The MCP655 PUMP

The MCP655 pump is a replacement for the previous Swiftech 12v pump, the MCP650. The MCP655 improves on the old pump in many ways. First, head and flow characteristics have slightly improved. Swiftech new design incorporates potentiometer that allows pump speed adjustments from 4800 rpm down to 1800 rpm. At 1800 rpm, the pump is virtually silent. This allows users to tune the pump performance/noise ratio to their particular preference for user convenience.

Let's open up the cardboard box containing the MCP655 water pump. The pump is completely plug-and-play, and connects directly to any computer power supply through standard 4 pin power connectors. It's compact design, quiet and powerful motor make it ideally suited for heavy duty cooling in environments where space is at a premium.

While its small head (merely 3.1m) would make it inappropriate for most other uses, the large discharge (1200 LPH) and high pressure (50 PSI), along with the 12v connector and the brushless microchip controlled silent motor make it most ideal for PC water cooling purposes. Along with the pump, you are going to get an installation manual, along with screws and rubber washers for installing it inside a case. The rubber washers should absorb most of the vibrations and reduce noise.

Still one of the nicest things is that the MCP655 uses 12v power via a standard 4-pin Molex connector. No need for complex relays or other solutions needed for a pump that has to run via the mains. Simply connect it to your PSU and the pump will power on or off with the computer. The MCP655 has a operating voltage range 6 to 14 VDC, however as one increases voltage the MTBF will decrease, which shortens the life cycle of the pump.

One of the nifty specs of the new pump is its 50,000 hour MTBF (mean time between failures) rating. This equates to a pump that should be trouble free for 5 years. Swiftech attributes this long life to the fact that the pump contains only one moving part, a spherical impeller that is magnetically driven on a single ceramic bearing. Above and to the right we see the potentiometer that allows pump speed adjustments from 4800 rpm down to 1800 rpm, this can be adjusted with a small flat head screw driver giving the user the option to adjust pump speeds on the fly.

A more detailed view on the construction of the MCP655 waterpump is illustrated above. Here you get a good view on the moving parts of the pump. Indeed, only one moving part, namely the spherical impeller.

Quick Facts

• 50,000 hours MTBF (Mean Time Between Failure) equivalent to 5 years lifetime.
• Superior 12 Volts DC convenience: plugs into the computer power supply
• The MCP655™ can be used with full confidence in any MP servers, and high-end workstations.
• Superior real world performance versus any aquarium pump we have tested to this date.
• The high pressure capability of the MCP655™ is particularly well adapted to high-flow systems using 1/2" ID tubing
• Pump speed can be adjusted to yield top performance or virtually silent operations

Compact Design.

• Quiet operations even at high speed thanks to new chipset controller
• ½" Barb fittings.
• No maintenance when used with de-mineralized water, and anti-fungal additives (Our HydrX™ additive is recommended)
• Quick installation with adhesive neoprene pad, or permanent installation with thru-bolts

 *Note* The 650 we received was actually a mis-labelled 655, which Swiftech released shortly after we received the kit.