We have changed our method of measuring noise levels. We have built a system inside a Lian Li chassis with no case fans and have used a fanless cooler on our CPU. We are using a heatpipe based passive power supply and an Intel SSD to keep noise levels to a minimum. The motherboard is also passively cooled. This gives us a build with completely passive cooling and it means we can measure noise of just the graphics card inside the system when we run looped 3dMark tests. Ambient noise in the room is around 20-25dBa. We measure from a distance of around 1 meter from the chassis and 4 foot from the ground to mirror a real world situation.
Why do this? Well this means we can eliminate secondary noise pollution in the test room and concentrate on only the video card. It also brings us slightly closer to industry standards, such as DIN 45635.
KitGuru noise guide
10dBA – Normal Breathing/Rustling Leaves
20-25dBA – Whisper
30dBA – High Quality Computer fan
40dBA – A Bubbling Brook, or a Refridgerator
50dBA – Normal Conversation
60dBA – Laughter
70dBA – Vacuum Cleaner or Hairdryer
80dBA – City Traffic or a Garbage Disposal
90dBA – Motorcycle or Lawnmower
100dBA – MP3 player at maximum output
110dBA – Orchestra
120dBA – Front row rock concert/Jet Engine
130dBA – Threshold of Pain
140dBA – Military Jet takeoff/Gunshot (close range)
160dBA – Instant Perforation of eardrum
The fans on the card peak at around 2,200rpm when the Furmark stress test is running – this translates to around 50 percent under load. This drops to around 2,000 rpm when gaming.
Great look card, but it seems overpriced tbh.
Their reputation as one of the finest makers of video cards and motherboards is always strengthened when these reviews appear. The overall design is fantastic and it will be ideal for overclockers. I cant help but feel that those people will ditch the 3 slot cooler for phase however.
Impressive, but the price isn’t quite so appealing. ill stick to the mid/low end I think !
Another dream card I will never be able to afford.
WHile this card is certainly a good showpiece for Asus, its not really practical for the mainstream audience. who cares about soldering? I dont think even most overclockers do. its too high end for 99.9% of the audience. good reading however, thanks.
Great pictures, any chance you could send some of them to me for my desktop? email is in this posting.
Nice looking card indeed. not so sure about the three slot cooler however, is that ‘really’ needed?
Asus get lost with 3 slot cooling on a card which brings nothing new to the market. I could understand 3 slots on GTX590. Why not on such a monster card, but not on 580 (or 570 for that matter). Overpriced like hell.
MSI TwinFrozrIII Lighting GTX580 eats that Asus for breakfast.
Looks like the MSI Lightning 580 is still a better card, mine stays under 65 degrees at 900mhz core while the card is still only double slot.
chance you could send some of them to me for my desktop?