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Swiftech returns to air-cooling

Published on 10th March 2011 by Antony Leather

The Polaris isn't as revolutionary as Swiftech's MC370 and MCX462 coolers, but the specs still look good.

After leaving the air-cooling market largely behind it, water-cooling hardware manufacturer Swiftech has announced a return to its old ways with a new CPU air-cooler called the Polaris 120.

Compatible with the full range of popular mainstream AMD and Intel CPU sockets (see the full list below), the Polaris 120 includes a 120mm PWM fan with a speed range of 750-2,500rpm, and has five 8mm direct contact heatpipes (just like the Thermaltake Frio).

Swiftech's MC370 and MCX462 heatsinks were certainly popular with enthusiasts around a decade ago. Today, however, the company's CPU waterblocks and radiators are firm favourites among those of us who are crazy enough to put water in their PCs - it's also the largest distributor of Laing pumps, which are hugely popular on the water-cooling scene too.

Does this mean Swiftech is getting cold feet with regards to water-cooling? Thankfully, the announcement was also accompanied by a statement from Swiftech's Chairman and CTA, Gabriel Rouchon, who clarified that 'Swiftech is looking to diversify into high-volume markets.'

'We enjoy world-class engineering know-how, a ton of experience, and thanks to our manufacturing subsidiary in China, we have had time to forge solid alliances with China’s leading technology providers since 2005,' said Rouchon. 'As such, we have the tools to engineer winning products and the capabilities to mass produce them.' Hopefully that means products such as the Apogee line of water-cooling blocks are still going strong, although we'll certainly be trying to get our mitts on the Polaris 120 as well.

Specifications

Five (8mm) direct-contact heatpipes
Material: aluminium and copper
Dimensions: 135 x 152 x 91mm
PWM speed control
Technology: Hydraumatic
Led: No
Sound level: 13.2 - 41.5dBA
Fan speed: 750 - 2,500rpm
Dimensions: 120 x 120 x 25 mm
AMD: Socket AM3, AM2+, AM2, 754, 939, 940
Intel: Socket 775, 1155, 1156, 1366

For more info, see the Polaris 120's web page.

What do you make of Swiftech's return to air-cooling? Let us know in the forums.

15 Comments

Discuss in the forums Reply

mrbens 10th March 2011, 12:20

I should imagine there's more money to be made in air coolers as it's just the minority of PC users that liquid cool their PCs.

Instagib 10th March 2011, 12:32

Quote:

Originally Posted by mrbens
I should imagine there's more money to be made in air coolers as it's just the minority of PC users that liquid cool their PCs.

True, but have you seen the price of waterblocks and rads; they cost a fortune. A decent setup costs £200+. I don't belive it costs that much to make the stuff so the markup must be alot.

Floyd 10th March 2011, 12:43

Good move Swiftech. Your watercooling gear is subpar and the only reason people still buy it is because its cheap.
I havent bought Swiftech in years.

sotu1 10th March 2011, 14:02

Quote:

Originally Posted by Instagib
Quote:
Originally Posted by mrbens
I should imagine there's more money to be made in air coolers as it's just the minority of PC users that liquid cool their PCs.

True, but have you seen the price of waterblocks and rads; they cost a fortune. A decent setup costs £200+. I don't belive it costs that much to make the stuff so the markup must be alot.

They must produce those in smaller volumes so production costs likely to be quite high. Air cooling is very much the mass market product.

Hakuren 10th March 2011, 14:12

Not really into watercooling myself (for VGA yes, CPU no - too cumbersome if you remove motherboard/CPU often), but I thought that Swiftech ceased to exist. So many blocks and stuff is in the discount bin. Most of shops is not even bothered with Swiftech at all.

PingCrosby 10th March 2011, 16:28

I bought one of those Thermaltake Frio's and there's a right old George Raft blowing up me middle wicket, how cold does it need to be.

HourBeforeDawn 10th March 2011, 20:02

I completely forgot about Swiftech as an option when it came to water cooling lol. I guess I see why they are doing air now too

GRouchon 11th March 2011, 03:24

Quote:

Originally Posted by Floyd
Good move Swiftech. Your watercooling gear is subpar and the only reason people still buy it is because its cheap.
I havent bought Swiftech in years.

Subpar.. Like the Apogee XT, or the MCP35X ?

Gabe, CEO Swiftech

Tyinsar 11th March 2011, 04:01

Looking forward to a review

asura 11th March 2011, 09:17

Quote:

Originally Posted by Floyd
Good move Swiftech. Your watercooling gear is subpar and the only reason people still buy it is because its cheap.

Are you mad? Their CPU blocks have consistently been amongst the top three for thermal performance, often very restrictive it's true, but they've just brought out a new revision to address that in their latest block.

Floyd 11th March 2011, 12:53

Quote:

Originally Posted by asura
Are you mad? Their CPU blocks have consistently been amongst the top three for thermal performance, often very restrictive it's true, but they've just brought out a new revision to address that in their latest block.

Not mad, just used other products in the watercooling world that are MUCH higher quality.

bobwya 11th March 2011, 15:21

It's Automatic, Systematic, Hydraumatic!!

Ha ha first to base...

asura 11th March 2011, 18:16

Oh no denying there are better quality in terms of finish and appeal, I have a Ybris block, which doesn't perform very well (compared to the leaders) but the quality is undeniable, the word "subpar" is what I'm really arguing with as it's to vague in this respect.

Tulatin 12th March 2011, 15:59

Quote:

Originally Posted by GRouchon
Quote:
Originally Posted by Floyd
Good move Swiftech. Your watercooling gear is subpar and the only reason people still buy it is because its cheap.
I havent bought Swiftech in years.

Subpar.. Like the Apogee XT, or the MCP35X ?

Gabe, CEO Swiftech

Oh Gabe, you card. It's good to see that you still take great pride in your product.

kzinti1 18th March 2011, 06:15

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hakuren
Not really into watercooling myself (for VGA yes, CPU no - too cumbersome if you remove motherboard/CPU often), but I thought that Swiftech ceased to exist. So many blocks and stuff is in the discount bin. Most of shops is not even bothered with Swiftech at all.

What country do you come from? Here in the U.S. Swiftech is selling just fine. Their Apogee XT is the top-rated cpu waterblock even beating out Heatkillers. EVGA uses Swiftech waterblocks in their GeForce GTX 580 FTW Hydro Copper 2, the fastest video-card in the world.