The latest of BeQuiet!’s liquid coolers – the Silent Loop 3 – delivers exceptionally high cooling performance, thanks in part to its premium 120mm Silent Wings 4 (Pro) fans. The Silent Loop 3 with a 360mm radiator meets the criteria and demands of even the most demanding users while maintaining wide compatibility with cases. However, achieving ultra-quiet operation will require slowing down the pump.
We’re testing the mid-sized version of the BeQuiet! Silent Loop 3. Beyond the 360mm model being reviewed, there’s also a larger 420mm version (with 140mm fans) and a smaller 240mm variant with two 120mm fans. The 360mm Silent Loop 3 model features three such 120mm fans. BeQuiet! identifies this cooler with the code BW025, which helps locate it in stores or other materials. Key specifications are summarized in the table below.
| Basic parameters | BeQuiet! Silent Loop 3 (BW025) | |
| Supported sockets | Intel LGA 1851, 1700, 1200, 115x; AMD AM5, AM4, TR5, TR4 | |
| Build type | liquid (AIO) | |
| Height (w/ fans) in mm | 52.8 | |
| Length (w/ fans) in mm | 396 | |
| Width (w/ fans) in mm | 120 | |
| Height of the liquid block in mm | 53.0 | |
| Length of the liquid block in mm | 75.9 | |
| Width of the liquid block in mm | 80.4 | |
| Tube length in mm | 400 | |
| Daisy chaining of fans | yes | |
| (A)RGB elements | yes (kryt bloku) | |
| Number of fans and their format | 3× 120 | |
| Weight (with fans) in g | 1773 | |
| Approximate retail price in EUR | 165 |
Details of the BeQuiet! Silent Loop 3 (BW025) cooler
The radiator is constructed from aluminum with a 27mm thickness – a fairly common dimension. Combined with the standard 25mm fan thickness, this results in a relatively slim total profile (52.8mm including slightly protruding screw heads) and above-average case compatibility. This remains true even for top-mounted installations, where space is typically constrained with potential clearance issues between the cooler’s fan frame and motherboard VRM heatsinks or installed memory modules. The Silent Loop 3’s design minimizes these complications thanks to its relatively slim profile.
The fans used share many design characteristics with the 120mm Silent Wings Pro 4, though they operate at lower speeds (max 2500 RPM vs. the advertised 3000 RPM of the SWP4) while maintaining identical geometry. This applies to both the rotor design and the frame with its tight “radiator-optimized” corners, which are crucial for maintaining static pressure and airflow through the radiator – key factors for cooling performance. We’ve previously examined how different corner designs with the Silent Wings Pro 4 fans affect radiator airflow in our dedicated article.
The Silent Loop 3’s liquid cooler fans come with only one set of pre-installed corners – the optimal configuration for maximum cooling efficiency.
For daisy-chaining multiple fans and connecting them to a single header (typically CPU_fan), the package includes a simple adapter that connects all the radiator fans.
Another important radiator specification worth noting is the FPI (fins per inch) count. With 30 fins per inch between the liquid channels, this represents a slightly above-average density. However, the included high-static-pressure fans are well-suited for this configuration.
The tubing connecting to the water block measures 400mm long – sufficient for installation even in larger cases, including front-mounted configurations where the distance to the CPU is greater than from the top panel.
For easier installation, the block features swivel joints where the tubes connect. The water block itself stands just 53mm tall, making it compact enough for many SFF cases.
The rectangular cold plate is particularly noteworthy. Measuring 60 × 42 mm, it provides sufficient coverage even for the oversized IHS of AMD Threadripper processors. For mainstream platforms, it comfortably accommodates the relatively larger IHS of Intel processors (Alder Lake and newer) without overhang. For other supported CPUs with significantly smaller heatspreaders, the Silent Loop 3’s base is substantially over-dimensioned.
The water block is secured to the motherboard using a metal backplate. The installation process is reasonably straightforward: long screws are inserted into the backplate, secured with rubber washers, and this assembly is then fed through the mounting holes around the CPU socket. The backplate is fastened with threaded standoffs (on the motherboard’s front side) that create the necessary spacing, and the liquid cooler’s block is then screwed into these standoffs using brackets pre-installed on the water block.
Two cables emerge from the water block: one powers the pump while the other connects to the top surface lighting. You can see how this looks in the photo below this text. ARGB lighting can be controlled through third-party applications, allowing synchronization with other RGB components in your system, as it uses a standard 3-pin 5V ARGB connector.
Please note: The article continues in the following chapters.
Hello, thanks for this review. I don’t think that the fans are the Silent Wings Pro 4 but instead the Silent Wings 4 High Speed.
Hello Jeanfl, despite what BeQuiet! says in the description:
https://www.bequiet.com/en/watercooler/5398
They do have a PRO version though:
https://www.bequiet.com/en/casefans/silent-wings-4/3696
(look at the frame edges)
Jeanfi was likely referring mainly to the impeller’s aerodynamic design. But yes, it’s kind of a hybrid mix – and I guess it depends on which specific feature someone associates with a particular fan series’ naming. 🙂
sorry, but I don’t see any difference between SW4 Pro and SW4 HS on the impeller side. 🙂
…either way, it’s the SW4 Pro without the redundant speed switch or the SW4 HS with the Pro frame 😀
Thanks for checking this for me, haha. We haven’t dissected the 120mm SW4 HS in our fan tests yet, so honestly, I’m not sure how its impeller geometry compares to the Silent Wings Pro 4. If it’s identical, then yes – the fans on the Silent Loop 3 cooler essentially match the SWP4, though they lack the speed switch (like the retail versions) and run slower at max RPM. 🙂
Thanks for the comment. Of course. For accurate assessment, all details would need to be examined. It will be a combination of both proposals. These fans, used on Silent Loop 3, will take something from each design. The aerodynamic impeller design may be closer to Silent Wings 4 fans. Those, however, don’t have such tight radiator corners. Those are characteristic of Silent Wings Pro 4 fans instead.
It’ll be a union of both worlds (120mm fans SW4 HS and SWP4), and in the context of the cooler as a whole, the labeling doesn’t actually matter that much. What’s important is how the entire design (consisting of specific elements) performs. 🙂
It’s not pro fan, it’s high-speed fan.
It really depends on how you look at the fan. While the aerodynamic design of the impeller is similar to that of the Silent Wings 4 High-Speed fans, the blade geometry – which heavily influences airflow through radiators – is more reminiscent of the “Pro” variant. (Non-Pro SW4 fans have a gap between the fan frame and the radiator frame at the corners, which reduces static pressure and, consequently, airflow through the radiator – potentially leading to lower cooling performance).