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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 cooler is surprisingly quiet when gaming, although it is generally just audible inside a case, when taxed. Furmark forces the fan to spin a little higher, raising the noise to 37.5dBa. At idle, the fan spins at a shade under 1,200 rpm meaning it is relatively quiet.
Another great card. really enjoying my 5830 xtreme.
Thanks, looks like another good product. so price will be £220 ish? is that the ballpark? I notice sapphire do a dual fan 6950, but its not overclocked and probably cant be unlocked either.
excellent, I need to get dirt 3 cause i need a new game
2GB is nice. I still play GTA4 and that helps. I like maxing everything
Id like to see if two of these would be as good as a HD6990.
you ever hear of the return key?
Good card, but im holding fire until the end of the year, until the refreshed cards come out.
PC market is dead anyway, nothing happening within it 🙁 games all suck lately
Whats up with the box? did they cut the dual fan cooler out at the last minute?
so many of these cards out now its hard to keep track. I think ill wait until the 7 series before upgrading, my old 4 series still manages to play most of the games on my 17 inch screen. Best waiting for the new mid range boards whenever they are out.
This card seems the ultimate 6000 series bang for buck card, runs cool/silent, low power requirements and can be tweaked to outperform the 6970 by a large margin. I need this card sooner then later please!