Watercooling noise levels

Sc00p007 · 30 Oct 2009 at 01:17

Hi,

I am seriously looking into watercooling at the moment.
The setup im looking at will have a laing dcc pump, and an xspc rx360 radiator.
I am currently using a true with a 1200rpm noctua fan, inside a p182 case with the three stock fans. These fans are set to medium when i am gaming. Whilst browsing web and watching movies i have them set to low. This is at 4.0ghz overclock with highest stability test temp being about 81-82 degrees(hence looking into watercooling). I do not intend to overclock any more than this.
I was wondering, in comparison, how loud the watercooling setup will be? Will it allow me to turn off the two fans at the top of my p182, leaving just the front intake blowing over my gfx card at better temps than my current setup?
If i set my clock back to stock, would i be able to turn the fans off on the watercooling and still acheive acceptable temps?

Thanks,

Phil.

bigsharn · 30 Oct 2009 at 03:06

I'd love to tell you, but you haven't told us what CPU you're using. I doubt very much you could use it with no fans at all in the loop, maybe limit them to 7v and see what that does. It'd also help if we knew what your graphics card was...

Sc00p007 · 30 Oct 2009 at 04:05

Sorry,

The cpu is a i7 920, and my gfx card is gtx 260 at the moment. I am looking at upgrading the card in the next few months. I'm just waiting on the new nvidia cards to come out, as im really want to check the 3d vision out.
I think my case fans are louder than my cpu fan, so maybe i can turn them off. Then try your recommendation of turning the wc fans all the way down?
Also, off topic, i have been looking at getting a dual bay reservoir. Would the xspc Laing dual ddc bay reservoir be a good choice? I will be running one loop for now, looking for a second one when i get new gfx card and a block becomes available.

Thanks again,

Phil.

Hotwired · 30 Oct 2009 at 04:10

That radiator is not for passive cooling. Fins are packed like sardines, it requires forced airflow to work properly.

Sc00p007 · 30 Oct 2009 at 04:26

Thanks,

In that case i will be leaving the fans on.
Most of the time fans noise will not be an issue. Do you think at the lowest rpm, with no overclock, that the w/c will be quieter than my noctua @ 1200 plus the 3 case fans on low(p182, tricool fans i think) My radiator will be on the outside of the case.

Phil.

Nuwidol · 30 Oct 2009 at 09:27

If you're worried about fan noise why not look at getting a different case that's maybe sound proofed slightly. There are a few about.
Might not be best suited for a 4ghz oc set up though...

Ducky Spud · 30 Oct 2009 at 10:01

Nuwidol said:
If you're worried about fan noise why not look at getting a different case that's maybe sound proofed slightly. There are a few about.
Might not be best suited for a 4ghz oc set up though...

I was going to say this, and maybe look into getting some new, better fans and maybe a fan controller. Would work out a lot cheaper than going watercooling which would probabaly set you back at least £150. If you dont mind spending it though, go for it

Phunky Phish · 30 Oct 2009 at 10:26

I have just swapped my DDC for a D5. Much better pump I think with the option to control speed and on setting 3 it is quieter than my old DDC-18w.

I have a PA120.3 rad with 3xApache PWM fans on it, 2xApache PWM fans in the roof of my PC. I have set the bios to increase fan speed with CPU temp and so far have not heard them spin up! Under load on CPU (see sig) I am now getting circa 55oC with all 4 cores maxed

shadowscotland · 30 Oct 2009 at 11:12

I also have the D5 - the best pump for multi-block quiet watercooling I've found (and I tried a few).

Don't have a quad - but do have my [email protected] & P45 on a PA120.3 with just the one case fan (fanless psu) runs 100% load all day every day without issue.

Swapping out the case fans for 7v mod quality alturnatives or a fan controller is quiet enought for most people during the day.
If you want it to be ultra quiet at night - then look at watercooling

Sc00p007 · 30 Oct 2009 at 14:18

Thanks for all the replies

As my temps get pretty high (low 80's during stress) i'd like to go watercooling. Tbh i have started to get addicted to upgrades etc and i love the look of watercooling, and dont mind paying over the odds for something i dont neccassarily need (as long as there is some kind of improvement, no matter how small ha).
I've decided to change the pump for a D5, with typhoon 3 res. Is this res any good, i see conflicting reports online.
I'm thinking if i do as Phunky Phish suggested and set the fans to increase speed as the cpu temp rises i'll have a quieter system than i currently have, with added bonus of acceptable temps at load?

Thanks again,

Phil.