fans. And that's not all since Swiftech has also intergrated a rather unique lighting system onto the H240 X2 (ALED) which consists by several LEDs placed on the radiator, the reservoir and on the waterblock. Since the color and light intensity of these LEDs can be easily controlled at the push of a button located on the bundled PWM splitter there's no need for control software. So is the H240 X2 CPU liquid cooling system the ideal AIO model for you?

SPECIFICATIONS AND FEATURES

PACKAGING AND CONTENTS

A large product picture is located at the front of the box right next to the 3 year warranty and CPU compatibility stickers.

Taking a look at the top of the box we see the features list in 6 languages, 6 product pictures showcasing the 6 available LED colors and a small graph showcasing the performance levels of the entire X2 family.

 The CPU compatibility list is placed on the left side while at the base of the box we see the bundle contents list printed in 6 languages.

You can take a look at the technical specifications table at the rear of the box (again printed in 6 languages).

Once again we get an AIO model wrapped inside a plastic bag and placed inside a formed piece of foam.

Although the bundle may not be the richest we've ever seen it certainly is unique since aside the H240 X2 with its two Helix 140mm PWM fans and Intel mounting bracket (pre-mounted on the unit) you're also getting an AMD mounting bracket, PWM splitter, thermal paste tube, Swiftech case badge, two plastic bags with screws and washers, installation instructions and three tubes with coloring dyes (red, yellow and blue).

THE H240 X2

It doesn't take long to see that Swiftech has taken a slightly different route when designing the H240 X2 (and other models before that). Sure we have the usual combination of a radiator, tubes, waterblock and two fans but the H240 X2 has an exterior tube reservoir which not only gives it enough liquid (109ml to be precise) to add more radiators in the loop without having to worry about that but it also looks nice.

The sole drawback with the acrylic reservoir is its size since it boosts the thickness of the H240 X2 to 94mm (fans included).

Unlike most AIO liquid CPU coolers in the market today that feature pumps right over the waterblock the H240 X2 has its ceramic PTFE bearing pump (PWM controlled) right next to the reservoir (3000RPM / 2.8 mH2O pressure) and although I’m sure Swiftech has its reasons for that still it boosts the thickness of the unit even more at 115mm.

Just for the record the H240 X2 uses a 28mm thick radiator (293mm long and 140mm wide) so going all the way up to 115mm means possible clearance issues especially in small PC cases.

The two Helix 140mm PWM fans can spin up to 1800RPM to produce up to 90CFM of airflow and 2.29mmH2O static pressure with just 28.8dBA of noise.

Swiftech has used a good quality brass/copper radiator that has a FPI (fins per inch) count of 12.

A fill-port is placed at the front of the radiator and it can be used to change the color of the liquid via the provided dyes (of course you can also use it to fill/empty the loop).

Both PVC tubes used are very flexible and almost 300mm in length.

The Apogee XL2 acrylic waterblock has a LED at the top (also adjustable from the PWM splitter) and a nickel plated copper base.

Both fittings on the waterblock swivel to simplify installation.

The nickel plated copper base has a nice mirror like finish as you can see from the above picture.

At roughly 300mm in length the H240 X2 is still no match for the Obsidian 900D. Unfortunately shortly after we finished our tests the LEDs on the radiator and the reservoir stopped working (we reached out to Swiftech and we should know the why soon) so we were unable to showcase them in our pictures.

TEST BED

TESTING METHODOLOGY

   Testing complete water cooling kits or individual radiators is no different than testing CPU Coolers and since we want all of you to be able to compare similar products we created new and separate charts (you can still cross-compare results however since we are using the same test rig). So once again single (120/140mm) watercooling solutions are tested with the radiator mounted at the rear of our test rig while dual/triple/quad (240/260/280/360/420/480/560mm) solutions with the radiator mounted at the top. For the dBA tests complete water cooling kits or radiators with bundled fans are measured both while on idle mode or with the fan controller in the minimum setting and while on extreme load or with the fan controller all the way to the highest possible setting (PWM fans do that on their own without our intervention). Every single test takes place in a temperature controlled room of 23 degrees Celsius Ambient Temp with the help of two AC units placed diagonally inside the room. When testing complete water cooling kits we use the Arctic Silver 5 thermal paste. Finally much like when testing CPU Coolers it's very important to point out that just because a water cooling kit outperforms another when tested with our test rig (when we test complete water cooling kits) that does not necessarily mean that the same performance differences will apply 100% for other CPU models and in other situations (such as different ambient temps and system configurations).

     To successfully record the load temperatures we use the latest OCCT application for around 6-10 minutes to push the processor to its limits and after that is done and the temperatures are recorded we wait for about 10-20 minutes for the CPU to cool down and record the idle temperatures. This is done to allow time for the thermal conductive material to achieve the optimal performance level. Same procedure is then repeated with the Passmark BurnIn Test as a failsafe just in case the OCCT results are wrong. This procedure takes a lot more time than the usual peltier/thermometer tests but this way not only can we deliver real world results to our readers based on real CPUs but we can also triple check the results using a variety of programs. Last but not least the temperatures were recorded using both the latest versions of AIDA64 and RealTemp while the noise level tests (when fans exist in the bundle) are performed using a high precision ExTech HD600 Decibel Meter placed about 10-15cm above the radiator. Still although the same testing procedure applies to all units do take into consideration that unlike the official numbers which are measured in special noise isolated labs with just the fans here we also have both the rest of the cooler and the rest of the system (although all system fans are turned off when recording noise levels).

TEST RESULTS

CONCLUSION

   After over a year of talking about Swiftech and their AIO CPU liquid cooling systems we finally managed to get our hands on the H240 X2 so it goes without saying really that we were quite intrigued by its design and features. We have reviewed AIO models which can be expanded so that wasn’t really new for us but the external reservoir and the ALED lighting system were. In terms of performance I don’t know if I was expecting something more since Swiftech also makes the H240 X2 Prestige model (higher airflow fans) but regardless it falls roughly at the same category as the brand new Eisbaer 240 model by Alphacool (just with louder fans). Unfortunately however the H240 X2 is far from the smallest dual 140mm AIO model in the market today (although it may be the shortest in terms of length). Now inside the massive Obsidian 900D the H240 X2 looks like any other AIO model out there but when you see just how much vertical space is taken by the reservoir and the pump you may think twice about fitting it inside a small HTPC case. Of course Swiftech has thought of this so the reservoir and the pump take less than half the width of the H240 X2 but still we are talking about extra interior space required. Overall however aside the problem with the ALED lighting system (when it did work however it looked very well) which stopped working almost immediately after we finished our tests (the waterblock LED still works but it’s on another cable) we had no problems with the H240 X2 during our tests (installation on the LGA 2011 socket was a breeze).

   Although “regular” closed loop AIO liquid CPU coolers have become very affordable the same doesn’t apply for the new “expandable” models so currently the Swiftech H240 X2 retails for USD156.77 inside the USA (Amazon.com) and for 158Euros inside the EU (Amazon.co.uk). Of course the H240 X2 is still roughly 20% more expensive compared to the Eisbaer 240 so unless you plan on expanding the loop or you really like the ALED lighting system we just can’t justify the difference in price. At the end of the day the H240 X2 offers very good cooling efficiency (although it’s not the best AIO model in our charts) and features an expandable design, exterior reservoir (ads to the unit design and you can also monitor the liquid status from here) and a lighting system which should appeal to gamers, modders and even enthusiasts. Because of all of the above the H240 X2 by Swiftech gets our Golden Award.

PROS

- Good Build Quality
- Very Good Cooling Efficiency
- Removable Tubes (Can Add Extra Radiators, GPU blocks, Pumps)
- External Reservoir & Pump
- ALED Lighting System
- PWM Splitter
- PVC Tubes
- Color Dyes
 

CONS

- Price (For Some)
- Height (For Some)
- Noise Levels At Load