While I can understand your rational, you are not acknowledging the sound of moving water and radiator fans make. I was referring to aquariems with water pumps. Pumps almost identical to custom loop pumps of today and like the ones many of us old-time water coolers used before dedicated liquid cooling pumps were even sold .. that are almost the same pumps use today on custom loops.That comparison is nonsense.
Pumps makes a humming noise similar to a fan but without air turbulence noise from fan blades.
Exactly how loud it is depends on a few things but the most important one is how fast it's spinning.
You are right, the pump do make a humming noise, but most are still audible in a very quiet room .. louder than case & cooler fans are at idle.
Ask the many CLC users who are now using top tier air coolers which is quieter, air or AIO and they will tell you air cooling is quieter, especially at low load / idle.
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