280mm CPU Water Cooler Recommendation

Many looking to delve into the world of liquid cooling start out with a unit that is ready-to-go right out of the box, simply because the idea of setting up a loop can be a little daunting. However, with a CLC you are limited to only what it is, and only the performance it can deliver as assembled. With that in mind, the H220X makes infinitely more sense as a starting point into liquid cooling. It is ready to go out of the box and requires no maintenance, but it is also fully expandable when you are ready to take the next step. Even if you aren’t looking to take the next step, the H220X outperforms every CLC on the market, and does it at more than 20 dB quieter. Plus, it actually looks like an open loop cooler, simply because it is one.

Installation of the H220X was very easy, probably the easiest liquid cooler I have ever done. A huge part of this is thanks to the use of the Apogee XL block, which is a flagship top tier block and has a mounting system fitting of that stature. I had noted just how easy the install was when I reviewed the block alone, and comparing it to the Asetek/CoolIt/etc. kits (i.e Corsair) , it is absolutely a world better. The radiator/pump/reservoir assembly go in simply with fan screws to your desired location in the case. The PWM splitter is as easy as it gets, and takes absolutely all of the guesswork out of the wiring setup.

In terms of performance, well….we could simply leave it at the fact that the H220X is simply the best performing out-of-the-box cooler you can buy today. P.... The NZXT X60/61 comes close in terms of performance, but at the expense of far more noise and far less compatibility. 240mm CLCs can’t touch the H220X in all out performance, and at tolerable noise levels the H220X flat out embarrasses them. The Cryorig R1 and Noctua NH-D15 come closest in matching the H220X in terms of performance and noise, but fall short. What more can you say? We put the best out of the box solutions up against the H220X, and the H220X walked away a clear winner and did so with absolutely astonishing performance to noise. With all of this performance the H220X never topped 40 dB at full speed.

There is not a 240mm CLC or air cooler that can beat it, and it does it at 20+ dB quieter than the competing CLCs. To sum it up; the H220X offers better performance, lower noise, better aesthetics, flawless design and build, better components and the option of expandability when compared to a CLC. Putting it gently, choosing any CLC over the H220X would be doing yourself a huge disservice.

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And the performance….I expected the comparison graphs to look a bit absurd in this review, but even I was a bit surprised at just how far in front of the comparison units the H240-X stood. This wasn’t a collection of “also-rans” we compared the H240-X to, these are top performing CLC and air coolers available on the market today and the H240-X flat out embarrassed them in every aspect. The overall max performance was a full five degrees cooler than the nearest comparison unit not manufactured by Swiftech, and that unit used a 360mm radiator and came in nearly 10 dB louder.

I had stated in my review that the H220-X makes CLCs a non-factor, and the H240-X follows that pattern, but putting even more possibilities on the table. For the novice or CPU only user, the H240-X is simply the best performing cooler you can buy that is ready for install out of the box, and it accomplishes this with incredible quiet. For those looking to expand, the 240mm radiator will handle most GPU additions, while the pump is ready to take on more additions as you see fit. For years, consumers have been excited about the possibility of jumping into liquid cooling. Many held off for fear of complicated setups or expenses, or found themselves with loud CLCs offering mediocre performance. With the X Series, Swiftech has gift wrapped a custom loop, assembled it and delivered it at an astonishingly low price point. In other words, with the H220-X and H240-X, Swiftech is delivering the real liquid cooling performance that those making the jump have craved but haven't gotten, while giving you all of the convenience of a CLC. Whether you are making your initial foray into liquid cooling, are looking for an upgrade from CLC or are an experienced user doing a small loop, the Swiftech X Series should be planted firmly at the top of your “must have” list, and the H240-X is the biggest, baddest member of the series. The H220-X and H240-X are game changers, plain and simple, and are the biggest advance in cooling that we have seen in years.

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