Swiftech Drive pump is LOUD, any sugestions?

[leandrodafontoura]

Im currently using swiftech drive, wich I upgraded from a zalman reserator 1. Altough the zalman reserator was TOTALLY silent, I neeed a more compact solutuion to allow a better mobility of the case.

The swiftech pump is insanelly loud. I have complete silent fans, so If I can get a nice pump, Im gonna be really glad.


Any solutuions?

 

[leandrodafontoura]

I wouldn't run it for long periods of time like that, but for a few hours or overnight you are fine. This is the best way to easily power on stuff like your pump, etc without the rest of the PC booting up. Just disconnect the ATX plug and jumper the correct wires- green to any black wire.

After some trials, I think I will simply change the sytem for a more silent one. I believe I was sucessfull in removing the air bubble, but I still can hear some humming noise wich is not welcome.

How is the corsair hydro series?

 

[rubix_1011]

For the performance increase, the humming means you don't want it? This seems strange given most watercooling users. Exactly how quiet do you need this to be? Every fan or pump will make noise and for the performance, most people don't mind a barely audible humming noise.

Corsair Hydro's are average performing..about as good as decent air cooling. If your pump is now operating at the same noise levels as the video you posted of the same Drive review, this is likely about normal...but I know they are a bit louder with the Drive units than when in a normal loop.

 

[leandrodafontoura]

I will keep it for a while, but eventually, I want 0db. With the zalman on, I had to touch the cooler with my ear to hear a insannelly low humming noise, and just by standing next to it, I could not hear a thing.

The reason I got the Zalman Reserator initally was to do not have a CPU fan, and both eliminate its noise as well as reduce hot air inside the case. The liquid cooling took out CPU heat out of the equation. Im currently changing the PSU for a silent one, and the videocard fan goes into silent mode after some time, at idle is tottally silent.

I have to admit that this swiftech is the sub-zero of liquid cooling, the zalman kept my cpu at 40-50oC while this keeps it at 30oC, no matter how bad I stress the machine.

Friend, if you can recomend me, are you aware of 120mm ultra silent fans? Im talking 10db.

 

[boiler1990]

Depends on what you're doing. There's no way 10dBA fans can support a high-end CPU and 2 GPUs 😉

 

[rubix_1011]

Well, to be technical, you really can't get to 0db...even 10 is lower than the human ear can hear. The pump in the Swiftech is about 10x more powerful, which is good for increased flow which helps create a lower delta based on the same ambient temperatures. Also, the Zalman is mainly aluminum, which is very bad when using copper or bronze- you end up with nasty galvanic corrosion with mixed metal loops containing aluminum.

For quiet 120mm fans, you can go with slower fans like 1000 rpm or slower, or use some fans with a fan controller so you can regulate the speeds to noise and performance levels of your choice.

 

[leandrodafontoura]

Im simply cooling a Q6600

 

[rubix_1011]

I have the same chip. Can you link where you got it? Depending on the pump, if it has the MCP35x, it has PWM and can run at slower speeds depending on temperature.

 

[leandrodafontoura]

acording to my acount history, it was this one....

http://www.frozencpu.com/products/10088/ex-rad-172/Swiftech_MCR220_Drive_Dual_120mm_Radiator_Reservoir_w_MCP350_Pump_Combo_MCR220-Drive.html?id=Lwg9Kd2M&mv_pc=146

and apparently it does have pwm....but I conected the blue 3 pin header to a cha fan, should I contect to pwr fan?

I will upload later a new video, with just the PC on, then just the fans on, then just the pump on, then the whole setup

 

[rubix_1011]

You would want it connected to the CPU_FAN header- this way it will regulate pump speed based on CPU temperature.

And yes, that pump is the MCP35x...one of the best pumps out there for under $150.

 

[leandrodafontoura]

But, the cable is 3 pin, and the CPU is 4 pin...right?

 

[leandrodafontoura]

I believe swiftech sent me the wrong item...the pump only runs at 3500RPM/4000RPM

 

[leandrodafontoura]

how do I check wich version I have? Apparenlty, the first generation has a fiex 3500RPM speed, while only the second generation can go to 1400RPM

 

[rubix_1011]

Hmmm...you might wish to send an email to their support team on their site. They should be able to give you any specific info you need...perhaps a correct part if you are missing one. I think CPU is 4 pin, but it could also be 3 pin, depending on motherboard...it also might depend on how the PWM on the pump works...I think you can get PWM from 3 pin as well. (Well, I know for fans this is the case, pumps, I am not as sure).

 

[leandrodafontoura]

Ok, my drive only has yellow/black cable for pump power and blue cable for fan monitoring apparenlty and it doesnt change anything, I alrady conected it to cpu fan, cha fan, pwr fan, its the same.

Apparenlty the drive with the silent pump has also a green cable, in adition to the blue cable, I checked some photos at frozencpu. Does this confirm I have the first generation with fixed speed?

 

[rubix_1011]

You might have an older version of the Drive combo which used the MCP355 pumps, as they are not PWM capable. You might be able to tell the pump model by looking at the sticker on the pump itself. Still though, it should be fairly quiet.

How much difference in audible sound is there now? What can you compare it to?

 

[leandrodafontoura]

Im getting an ok to use sound, but still, im a perfectionist, so Im gonna either replace for a current swiftech drive or get a new watercooling system and sell my current one.

Nevertheless, im still not conviced about this PMW controlable mcr drive, it would be great to find some more information online, but its not much available.

Question, if I simply get a new pump and add it to my system, is it OK, to have the MCR-drive pump off? Will that stop water from moving? I could even get a silent swiftech pump, as I will have a hassle uninstalling the reservoir...

 

[leandrodafontoura]

You might have an older version of the Drive combo which used the MCP355 pumps, as they are not PWM capable. You might be able to tell the pump model by looking at the sticker on the pump itself. Still though, it should be fairly quiet.

How much difference in audible sound is there now? What can you compare it to?

Can I simply add this new pump to my system, and leave the Reservoir Combo pump off? will the Reservoir pump off be a problem to the loop?

 

[rubix_1011]

You aren't going to find a pump much quieter than that. You need a pump and radiator- pump to ensure the water moves through the loop and the radiator is needed to dissipate heat.

 

[leandrodafontoura]

You aren't going to find a pump much quieter than that. You need a pump and radiator- pump to ensure the water moves through the loop and the radiator is needed to dissipate heat.

I will leave the radiator in the loop. I will simply leave its pump off, while the MCP35X external pump would be on. Does the pump off in the radiator blocks the loop? or perhaps it will be fine?

 

[boiler1990]

I thought the Swiftech Drive pump was a DDC-style pump. Can't you just swap them out?

 

[leandrodafontoura]

I thought the Swiftech Drive pump was a DDC-style pump. Can't you just swap them out?

I will leave both pumps in the loop but only turn on the silent pump, wich would be the MCP35X. The MCP350 (the loud pump) is integrated to my system, but I will leave it off. Is this a problem, will water flow naturally with one of the pumps off? Im simply asking cause Im unfamiliar with the internals of an OFF pump, the "doors may close" or something...

 

[boiler1990]

The pump just has a rotating impeller (think streamlined paddle wheel), so you'd lose some flow to that but I'd imagine it would be ok.

You should be able to remove the 350 from the Swiftech Drive and insert the 35X in it's place. That way you don't have to have extra tubing/mounting, flow losses, etc.

 

[leandrodafontoura]

The pump just has a rotating impeller (think streamlined paddle wheel), so you'd lose some flow to that but I'd imagine it would be ok.

You should be able to remove the 350 from the Swiftech Drive and insert the 35X in it's place. That way you don't have to have extra tubing/mounting, flow losses, etc.

I happen to have a extra reservoir mid way to the cpu block, wich I could simply replace with a 2nd pump. altough for that price alone, I better get the newest Reservoir/pump/radiator combo and sell my current one on ebay......

Im not sure if I could simply replace the pump, the design of it seems diferent when looking at pictures, waiting for sweiftech reply on the matter.

Anyway, thanks guys, Im gonna search for videos of the mcp35x pump so I can make sure its silent enough for me. Anyways, my current rig is working great, as I test, I left my pump off, waited till the CPU reached 50oC and then I turned the pump on, the CPU was cooled to 29oC in the second, almost instantenouslly. I know a slower silent pump will not give me the same performance, but I have room to spare

 

[rubix_1011]

MCP355 and MCP35x have the exact same bolt mounting patterns.

 

[leandrodafontoura]

But the way the tubes contect to it are diferent, mcp35x gets water from the top apparenlty, while mcp355 is in and out horizontally. Anyways, the new MCR-x20 drive, wich would be the radiator combo Im looking for would result in me doing extra cutting in the side panel of the case, I really dont want to do that again...so Im just sticking the pump in the middle of the loop.