Swiftech CPU Waterblock Disaster

ToeJam13

Senior member
May 18, 2004
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To all who are interested in getting a Swiftech waterblock for your CPU, I would like to advise to look elsewhere.

My brand new mainboard just failed today because the hose around my Swiftech waterblock came loose. The waterblock is the only component in my system that does not have a barbed inlet. It has a simple copper pipe stub instead.

My GPU, pump and radiator connections are as snug and tight as the first day I put them on. The epoxy around my T-fitting and inlet valve is as strong as ever.

All of my clamps were tightened firmly, but not overtight. All of the clamps on all of my other devices, including my GPU block, are fine.

RMA time...
 

Fullmetal Chocobo

Moderator<br>Distributed Computing
Moderator
May 13, 2003
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Ouch... Thanks for the info though. I was considering them for my dual Xeons... Sorry to hear it.
Tas.
 

ToeJam13

Senior member
May 18, 2004
504
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They were tight when I installed the system last month. They were also tight both two days and seven days later when I checked out the clamps.

I tightened the clamp screws to the point of moderate resistance, but not enough to where the tubing was warping. They were tight enough that I could not pull the tube from the waterblock with nominal force.

Neither my GPU waterblock nor pump use metal stubs - they both use plastic barbs. Right now they are both so tight that I can barely take the hose off even with the clamps removed.

As such, I feel that the problem resides in the waterblock design. Too much heat was being transferred to the contact point, causing expansion and forcing both clamps to loosen. Since the contact was a metal stub and not a metal barb, there was no secondary pressure point against the tube so it leaked.

I had bad feeling about that waterblock as soon as I started putting components together. There just was not enough resistance when sliding my tube over the stubs. I paid extra special attention in getting the clamps tight without overtightening them, verifying that the clamps were making contact all along the outside of the tube.

As such, I cannot recommend the Swiftech CPU block. Swiftech DC pump and AquaComputer GPU block on the other hand are fine.
 

Elfear

Diamond Member
May 30, 2004
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I'm using the same waterblock and after numerous leak tests and 1.5 months of use it has been 100% leak-free.
 

Unkno

Golden Member
Jun 16, 2005
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just another reason to get air cool.....no risk involved :p
(srry if i offended anyone that is using watercooling)
 

Elfear

Diamond Member
May 30, 2004
7,165
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You're right about there being less risk with air-cooling, but you also don't reap the benefits either.
 

Fullmetal Chocobo

Moderator<br>Distributed Computing
Moderator
May 13, 2003
13,704
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That goes both ways though too. For me, watercooling would be pointless. I can't overclock anything, and my temps are fine. For overclocking though, I bet it would be hard to beat though.
Tas.
 

DerelictDev

Senior member
Feb 19, 2005
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I loved my Swiftech CPU block. Worked great and never had an issue, you probably didnt clamp it right or something.