EK pump 4.0 + Res combo strange noise?

MNA24 · 13 Apr 2012 at 19:14

Hi All,

Just set up and filled my loop which is:

Res>pump>radiator>cpu>radiator>gpu>gpu

My issue is that my EK 4.0 pump/res combo seems to be making what i can only describe as a constant hard drive activity kind of noise which isn't terribly loud (no louder than the case fans) but its just the pitch of the noise which is annoying. I have bled the big air pockets out the loop by rocking and tiping the case around and I'm only left with micro bubbles flowing round the loop. The pump is sat on a thick piece of acoustic foam so vibrations aren't the cause.

The only issue I may have is that the pump ran partially dry while filling the loop for around 3-4 seconds 2-3 times (there seemed to be a delay between turning the power supply off and the pump turning off with my hot wired corsair AX1200 which cause the pumped to run partially dry when filling). Could this have damaged the pump at all and is what could be causing this noise? It's having no trouble pushing water around the loop so its not like its dead or on its last legs.

Should I wait a full 24 hours and see if the noise goes? Anyone have any ideas?

MNA24 · 13 Apr 2012 at 21:54

Here is a video aid of the the pump making its "sound".

Rik1254 · 13 Apr 2012 at 22:53

I have exactly the same noise (just without the clicking) and I too have just set up my loop. I hope it doesnt stay this loud, Ill just up sticks and go back to air cooling.

cobbly123 · 13 Apr 2012 at 23:00

sounds like a faulty pump, mine was nearly silent

Rik1254 · 13 Apr 2012 at 23:07

Great -.-
Did it start noisy and get quieter or was it just silent from the start?

paradigm · 13 Apr 2012 at 23:10

Mine started quite loud then settled down over a few days. Whisper quiet now.

Lordgrayone · 13 Apr 2012 at 23:17

Yea that dont sound right at all, do you have pic of your loop?

Jokester · 13 Apr 2012 at 23:42

If it's a new loop there could still be small amounts of air in the water. Give it a few days and it should go, otherwise it could be a pump issue I guess.

MNA24 · 14 Apr 2012 at 00:16

Ill post a picture of the loop in the morning. The pump was a fair bit louder than this when i first filled the loop so it has gotten a bit better, but its only been running on and off for about 5-6 hours. The video does make it seem a lot louder than it is as the camera is so close, when all the system fans are running, you do have to listen carefully to pick to out. Im going to get my pc up and running and give it 1 week, if the sound is still there it's going to have to get sorted. I dont think there is any chance it will fail in its current state.

jeff6475 · 14 Apr 2012 at 00:41

ye best to give it a few days sound should go down a lot

khemist · 14 Apr 2012 at 07:43

Used to have that pump and same problem even after days, the solution was whacking the side of the pump with the handle end of a screwdriver, very hard!

although i wouldn't recommend it.

MNA24 · 14 Apr 2012 at 09:31

Here is the loop minus the sli bridge pipe which i hadn't installed at that point:

skylineboy · 14 Apr 2012 at 11:40

is the tube leaving the GPU for the rad kinking or is it the angle?

MNA24 · 14 Apr 2012 at 11:48

skylineboy said:
is the tube leaving the GPU for the rad kinking or is it the angle?

It's just an odd looking angle.

Rik1254 · 14 Apr 2012 at 15:12

Sorry to be hijacking your thread, but its pointless me opening ip another that's going to be exactly the same.

Does it matter if the pipe is slightly kinked? Like a seriously tiny kink, but still allows good flow.

pgi947 · 14 Apr 2012 at 15:46

Rik1254 said:
Sorry to be hijacking your thread, but its pointless me opening ip another that's going to be exactly the same.

Does it matter if the pipe is slightly kinked? Like a seriously tiny kink, but still allows good flow.

I would say it should be fine, have a small kink on my return line due to the weight of my QDC's. If in doubt put an anti-kink coil on the tube

Lordgrayone · 14 Apr 2012 at 16:23

nice job on the loop....only reason i asked for a picture.
i have the same pump but not with res combo, mine is separate but that should not make it that noisey IMO it actually sounds like the impeller is catching

MNA24 · 14 Apr 2012 at 16:46

Lordgrayone said:
nice job on the loop....only reason i asked for a picture.
i have the same pump but not with res combo, mine is separate but that should not make it that noisey IMO it actually sounds like the impeller is catching

Cheers, I've spent a fair but of time setting up the loop and I'm pleased with how it has turned out apart from this pump issue.

The temperatures I'm getting are great, ive got my FX8150 at 4.4Ghz and it idles between 30-34 and doesnt go any higher than 52-54 degree under prime95 load and my GTX580s never go over 50 degrees and idle at 30.

I've snapped a few photos along the way during building as i did a bit of dremel DIY on the front 200mm fan intake so I may post a few photos once everything is ironed out with this pump and ive managed the cables.

Rik1254 · 14 Apr 2012 at 18:29

MNA24 said:
Cheers, I've spent a fair but of time setting up the loop and I'm pleased with how it has turned out apart from this pump issue.

The temperatures I'm getting are great, ive got my FX8150 at 4.4Ghz and it idles between 30-34 and doesnt go any higher than 52-54 degree under prime95 load and my GTX580s never go over 50 degrees and idle at 30.

I've snapped a few photos along the way during building as i did a bit of dremel DIY on the front 200mm fan intake so I may post a few photos once everything is ironed out with this pump and ive managed the cables.

Those are pretty good temps. I'm disappointed in mine, higher idle temp than my £5 air cooler and bsod under ibt.....I'm hoping I've not seated the cpu cooler tidy....will be really annoyed if it can't handle a basic overclock.

skylineboy · 14 Apr 2012 at 18:57

Rik1254 said:
Those are pretty good temps. I'm disappointed in mine, higher idle temp than my £5 air cooler and bsod under ibt.....I'm hoping I've not seated the cpu cooler tidy....will be really annoyed if it can't handle a basic overclock.

If your not happy with temps then I would attempt a reseat. Have you filled res 101% I noticed a drop of 2 degrees.

OP I have that pump (without the res top) and no issues with sound here.