14 DAY TRIAL // Enthusiasts may come to like a certain video-board maker's style and might not be especially inclined to change a graphics card's reference cooling solutions, unless they want to perform serious overclocking. For those that do want to switch to something better, a water cooling mechanism is usually the most effective way to go. Seeking to bring not just lower temperatures but also a better cooling efficiency, Swiftech has developed a universal GPU waterblock that does not need high water-flow rates in order to eliminate heat.
What Swiftech has to offer is a waterblock known as the MCW80, which is, at least partially, based on the design of the award-winning Apogee XT CPU waterblock. The main trait that the new GPU heat disperser borrowed from the XT is the 0.25mm pin matrix, which can dissipate hundreds of watts of heat even at lower or moderate flow rates. Not only that, but the MCW80 is “future-proof&,rdquo; as it has the same form factor as the MCW60 (its predecessor) and, thus, is compatible with most reference and many non-reference graphics adapters.
The block itself measures 49.6 x 49.6 x 31.2 mm and weighs 141 grams. It is composed of a conductive copper base, a Black Delrin enclosure and comes with G 1/4” chrome-plated fittings. Additionally, it can be used with full cover Swiftech heatsinks, for reference cards, and individual ramsinks, to cool surface-mount components on non-reference models.
Obviously, being a water cooling solution, this product is meant for high-end products (it is compatible with most ATI and NVIDIA cards). Having already been made available, the Swiftech MCW80 can be acquired for $56.95 and comes bundled with the Ceramique thermal compound. More information on the complete offer, and the technologies used in its making may be found on the official product page.