Rio Pumps? Quiet? Reliable?

genesis · 02-21-2003, 11:43 PM

I'm in Canada, and putting together my first system as cheaply as possible (I'm a student, and a poor one at that). I got a Chevette heatercore from a local dealer for cheap, and some 90mm 24V panaflos to strap onto it (only 1.50CAD each). I'm going to use the mech eng shop here to build a #rotor style block as soon as I can, so that only leaves the question of the pump.

It's not as easy to get pumps up here as it seems to be in the US. I haven't been able to find any Via Aqua, but Rios seem to be plentiful. I'm looking at either the 800 (210gph) or the 1100 (375gph) at $35 and $40 respectively. I'm planning on running it submerged, just for the simplicity, and reduced noise. It's also going to be external (heatercore and res as well).

Anyone have any experience with these pumps?

The 1100 seems to be a no brainer, as it's far more powerful for only $5 more, but I'm wondering about noise levels, and adding heat to the system. I'm using a Palamino 2000+, and I may do some mild overclocking.

Thanks

genesis · 02-23-2003, 06:11 PM

No one has any experience with these pumps?

psychofunk · 02-23-2003, 08:22 PM

I have read in various aquarium forums that they die without warning and are not to be relied upon, but that is it, I have no idea how they work in water cooling applications.

ItsSoLARGE · 02-23-2003, 08:39 PM

In terms of watercooling.. rios have been hit with a bad name. I dont think they are bad pumps really, just that early on in watercooling one or two guys got hit with bad rios and they received a bad name.
If u have a choice go for something else just in case all the bad-hype about them is true. I had one, it never failed or anything.
If you can go for a danner magdrive, i've always liked those.

CheeseBall · 02-24-2003, 09:32 AM

I'm planning on getting a maxi-jet1200 (295GPH), $21. There is on ebay if you like buying stuff there, for $17+$6shipping.

I will be picking it up on wednesday, from a local place. So I haven't tried it out yet.

ambient · 02-24-2003, 12:50 PM

I've used RIO pumps in my now disassembled salt-water aquarium. I used the 200, 400, i think 600, and a 2100. All of the pumps ran non-stop for 4 years. The 200 and 400 made a lot of noise if they were subjected to a good amount of backpressure. The 200 was louder than the 2100 under back pressure. As far as reliability, they were great.

genesis · 02-24-2003, 01:05 PM

So between the Rio 800, 1100 and Maxijet 1200, the Maxijet would be the best choice?

Performance is important, but I'm primarily concerned with noise.

jtroutma · 02-24-2003, 06:10 PM

Here is my expereince with a Rio 1100 that I used in my setup.
It was using in an all 3/8" system pushing water from the bottom of my full height case all the way to the top. It was quiet, cool running, and other than the inital leak it had (used epoxy to solve that problem

it ran reliably for almost 2 years straight. The only reason why it was replaced was because it was starting to not always startup after I unpluged it and pluged it back in one-too-many-times in a row.

I have also heard that these pumps are reliable for 24/7 operation but NOT for on/off continuosly situations (ie. turn your computer on and off every day)

BTW check the web, I have seen the 1100 for as cheap as 15$ and shipping INCLUDING taxes and whatever cant be more than an extra $15.

Tar Man · 02-24-2003, 11:32 PM

Ive been using a Rio 800, actually quite a good little pump. Good water pressure thru a standard Waterbloc/res/Rad. Its not too noisey, as long as you dont have it up against something solid, otherwise it gets a whole lot louder.

I screwed a 3/8th(thread) to 1/4 inch barb into it and it squirted water about 3 feet into the air.

If you do get one, be VERY careful that u dont run it dry or in a system with too many bubbles, the ceramic shaft is VERY fragile. So make sure its well submerged with no bubbles in the impellor compartment, otherwise it'll vibrate too wildly for the shaft and it'll snap. Like it did with mine...

Anyone know how to fix ceramic pump shafts???

I got mine for about 60ish NewZealand, which is about $35US

genesis · 02-25-2003, 01:06 AM

Cheeseball, when you do get the Maxijet 1200, report back okay? I'm interested in your initial impressions.

02-21-2003, 11:43 PM	#1
genesis Cooling Neophyte Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: UBC Posts: 13	Rio Pumps? Quiet? Reliable? I'm in Canada, and putting together my first system as cheaply as possible (I'm a student, and a poor one at that). I got a Chevette heatercore from a local dealer for cheap, and some 90mm 24V panaflos to strap onto it (only 1.50CAD each). I'm going to use the mech eng shop here to build a #rotor style block as soon as I can, so that only leaves the question of the pump. It's not as easy to get pumps up here as it seems to be in the US. I haven't been able to find any Via Aqua, but Rios seem to be plentiful. I'm looking at either the 800 (210gph) or the 1100 (375gph) at $35 and $40 respectively. I'm planning on running it submerged, just for the simplicity, and reduced noise. It's also going to be external (heatercore and res as well). Anyone have any experience with these pumps? The 1100 seems to be a no brainer, as it's far more powerful for only $5 more, but I'm wondering about noise levels, and adding heat to the system. I'm using a Palamino 2000+, and I may do some mild overclocking. Thanks

02-23-2003, 08:39 PM	#4
ItsSoLARGE Cooling Savant Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: So Cal Posts: 125	In terms of watercooling.. rios have been hit with a bad name. I dont think they are bad pumps really, just that early on in watercooling one or two guys got hit with bad rios and they received a bad name. If u have a choice go for something else just in case all the bad-hype about them is true. I had one, it never failed or anything. If you can go for a danner magdrive, i've always liked those. __________________ Plumber's Goop: The Watercooler's Duct Tape

02-24-2003, 12:50 PM	#6
ambient Cooling Savant Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Planet Earth Posts: 312	I've used RIO pumps in my now disassembled salt-water aquarium. I used the 200, 400, i think 600, and a 2100. All of the pumps ran non-stop for 4 years. The 200 and 400 made a lot of noise if they were subjected to a good amount of backpressure. The 200 was louder than the 2100 under back pressure. As far as reliability, they were great. __________________ water cooled 1.4 tbird @ 1580 143x11 vcore 1.88 vio 3.55

02-24-2003, 06:10 PM	#8
jtroutma Cooling Savant Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: SLO, CA Posts: 837	Here is my expereince with a Rio 1100 that I used in my setup. It was using in an all 3/8" system pushing water from the bottom of my full height case all the way to the top. It was quiet, cool running, and other than the inital leak it had (used epoxy to solve that problem it ran reliably for almost 2 years straight. The only reason why it was replaced was because it was starting to not always startup after I unpluged it and pluged it back in one-too-many-times in a row. I have also heard that these pumps are reliable for 24/7 operation but NOT for on/off continuosly situations (ie. turn your computer on and off every day) BTW check the web, I have seen the 1100 for as cheap as 15$ and shipping INCLUDING taxes and whatever cant be more than an extra $15. __________________ Athlon64 X2 4200+ @ 2.5Ghz (250FSB x 10) OCZ VX 1GB 4000 @ 250FSB (6-2-2-2 timmings) DFI LANParty nForce4 Ultra-D SCSI Raid 5 x (3) Cheetah 15K HDDs LSI Express 500 (128MB cache) OCZ PowerStream 520W PSU ATI X850XT PE (Stock) DTEK WhiteWater + DTEK Custom Radiator Eheim 1250

02-24-2003, 11:32 PM	#9
Tar Man Cooling Neophyte Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: New Zealand Posts: 4	Rio De Pumpo Ive been using a Rio 800, actually quite a good little pump. Good water pressure thru a standard Waterbloc/res/Rad. Its not too noisey, as long as you dont have it up against something solid, otherwise it gets a whole lot louder. I screwed a 3/8th(thread) to 1/4 inch barb into it and it squirted water about 3 feet into the air. If you do get one, be VERY careful that u dont run it dry or in a system with too many bubbles, the ceramic shaft is VERY fragile. So make sure its well submerged with no bubbles in the impellor compartment, otherwise it'll vibrate too wildly for the shaft and it'll snap. Like it did with mine... Anyone know how to fix ceramic pump shafts??? I got mine for about 60ish NewZealand, which is about $35US

02-23-2003, 06:11 PM	#2
genesis Cooling Neophyte Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: UBC Posts: 13	No one has any experience with these pumps?

02-23-2003, 08:22 PM	#3
psychofunk Cooling Savant Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 365	I have read in various aquarium forums that they die without warning and are not to be relied upon, but that is it, I have no idea how they work in water cooling applications.

02-24-2003, 09:32 AM	#5
CheeseBall Cooling Savant Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Colorado Posts: 176	I'm planning on getting a maxi-jet1200 (295GPH), $21. There is on ebay if you like buying stuff there, for $17+$6shipping. I will be picking it up on wednesday, from a local place. So I haven't tried it out yet.

02-24-2003, 01:05 PM	#7
genesis Cooling Neophyte Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: UBC Posts: 13	So between the Rio 800, 1100 and Maxijet 1200, the Maxijet would be the best choice? Performance is important, but I'm primarily concerned with noise.

02-25-2003, 01:06 AM	#10
genesis Cooling Neophyte Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: UBC Posts: 13	Cheeseball, when you do get the Maxijet 1200, report back okay? I'm interested in your initial impressions.

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