KitGuru KitGuru.net – Tech News | Hardware News | Hardware Reviews | IOS | Mobile | Gaming | Graphics Cards
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 HIS custom cooler design proves to really deliver the goods, generating very little noise, even when gaming, peaking just under 33 dBa. When under Furmark load, the noise levels rise to 35.4 dBa.
The card emits very low levels of noise at idle, which is partially explained by the slow spinning fan (870 rpm).
WOw that cooler melts my eye balls.
Thank god you dont have to look at it all the time once its installed !
Hey, anyway we can petition them to make the cooler a different colour? that really is dire looking.
but hey it works I ‘pose ! nice one.
Why have they a y shaped plate over the memory? whats that about?
Bit of a contradiction that card. one of the best AMD 6870s and easily the ugliest.
Those temperatures are great, especially for the new version of Furmark, which melts some cards. I am not sure I value furmark anymoer for temps, but I like the fact you include gaming results.
@ Dave. the metal plate is obviously for cooling, there are probably thermal pads under it. and then the fan above keeps it cooler and it takes the heat from teh chips.
Nice card design and great performance. as the review says though the 560 is a tough card to beat at this price point.
Weird choice of colours for the cooler design. its very bright. looks like cheap plastic.
I still have concerns about HIS warranty in UK, ive read horror stories.
Wow, 975mhz core, thats insane for an out of the box setting. They must have a good batch for this release.
Very good card from HIS. Its a make I never look at when buying a card, but this one looks like one of the best.
the color isn’t for everyone, apparently. It’s a good match though for Gigabyte Mobo’s. Not that anyone should be buying a VC because of the color. Excluding case modders, possibly.
Where can I buy this exact card? I recently read a review in PC Gamer magazine noting it at £149, but can’t find this model online anywhere!