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 closed 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
Both coolers are fantastic, mirroring previous results with IceQ coolers we tested in the past. The X Turbo X version is actually a little quieter, thanks to the larger, centrally positioned fan. Both fans idle between 800rpm and 900rpm, meaning they are almost silent under normal, light load use.
very nice, a little expensive for my wallet right now however.
The names ARE VERY confusing, turbo, then non turbo, the X versions. They need to work out better names for them all. as I thought OCUk were selling the plain turbo one, but its the non turbo one. The pricing is a little high too. some of the 7950’s are 299.
The turbo version (non X), that cooler is huge. I dont think it would cause a problem in a case, but it seems excessive. Performance is good.
Problem with HIS is availability, even in the UK. only OCUK seem to stock them and they often dont stock them all.
Niether of these are available. only way to get them is the competition you are running now. its not good.
They are like frankenstein coolers. even the nicer looking X version is almost their attempt at jewellery.
They need a new marketing guy who can promote them better to the western audience. even their box art is sh!te.
Nothing wrong with their cards. I bought one of their AMD cards a few years ago and its still working fine. most of them are made in the same factories as the bigger names like XFX etc.
Only issue is their visibility is dire. Only one store I know has them too. All the cool cards you guys review never get sold !
That X version looks great. bit concerned about the pricing, if the model, two down is £270?
This card is under £300 and its the next range up http://www.aria.co.uk/Products/Components/Graphics+Cards+-+AMD/Radeon+HD+7950/VTX3D+Radeon+HD+7950+3072MB+GDDR5+PCI-Express+Graphics+Card+?productId=49716
People wont buy a 7870 when the 7950 is the same price.
DOnt use furmark, its not good. test temperatures with games. its more realistic