NZXT Kraken X31 Strange Rattling Noise From the Pump under low RMP

[tripod1404]

Hi everybody,

I have nzxt kraken x31. As you might know this model has variable pump speeds controlled by the CAM software. Although it is not possible to directly control the pump speed, pump and radiator fan speeds are somewhat linked, therefore if you increase/decrease the radiator fan speed, pumps speed also increase/decrease.
So here comes my problem, Outside temperature where I live started to drop. As a result the room where the computer sits is much cooler. This greatly reduced the load on my liquid cooler, during the heat of the summer the fan was sitting on 65% even at idle but now, it can go down to 50%. With the start of this I realized a strange issue with my pump. Whenever my fan speed goes to 50% or below the pump starts to make a slight rattling noise. Like I explained above, it is not actually due to fan speed reduction but since pump and fan speeds are linked, pump also slows down. However if I manually increase the fan speed to 55% noise becomes barely noticeable and above 60% completely disappear.
I am sure it is the pump not the fan because sound continues even if I disconnect the fan. I also changed the CPU fan speed to ``full speed`` through bios since that might cause insufficient voltage to pump.
I am not experiencing any performance issues and I am not exactly sure if this is a new problem or one I did not notice until now since it was hot outside and the fan/pump rpm did not dropped to 50% or below. Also the rattling noise is very faint even below 50% therefore I might have missed it before.
Do any of you guys have any suggestions, do you think this is a big issue or as long as there is no performance issues, slight rattling is acceptable?

 

[mudpuppet]

Depending on the actual sound that you hear, it might not be an issue. When I first starter my Krakenx61 up, I heard a noise for the first few moments and dreaded that I had one that was having pump noise issues, but it has since gone away and the case itself is so quiet I wouldn't hear it unless i opened the side up and put my ear to it (but again, past the first few moments, no noise from it). It's possible the noise is just through the pump, but it's possible the pump has an issue itself. The latter is the part to worry about because it could be an issue. If you haven't already, reach out to NZXT and see if they can help you better diagnose the noise. Better still, see if you can record it so other can help too. If you aren't noticing cooling issues, I don't think you have anything to worry about past the noise.