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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 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
This card is a very quiet card when gaming, with a reading generally between 34 and 35 dBa depending on the GPU load. Using Furmark pushes the card to its theorectical limits, just above 38 dBa. A great set of results for the fan design. Using the quieter fan mode drops the dBa by 1.5dBa when under load.
I am not easily impressed, but this did it.
That is one hell of a mid range graphics card. Wish they would bring out a MARS or ARES style card. my money is on that it would be better than anything asus could do.
I love their frozr coolers. buddy of mine has one of their older boards and the cooling system is the best on the market.
I love their customised solutions, the high end modded stuff they bring out. this is f*cking brilliant.
With all the extras ill be stunned if this retails for only £20 more than reference
59c under gaming load. thats specatular. my 6850 runs 10-15c higher.
I never knew they made customised cards like this. its a complete overhaul. excellent. so im waiting on the 560 modded one now 🙂
man I love this site, I was waiting on this card and didnt expect a review so soon. ordering it when I can.
Great bit of engineering from MSI, these guys can deliver smoking hot hardware when they put their mind to it. they are just slow on releasing the hardware, but worth the wait.
Biggest issue I have is that with 20-30 more than a reference HD6870, you are starting to get into the 6950 zone.
Very elaborate design. A lot of work went into this card. Nice job.
I love the metal cooler, thats radical. bet it weighs a ton.
I love my MSI 5770 HAWK
can’t wait to get this R6870.. Better start saving money..
😀
exelente review!!!! en estos dias me llegaaa y estoy feliiz!!
I bought two of these cards on recommendation. Glad I did after reading this 😀 Would love crossfire-x support tho, then i would have got three 🙂
I got two and one is bad. Card its WAY too hot 90c when playing BF3 while my other card was nice and cool max temp 52c. Cost to ship and replace under RMA was $21 Fedex. MSI sent my card back from RMA after 4 weeks and its still at 90c on load. Its like they didn’t even touch it. I can’t recommend this card due to MSI RMA. Just do a quick search on hot twin frozer cards. Its a nightmare. Run from MSI.
Sorry to hear that, ill mention it to MSI.
If your Twin frozer is getting hot.
Remove the cooler and clean the GPU form to thick thermal paste.
Ad some Artic silver paste and voila a cooler card.
Well that fixed my hot issue.
i have a this card and i would like to know something that is not explained anywhere, not even the manual.
There is a few red leds on top of de video card and i don´t know what is their function (in my case are always on). Could anyone tell me? Thanks!