[ User Review ] Swiftech MCP35X + D5 PWM Pumps

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Update - now available as D5 PWM Version from Swiftech:

In response to the overwhelming demand and popularity of the MCP655 Series FrozenCPU.com has worked with Swiftech to bring you a more versatile version. Want your pump to run as quiet as possible? Now you can have that as well as the available power of the MCP655 in the all new MCP655-PWM. That is right, a PWM version on the MCP655!!

The MCP655 pump is a high reliability, high pressure industrial pump, featuring a 50,000 hour MTBF (5 year lifetime). Such reliability is afforded by the unique design of this pump, which contains only one moving part: the magnetically driven spherical impeller spins on a single ceramic bearing, thus extending the life of this pump beyond existing standards.

The pump is completely plug-and-play, and connects directly to any computer power-supply through standard 4 pin power connectors and a PWM 4-Pin header. It's compact design, quiet and powerful motor make it ideally suited for heavy duty cooling in environments where space is at a premium.

50,000 hours MTBF (Mean Time Between Failure) equivalent to 5 years lifetime
Superior 12 Volts DC convenience: plugs into the computer power supply
The MCP655-PWM can be used with full confidence in any MP servers, and high-end workstations
Superior real world performance versus any aquarium pump we have tested to this date
The high pressure capability of the MCP655-PWM is particularly well adapted to high-flow systems using 1/2" ID or 3/8" ID Tubing
Compact Design
No maintenance when used with de-mineralized water, and anti-fungal additives (Swiftech HydrX additive is recommended)

Nominal voltage: 12 V DC
Operating voltage range: 8 to 24 VDC
Nominal power (@ 12 V): 37 W Max
Nominal current (@ 12 V): 2 amps
Motor type: Brushless, microprocessor controlled
Maximum head: 13 ft (4 m)
Maximum discharge: ~ 317 GPH (1200 LPH)
Performance will vary based on housing used

The Pump with XSPC Top:

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The Swiftech MCP655-PWM 12v Water Pump is exclusively available at www.frozencpu.com

http://www.frozencpu.com/products/1...M_Enabled_Single_Version.html?tl=g30c107s1802

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Hey guys,

Today, I want to present a new pump to you, the Swiftech MCP35X with PWM. This pump is another relabeled Laing, but coming with a few important mods. Both the pump and the reservoir (sold separately) were given to me by Swiftech and Jab-tech.com.

Nominal voltage: 12 V DC
Max. nominal power (@12 V): 18 W
Max. nominal current (@12 V): 1.5 A
Max. nominal head (@12 V): 14.7 ft (4.4m)
Max nominal discharge (@12 V): ~ 4.75 GPM (17.5 LPM)
PWM

swiftech-mcp35x-abmass3r4u.jpg


These specs are almost the same as those of a Laing "plus", but I kept wondering where those 50% more performance were coming from. Then I read "PWM"...if this works the way it's supposed to, it allows the pump to be controlled via any motherboard offering a PWM-4-pin-fan-power-port.
Two major differences are also visible on the outside: the case is clean and doesn't have to usual mounting holes and the top is made out of POM and comes with one G1/4" in- and one outlet. The white box also includes the following:

- the pump itself
- a decoupling-pad made out of neoprene
- a printed manual
- two bard fittings for 10mm to 13mm tubing and two hose clamps

There's not a lot to add when it comes to the pump's quality, as it's well known already. The top was also flawless: very well made, not sharp edges and the threads were perfect, too.


Here are some pictures:


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You can easily spot the differences to the standard Laing DDC. To be able to compare even more closely, I quickly added the Ultra I use for testing:



The impellers and the interior is almost the same. Only the 35X's impeller is blue on the outside and red on the inside, just like the early, first genereation Plus-models.
When looking at the PCB, you can also see, that the connectors have changed:



So let's get to testing. My test setup looks like this:

- Pump: Sanso PDH054 (called ?the Monster? with a pressure of almost one bar!)
- Aquacomputer Cuplex Evo Rev.1 CPU block
- Mips Fusionblock NB + Mosfets
- EK Waterblocks Kühler for the Radeon HD 3870
- Radiator BlackIce GT Stealth 240
- Aquacomputer flowmeter Highflow
- Aquacomputer Water-Temp.-Sensor
- Tubing: Masterkleer 16/10mm
- Fittings: Perfect Seal

This setup offers a flow rate of around 275 and 280l/h.

On a setting of 100%, the new 35X delivers flow rates of around 240l/h - a remarkable performance. Another Laing DDC Plus with a mounted Alphacool-top achieves around 235l/h. The new top made out of POM also quiets down the pump by a considerable amount, while the aesthetics of it will always be subject to debate.

The PWM-Control, which is working perfectly, was what I was most anxious to test, though. Just plug the molex-connector into your PSU, the PWM-connector onto the motherboard, set the setting in the BIOS and you're set. It's as easy as it sounds. I set the pump to start powering up when the CPU-temperature reached 30?C in the BIOS of the DFI LanpartyDK 790FXB-M2RS and, well, when the CPU was idle, the pump revved at around 1250-1300rpm, but when I started Prime95, it powered up to 100%, so around 4500rpm.

With a good motherboard with good fan control-settings in the BIOS, you can create a very, very quiet pump, that can power up to 100% when needed. The times when you needed additional hardware like the Aquaero, Heatmaster and so on are over.

Here's a video showing the PWM-capability of the pump:

YouTube - Swiftech MCP35X Pump

You can see the pump at around 1300rpm and the corresponding 45l/h. When starting Prime95 (I also overclocked the CPU using K10STAT), the temperature quickly rises and the pump gets up to full performance (4500rpm and 240l/h). When aborting Prime and removing the overclock, the pump also quiets down again.
Here are a few illustrations on this subject (source: Swiftech):



For testing, I also received a reservoir, specially made for the 35X: the Swiftech MCP35X-Res. It's a reservoir that's supposed to work very well with the new pump. The box contained the following:

- the reservoir
- a tube clamp
- a filter
- a sponge for filtering
- a G1/4 - sealing cap
- a connecting screw for connecting the pump and the reservoir
- an O-ring
- a little metal stick
- a printed manual
- a cap made out of massive, glossy metal

Let's start out with a few words on the quality of the reservoir. It's just as flawlessly made as the cap. The scope of delivery is fine, everything needed is included. The extremely heavy, nickel plated sealing cap was what impressed me most, you immediately get the impression of having something valuable in your hands, even though an additional thread in the top wouldn't have hurt. Installing the reservoir was easily done using the included manual.
Something noteworthy: the reservoir is held in position by a little metal pin, that you stick in a matching hole in the top of the pump and in another one in the bottom of the reservoir. The reservoir base itself comes with six of these holes, so that you can choose the one that makes it the easiest to align the fittings properly - a great idea in my opinion.

Let's have the pictures do the talking:

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Using the manual, it was easy to mount the reservoir on the pump:



If anyone wants to split their loop: 19/13-screw-on-fittings don't fit next to each other on the reservoir, while 16/10s do.

swiftech-abmasse-magbdq0n.jpg





Let's get to the test, in which this combination performed very well: on 100% performance, the filtering sponge was able to stop the air bubbles, making it completely high-flow-compatible. When revving down the pump, you can hardly see any bubbles in the reservoir.



Here's another video:

YouTube - Swiftech MCP35X-Reservoir

The pump is offered for around 100US$, the reservoir for around 30US$.

Conclusion:

Well, what's there left to say? The new Swiftech MCP 35X completely convinced me of its qualities. It's not the new looks, not the new top: it's the perfectly working PWM control of this pump, making it possible for every user to control the pump, even without separate controllers. The reservoir made for the 35X also impressed me, both optically and technically.

Thanks go out the the companies Swiftech and Jab-tech for providing these samples and also my assistant sonnyboy!
 
Hi, l'v been using one for over a year can't fault it, l did the reservoir tube mod feed in via the reservoir top with about 3" of tubing fixed on the other side leaving agap at the bottom of the reservoir. By doing this you gain a better flow rate and helps keep the noise down from the reservoir as it can make a gurgling noise due to the bubbles depending on pump speed.

I'v had the top on and off a good few times and no cracks have appeared any where, as for pump noise being PWM controlled again it depends on pump speed and how you have mounted the pump, idle its silent l can just hear it at max rpm as my case[Silvertone FTO1] is right next to me. Another big advantage with it being PWM controlled, where some other pumps you have to manually adjust the flow rate to keep your temps down depending on room temperature if you can..

By the way a nice review. :)
 
I saw a guy on Youtube using a MCP35X on in Bitfinx Prodigy build. When he filled up the res (about the same size as the one in the review) the pump emptied the reservoir in about a second, you wouldn't think something that small could pump so much water in the time it did, an amazing bit of kit.

skip to 21:25 to see the pump in action. It's like watching Robbie Coltrane hoovering up a plate of chips.
 
Wow that is fast! Pretty sure my D5 takes a good 3 seconds or so to empty a res of the same size!

Great review Bundy, just a shame Swiftech don't really seem willing to expand beyond the states :(
 
Wow that is fast! Pretty sure my D5 takes a good 3 seconds or so to empty a res of the same size!

Great review Bundy, just a shame Swiftech don't really seem willing to expand beyond the states :(

Yes it can certainly shift the water round the loop, l can vouch for that, swifttech hardware is avalible in uk, no problem getting this pump. :)
 
Find me some swiftech gpu blocks that are in stock...:(

Quite tempted to ditch my D5 in favour of one of these ddc pwm pumps.
 
Nice review try running two with the mcp35x2 top. Crazy powerful and the added weight of the top helps with the noise too.
 
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