Water Coolers: Four Power Kits Starting at 200 Dollars

Conclusion: Innovatek Kits A Real Deal

Innovatek has managed to launch an easy-to-install, useful cooling system that uses water as a cooling medium. This system can be added to existing PC systems without too much trouble. Behind every one of Innovatek's high-quality components there are clever, detailed solutions without any parallel in the cooling world. And Innovatek plans to launch more interesting water cooling solutions in the future. With a price tag of about 100 dollars, the set costs just twice as much as a high-end air cooler (such as Swiftech MC462 or Noise Control Silverado). With the Innovatek system, we measured the highest cooling capacity that we had ever achieved with a water cooler.

The two Swiftech cooler sets, however, weren't anywhere near as convincing - particularly because the company made such a good name for itself with powerful coolers in past tests. Particularly striking in this test was the heavy-duty design of both CPU elements in the sets. In the field test, the two water cooling versions weren't particularly persuasive - their cooling capacity is considerably less than the Innovatek models. What's more, Swiftech bases its system on a passive heat exchanger that runs without a fan. Overall, the Swiftech package seems to be missing that final, finishing touch - it appears that the manufacturer just threw together a motley assortment of components. Our collective hat goes off to the CPU elements, which are meticulously milled from blocks. Otherwise, Swiftech should thoroughly revamp its water cooler, altering its heat exchanger and including more useful hoses and connectors. There is more room for improvement in the CPU elements, which, at a hefty 539 grams (large model), could stand to shed a little weight.

The continued development of water cooling systems is a very interesting field. What will be more interesting is to see what happens when more manufacturers venture into this new territory.