Swiftech H220X VS Other 240mm Custom Water Cooling Systems VS Noctua NH-D14

XtremeAero426 · Aug 25, 2014

So I was looking at all in one coolers and Custom Water Cooling systems and I was wondering how a Swiftech H220X with fare against other custom 240mm Custom Water Cooling Systems. Another extra is how would either of these fare against the Noctua NH-D14?

Key Questions:
- Which of these can I overclock the highest with?
- Which will provide the best cooling experience?
- (Random Question): Can you somehow change the color of the fans on the Noctua NH-D14?

vagrantsoul · Aug 25, 2014

the points i am comfortable providing answers for:

overclocking will depend as much on your chip and mb as with the cooler...

that being said, the bonuses of the h220x are covered here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pt5_dU-15v8 by LTT... it does allow you to expand the loop to beyond what a sealed solution would provide, as well as save you money on upper level components... it's still rather expensive.

Numerous reviews I have seen show that the d14 comes close to and even sometimes meets/beats loop coolers. I also prefer air to liquid for the sole point of fewer moving parts to have break (plus no worries of leaks).

There are others who can answer better about the experience, but to cover your final point.. you can change the fans off of the d14 (they're standard fans that get attached, but part of buying a noctua is to show off the puke brown fans (they also now make different color ones)

rubix_1011 · Aug 25, 2014

The Swiftech unit has a pump based on their DDC/Laing line of branded Swiftech pumps, which are well known for being very good and dependable. They move a lot of water, have great head pressure and are very reliable. It also appears to use an Apogee family CPU block, again, which are very good performing blocks. I'd take one of those coolers over any other 240mm closed loop unit, any day....as well as any Noctua offering.

For simplicity, yes, a Noctua DH14 is going to serve you very well.

As for leaks...closed loop coolers don't leak (if they are, they are defective and should immediately be RMA'd)

The Swiftech solution can be expanded to a custom watercooling loop by adding additional blocks and radiators, if wanted.

XtremeAero426 · Aug 25, 2014

rubix_1011 :

The Swiftech unit has a pump based on their DDC/Laing line of branded Swiftech pumps, which are well known for being very good and dependable. They move a lot of water, have great head pressure and are very reliable. It also appears to use an Apogee family CPU block, again, which are very good performing blocks. I'd take one of those coolers over any other 240mm closed loop unit, any day....as well as any Noctua offering.

For simplicity, yes, a Noctua DH14 is going to serve you very well.

As for leaks...closed loop coolers don't leak (if they are, they are defective and should immediately be RMA'd)

The Swiftech solution can be expanded to a custom watercooling loop by adding additional blocks and radiators, if wanted.

So how would the H220X compare to a custom water loop (240mm)

rubix_1011 · Aug 25, 2014

Would be similar performance assuming you'd use a DDC pump and similar CPU block and similarly sized and FPI radiator. It isn't exactly a 1:1 as it is difficult to say because you could choose any number of components for a custom loop.

XtremeAero426 · Aug 26, 2014

rubix_1011 :

How would a Swiftech H220X compare against this?

XSPC RayStorm CPU WaterBlock (Intel) $62 @ FrozenCPU
XSPC AX240 Dual Fan Radiator $79.99 @ FrozenCPU
XSPC FLX Premium Grade PVC Tubing - 1/2" ID (3/4"OD) - 2 Meter (6.5 Feet) $16.49 @ FrozenCPU
XSPC G1/4" Thread 1/2" ID x 3/4" OD Low Profile Compression Fitting (8x) $5.99/ea @FrozenCPU

Total: $206.40

rubix_1011 · Aug 26, 2014

Well, you don't have a pump listed, so really good by comparison.

XtremeAero426 · Aug 26, 2014

rubix_1011 :

Whoops sorry, here's the pump:

XSPC X2O 750 Dual 5.25” Bay Reservoir Pump $59.99 @ FrozenCPU

rubix_1011 · Aug 26, 2014

The XSPC X20 is a very lackluster pump.

Definitely the Swiftech in that comparison for both cost and performance.

Lots of XSPC stuff in that list (all)...any specific reason?

XtremeAero426 · Aug 26, 2014

rubix_1011 :

Well, if I put down a $200 budget would any part combo be more powerful than the swiftech? (240mm)

rubix_1011 · Aug 26, 2014

For $200....going to be tricky, but might be possible. We did have a list of price points of 'what can I get', but not sure where this list is, currently. I can take a look and see what I can find. $200 is really a point where it's difficult to stay within, but very easy to go over.

All in all, if you are only going to cool the CPU and never expand your loop to include a graphics card, etc, then one of those XSPC kits would be just fine.

Are you limited to only purchasing from FrozenCPU, or are other online retailers OK? Where do you live in the world, just in case global shipping is a concern.

XtremeAero426 · Aug 26, 2014

rubix_1011 :

I can use all US providers and I do plan to expand to GPU's (not included in price).

rubix_1011 · Aug 26, 2014

Then you would definitely want to consider a better pump and possibly what radiator you are going to run for now, and possibly add in the future.

XtremeAero426 · Aug 26, 2014

rubix_1011 :

What would be something that I could get for $200 that is better than the Swiftech 220x?

rubix_1011 · Aug 26, 2014

There used to be a couple of XSPC kits right around $180 that had the DDC pump as part of the package, but I don't know that they exist any longer. They were excellent values. It looks like these now occupy the $220+ range of the XSPC kits.

DDC Pump/reservoir top: http://www.frozencpu.com/products/2...p_EK-DDC_32_PWM_X-RES_100.html?tl=g30c107s152

240 Radiator: http://www.frozencpu.com/products/1...rofile_Dual_120mm_Radiator.html?tl=g30c95s160

CPU Block: [urlhttp://www.frozencpu.com/products/14366/ex-blc-1001/Swiftech_Apogee_HD_High_Performance_4-Port_CPU_Waterblock_-_White_-_Intel_w_LGA_2011_Hardware_AMD_Ready_Apogee-HD-WT.html?tl=g30c325s1118[/url]

3/8" ID fittings (x6): http://www.frozencpu.com/products/1..._Thread_38_Barb_-_Chrome.html?tl=g30c407s1029

3/8" ID tubing (8 ft): http://www.frozencpu.com/products/1...-_Non-Porous_Smooth_Tubing.html?tl=g30c99s171

120mm fans (x2): http://www.frozencpu.com/products/1...ator_Chassis_Fan_-_1200_RPM.html?tl=g36c15s60

Even this puts you at $274, which you could do the XSPC DDC kit for cheaper, although likely some compromises here and there. Overall, same type of stuff, but the pump+res top is likely your big cost difference, here. If you swap that out, you can do better.

MCP355: http://www.frozencpu.com/products/5...r_Pump_Native_38_120_GPH.html?tl=g30c107s1803

Top/Reservoir for DDC: http://www.frozencpu.com/products/7...lus_MCP-350355_No_Fittings.html?tl=g30c97s152

Still puts you around $260.

nikoli707 · Aug 26, 2014

like said its going to be tough at $200. at $200 most are just going to get any xspc/alphacool 240mm rad, two corsair sp 120mm fans, a d5 pump, and all the fittings which is around $240 at best. as far as a "budget" custom loop, nothing is going to come close to its cooling performance while still being near silent and should offer 5.0ghz on most sandy bridge or later unlocked K processors. you would still want a great motherboard, $160+, and at least a highly reviewed gold rated power supply all to keep things stable.

also like said, this is all fun and stuff, but for what a modest 4.4-4.5ghz overclock any budget motherboard can give you, and something like a noctua or phanteks, the price to performance cannot be beat with such a simple setup. aiming for 5.0ghz stable ends up costing around $300 more than a 4.5ghz stable setup, at which point you could have just gone x79+4930k and a simple hyper 212 and end up with slightly slower low thread performance but much faster high thread performance.

rubix_1011 · Aug 26, 2014

I'd still say the XSPC D5 or DDC kits with the 240 rad. That's going to be your best deal for lowest cost with any form of upgradability in the custom loop market. Other than that, go with that Swiftech H220x or just a good air cooler.

TheMagicalWallaby · Aug 26, 2014

Don't get a custom loop with a 240mm rad as the Swiftech cooler will perform the same unless you get a thicker radiator. Custom kits are truly not worth the price unless you are going past a 240mm rad (or a very thick 240mm radiator).

XtremeAero426 · Aug 26, 2014

Well thanks for your help everyone here. I'll be going with the Swiftech H220X because a custom water cooling kit is just too expensive. (As stated previously by some users)

nikoli707 · Aug 26, 2014

TheMagicalWallaby :

very true, it would be much better to actually get a 360mm rad if your already going to spend the money on all the other goodies too since the difference in price between an rx240 and an rx360 is like $20 plus another $20 for a good static pressure fan. though 360mm is extreme for a cpu and probably wont net you much better temps or a higher overclock unless you have access to a highly binned chip, on a gpu like a kingpin, it can have a very noticeable effect.

rubix_1011 · Aug 27, 2014

You have to realize, in order to fully take advantage of radiators, you need the correct flow rates in order to achieve the delta you want and expect for the cost. You could theoretically have a better performing loop with the same density, thickness, FPI radiators, one being a 240 the other being a 360. If the 240 rad has higher flow rates and better fans and the 360 with lower flow and lower quality fans, the 240 could outperform the 360, depending on the specific differences of each loop. Yes, overall rad volume does make a big difference, but you also need to take advantage of that with the correct flow and head pressure to accomplish those cooling goals.

Swiftech H220X VS Other 240mm Custom Water Cooling Systems VS Noctua NH-D14

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