Question Strange noise from AIO Pump Setup with Arctic Liquid Freezer 3 ?

[SteveBeast]

i7 14700k
RTX 4070
32 GB RAM
Win 11
Case: bequiet pure Base 500dx

Hey everyone, I recently installed the Arctic Liquid Freezer 3 AIO cooler in my rig, with the pump positioned below the top of the radiator and the tubes at the bottom of the radiator fans—a setup I've heard is optimal. However, I'm noticing a weird noise coming from the AIO pump, and I'm puzzled about what could be causing it.

Could it be air bubbles trapped in the water pump? I've always kept the pump positioned correctly, never above the radiator when the AIO is running. Has anyone else experienced this issue with their AIO setup, or does anyone have suggestions on how to troubleshoot and fix this noise? Or could it be a Fan or the GPU?

Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

Audio of AIO

 

[Ralston18]

Audio clip appeared as 00.00

I could not hear anything.

= = = =

Use a cardboard tube or rolled up sheet of paper to determine if you can narrow down the sound's location.

Hold one end to your ear and carefully "aim" the other end around the AIO, fans, etc. to locate the source.

 

[dwd999]

I listened to your audio file; had to turn the volume way up. Anyway, it sounds like normal pump noise or with that specific AIO it may be the VRM fan. Depending on how you have your system hooked up, if you can control the VRM fan speed you could temporarily set it to zero and see if the noise decreases. But the bigger issue is can you hear the noise outside of your case; it sounds like its really quiet.

 

[SteveBeast]

I listened to your audio file; had to turn the volume way up. Anyway, it sounds like normal pump noise or with that specific AIO it may be the VRM fan. Depending on how you have your system hooked up, if you can control the VRM fan speed you could temporarily set it to zero and see if the noise decreases. But the bigger issue is can you hear the noise outside of your case; it sounds like its really quiet.

Hey, yes i Can hear it outside. But its not constant, its like ever 5-10 seconds and sounds like a scratching noise, its really weird. So you think it could be the VRM? Unfortunately I dont think I can control that , but I can try to turn it off. So if it would work to turn off the VRM Fan in the Bios, couldnt it harm the Pump? And if its not the VRM Fan, then its the pump I guess? Should I maybe RMA?

 

[dwd999]

Hey, yes i Can hear it outside. But its not constant, its like ever 5-10 seconds and sounds like a scratching noise, its really weird. So you think it could be the VRM? Unfortunately I dont think I can control that , but I can try to turn it off. So if it would work to turn off the VRM Fan in the Bios, couldnt it harm the Pump? And if its not the VRM Fan, then its the pump I guess? Should I maybe RMA?

Turning off the VRM fan would result in the VRM chips increasing in temperature, depending on how much power your CPU requires. A short test should not harm them since most AIO's don't even bother with a VRM fan. But it might provide a clue as to whether vibrations from the VRM fan are interacting with vibrations from the pump at certain speeds and causing the noise. But if an RMA would provide you with the most satisfaction then that would be best.