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Recently 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.
We load the card with FurMark.
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 cooler is reasonably good, although it can be heard when pushed hard. We wouldn't say it was intrusive, but custom 3rd party solutions released at a later date always prove popular with the enthusiast audience.
Performance is really good , the price is going to mean these sell very well, especially for performance enthusiasts in crossfire!
Powercolor bundle the mini dp cable thats a good extra. surprised more amd partners dont do it.
I wondered why NO partners ever shipped mini DP cables. everyone needs them. competitors wake up! lets can the crappy games and include one of these with every card.
Very impressive card, the price is much lower than I expected. good time to buy, but im waiting on cooler improvements
The cards are really good to me. I dont like nvidia. but I am not sure on the cooler. seems the reference designs arent too good, again. not bad though.
Powercolor are good. I like the bundle in this one, I cant find that mini DP converter in our local store, so this alone would make me buy one. I have three screens, not all the same size, one is displayport. I dont know why AMD dont bundle this converter with alll cards.
power consumption is excellent, performance is good. nice.
wow price wise and very good performance AMD you did it again
May I ask if you could ask them when are they going to release the Radeon HD 6970 with the PCS+ cooler? Thanks.
In fact, I was going to purchase the PowerColor PCS+ 6870 card, until I heard of the new models being released (I didn’t know they were ready for launch), so I decided to wait a little just for a review on the (future, hope) PowerColor PCS+ 6970. Thanks again!
Its going to be january.
Who told you? Who are you?! Is this true?!
Hi Andres, Powercolor are showing the card at CES, so it should be released shortly afterwards.
Yay! Thank you very, very much! Remember to ask them to send you a sample to review. 😀