Swiftech returns to air-cooling

Written by Antony Leather

March 10, 2011 | 11:19

Tags: #block #cpu-block #fan #heatpipe #heatsink #polaris #pump #pwm #radiator #water-cooling

Companies: #swiftech

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.
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