• TWEAK
• Cooling
• Air cooling

be quiet! Silent Loop 3 360

Before we take a closer look at the Silent Loop 3 360 from be quiet!, we need to go through the specifications, which were found through the reviewer guide and the box.

The technical specifications:

• Intel Socket: LGA115X, LGA1200, LGA1700, LGA1851
• AMD Socket: AM4, AM5, TR5, sTRX4, TR4
• Fan Size: 120mm x 120mm x 25mm
• Fan Speed (100%): 2500 rpm
• Noise Level (100%): 38.8 dB
• Pressure: 3.96 mm H2O (Max)
• Pump speed (rpm): 3500
• Pump connector: 4-pin
• RGB connector: 5V ARGB
• Tube length (mm): -
• Size & Weight radiator
  • (H x W x D) 397 x 120 x 52 mm
  • 1,770g

Around Silent Loop 3 360

The Silent Loop 3 360 from be quiet! is a high-performance AIO water cooler designed for modern CPUs with a focus on low noise and efficient cooling. It features a powerful 3-chamber pump that reduces turbulence and noise, as well as a large high-density fin stack on the cold plate for optimal heat dissipation. Three Silent Wings 4 PWM high-speed fans ensure near-silent operation. The cooler has a stylish design with discreet ARGB lighting and an easily accessible refill port. Compatible with both Intel and AMD platforms, including Threadripper mounting, and is available in sizes up to 420 mm.

In the box with the Silent Loop 3 360 you will find the 360 mm radiator itself, as well as three Silent Wings 4 PWM high-speed fans. All necessary mounting brackets for both Intel and AMD processors are included, including a special mounting frame for AMD Threadripper. In addition, the package includes screws, thermal paste, cables for power and control, and a user-friendly installation guide. A refill port is also part of the system, making maintenance easier.

Silent Loop 3 360 comes with three Silent Wings 4 PWM high-speed fans, designed to deliver powerful airflow with minimal noise. The fans have advanced blades, optimized for high static pressure, ensuring efficient cooling of the radiator. They are equipped with a six-pole motor and fluid dynamic bearings, which reduce vibration and extend the lifespan. The mounting corners of the fans are optimized to minimize resonance, contributing to the near-silent operation. The PWM control allows you to adjust the speed precisely as needed.

The Silent Loop 3 360 pump is designed with advanced 3-chamber technology that reduces turbulence and minimizes noise levels. It is equipped with a six-pole motor that ensures smooth and efficient operation, even under high loads. The large cold plate area with high-density fins improves heat transfer and optimizes cooling effect. The pump has an adjustable PWM control, so the speed can be adjusted as needed. The discreet ARGB lighting provides a stylish look that suits modern builds. A convenient refill port makes it easy to maintain the system over time.

Silent Loop 3 360 is equipped with a large 360 mm aluminum radiator, ensuring efficient heat dissipation even under high load. The radiator has a high-density fin structure that optimizes heat transfer from the coolant to the air, improving overall cooling efficiency. It is designed to work in combination with the included Silent Wings 4 PWM fans, ensuring a powerful, but almost silent airflow. The cooler is equipped with flexible and durable tube hoses, I could not find information about the length of the hoses. But they are expected to be around 400mm.

Assembly

Mounting the Silent Loop 3 360 is simple and user-friendly thanks to the included bracket for both Intel and AMD processors, including a special mounting frame for AMD Threadripper. First, the bracket is attached to the motherboard, then the pump is placed over the CPU with an even layer of the included thermal paste.

Once the pump is secured with the included screws, the radiator is mounted in a suitable location in the case, typically at the top or front, depending on airflow and space requirements. The three Silent Wings 4 fans are then screwed onto the radiator, and the power and PWM control cables are connected to the motherboard or a fan hub. Finally, all connections are secured and the system is easily filled or maintained via the integrated refill port, should this become necessary over time.

The Test – Use and Performance

Test system

• MSI MEG Z690 Unify
• Intel I9 12900K
• MSI Nvidia RTX 2080 Ti
• 32 GB HyperX Fury DDR5 5200 MHz CL36
• Samsung 970 EVO 500GB SSD
• Seasonic Prime TX-1300

Test software

• Cinebench (Benchmark)
• HWinfo64 (Monitoring)

Procedure

The test is set up so that we first warm up the system with Cinebench for 5 minutes. Then it runs for 10 minutes where we measure the average temperature in HWiNFO64. We then finally subtract the room temperature at the given time and land on a delta temperature to give as neutral a picture as possible. The fans are set to run at full speed, so you get a picture of the maximum cooling performance with the load we now give it. This should give a real picture of how much you can strain the different coolers, and whether they can take more or less than what we give them.

**After following up a bit on the I9 12900K and heat generation, I have chosen to turn off Hyper-Threading to give the cooler a chance to show what it can do, rather than pushing the CPU to its maximum. All future tests will run like this.

The measurements:

• Room temperature: ~ 25 degrees
• Fan speed: ~2500 RPM
• TDP: 205W

The Silent Loop 3 360 achieves a delta temperature of 4 degrees in idle mode, which places it in the middle of the field among the tested coolers. Several competitors, such as the EK Nucleus AIO CR360 Lux and the Cooler Master MasterLiquid 360 Atmos, perform better with only 1 degree delta temperature, while a few like the be quiet! Pure Loop 2 FX 360MM and the MEG Coreliquid S360 have higher values of 5 degrees. The Arctic Liquid Freezer III 420 and the Corsair H150i Elite LCD are close at 3 degrees. The result shows that the Silent Loop 3 360 has solid performance at low loads, but not the best idle cooling compared to the competition.

The Silent Loop 3 360 achieves a delta temperature of 49 degrees under load, which places it at the upper end of the field, but not as the absolute best cooling solution. Coolers like the EK Nucleus AIO CR360 Lux and Dark achieve lower temperatures of 42 degrees, while the Arctic Liquid Freezer III 420 and Cooler Master MasterLiquid 360 Atmos are close at 44 degrees. The Enermax Liqmaxflo 360mm performs almost identically at 47 degrees. However, the Silent Loop 3 360 beats several competitors, including the Corsair H170i Elite LCD and the be quiet! Pure Loop 2 FX 360MM, which reach 50 and 61 degrees respectively. This shows that the Silent Loop 3 360 delivers solid cooling, but is not the most efficient solution in the test.

Noise level

Our noise measurements were made with a UNI-T UT353 dB meter. The measurements were made in a “real world” setup and not in a sound chamber. External influences have of course been tried to be reduced as much as possible but, as mentioned, were not made in a sound chamber. Our measurements should therefore be taken as a general indicator and not a scientific measurement. They primarily serve as a basis for comparison across tested products, which are always tested under as comparable conditions as possible.

The Silent Loop 3 360 achieves a noise level of 45.2 dBa, which places it at the upper end of the scale among the tested coolers. The EK Nucleus AIO CR360 Dark has the highest noise level at 45.9 dBa, while the Arctic Liquid Freezer III 420 and LIAN LI GA II Trinity Performance 360 perform lower at 43.6 dBa and 43.2 dBa, respectively. The Cooler Master MasterLiquid 360 Atmos stands out positively with only 39.4 dBa, while the Enermax LIQMAXFLO 360mm impresses with the lowest level of 36.7 dBa. The result shows that the Silent Loop 3 360 has an acceptable, but not significantly quiet profile compared to the competition.

Price

Since the Silent Loop 360 from be quiet! has not been released during the testing period, we have been informed of an MSRP of around 160$

If you want to find more information about Silent Loop 3 from be quiet!, you can click on the banner.

Conclusion

The Silent Loop 3 360 from be quiet! is an AIO cooler that delivers solid cooling performance, but faces stiff competition in the market. At idle, it achieves a delta temperature of 4 degrees, which is acceptable, but not market-leading. Several competitors, such as the EK Nucleus AIO CR360 Lux and the Cooler Master MasterLiquid 360 Atmos, perform better with only 1 degree delta temperature, while the Arctic Liquid Freezer III 420 is closer at 3 degrees. At the same time, there are a few models that perform worse, which places the Silent Loop 3 360 in the middle of the field. Under load, it achieves a delta temperature of 49 degrees, which is higher than some of the leading models in the test, but still within acceptable limits. Competitors such as the EK Nucleus AIO CR360 Lux and Dark achieve 42 degrees, while the Arctic Liquid Freezer III 420 lands at 44 degrees. However, the Silent Loop 3 360 manages to beat models such as the be quiet! Pure Loop 2 FX 360MM and Corsair H170i Elite LCD, showing that it can still deliver strong performance.

The noise level is one of the more significant drawbacks of the Silent Loop 3 360. With a measured level of 45.2 dBa, it is not the quietest solution, and it is at the upper end of the scale among tested coolers. The EK Nucleus AIO CR360 Dark is marginally louder at 45.9 dBa, while the Arctic Liquid Freezer III 420 and LIAN LI GA II Trinity Performance 360 perform better at 43.6 and 43.2 dBa, respectively. The Cooler Master MasterLiquid 360 Atmos and Enermax LIQMAXFLO 360mm deliver significantly lower noise levels of 39.4 and 36.7 dBa, emphasizing that be quiet!'s cooler does not necessarily live up to the brand's traditional focus on low noise levels.

Design-wise, the Silent Loop 3 360 is a sleek and stylish unit. It features discreet ARGB lighting that can be integrated into many different setups without being too flashy. The included Silent Wings 4 fans are a strong addition, as they ensure balanced airflow and high cooling efficiency. Another important feature is the integrated refill port, which makes it easier to maintain the cooler over time, which sets it apart from many competing models, where closed-loop cooling is standard.

With an MSRP of around 160$, the Silent Loop 3 360 is positioned in a price range where there are many strong competitors. Coolers like the EK Nucleus AIO CR360 Lux and Arctic Liquid Freezer III 420 offer better cooling at a similar or lower price, while quieter alternatives are also available in the same price range. This means that the price does not necessarily speak in the Silent Loop 3 360's favor, as the competition offers better overall solutions in either performance or noise level.

Overall, the Silent Loop 3 360 is a solid AIO cooler that delivers on several important parameters, but without being the market leader in any of them. The cooling performance is good, but not the best, the noise level is acceptable, but not impressive, and the price matches the competition, but without offering a significant advantage. It primarily appeals to those who want a cooler from be quiet! with a stylish design and the possibility of maintenance over time. Which makes us end up with a score of 8 out of 10.

Advantages

• Sensible cooling
• Silent Wings 4 fans
• Elegant design
• Possibility of refilling liquid

Disadvantages

• Noise level

Score: 8