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There are 4 parts to this review, please use the pulldown below to browse sections or simply hit "Next" at the bottom of each section to continue


Author: Jason Valdes
Subject: Case
Manufacturer: Swiftech

Swiftech FS020 Thermal Tower

First let me qualify this entire review by saying that this case is not for everybody. As a matter of fact, it isn't even for most people. So, when you hear quotes that make you think "unpolished", "difficult", or "unprofessional", please do not take them out of context. If you are an enthusiast like myself, you'll probably think this is the coolest thing since sliced bread. The market at which Swiftech targeted this case is a small, highly technical niche that generally has the ability to use a drill and a soldering iron, even though you probably won't need those tools with this case. That said, let me introduce to you the Swiftech FS020 Thermal Tower.

Swiftech has offered a water-cooling mod kit for most towers for a while now, in fact, they have two models. However, the installation for the kit is a little, how shall we say, involved? The phrase "Some assembly required" does not even begin to describe these kits. So, in an effort to reach a broader audience (if only slightly so), Swiftech has begun to sell these kits already installed into a case; thus we have the FS020.

The first impression you will probably have when youthe box is "man, this case is huge"; after all the case is 9" wide by 18.25" high by 21" deep. It was designed to accommodate even over-sized ATX motherboards and power supplies. Believe me when I tell you that you won't miss its 40lb shipping weight when you try to lift it, either. What this means, of course is that this is a heavy-duty, industrial strength PC chassis. In other words, it ain't pretty, folks. In all fairness, though, this case wasn't designed to win beauty pageants and one reason it is this heavy is the fact that it comes already loaded with water.

In fact, this case comes fully loaded with everything you could possibly need, which is nice considering that most cases only come with the bare minimum screw pack. It comes with rails for all 4 5.25" drive bays, and enough 3.5" bays for 5 hard drives. The screw pack is complete with a variety of screw types and more of each than you will ever need. It also includes a variety of motherboard mounting screws, nylon nuts for mounting the heat sink to the motherboard, and it even includes a small, nylon wrench and extra plastic tubing. Optionally, the case also comes with a second heat sink for multi-processor systems.

The cooling mechanism is very similar to that of a water-cooled car, except that antifreeze is not necessary. If you typically operate your computer in temperatures cold enough to freeze water, well, maybe its just better that you don't. The kit is well sealed because, as you probably know, water and electricity don't mix. The pump comes mounted on the right side of the case behind the motherboard back plate, near the front of the case. Water travels from the pump in clear, plastic tubing and passes through the CPU heat sink where it removes heat from the heat sink. The heated water passes through more tubing out the back of the case where it runs through a radiator that is cooled by two, 120 cm fans.

According to swiftech, two large, slow-rotating fans are quieter and just as efficient as smaller, faster CPU fans. There is some truth to this, because it is quieter than the high-performance CPU fans you'll find that cool this well. However, all in all the case is no quieter than most personal computers, but this case is not for most personal computers: it is a server-quality chassis.

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Conveniently located on the side of the case are two redirect valves, one for drain and one for fill. In order to drain the water from the case, you have to wire the pump so that you can run it independently of the main power. Then, run a tube from the first redirect valve to your drain (sink, bucket, whatever), switch the valve, then power on the pump. This is better than most solutions that require you to tip the case and use gravity to drain the coolant. When you are ready to fill, switch valve one back into flow position and switch valve two to draw water. Run the external tube from your bucket o' coolant and flip the pump on. If Swiftech were so inclined they could put a switch on the case for the pump so you didn't have to wire it yourself. They include instructions for powering the pump separately from the system power, but this procedure is a little more involved than desirable.

 



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