The Be Quiet! Silent Loop 2 AIO Cooler Review: Quiet and Unassuming
by E. Fylladitakis on September 7, 2023 9:30 AM ESTConclusion
Wrapping things up, the Be Quiet! Silent Loop 2 280 mm AIO cooler presents a mix of commendable attributes and certain shortcomings, making it a noteworthy contender in the realm of liquid cooling solutions. While its thermal performance falls within the realm of mediocrity, its undeniable standout feature is its exceptionally low noise output. This is a crucial consideration for enthusiasts and professionals seeking a serene computing environment without significantly sacrificing effective heat dissipation, and it's where the Silent Loop 2 makes sure to live up to its name.
The simplicity of design and high manufacturing quality is a hallmark of Be Quiet!’s products. The radiator is based on a common but proven design, ensuring that it efficiently dissipates heat while offering the convenience of a filling port, instilling confidence in users who prioritize the longevity of their hardware investments. The main block assembly of the cooler showcases a blend of practicality and aesthetics. The tasteful incorporation of RGBW lighting communicates a touch of elegance without veering into flashiness, catering to those who prefer subtle visual enhancements.
However, the Be Quiet! Silent Loop 2 AIO cooler is not without its trade-offs. The cooler can be hard to find in the US, and as a result its current retail price runs rather high, at around $207. Understandably, this might deter some potential buyers, particularly when considering the cooler's middling thermal performance. On the other hand, over in the European market the cooler can be found for around €139 (~$149), presenting a far more reasonable proposition.
Overall, the Be Quiet! Silent Loop 2 AIO cooler offers a harmonious fusion of simplicity, quality, and subdued elegance. While its thermal performance might not be at the forefront of its features, its exceptionally quiet operation is a standout trait that should please its intended demographic. With a straightforward design and tasteful aesthetics, it caters to users who prioritize a refined appearance and low noise levels. Given this, the higher cost in the US market and limited availability make it a tough sell, but the more reasonable European pricing makes it an appealing choice for those across the Atlantic. As the landscape of cooling solutions evolves, the Be Quiet! Silent Loop 2 AIO cooler maintains its relevance by appealing to users who seek an unobtrusive, well-crafted, and serene computing experience.
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tygrus - Thursday, September 7, 2023 - link
You can use a closer distance (eg. 12½cm) & assume at 1m will be much quieter. If ideal then at 12½cm is 18dB louder than at 1m, in reality it maybe 12dB different. At >1m a speaker sounds would drop 6dB per doubling of distance. 2x 24dB of the same sound would be 3dB louder than 1.2x perceived volume adds 10dB.
deporter - Friday, September 8, 2023 - link
>You can use a closer distance (eg. 12½cm) & assume at 1m will be much quieter.Yes, sure, but they measured from 1 meter. It says so on page 2.
mr2ns - Friday, September 8, 2023 - link
In the first paragraph of the Conclusion "Wrapping things up..."1) I am not sure if the performance description "within the realm of mediocrity" and the assessment "without significantly sacrificing effective heat dissipation" go together. You must have a low initial expectation bar for mediocre to not be a significant sacrifice.
2) While I certainly agree with professionals you included “enthusiasts”? We appear to have different ideas of what constitutes an enthusiast. Is an enthusiast just someone that owns a pc and runs it stock? I feel like we have another low expectation bar here. I am a big believer that everyone has their own use case but unless they are silent pc enthusiasts, I have trouble accepting that “enthusiasts” who significantly prioritize noise to the point of accepting mediocre thermal performance are anything but a niche market.
PeachNCream - Saturday, September 9, 2023 - link
Counterpoints:1) It really is mediocre among AIO water cooling in terms of results so that's 100% reasonable.
2) No one, to my knowledge, has gotten that specific about what constitutes an enthusiast aside from the fact that, in terms of people that own PCs, they are a pack of idiots that are easy to sell googaws to by slapping a fast car, dragon, or a big boob girl on the package in order to pump them for money while they aspire to waste electricity and manufacturing capacity.
mr2ns - Saturday, September 9, 2023 - link
right, I wasn't disputing the mediocre, just saying that calling it mediocre than saying that using it isn't sacrificing effective heat dissipation are not congruent thoughts.meacupla - Saturday, September 9, 2023 - link
It can handle a 340W load. It's more than enough for desktop CPUs.mr2ns - Saturday, September 9, 2023 - link
Where did "handle" even entered this conversation? Literally every cooler in the chart can handle 340W but without you providing some further context to what you mean, what does that have to do with the price of fish?meacupla - Saturday, September 9, 2023 - link
Do you know how to read graphs? It's pretty obvious you can read, but can you comprehend what is being said?Look at the graphs for Maximum fan speed, Core temp, 340W.
It says "25.8C delta over ambient".
That means, if you're in a 20C room, core temp would be at 45.8C.
That would be a good result.
If you can't understand that, you need to go back to school.
mr2ns - Monday, September 11, 2023 - link
Yes, I know how to read but that really isn't the question so much as can YOU read, or did you just jump into a random comment to ramble off course?I pointed out that the author called thermal performance mediocre THEN goes on to say, "without significantly sacrificing effective heat dissipation". Those thoughts are not congruent. They do not agree. Pick one, not both.
Do you understand what I am saying now, or do you REALLY want to continue shaking your fists at the sky about what it can handle? The performance was never my dispute, the author’s contrary thought expression is. So again I ask you, how does your initial or elaborated comment disagree with my expression that the author’s two thoughts do not belong together? It seems to me that you agree with me as you contend it is a good result, not mediocre as the author stated.
If you were intending to respond to PeachNCream where they said that its performance IS mediocre then there is a handy reply button, and probably always was, after their comment instead.
¿Comprende?
PeachNCream - Tuesday, September 12, 2023 - link
Please don't drag me into this one. I get what you're saying but I was trying to add a little more context. Modern writers often stop writing, look at a phone, and then resume. That creates disjointed thoughts like the one you highlighted as a bit mismatched. I get it. I even agree to an extent, but I also see the fact that it doesn't really stand out all that much among water-cooled AIOs so it still makes a bit of sense even if its obvious the writer was distracted and no one bothered to do any editing before publication.