How loud is your D5 PWM pump?

Goose

Goose

Goose

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I was watching a Singularity Computers video and he mentioned that he leaves hid pumps running at 100% at all times because of how quiet they are.

I've just completed my first ever loop and my D5 PWM (EK 140 pump/res combo) is anything but quiet at 100%. Even 50% is audible to me. I'm wondering what other people have experienced with their D5s?

Regarding the noise i do have one concern. When filling the loop i didn't realise that when turning my PSU off the pump didn't stop instantly and I think it sucked in air for a second or two. I'm aware that pumps should never be run dry and i'm wondering how to tell if a pump has suffered damaged?

My last noob question is about powering the D5. My EK one has a molex and a 4pin, should both be used together or is it meant to be one or the other? I'm currently running it with both connected and i can still make use of the PWM.

Thanks
 
If you’ve just built it, there’s probably still air in the loop. Give it a couple of days keeping an eye on your water level and top up as necessary.

My D5 on 5 is inaudible with sides on.

The power comes from the molex, the 4pin PWM is for control only, if it’s not plugged in, your model will run 100% (I think).
 
After building and bleeding my loop I found my Alphacool VPP755 (D5 Vario plus PWM input for stepped control) was audible in the higher region of its range. Only, say, as loud as a 7200RPM hard drive. Unfortunately I've stopped using spinning disk drives as the noise annoys me, so I considered the pump too loud.

Bear in mind this is firmly mounted to a radiator so vibrations carry into the chassis quite well. It's really the chassis making noise with this sort of vibration. You could try soft mountings.

I'm tempted to go back and sound test my pump again. TBF I tested it previously with all fans unplugged.
 
Also, I wouldn't run the pump at full speed as it has a really big range anyway, and more speed = more heat dumped into the loop from the motor. Something like 70% is probably fine.
 
LuckyBenski said:
After building and bleeding my loop I found my Alphacool VPP755 (D5 Vario plus PWM input for stepped control) was audible in the higher region of its range. Only, say, as loud as a 7200RPM hard drive. Unfortunately I've stopped using spinning disk drives as the noise annoys me, so I considered the pump too loud.

Bear in mind this is firmly mounted to a radiator so vibrations carry into the chassis quite well. It's really the chassis making noise with this sort of vibration. You could try soft mountings.

I'm tempted to go back and sound test my pump again. TBF I tested it previously with all fans unplugged.
Click to expand...

The picture below shows how i've mounted my pump/res, it's the only logical place for it imho. Please ignore the loop order nonsense, its an old picture.

bsXaeMQ.jpg

It's quite thin metal that it's mounted to which probably doesn't help. Would you be able to advise me on how to soft mount it?

Thanks
 
I run mine at between 18-1900rpm 24/7, as out of every d5 ive had its the quietest speed range they run at. Mine is silent. My fans at 500rpm can be heard over the pump.
 
I find some times more voltage can make them quiet, I use a different power supply for my 2 D5 pumps and run them at 18v. at 18v they draw less amps and find they make less noise as the load on the motor to move your coolant through your loop is less of a strain on the motor, they can take 24v the D5 pump. this also increases flow rate.
 
At 100% it's by far the loudest thing in my case. At 50% it is just audible if you listen carefully, at 40% I have to put my ear 6 inches away from the case to hear it. The difference in temps between 40% and 100% is about 2 degrees so I keep it on low.
 
Goose said:
I was watching a Singularity Computers video and he mentioned that he leaves hid pumps running at 100% at all times because of how quiet they are.

I've just completed my first ever loop and my D5 PWM (EK 140 pump/res combo) is anything but quiet at 100%. Even 50% is audible to me. I'm wondering what other people have experienced with their D5s?

Regarding the noise i do have one concern. When filling the loop i didn't realise that when turning my PSU off the pump didn't stop instantly and I think it sucked in air for a second or two. I'm aware that pumps should never be run dry and i'm wondering how to tell if a pump has suffered damaged?

My last noob question is about powering the D5. My EK one has a molex and a 4pin, should both be used together or is it meant to be one or the other? I'm currently running it with both connected and i can still make use of the PWM.

Thanks
Click to expand...

I've just seen your other thread and can see a bit more about your issues with noise.
- The pump needs Molex for it's main power and the 4 pin connector is for PWM control/tacho feedback, so connect both!
- Looking at your photo, having the pump bracket directly mounted to the case like that would (IMO) might couple more noise that necessary. Even though the pump is held in a rubber 'ring', I've had issues with coupling to the case when mounted like this, you could unbolt it and lay it on some foam inside the case to see if that affects things
- Radiators also can transmit a lot of the 'flow' noise directly to the case, I also use rubber grommets to isolate the radiators when this occurs
- Ensure no tubing is touching any part of the case/components, that will also couple some noise in to the system, especially side covers, the merest mm of contact of my hard tubing to the glass window had mine making a racket!
- Following on from your other thread, what is the case setup regarding grill/fan apertures? Ideally you want nothing in front of the rad/fan (such as lots of small holes) that can lead to the air flow causing more noise than necessary.
 
Thanks for the info.

I've order a 'Shoggy' Sandwich (great name!) to isolate the pump/res from the chassis. Just have to wait and see how effective it is.
 
My experience of PWM pumps (and fans) is they suck, fixed voltage/vario is where it’s at.

I ran my D5 vario at max RPM for years, completely silent and enough headroom for 2 GPU’s, 3 radiators and CPU block.

I would use the molex connector without plugging in the PWM cable. It’ll likely cause the pump to run at 100% but if you don’t need that you can rewire the molex to 7v.

https://www.instructables.com/id/12v-to-7v-Molex-Fan-Switch/
 
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Bluntwrapped said:
My experience of PWM pumps (and fans) is they suck, fixed voltage/vario is where it’s at.

I ran my D5 vario at max RPM for years, completely silent and enough headroom for 2 GPU’s, 3 radiators and CPU block.

I would use the molex connector without plugging in the PWM cable. It’ll likely cause the pump to run at 100% but if you don’t need that you can rewire the molex to 7v.

https://www.instructables.com/id/12v-to-7v-Molex-Fan-Switch/
Click to expand...

The two EK D5 pumps I have (old non PWM and PWM) it makes zero difference on mine, I can run the PWM one with only power attached, or using the PWM cable and varying the speed and it works as expected, slower speeds = lower pitched and lower amplitude noise, compared to my vario D5 it's no different, same pump noise at the same speeds.

Any noises I've ever had have always boiled down to a combination of
- Poor quality PWM generation (I now use off board, better quality PWM controllers, motherboards aren't always that good)
- Coupling of the pump noise either from the pump to the case, or tubing to the case or other component (especially resting against side panels)
- Air in the pump (always goes after a good few hours of use and moving the case around to get rid of the air).
- Poor quality case with poor sound insulation.

One aspect to consider is that some people are sensitive to any noise, I have my PC very close to me on the desk and the whole reason I run my pump @ 1000RPM and fans @ 400RPM for normal PC use is that it is so quiet I hear more from the small electronic based noise sources (slight coil whine or other humming) than I can from the water loop.
 
Demon said:
The two EK D5 pumps I have (old non PWM and PWM) it makes zero difference on mine, I can run the PWM one with only power attached, or using the PWM cable and varying the speed and it works as expected, slower speeds = lower pitched and lower amplitude noise, compared to my vario D5 it's no different, same pump noise at the same speeds.

Any noises I've ever had have always boiled down to a combination of
- Poor quality PWM generation (I now use off board, better quality PWM controllers, motherboards aren't always that good)
- Coupling of the pump noise either from the pump to the case, or tubing to the case or other component (especially resting against side panels)
- Air in the pump (always goes after a good few hours of use and moving the case around to get rid of the air).
- Poor quality case with poor sound insulation.

One aspect to consider is that some people are sensitive to any noise, I have my PC very close to me on the desk and the whole reason I run my pump @ 1000RPM and fans @ 400RPM for normal PC use is that it is so quiet I hear more from the small electronic based noise sources (slight coil whine or other humming) than I can from the water loop.
Click to expand...

Pump top and shell combos may amplify the noise slightly too, especially if attached to a reservoir. I started with the stock pump and barbed fittings then bought a Bitspower top and shell for it just for the aesthetics. It really is silent when running. I’m incredibly sensitive to electrical whine and I can’t hear anything from it without putting my ear up close.

My DDC pump on the other hand.. sitting in the same room as it was torturous. Horrible pulsing whine using PWM and the fixed speed option was like listening to a dentists drill lol :(
 
Bluntwrapped said:
My experience of PWM pumps (and fans) is they suck, fixed voltage/vario is where it’s at.

I ran my D5 vario at max RPM for years, completely silent and enough headroom for 2 GPU’s, 3 radiators and CPU block.

I would use the molex connector without plugging in the PWM cable. It’ll likely cause the pump to run at 100% but if you don’t need that you can rewire the molex to 7v.

https://www.instructables.com/id/12v-to-7v-Molex-Fan-Switch/
Click to expand...

Ive had vario (one with the dial on the back). For years and switching to a pwm made no difference in terms of noise.

Still prefer pwm as i can tune the speed rather than having to fiddle in the case with a tiny screwdriver. Quieter in my opinion as i can fine tune the speed, 1873rpm usually and its completely silent. Even if i turn my fans off completely, still cant hear it. Same story with the fans.

One thing that i struggled with was dual pump tops as they are noisy no matter the rpm.
 
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