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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
When idle, the hardware is relatively quiet rising to 34.6 dBa when gaming. Furmark pushes the fan speeds a little higher to 35.6 dBa. It isn't a silent card, audible when gaming and under synthetic load, but the noise levels aren't intrusive.
I wish more companies did collectors editions, they are much more interesting to read. I agree however on the screwdriver set. its fab, but i have all the tools in a drawer already.
seriously, stop reviewing powercolor hardware, they are basically impossible to buy here. I know from the oCUk forums that they stopped doing them cause of warranty issues, they wouldnt honour uk people.
thanks for review, not for this card but for the link on ebuyer for the 250 quid 6970. tyhats my son sorted for christmas.
I think its a thing of beauty, people will pay for it. well if they can find it, I couldnt. anywhere.
Its a great idea, just massively overpriced for what you get. My biggest problem with Powercolor is that I read a huge thread on OCUK last year when they stopped stocking them saying that they weren’t authorising RMAs or something.