New build problems

[Cloud9]

I received a new PC during the week, built with help from some members of the forum. Thread here, the actual build is the one posted here by sck451 but with the RAM upped to 32GB:

Case
FRACTAL DEFINE 7 BLACK QUIET MID-TOWER CASE
Processor (CPU)
AMD Ryzen 5 5600X Six Core CPU (3.7GHz-4.6GHz/35MB CACHE/AM4)
Motherboard
ASUS® STRIX B550-F GAMING (DDR4, USB 3.2, 6Gb/s) - ARGB Ready!
Memory (RAM)
16GB Corsair VENGEANCE DDR4 3600MHz (2 x 8GB)
Graphics Card
4GB NVIDIA GEFORCE GTX 1050 Ti - DVI, HDMI, DP
1st M.2 SSD Drive
500GB SAMSUNG 980 PRO M.2, PCIe NVMe (up to 6900MB/R, 5000MB/W)
1st M.2 SSD Drive
1TB INTEL® 670p M.2 NVMe PCIe SSD (up to 3500MB/sR | 2500MB/sW)
Power Supply
CORSAIR 850W RMx SERIES™ MODULAR 80 PLUS® GOLD, ULTRA QUIET
Power Cable
1 x 1 Metre UK Power Cable (Kettle Lead)
Processor Cooling
Corsair H115i ELITE CAPELLIX RGB Hydro Series High Performance CPU Cooler
Thermal Paste
STANDARD THERMAL PASTE FOR SUFFICIENT COOLING
Sound Card
ONBOARD 6 CHANNEL (5.1) HIGH DEF AUDIO (AS STANDARD)
Network Card
10/100/1000 GIGABIT LAN PORT
Wireless Network Card
WIRELESS INTEL® Wi-Fi 6 AX200 2,400Mbps/5GHz, 300Mbps/2.4GHz PCI-E CARD + BT 5.0
USB/Thunderbolt Options
MIN. 2 x USB 3.0 & 2 x USB 2.0 PORTS @ BACK PANEL + MIN. 2 FRONT PORTS
Operating System
Windows 10 Home 64 Bit - inc. Single Licence [KUK-00001]
Operating System Language
United Kingdom - English Language
Windows Recovery Media
Windows 10 Multi-Language Recovery Image - Unlimited Downloads from Online Account
Office Software
FREE 30 Day Trial of Microsoft 365® (Operating System Required)
Anti-Virus
NO ANTI-VIRUS SOFTWARE
Browser
Microsoft® Edge (Windows 10 Only)
Warranty
3 Year Silver Warranty (1 Year Collect & Return, 1 Year Parts, 3 Year Labour)
Delivery
STANDARD INSURED DELIVERY TO UK MAINLAND (MON-FRI)
Build Time
Standard Build - Approximately 16 to 19 working days
Price: £1,458.00 including VAT and Delivery
Unique URL to re-configure: https://www.pcspecialist.co.uk/saved-configurations/amd-am4-gen3-pc/aGef8c0bEN/

My main concern with the PC was the noise level as its primary purpose is for audio production. However on arrival it is very loud, unusably so.

The main source of the noise is the H115i Capillex which has a constant mechanical whirring and pump noise. I read sometimes these pumps need time to settle but the noise has not improved (I guess this was an unlikely fix given PCS do 24 hour testing anyway don't they?) so I assume it's faulty.

However the machine is noisy pretty much all round. The Fractal fans are quite bad, especially the back one, and the GPU fan is also loud (even on lowest setting using Afterburner). The noise dampening in the case seems to have little real effect.

I'm getting the machine RMA'd but looking for general advice - is it worth asking them to swap the Capillex for something else? Thing is, even with the AIO replaced I'm not sure it would be quiet enough for operation. Wondering whether I might be best just asking for a full refund (I can do this within the first 14 days, I believe?)

 

[sck451]

What are the CPU temperatures like? If the pump on the cooler is broken, it may cause temperatures to rise: the case fans are all linked to CPU temperature, so that may be the cause: if they're running like crazy trying to cool everything down, they will indeed be noisy.

HWMonitor can help you check the temperatures, or something like Ryzen Master that you may already have installed.

 

[Cloud9]

What are the CPU temperatures like? If the pump on the cooler is broken, it may cause temperatures to rise: the case fans are all linked to CPU temperature, so that may be the cause: if they're running like crazy trying to cool everything down, they will indeed be noisy.

HWMonitor can help you check the temperatures, or something like Ryzen Master that you may already have installed.

Assuming these are normal?

https://imgur.com/a/zYsquqt

I'm also not sure if the GPU fan is just naturally noisy or also defective. I have quite sensitive hearing so can pick it up easily but it has a really annoying high pitch whine.

I must sound absolutely anal about this quietness thing! but it is quite essential and I do need a £1500 PC to work right. At the moment it sounds a bit like a microwave-come-leafblower...

 

[SpyderTracks]

Assuming these are normal?

https://imgur.com/a/zYsquqt

I'm also not sure if the GPU fan is just naturally noisy or also defective. I have quite sensitive hearing so can pick it up easily but it has a really annoying high pitch whine.

I must sound absolutely anal about this quietness thing! but it is quite essential and I do need a £1500 PC to work right. At the moment it sounds a bit like a microwave-come-leafblower...

The case fans are configurable, so you can set them to whatever you want, that's just down to your preferences and some playing around to get it where you want it to be. That's assuming they're configured correctly, which sometimes they aren't with that case.

To explain, within that case there's a little voltage micro board which adjusts the voltage to each case fan. The fans ought to be plugged into this, and then they're fully controllable

Let me stress, this is one of the quietest cases available on the market when it's configured correctly.

BUT, PCS have been known to not do the wiring correctly which can lead to the case fans being uncontrollable and constantly running full pelt which will be loud.

Just take a look and find the voltage regulator board inside the case, looks like this:

Make sure that the CPU_FAN header on the regulator card is running to the CPU_FAN header on the motherboard.

Then the capellix cooler should go into the CPU FAN H100i header on the voltage board.

And the 3 case fans should be where it's in green as 3 pin case fans.

 

[Cloud9]

Thanks for that Spyder. I'll have a good look tomorrow.

 

[Scott]

Something definitely not right. Hopefully it's just the configuration. On idle you shouldn't hear anything at all from that build. A constant mechanical noise would concern me.

 

[Cloud9]

Something definitely not right. Hopefully it's just the configuration. On idle you shouldn't hear anything at all from that build. A constant mechanical noise would concern me.

Spyder was correct about the incorrect wiring it seems (for the rear fan), although the mechanical/humming sound is from the pump.

I'm just a bit apprehensive that the replacement will be exactly the same. Seem to be a number of reports about it and the high speed of the pump that supposedly causes it (I'm a layman when it comes to this stuff so not sure if exactly true in terms of the science, etc):

https://www.reddit.com/r/Corsair/comments/jtrv34

This video on YouTube seems to demonstrate the same problem as mine:

As I said in the OP, weirdly the quiet mode is the worst.

 

[Scott]

I'm on my laptop but I couldn't hear anything from that video. I certainly couldn't hear anything that sounded like anything other than a pump running. Is it loud with headphones on?

There are a few things to keep in mind:

It is a pump and it will make a pump noise.
With the new pump the minimum RPM is 2200 on quiet mode (have you checked it on quiet mode). This is a bit more than mine (1800)
If you can hear the pump running with all the panels on the R7 and over the top of the fans then something may not be right and I would tend to investigate.
If you have the PC next to your head with no audio running.... there will be noise from it, it's got fans. How much noise is down to the system (which this should be about as good as it gets) but how much you are willing to tolerate is subjective.

Overall, if you are unhappy with the system I would suggest returning for a refund. I'm unsure of what your options would be over this though as even a liquid series PC has fans running.

 

[SpyderTracks]

I'm just a bit apprehensive that the replacement will be exactly the same. Seem to be a number of reports about it and the high speed of the pump that supposedly causes it (I'm a layman when it comes to this stuff so not sure if exactly true in terms of the science, etc):

That cooler is very quiet when installed an configured correctly, and not faulty.

Ignore comments on Amazon and elsewhere, most people don’t know how to install an AIO.

Go into ice and make sure the pump is set to balanced and not performance.

 

[Cloud9]

I'm on my laptop but I couldn't hear anything from that video. I certainly couldn't hear anything that sounded like anything other than a pump running. Is it loud with headphones on?

There are a few things to keep in mind:

It is a pump and it will make a pump noise.
With the new pump the minimum RPM is 2200 on quiet mode (have you checked it on quiet mode). This is a bit more than mine (1800)
If you can hear the pump running with all the panels on the R7 and over the top of the fans then something may not be right and I would tend to investigate.
If you have the PC next to your head with no audio running.... there will be noise from it, it's got fans. How much noise is down to the system (which this should be about as good as it gets) but how much you are willing to tolerate is subjective.

Overall, if you are unhappy with the system I would suggest returning for a refund. I'm unsure of what your options would be over this though as even a liquid series PC has fans running.

In my original thread where I got build advice I posted two videos from my own system which may give a better idea of it: https://www.pcspecialist.co.uk/forums/threads/quiet-pc-needed-for-audio-production.81834/page-2 (near the bottom of the page, posted on Thursday)

I know the issue of volume is obviously subjective and relative - but it is pretty loud. The system was designed for audio work and recording in the same room; at the moment there's no way I can make it work.

Quiet mode is loudest, or at least the one that's the most obviously faulty because you can hear what sounds like air bubbles. Again this seems common on the Capillex.

You might be right about the refund option being best. There's also the issue of the GPU which I also find too loud, even with the dampening case. I don't want to mess PCS about but as I said, £1500 is a lot of money and it has to be fit for purpose. Not sure what my options would be either! Save up for a Mac?! haha.

 

[Cloud9]

That cooler is very quiet when installed an configured correctly, and not faulty.

Ignore comments on Amazon and elsewhere, most people don’t know how to install an AIO.

Go into ice and make sure the pump is set to balanced and not performance.

Hi Spyder - I've tried every option in iCue and the quiet options are actually the loudest. Performance/extreme gets rid of the air bubbling but has the loudest hum; quiet reduces the hum somewhat but makes constant bubbling/ticking.

 

[jamiephillips909]

Hi Spyder - I've tried every option in iCue and the quiet options are actually the loudest. Performance/extreme gets rid of the air bubbling but has the loudest hum; quiet reduces the hum somewhat but makes constant bubbling/ticking.

have you tried the variable speed option that is the quietest setting for me tho the quiet setting is a very faint hum with the quiet bubbling ticking this can be sorted by gently tilting the tower forward gently during operation to help the trapped air out of the pump

 

[SpyderTracks]

Hi Spyder - I've tried every option in iCue and the quiet options are actually the loudest. Performance/extreme gets rid of the air bubbling but has the loudest hum; quiet reduces the hum somewhat but makes constant bubbling/ticking.

Air bubbles are normal for the first few days after shipping, the pump has to work harder to move the air into the radiator where it stays and doesn’t reintroduce into the system

 

[Cloud9]

have you tried the variable speed option that is the quietest setting for me tho the quiet setting is a very faint hum with the quiet bubbling ticking this can be sorted by gently tilting the tower forward gently during operation to help the trapped air out of the pump

You're right about tilting the tower - if I tilt it on its side the pump noise completely disappears.

If I could have the tilted pump sound all the time (almost none) and the elimination of the GPU noise I'd be totally happy, haha.

 

[SpyderTracks]

You're right about tilting the tower - if I tilt it on its side the pump noise completely disappears.

If I could have the tilted pump sound all the time (almost none) and the elimination of the GPU noise I'd be totally happy, haha.

Can you take a photo of the inside of the pc particularly where the radiator is mounted and the pump?

 

[Cloud9]

Can you take a photo of the inside of the pc particularly where the radiator is mounted and the pump?

https://imgur.com/a/YUv3H3a

https://imgur.com/sm5s5us

Close to narrowing down this noise problem. The ticking is obviously the pump (goes away when tilted), the "hum" turns out to actually be the GPU and not the AIO at all.

 

[SpyderTracks]

https://imgur.com/a/YUv3H3a

https://imgur.com/sm5s5us

Close to narrowing down this noise problem. The ticking is obviously the pump (goes away when tilted), the "hum" turns out to actually be the GPU and not the AIO at all.

The hum is likely coil whine from the GPU, again this is normally something that settles within a couple of days, but if it doesn't I would personally ask for an RMA of the GPU. You can do that without sending the whole build back, you can just swap out the GPU.

 

[Cloud9]

The hum is likely coil whine from the GPU, again this is normally something that settles within a couple of days, but if it doesn't I would personally ask for an RMA of the GPU. You can do that without sending the whole build back, you can just swap out the GPU.

It's the actual fan of the GPU as far as I can tell as it goes away once I physically stop it.

Thanks for all the help Spyder and co!

 

[Martinr36]

If is a GPU fan that's noisy I'd do as @SpyderTracks suggested and sort an RMA of the GPU, with regards to the pump stick a book under the front of the case for a few day's with it running and tap the cooler hose while its running, this should encourage any air up into the raadiator, once its up there that's where it will stay, so the pump will just have coolant in it so it will run quiet, then you can take the book out

 

[Cloud9]

An update on this and a technical question!

Ended up returning the whole PC for the RMA due to the cooler problem which PCS agreed sounded faulty, also because I was still umming and ahing about possibly getting a refund on it if they were unable to fix the problem so thought it best to send the whole thing back.

Fair play to PCS for really good RMA service and super quick return time, however they have returned it to me exactly as I sent it which is to say still with the problematic AIO. In the fault report they did note identifying the problem, but said it was down to "incorrect pump/cooler setting" which raised some question marks for me since it seemed definitely a mechanical problem. No further info on that in the report. They also did a host of things I don't really understand the point of like reinstalling Windows.

I also put in the additional comments tab about the wiring of the fans (decided to leave it since it was being packed back up anyway so they could see for themselves) but they stated the original way was correct. I did include quite detailed notes including a link to Spyder's post but not sure it was really looked at.

I have today refitted the rear fan as directed into the three pin slot - my technical question to @SpyderTracks or the original poster on the thread he quoted is once the rear fan is correctly plugged into the three pin side of the hub, what if anything do I need to do in BIOS? I've just refitted it now but it's still just as loud as it was before - whereas the other three-pin front fans are effectively silent. Not sure what I'm missing here.

In terms of the AIO, not sure what to do now. Don't know if PCS will accept another RMA now they've deemed it acceptable. Although I would stress they've returned it in absolutely identical condition to how it left.