be quiet! Silent Loop - Should the pump be inaudible?

Goose · 20 Dec 2018 at 18:50

So i've taken delivery of one of these and i'm wondering how much noise the pump should be making at idle (if any). The pump cable is a three pin but I have it plugged in to the water pump header on my motherboard that's a 4 pin and at idle it's running at 2200rpm. I have quite sensitive hearing and i think i can hear the pump from 2-3 feet away. Putting my ear next to it I can definitely hear it buzzing away.

Is this normal and is it safe to use my motherboard's fan control software to reduce the rpm of the pump at idle?

Thanks

LuckyBenski · 21 Dec 2018 at 08:09

I've heard bequiet advise that the pump should be run at full speed all the time. That said others may advise it's OK to take it down a little bit.

In terms of noise, there may be air trapped in the pump. Have you moved it around while running to let air move on? Ideally you want the radiator above the pump so air stops inside it.

doyll · 21 Dec 2018 at 13:11

What LuckyBenski said.

Where is radiator in reference to pump/waterblock? As stated, pump should be below radiator to keep any air in system in radiator ends and not in pump. You might need to top up the coolant level as instructed in installation manual. I use a small pipette like on an eye-dropper or similar and distilled water.

LuckyBenski · 21 Dec 2018 at 13:12

FWIW I have two Silent Loops but haven't installed either. The pump is near-inaudible at 9V until I out my ear to it. When mounted, case resonance might make it a bit louder.

Goose · 21 Dec 2018 at 13:22

The radiator is top mounted. This is probably a stupid question but if i top it up is there an indicator that lets you know when it's full or do you just stop once it starts to overflow a little?

doyll · 21 Dec 2018 at 14:29

Goose said:
The radiator is top mounted. This is probably a stupid question but if i top it up is there an indicator that lets you know when it's full or do you just stop once it starts to overflow a little?

Maybe lean case onto it's sides & ends and shake a little while running and see if noise changes. Don't shake it too hard because we don't want it banging around and possibly breaking something like PCIe socket with big GPU in it. We need to keep in mind almost all the weight of GPU is being supported by just the socket with only a single screw indexing it vertical to motherboard.

I remove pump/waterblock from CPU before filling until it's full enough to still start plug and screw it in and not leak, then apply new TIM and re-install. Probably don't need to worry so much, but better safe than sorry.

I have a spare 12v power source w/ different sockets for PWM fan, HDD, etc. I use for testing things. A spare PSU works with jumper to start it can be used with a Sata to fan socket adapter to power up pump.

Goose · 21 Dec 2018 at 16:39

doyll said:
Maybe lean case onto it's sides & ends and shake a little while running and see if noise changes. Don't shake it too hard because we don't want it banging around and possibly breaking something like PCIe socket with big GPU in it. We need to keep in mind almost all the weight of GPU is being supported by just the socket with only a single screw indexing it vertical to motherboard.

I remove pump/waterblock from CPU before filling until it's full enough to still start plug and screw it in and not leak, then apply new TIM and re-install. Probably don't need to worry so much, but better safe than sorry. I have a spare 12v power source w/ different sockets for PWM fan, HDD, etc. I use for testing things. A spare PSU works with jumper to start it can be used with a Sata to fan socket adapter to power up pump.

Rocking the case about hasn't really helped, i'll try adding some destilled water tomorrow and see how it goes. Otherwise it may have to go back.

Doyll, would you mind confirming whether or not your's makes an audible buzzing/whirring sound when you put your ear to it. I dont know if i'm just being overly sensitive and shouldn't expect it to actually be silent.

doyll · 21 Dec 2018 at 17:10

Goose said:
Rocking the case about hasn't really helped, i'll try adding some destilled water tomorrow and see how it goes. Otherwise it may have to go back.

Doyll, would you mind confirming whether or not your's makes an audible buzzing/whirring sound when you put your ear to it. I dont know if i'm just being overly sensitive and shouldn't expect it to actually be silent.

If I put my ear inside of case I can just hear it. After all it is a pump moving coolant .. meaning almost impossible to make completely silent. Mine also runs at a little lower speed at idle, and that does make them quieter too. I know be quiet! says to run them at 100% but Alphacool who makes them sells other AIOs and pumps of similar design with specs for voltage range being 7-13.5v .. to me that means they can be ran as less than just 12v.

PieEater · 22 Dec 2018 at 10:33

When you say buzzing do you mean a constant pitch and volume type electrical buzz or is it more variable like a mechanical hard drive working hard more of a series of clicks then very short pause before more clicks? If the latter then I had the same issue which was resolved by topping up the coolant. If it sounds more like an electrical buzz then I would consider sending it back. I would recommend contacting Bequiets technical support as they normally respond within 24 hours and are very helpful.

Jokester · 22 Dec 2018 at 11:00

Where’s the pump mounted?

Biggest source of pump noise is vibration through what ever it’s mounted on. Easiest soltution is to decouple it either from mounting it on foam or what I do is just hang the pump off tubing. Can barely hear it then, even with your ear against it.

Obviously if it’s a kit that has the pump mounted off the back of the CPU block then your pretty much stuck with what you have.

Goose · 22 Dec 2018 at 12:15

PieEater said:
When you say buzzing do you mean a constant pitch and volume type electrical buzz or is it more variable like a mechanical hard drive working hard more of a series of clicks then very short pause before more clicks? If the latter then I had the same issue which was resolved by topping up the coolant. If it sounds more like an electrical buzz then I would consider sending it back. I would recommend contacting Bequiets technical support as they normally respond within 24 hours and are very helpful.

It's a constant high pitched buzz not unlike coil whine from a GPU (and no, its not my GPU that im hearing

)

Jokester said:
Where’s the pump mounted?

Biggest source of pump noise is vibration through what ever it’s mounted on. Easiest soltution is to decouple it either from mounting it on foam or what I do is just hang the pump off tubing. Can barely hear it then, even with your ear against it.

Obviously if it’s a kit that has the pump mounted off the back of the CPU block then your pretty much stuck with what you have.

It's a pump on block design and its bolted directly on the motherboard as per the Be Quiet! instructions for a 2011-3 socket.

doyll · 22 Dec 2018 at 12:41

Jokester said:
Where’s the pump mounted?

Biggest source of pump noise is vibration through what ever it’s mounted on. Easiest soltution is to decouple it either from mounting it on foam or what I do is just hang the pump off tubing. Can barely hear it then, even with your ear against it.

Obviously if it’s a kit that has the pump mounted off the back of the CPU block then your pretty much stuck with what you have.

Wow! With all your posts I'm surprised you don't know what the be quiet! Silent Loop is and thus where the pump is. As already stated, pump is integral part of waterblock. These Silent Loop AIOs are made by Alphacool, but pump is specific to be quiet! specifications so not exactly the same as other Alphacool. AIOs. Here is be quiet! Silent Loop link:
https://www.bequiet.com/en/watercoo...t+SILENT+LOOP+280mm+in+DARK+BASE+PRO+900Sorry

Jokester · 22 Dec 2018 at 12:50

doyll said:
Wow! With all your posts I'm surprised you don't know what the be quiet! Silent Loop is and thus where the pump is.

A rather odd piece of logic that :confused:

doyll · 22 Dec 2018 at 15:27

Jokester said:
A rather odd piece of logic that

Nothing odd about it. Generally members with high post counts offering advice have a working knowledge of what what they are offering advice about .. your post clearly show you do not. It contains nothing relevant / helpful to Goose's questions about be quiet! Silent Loop AIO pump noise .. because pump incorporated into waterblock .. meaning there is no way to isolate the pump.