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Swiftech FBK525 Fill & Bleed Assembly and MCP600 Inline Pump

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MCP600 Inline Pump warning label

The MCP600 is an Inline 12V DC pump. Some of the features it shares with the MCP300 pump are the blue anodized finish to compliment other Swiftech components and its compact design. Additionally, it too, is a centrifugal pump with a brushless motor for quiet operation. Although it is larger than the MCP300, it certainly is much smaller than other pumps currently being used for water cooled systems, with a mere 3" x 4" x 4" footprint.

The major design change with this pump is the fact that it is a DC pump. This means the pump can be powered directly by the computer power supply, ensuring the pump powers on simultaneously with the system without the need for solid state relays or any case modification. A simple 4-pin Molex connector provides the pump with the 9 Watts of power required to drive the motor. Being a DC pump, however, means less tolerance to being run without being primed, with a large florescent orange sticker to warn users who may be used to self-priming pumps running dry for a few minutes while coolant is initially primed into the system.

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Adhesive neoprene support pad

The pump has 3 mounting possibilities. For users who will never move their systems, the pumps own weight will easily hold it in place at the bottom of the case. For a somewhat more permanent solution, users can choose to employ the adhesive backing on the neoprene pad at the base of the pump, which would keep it from shifting while also reducing noise from the pump’s vibration. For an even more permanent solution, the base of the pump has two wings that stick out from the base of the unit with a single hole drilled through. Using the provided bolts and rubber fittings, the unit can be permanently attached to the floor of the chassis. Additionally, for users who intend on transporting their case frequently, a bracket can be purchased which further secures the unit to the chassis. Overall, lots of install options to please those who prefer not to modify their case with those who would rather have 100% security and stability.

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The inlet and outlet connectors are 1/2" inch barbs which have been protected by soft plastic inserts during shipping. With the included reducers, the pump can also be installed in 3/8" inner diameter systems. The pump is rated at 160 GPH. My initial reaction to this specification was quite puzzling, since the MCP300 was a 300 GPH, and this model was supposed to be an improved design. What makes this unit stand out is that it is a high pressure pump, unlike most pumps on being used which are low pressure and high flow. I was skeptical to say the least, but decided to save my conclusions until testing was complete.

To test the pump, the unit was paired up with Swiftech’s MCW5000 series water block and a Black Ice Extreme Rev. 2 24K gold plated radiator. A single quad led 120mm fan was installed on the radiator, pushing cooling air through the unit from outside the case. The test system included the following components:

Intel P4 2.53 CPU

Abit IT7MAX2 rev. 2 motherboard

OCZ PC3500EL DDR RAM

Asus GF4 Ti4200 AGP Video Card

2 x Maxtor DiamondMax Plus 9 60GB HDD in RAID 0

All supplemental cooling within the case was disabled with the exception of the Enermax power supply fans. Hydrx additive was mixed with steam distilled water to provide coolant for the system.

Running the system for over 24 hours, three things really impressed me:

Pump heat - This was virtually non-existent thanks to the aluminum casing of the pump. The pump itself was barely warm to the touch. Needless to say, even water cooled systems still have to have cool air circulating to cool components not connected to the water cooling system, and it was nice to see the pump wasn’t going to add to the thermal load at all.
Pump noise - ‘Again, virtually non-existent. The unit itself is very quiet and the neoprene pad does an excellent job dampening the vibrations of the pump. The pump was completely inaudible over hard drive activity or even the 120mm fan mounted on the radiator.
Pump performance - For a 160 GPH pump, I was quite impressed with the temperatures I was able to attain. I installed this unit in my main Intel rig, and its performance warrants it earning a permanent home there. Under a moderate overclock to 2.85GHz with an increased voltage of 1.7 Volts, at full load the system peaked at a mere 35 degrees Celsius, while idling at 32 degrees. Ambient temperatures were approximately 25 degrees. Under stock speeds, again there was only a 3 degree margin between idle and full load settings, with temperatures of 29 and 32 degrees respectively.

Needless to say, the 160GPH rating should not confuse users into thinking this is a below average pump. On the contrary, it holds its own against its predecessor, and easily is more feature rich than pumps from Via, Eheim or others.

Conclusion:
Overall, I was quite impressed with these components. While Swiftech could easily have changed only the water block and radiator design on their kit and rested on their laurels, the attention to detail and performance of these often overlooked components shows their dedication to creating a true performer. The FBK525 Fill & Bleed Assembly is much more compact and easy to operate. The use of 1/2" barbs on the internal connectors makes the assembly a viable choice for do-it-yourself assemblies and rivals the easy installation of a reservoir based system. The pump is extremely quiet, has multiple mounting options and runs quite cool. Of course, the big feature is the fact that it is a DC pump, meaning relays and case modifications are not required. As well, although the pump has a low GPH rating, it performs on par or better than other pumps currently in use. As well, its compact size and cool blue paint job make it something you wouldn’t necessarily have to hide away from view. The only drawback I had with the components were the less than quick connectors on the fill and bleed assembly. Overall, I’m rating the FBK525 Fill & Bleed Assembly a 9 out of 10 and the MCP600 Inline Pump a 10 out of 10. I would recommend either of these components for users looking for quality water cooling components that perform well and require minimal case modification. If you have any questions regarding this review be sure to visit the Swiftech website for more information or discuss them in our forums.

MTB Award

Pros:

Optimized flow path through fill & bleed assembly
Easy leak testing
Easy installation
Low profile on both components
Neoprene pad absorbs sound-producing vibration
DC pump connects directly to PC power supply
Excellent performance
Minimal heat produced from pump
Nice aesthetics
Cons:

Quick connects can be difficult to work with