Hello! 
I have a strong sensitivity toward high pitch sounds and I wanted to know what kind of noise level and pitch I could expect? I've never owned a liquid cooling setup, but I have done the research. So I have a basic idea. What kind of sounds could I expect from this specific cooler? 
 
If the EVGA CLC was running by itself in a confined silent space with nothing else running, would I hear the pump? Does any amount of sound escape its casing?
 
Thank you for your time. :) 

Thank you for commenting, MDecker.
 
My system is inside an Evolve ATX and I can hear every detail inside it. This cooler would be competing with a NH-D15 with two NF-A14 IPPC set at 30% (≈650rpm) when idle. Also four more NF-A14 IPPC (≈650rpm) for the case fans. Yes I took a chance on their industrial model vs their standard. But it paid off well. They're very pleasing at 30% but have plenty of power if needed. The loudest parts of the system are the two hard drives.
 
My two hard drives cut through the sound of six NF-A14 IPPC all running at 650rpm. Both with just normal hard drive sounds. So what I'm really worried about with this cooler is the pitch of the sound. Even if it's quiet, if its pitch is too high, I may hear it over everything else. If that were the case then it could be a deal breaker for me. 
 
But I've always been curious about liquid coolers. And I thought since I have an all EVGA build that if it leaked they would actually be able to replace everything since they made it.
 
I think I'm a bit too hesitant. I'll wait and see if it ever comes to Micro Center and then give it another consideration. Thank you for your input, MDecker. :)

Awesome. Thank you for your comment, MVanden Berghe. That is about what I expected, but I wanted to see what people experienced. :)

Just ordered the CLC 280, can't wait as my current Corsair H115i is giving my 6700k temps of 90+ 😨

What are your full load temps like?.

RuffRyderInk

Duppex77
Just ordered the CLC 280, can't wait as my current Corsair H115i is giving my 6700k temps of 90+ 😨

What are your full load temps like?.

Hi Duppex77,
 
in Germany it is out now in very very small numbers.
I had have problems yesterday to install it. Runs over 100C° with i7-4790k @4.5Ghz@1.20V.
Today i have to check why the backplate is not holding the cooler correctly.
If i have fixed my Problem i will tell u my temps under idle and load.
 
It would be nice if u can also give details after installing. I don`t think that ur temperatures will change a lot.
I thought about a pull setup, but i dont know ift his is possible with these designer cooling fans. :-)
The fans have a bad quality in my eyes. U can bend the plastics very easy.
 
I wish good luck and experience with ur change!
 

sounds like the cooler is not fully seating, i had the issue with my corsair h100i, the theaded post that the screws go into were to long and protruding through the MB, it seems the newer boards are just a bit thinner than my x58 was, i talked to corsair and the sent a new backplate but it made no difference since they were exactly the same, i ended up putting small washers between the MB and back plate so it would fully tighten down and temps dropped to were they should be. 

I just got the CLC 280 installed on a new 8700k build.  I can start to hear the pump at around 70% in the bios on a gigabyte gaming 7.  however the fans that come with the CLC are way loud at anything past 20%, 50% sounds like a jet engine and 100%... well... I thought they were going to become violent and spin off the hub and slice my limbs off...  But the pump noise it not loud at all.  It's one of those noises you have to know to listen for in order to hear it.  You dont even need to have the pump runnint 100% or even 70% if your on a stock clocked CPU.

 
I don't hear the pump on my CLC280, and I have it plugged in at 100% power 24/7. I have some of the quietest fans available (bequiet! SilentWings3) and cannot hear the pump over the fans even when the fans are only running around 40% (and the fans are barely audible either). So yeah, the pump is pretty damn quiet. Of course some of that will depend on your case and its location - if you're running an open test bench sitting right next to you, then yes you'll probably be able to hear the quiet hum of the pump doing what it's supposed to be doing - providing your fans are dialed down low.