be quiet! Silent Loop 2 360 Liquid Cooler Review

Recently, we tested the be quiet! Pure Loop 2 FX 360 and now dive into the premium Silent Loop 2 360. Its pump housing features captivating digital RGB lighting and an aluminum faceplate for durability. The cooler utilizes the acclaimed be quiet! Silent Wings 3 PWM High-Speed fans, ensuring optimal cooling efficiency with minimal noise.

In terms of compatibility, the Silent Loop 2 360 caters to Intel’s LGA 1150, 1151, 1155, 1200, 1700, and 2011(-3) square ILM sockets, as well as AMD’s AM4, AM5, sTRX4, and TR4 sockets. However, note that mounting hardware for sTRX4 and TR4 sockets (part number BZ008) is not included and must be purchased separately.

---

Key Takeaways

• The Silent Loop 2 360 impresses with a sleek design and digital RGB lighting. It is renowned for being quiet! Silent Wings 3 PWM High-Speed fans, ensuring both aesthetics and efficient cooling.
• The Silent Loop 2 360 is ideal for gamers seeking performance and minimal noise, thanks to the Silent Wings Pro 4 fans. 
• The Silent Loop 2 360 may not be for aesthetic enthusiasts looking for a more flashier design.

---

Model	Silent Loop 2 360mm
Dimensions radiator, incl. fan (H x W x D), (mm)	394 x 120 x 52
Dimensions Cooling block (H x W x D), (mm)	94.5 x 80 x 54
Total weight (kg)	1.33
Socket compatibility Intel	1700 / 1200 / 2066 / 1150 / 1151 / 1155 / 2011(-3) Square ILM
Socket compatibility AMD	AM5 / AM4 / sTRX4,TR4(optional, mounting-kit (BZ008))
Noise level (dB(A)) @ 50% / 75% /100% rpm	19.4 / 31.3 / 38
Number of fans	3
Lighting Connector	3-pin 5V Adressable
Tube length (mm)	400
Refill port	✓

Unboxing

This cooler is shipped inside a cardboard box made packing box. This box has a black color theme on it.

 Content

It is time to take a look at what is provided by be quiet! in the accessory department.

 

be quiet! ensures long-term serviceability of this cooler by including a 100ml coolant bottle and integrating a refill port into the radiator housing. This feature allows users to top up the coolant if levels drop over time. It’s a unique addition, as most AIOs lack this provision, except for the ALPHACOOL Eisbaer and Reeven NAIA 240 coolers. The provided coolant, comprising water and Propylene Glycol, supports anti-freezing down to -5°C. However, there are no clear instructions on how users can monitor the coolant levels, mirroring the Pure Loop 2 FX 360 cooler’s box.

Closer Look

Before we begin, here are some key features of be quiet! Silent Loop 2 360 cooler:

• Dampened and adjustable pump with a 6-pole motor for very silent and immensely high-performance operation
• Powerful 3-chamber pump design significantly reduces turbulence and noise
• Silent Wings 3 PWM high-speed fans for high performance and whisper-quiet operation
• Cold plate with a high-density stack of fins for the highest cooling characteristics
• ARGB LEDs for lots of illumination options and great visual effects
• Easy-to-access refill port with coolant bottle included ensuring a long lifespan
• 3-year manufacturer’s warranty

Dimensions

Here are the dimensions!

Radiator

 

The Silent Loop 2 360 features a distinct radiator design compared to the Pure Loop 2FX 360, owing to different OEMs. Crafted from aluminum and coated in black, this radiator measures 394x120x27mm, slightly shorter in length than its counterpart. Its 27mm thickness accommodates 120x25mm fans, summing up to an overall height of 52mm. With a fin density of 20 FPI and 12 coolant channels, it exhibits efficient cooling capabilities.

The radiator’s far end, spanning 15mm, houses an integrated refill port covered by a screw, allowing users to replenish coolant using the provided 100ml supply. This design approach aligns with the Pure Loop 2 FX series, maintaining serviceability without any branding or stickers on this end—reflecting a slightly shorter chamber length of 19mm, unlike the Pure Loop 2 FX’s 14mm.

The radiator’s tube side sports sleek black clamps hiding the connections, with a serial number sticker and a sealed port for factory use. That little port? Don’t mess with it; it keeps the loop airtight. Unlike Corsair’s tight fit between the frame and fin stack, there’s a noticeable gap here, giving it about a 22mm thickness.

Like Corsair, be quiet! opts for low-permeability rubber tubes. These come wrapped in a cool black textured sleeve, running about 400mm long. A bit like that Corsair style, right?

Both sides of the radiator’s frame are riveted to the main housing. There is no branding of any sort over here. There is no protective plating under the mounting holes of the housing. This plate prevents damage to the fin stack from excessive torquing.

Block & Pump Housing

Let’s take a look at the block and pump housing. be quiet! has focused on pump design.

 

The robust pump employs an innovative three-chamber structure, ensuring exceptional performance in the Silent Loop 2 360mm while maintaining a whisper-quiet operation. Among its three chambers, the second provides ample space for the coolant, reducing turbulence before exiting the pump unit. Combined with the 6-pole three-phase motor, this design guarantees smooth and silent functionality.

The pump features substantial dampening that absorbs vibrations, significantly reducing resonances within the pump housing. This dampening technique effectively minimizes noise, a key element in achieving be quiet!’s renowned whisper-quiet operation. Operating at 2800 RPM, the pump utilizes a 3-pin flat cable, drawing power in the range of 9 to 12 volts.

The pump housing measures 80x96x56mm, with the unit standing at 56mm in height. It features an elegant brushed aluminum faceplate, showcasing the be quiet! branding. A diffuser, located beneath this faceplate, runs along the sides of the pump top and houses digital RGB LEDs for illuminating effects. Crafted from ABS material, the main housing showcases durability and quality.

This pump unit arrives with two spring-loaded screws already installed, mirroring the design seen in the Pure Loop 2 FX 360 cooler. While functional, I personally prefer a four-point mounting mechanism for more uniformly distributed pressure during installation.

Examining the rear of the housing reveals 90° fittings employed for tube connections, a common AIO design offering flexibility to adjust tube orientation. Notably, ALPHACOOL Eisbaer coolers deviate from this norm, featuring tubes installed atop the pump housing. Additionally, two flat cables emerge from the center of the unit.

One cable has a 3-pin connector. This cable powers the pump of this cooler. The second cable has dual digital RGB connectors (male and female ends) using a standard 3-pin, 5V interface. These would allow daisy chaining of other RGB elements in this loop.

The be quiet! Silent Loop 2 360 boasts a copper base coated in nickel for enhanced durability. Featuring a sizable cold plate and dense fin stack, be quiet! emphasizes maximum heat dissipation. With dimensions around 55×55 mm, the base offers substantial coverage for efficient heat transfer.

Fan

be quiet! is using Silent Wings 3 120mm PWM High-Speed fans with this cooler. These fans have been taken over by a new generation of Silent Wings 4 fans. I am expecting a new cool iteration using those fans. The Silent Wings 3 120mm PWM High-Speed fans have the following features:

• Great performance-to-noise ratio with 28.6dB(A) at 2,200rpm
• 6-pole fan motor for less power consumption and vibration
• Fluid-dynamic bearing enables a super-long life span of 300,000 hours
• Fan frame with funnel-shaped air inlets for extremely high air pressure
• 7 fan blades provide optimized airflow
• PWM-controlled fan speed by the motherboard
• German product conception, design, and quality control
• 3 years manufacturer’s warranty

The fans sport a sleek all-black appearance, perfect for stealthy or neutral-themed builds. Their 7-blade design, layered for improved airflow and reduced turbulence, resembles the Light Wings fans on the Pure Loop 2 FX 360 cooler.

On the backside, a 4-armed assembly includes an inset for wire routing from the hub to the frame. A sticker displays the fan’s power rating, set at a robust 2200 RPM.

Each mounting corner has a circular shape anti-vibration pad.

These fans have sleeved cable (not a flat one) having a 4-pin PWM connector.

The specifications of the fans are:

Dimension	120x120x25mm
Type	4-pin PWM Connector
Speed	2200 RPM
Airflow	73.33 CFM*
Air Pressure	3.37 mmH2O*
Noise	39.8 dB(A) at 100% Speed
Bearing Type	Fluid Dynamic Bearings
Lifespan	300,000 hours at 25°C ambient
Input Voltage	12VDC
Input Current	0.16 A
Safety Current	0.37 A
Input Power	1.92 W
Operating Voltage	5-13.2 V*

Please note that the performance data of these fans are not provided in the specifications of the Silent Loop 2 360 cooler. We have taken this data from the webpage of Silent Wings 3 120mm PWM High-Speed fans. This data will be true if be quiet! is using a standard version with this cooler.

Controller

be quiet! has provided an RGB controller with this cooler, unlike a ARGB-PWM-Hub on the Pure Loop 2 FX 360.

This sleek, minimally cabled design impresses with its black plastic housing. On one end, a fixed 3-pin, 5V RGB connector stands, while the other end hosts a 2-pin header already connected to a SATA cable—a design reminiscent of familiar controllers like the SilverStone PF360 and iCEGEM coolers.

Featuring three buttons, this controller simplifies operation: the M-labeled button cycles through lighting modes, while the arrow-labeled buttons adjust lighting speed or static color. Additionally, an LED indicator changes colors with each press of the M button.

Notably, be quiet! utilizes standard 3-pin, 5V RGB connectors, ensuring seamless lighting compatibility across a range of leading motherboard solutions.

Installation

We have tested the be quiet! Silent Loop 2 360 cooler on Intel platform using Intel core i7 13700k on GIGABYTE Z790 AORUS ELITE AX motherboard.

Follow these steps:

1. Prepare the Intel backplate first.
2. Pass the Intel screws through the outermost notches on the mounting corners of the backplate.
3. Secure these screws using rubber O-rings.
4. Place the backplate on the motherboard’s backside aligning the mounting holes around the socket area with the threaded portion of the Intel screws.
5. Use Intel Spacer Nuts B to secure the backplate on the CPU socket.
6. Place the Intel mounting brackets for LGA 1700 socket on top of the Intel Spacer Nuts B.
7. Secured these mounting brackets using the 4x screws.
8. Apply thermal paste on the CPU.
9. Place the block on the CPU aligning the 2x screws on the block with the holes on the mounting brackets. Start tightening the screws until threads run out.
10. Install fans on the radiator.
11. Install radiator assembly in the PC Case.
12. Connect the RGB cable to the bundled RGB controller or connect directly on the motherboard.
13. Connect 4-pin PWM connector cable from Pump to the CPU_Fan Header or any other PWM header.
14. Use provided 3-way PWM splitter cable to connect all three fans to a single 4-pin PWM fan header on the motherboard.
15. Installation is completed.

Clearance

This cooler has a dimension of 394 x 120 x 27mm without fans. With fans, this size is 394 x 120 x 52mm. We did not observe any clearance issue of this cooler. You would need to check that your PC Case has clearance for this size radiator. The tube side does not hinder DIMM slots. There is no hub provided with this cooler and fans are not RGB, so cable management should not be an issue.

Digital RGB Lighting

Here are some pictures from our testing!

Thermal Testing

In reviewing the new platforms from both AMD and Intel, the focus has shifted toward maximizing clock speeds, pushing the limits of thermal density due to the 7nm or lower fabrication nodes. The challenge lies in testing CPU coolers as they now need to sustain specific clocks under certain loads, demanding a different approach from traditional cooler assessments based on thermal capacity.

Operating within an ambient temperature range of 30-31°C, we conducted testing on an open-air bench system. However, the real-world temperatures inside a chassis may differ based on airflow optimization. It’s crucial to note that variations in silicon and testing conditions can impact results, despite close margins between identical SKUs. We’ve detailed our testing variables to provide a comprehensive assessment.

Test Setups

We have used the below-mentioned configuration for this testing:

• Intel i7-13700K
• GIGABYTE Z790 AORUS ELITE AX
• Kingston Fury Renegade DDR5 2x16GB 6400MT/s CAS32
• GIGABYTE GeForce RTX 3060 VISION OC [For Display]
• Sabrent Rocket 4 Plus 2TB NVMe SSD
• be quiet! Straight Power 11 850W Platinum PSU
• Thermaltake Core P6 TG Snow Edition converted into an open-frame layout

Here is the settings table for testing:

P-Cores Clock (MHz)	Auto [5300 All Cores]
E-Cores Clock (MHz)	Auto [4200 All Cores]
Voltage (V)	Auto [Ranged between 1.27 to 1.30V]
C-States	Disabled
Speed Step	Disabled
Thermal Paste	Noctua NT-H1
Thermal Paste Application	Dot Method
Test Run Time	30 minutes
Idle Time	10 minutes
Fan Speed	100% PWM Duty Cycle
Pump Speed	Full speed
Header	CPU_Fan Header
Stress Software	CINEBENCH R23.2
Monitoring Software	HWInfo64

Result

This test was done using Intel’s default settings with power limits imposed. The CPU was drawing roughly 225W power so this is a 220W domain result.

Under intense workloads, the max temperature hit 90°C, merely 1°C lower than the Pure Loop 2 FX 360 cooler. Honestly, such a marginal difference usually doesn’t signify much, unless in particularly sensitive tests. This cooler’s performance aligns closely with other 360mm models like the CORSAIR iCUE H150i Elite Capellix XT White and be quiet! Pure Loop 2 FX 360. If anything, this cooler slightly outperforms them. However, it’s worth noting that this similarity is typical considering the behavior of the new platform and the prevailing high ambient temperatures.

Noise

As per our sound meter, these fans were making 54 dB(A) sound output at an ambient sound level of 34 dB(A).

Should You Buy It?

After weighing in all its pros and cons, is it a justifiable purchase?

Buy It If:

✅ You desire whisper-quiet cooling: For those who appreciate silent operations while achieving efficient cooling, this cooler is an amazing purchase!

✅ Global Availability isn’t an issue: If US availability and an extensive warranty aren’t pivotal in your buying decision.

Don’t Buy It If:

❌ You want an extensive warranty: The warranty that comes with the cooler may not be preferable to all buyers.

Conclusion

The be quiet! Silent Loop 2 360 cooler, part of their premium range, offers whisper-quiet performance with digital RGB lighting effects, boasting a sleek design. Notably, its pricing aligns closely with the Pure Loop 2 FX 360, a cooler from their Essential line.

This 360mm cooler, not available in the US due to potential patent issues, features a slim radiator with a dense fin stack and a 15mm chamber for coolant refills. Its block houses a three-chamber design pump, promising high performance and silent operation, maintaining a maximum rotational speed of 2800 RPM.

With a brushed aluminum top plate hosting digital RGB LEDs, this cooler’s aesthetic stands out. The fans, the Silent Wings 3 120mm PWM High-Speed ones, deliver top-notch airflow at 2100 RPM but lack RGB illumination. The RGB controller, included, enables dynamic lighting effects.

Recent Updates

---

---