Swiftech MCW50 T User Manual
Swiftech Inc., 1703 E. 28
A
A
th
St., Signal Hill, CA 90755 T. (562) 595-8009 F. (562) 595-8769
Installation guide
Parts QTY PARTS QTY
MCW50-T™ thermoelectric assembly 1 4-40 x 1 /14 Philips (pre-installed) 2
Nvidia hardware
2-56 S/S socket screw 4 Nylon screw spacer 2
Nylon screw spacer 4 Nylon retaining washer 2
Spring 4 Nylon nut 2
Nylon washer 4 Miscellaneous
Hex L-key 5/64” 1 Tube insert 4
Hex L-key 3/32” 1 Back-of-board gasket 1
ATI Hardware
This product is intended for expert users only. Please consult with a qualified technician for installation. Improper installation may result in
damage to your components. Swiftech™ assumes no liability whatsoever, expressed or implied, for the use of these products, nor their
installation. The following instructions are subject to change without notice. Please visit our web site at www.swiftnets.com
4-40x1/4“ socket screws need to be installed for nVidia products
Installation
Spring 2
Thermal compound 1
for updates.
4-40 x 1.25“
Philli ps
S SHIPPED
diagram
MCW50-T for
nVidia Gforce
Figure 1
Nylon washer
Spri ng
Nylon screw spacer
2-56 s/s socket screw
MCW50-TFX
MCW50 for
Figure 2
TI Radeon
Nylon screw spacer
Spri ng
Nylon retaining washer
Nylon hex nut
The new MCW50-TFX installs pretty like the Radeon version, except that the mounting posts are reversed, and springs are bolted from the top of the
card, instead of from the backside of the card. See separate installation schematic for details, page 4.
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MCW50-T: 12-15-03
IMPORTANT PRE-INSTALLATION NOTE:
The MCW50-T™ ships pre-assembled for installation through the two diagonal holes located on either sides of the graphics processor as
shown in figure 2. This provides compatibility with all ATI Radeon 9000 to 9700 families of products, and some nvidia products.
For use with nVidia products please read the following:
If the spacing between the two diagonal mounting holes featured on your graphics card match the spacing between the two
mounting screws of the MCW50-T™, there is nothing to do. Simply follow ATI installation.
If the spacing if different, then you must use the 4 retaining spring assemblies as shown in figure 1. You will need first to remove
the two 4-40 x 1 ¼” Phillips screws holding the stainless steel frame to the MCW50-T™ body, and replace them with the two 4-40
x ¼” socket screws provided with your nVidia hardware kit.
5. Preparing your graphics card
Remove the existing heat sink
Carefully clean the GPU (graphics processing unit) with alcohol, or preferably xylene.
Lightly coat the GPU with the provided thermal compound. Only a paper-thin coat is necessary. It should be applied using
preferably a razor blade, or a credit card, held between thumb and index at a 45-degree angle.
Lightly coat the components surrounding the core with dielectric grease as shown in either figure 3 or 4 depending on your
application. Be careful not to spill or spread dielectric grease over the thermal compound.
You can also use silicone conformal coating instead of dielectric grease. The product comes in convenient sprays, and cures in
less than an hour. Before you apply the spray, make absolutely sure that you protect the GPU core, and the gold AGP contacts,
using masking tape. Then, simply spray around the area surrounding the GPU, and repeat the operation on the backside of the
card, in the area immediately behind the GPU. Most types of masking tape are permeable; therefore, it is a good idea to remove the
masking tape immediately after you applied the conformal coating, and wipe off the AGP gold contacts and the GPU with Xylene.
Where to buy conformal coating? Google search keyword: conformal coating. In house, we use the product made by M.G.
chemicals.
Dielectric grease
Dielectric grease
Thermal compound
Figure 3 ATI Radeon™
6. Installing the MCW50-T™
Before installing the block onto the graphics
card cut two pieces of tubing of sufficient length to
connect to the rest of your circuit, and install them
into the MCW50-T™ Inlet and outlet. It is
absolutely imperative to use the provided tube
inserts with clear vinyl (soft) tubing, as shown
below:
Install your block onto the graphics card, as shown in Figure 1 or Figure 2 (p.1) according to on your application. A “finger –tight” lock is
sufficient when tightening the spring retention assemblies. Over-tightening will squish the nylon screw spacer body, and result in uneven
pressure over the GPU.
Stick the provided back-of-board gasket directly behind the graphics processor. It is necessary to slightly trim the corners of the gasket
when using nVidia 4-spring retention assembly.
Figure 5 Figure 6
Make sure that the tubes are fully inserted into the fitting. The tip of the plastic tube
inserts should be flush with the inlet and outlet openings, as shown in figure 6 above.
Inserting the tubes requires a firm push, accompanied by a twisting motion, and a little
bit of grease around the tubing really helps ☺
Thermal compound
Figure 4 nVidia GForce™
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MCW50-T: 12-15-03