Loud DDC pump - isn't watercooling supposed to be quiet?

[oscar7601]

Hello everyone,

I have just received some parts for my very first watercooling loop.

I am still waiting for some parts but I decided I would just go on and make a very short circuit to test the pump.

 

Unfortunately, I think it is really loud. I know DDC pumps have a reputation for not being very quiet but this... is louder than any desktop PC I have ever heard...

I've just recorded a short video. Sadly, the video does not quite show how loud the buzz is.

 

Do you think this noise could come from the fact that there is constantly tiny bubbles of air going through the pump? (I filled the reservoir almost to the top)

 

This is an XSPC 2XO 420 single pump + reservoir combo

 

 

Thank you in advance.

 

Oscar

[Gonio]

Watercooling is certainly not automatically quieter. Also you have 2 parts that make noise then: fans and pumps.

 

So now we get that out of the way: the reason why liquidcooling can be quieter is because of it's potential if you have the proper gear. Then you can lower speeds of fans/pump to a comfortable level, and if it is proper also have decent temp levels. Could be just what you need.

 

 

[paddy-stone]

Sounds like it's liquid moving/bubbling, or fan noise to me... if I had to pick one I'd say liquid moving. That's louder than my 120mm AIO for sure, and AFAIK pump noise usually tends to be more of a buzzing sound, at least in the case of my AIO it is anyway.

[Mick Naughty]

Sounds like air. Can't blame user error on  equipment. 

[RicY]

Buzzing - from pump motor, but that splashing sound clearly is from air in that tiny loop you got there. You even can see the air being shot around in the tubes. Either turn the pump down, or build proper loop and then report back if the noise still presists. That pump is quite powerfull at full tilt.

[oscar7601]

6 minutes ago, Gonio said:

Watercooling is certainly not automatically quieter. Also you have 2 parts that make noise then: fans and pumps.

 

So now we get that out of the way: the reason why liquidcooling can be quieter is because of it's potential if you have the proper gear. Then you can lower speeds of fans/pump to a comfortable level, and if it is proper also have decent temp levels. Could be just what you need.

Thank you for your reply.

While I do understand that watercooling is not automatically quieter, I have to say I did not expect the pump to be that loud.

About the noise in the video, there was only one 140mm fan running other than the pump itself (actually I can't even hear the fan, I only hear the pump).

 

2 minutes ago, RicY said:

Buzzing - from pump motor, bet that splashing sound clearly is from air in that tiny loop you got there. You even can see the air being shot around in the tubes. Either turn the pump down, or build proper loop and then report back if the noise still presists. That pump is quite powerfull at full tilt.

 

Alright I will report back here if this goes on like this once the hole loop is built

 

Thank you  everyone for your answers. I like how people try to help each other on this forum.

[Gonio]

As others mentioned if there is air in your system that does not help, so once it is out it might already be much better. And then you can try lowering rpm's of pump/fans.

 

Good luck and hope it works.

[Eddie Current]

Get the system bleed out first, pumps don't like air.

[OddsCrazyStuff]

Get anti vibration and get the air out of the loop (as much as possible), then you should not have any noise left.

 

I mean, there is nothing about the DDC pump it self that should make noise, beyond the motor:

[oscar7601]

Just a quick update : I have now all my loop in working condition. Have had it running for about 7 hours now, still running to leek test it.

 

No air is circulating any more and the reservoir is almost completely full so that the pump doesn't suck some air in.

 

But the pump is still very loud!

 

I'm talking about a big delta in dB in the room : from 38dB (everything off) to 52dB when the pump is working!

 

Is that normal? This buzzing sound wouldn't be a concern for me if it wasn't that loud but... Is such a high noise level normal?

 

Really my video in the OP doesn't quite show how loud it is... my smartphone internal mic isn't so great...

[Mick Naughty]

Sounds like it's time for a new pump. Or you can just turn it down to like 40%. 

[W-L]

6 hours ago, oscar7601 said:

Just a quick update : I have now all my loop in working condition. Have had it running for about 7 hours now, still running to leek test it.

No air is circulating any more and the reservoir is almost completely full so that the pump doesn't suck some air in.

But the pump is still very loud!

I'm talking about a big delta in dB in the room : from 38dB (everything off) to 52dB when the pump is working!

Is that normal? This buzzing sound wouldn't be a concern for me if it wasn't that loud but... Is such a high noise level normal?

Really my video in the OP doesn't quite show how loud it is... my smartphone internal mic isn't so great...

If your running the pump at full speed if you have a variable speed unit you can turn it down to lessen the noise, but with bay units they will inherently be noisier than tube res or separate pump units as the vibration from the bay is readily pass into the case and amplified. 

[oscar7601]

Turning the pump down by 40% sounds good to me !

 

Do you know how I could do that? The pump's power cable is SATA like this :

Is there something on the market suited to my needs? I don't seem to find any

[Bananasplit_00]

2 hours ago, oscar7601 said:

Turning the pump down by 40% sounds good to me !

 

Do you know how I could do that? The pump power cable is SATA like this :

 

 

 

Is there something on the market suited to my needs? I don't seem to find any

solder in a potentiometer and then you will have a knob to adjust the speed, i dont know what Ohm to go for but its a way to do it atleast

[oscar7601]

1 hour ago, Bananasplit_00 said:

solder in a potentiometer and then you will have a knob to adjust the speed, i dont know what Ohm to go for but its a way to do it atleast

 

Would this be suitable?

 

http://www.ebay.fr/itm/Variateur-vitesse-moteur-6A-driver-direct-PWM-motor-speed-control-5V-6V-12V-dimm-/272282084394?hash=item3f6546e42a:g:-FgAAOSwo3pWgW8V

[Mick Naughty]

So there isn't a dial on the pump?

[oscar7601]

Just now, Mick Naughty said:

So there isn't a dial on the pump?

Nope, no dial and as it is SATA powered, I would need several adapters to convert it to a 3pin, plug it in a regular fan controller, which would probably not be powerful enough for this 9W pump...

[Bananasplit_00]

51 minutes ago, oscar7601 said:

 

Would this be suitable?

 

http://www.ebay.fr/itm/Variateur-vitesse-moteur-6A-driver-direct-PWM-motor-speed-control-5V-6V-12V-dimm-/272282084394?hash=item3f6546e42a:g:-FgAAOSwo3pWgW8V

i would litteraly just buy a bag of mixed potentiometers at some local electronics store and then just try a few, what you showed is probably not going to work that good for you

[OddsCrazyStuff]

Get a sata to molex addapter: https://www.amazon.com/StarTech-com-LP4SATAFM12-12-Inch-Molex-Adapter/dp/B00GK8SYCW

Then get something like this: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002D3DK1I/?tag=homecooling-20

 

Its much better then start messing with the cables, as it makes any return or warranty impossible.

[oscar7601]

1 hour ago, OddsCrazyStuff said:

Get a sata to molex addapter: https://www.amazon.com/StarTech-com-LP4SATAFM12-12-Inch-Molex-Adapter/dp/B00GK8SYCW

Then get something like this: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002D3DK1I/?tag=homecooling-20

 

Its much better then start messing with the cables, as it makes any return or warranty impossible.

 

0.5A max... I'm looking for at least 1.5A !

 

So i've decided to give this a try http://www.ebay.fr/itm/141773508216 . I orderded one for less than 4 euros (including postage). Alongside with a sata extension cable I will cut in halfs and screw into it.

[OddsCrazyStuff]

3 minutes ago, oscar7601 said:

 

0.5A max... I'm looking for at least 1.5A !

 

So i've decided to give this a try http://www.ebay.fr/itm/141773508216 . I orderded one for less than 4 euros (including postage). Alongside with a sata extension cable I will cut in halfs and screw into it.

Then get the molex adapter and do the 5v or 7v trick instead: http://www.overclockers.com/forums/showthread.php/372297-Guide-to-the-7v-Fan-Mod

[W-L]

2 hours ago, oscar7601 said:

 

0.5A max... I'm looking for at least 1.5A !

 

So i've decided to give this a try http://www.ebay.fr/itm/141773508216 . I orderded one for less than 4 euros (including postage). Alongside with a sata extension cable I will cut in halfs and screw into it.

As mentioned you can try using the 7V method to see if your pump is good at that starting voltage but if you want variable control you will need a proper pump speed controller such as this:

http://koolance.com/pump-or-fan-speed-controller-ctr-spd1224m

[oscar7601]

Just now, W-L said:

As mentioned you can try using the 7V method to see if your pump is good at that starting voltage but if you want variable control you will need a proper pump speed controller such as this:

http://koolance.com/pump-or-fan-speed-controller-ctr-spd1224m

 

Why would the thing I bought off eBay not work as a proper voltage variator?

[W-L]

3 minutes ago, oscar7601 said:

 

Why would the thing I bought off eBay not work as a proper voltage variator?

Those units rely on PWM control which is not ideal if you feed into the pump power input, you want constant voltage for the pump, which is why a really beefy heatsinked ideally potentiometer would be better or a unit like this as they are constant voltage not PWM. 

[oscar7601]

Just an update to this issue.

I have contacted XSPC and sent them a video and noise level measurments of my previous pump, which they said were not normal.

So they sent me another new one for free (which is awesome from them and I would like to thank them for the very fast answer given to my problem).

 

Yet, I have finally installed the new pump in the loop and... it's really about as loud as the previous one...

 

I have tested the 7V method, but the pump's speed seems not to vary. After a few minutes of research, I have found that most pumps are not voltage-driven...

Which lets me with basically no other option but to accept the noise level of this pump right?

Or should I try the PWM module I have received?