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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
The HIS Radeon HD 6950 IceQ Plus is one of the quietest performance cards we have tested, barely audible even when gaming. We have always admired this rather ugly looking cooler and it hasn't disappointed again.
Very nice, shame it looks like a fisher price toy …
Ordering one, my friend has a IceQ card and I agree its basically silent.
Simple fact is, once it is shoved in a case you never see it again. its not that bad though. its different I like different
wow quite surprised it was that good, my HD6950 hits 88c in furmark 🙁
Whats their UK warranty like. no info on it? do you return it to OCUK or not? they shafted me before with a motherboard and no one helped.
It shows that a small fan isnt necessary bad. they have used massive heatpipes and a huge venting area to ensure it spins slowly. nice idea. shame they dont do a black cooler version. I have a case window mod with lights and this would look hideous in it. (all red lighting in my case)
seems like a very good product indeed
Seems to be the best 6950 around. You didn’t point it out, but the fact that this is also a rear exhaust card makes it pretty amazing.
And I think some black paint might help it out a bit.