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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
AMD have enhanced their latest reference cooler, adding a bigger, more capable fan. That said, with two cards, the ambient temperatures around the cards rise, causing both fans to work harder, spinning faster. This adds to the overall noise emissions, peaking at over 37 dBA when gaming, and rising to over 40 dBa when stressed in Furmark. This is clearly audible, even within a performance oriented gaming chassis.
One of these cards is expensive enough, cant believe anyone would need two of these !
not much of a deal to make me want HIS over anyone else. XFX card looks by far the best. surprised they beat sapphire out of the block with a modified card.
What are HIS like for warranty terms in the UK? Some of these far east brands have little support in UK.
the problem is the UK pricing is all over the place. between £440 and £540 and most of them are reference designs. get the cheapest card I say if you want one./
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=GX-176-OK&groupid=701&catid=56&subcat=938
best value card, if you dont need a company sticker on it 🙂