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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
The cooler on the HD6950 Flex Edition is extremely good, averaging around 33 dBa when gaming. Audible, but not in the least intrusive, and generally unheard inside a performance gaming chassis.
At idle (above left) the card fan spins at around 1,400 rpm, which translates to around 24 percent of the maximum speed. When gaming this rises to 50%, which is 2,200 rpm. Under Furmark load (above right) this increases further to 58%, which is around 2,500 rpm.
I saw this on amazon last week but its vanished. they stopped stocking it or something?
Been hearing good things about that trixx tool with the sapphire cards, that is a damn fine OC. wonder if it would cause a longevity issue however.
No stock of this in the UK, it shows a fair price premium in states over an ordinary board.
Good card, but ive very litle chance of getting 3 screens. Still looks to be one of the better HD6950s on the market, regardless of the FLEX aspect.
Big fan of Sapphire, I had a 5 series card fail on me and I had a replacement within 14 days. it would be either these cards or XFX for me.
Reckon Sapphire might make an nvidia board someday ? 🙂
Their coolers are always great, but there is quiet a premium sometimes for Sapphire products. Powercolor are usually cheaper and just as good IMO.
Powercolor as good as Sapphire? hardly. wait until one of them fails. unless you are in the states or far east you can kiss any warranty you might like. I know a buddy who had a card fail and he chased a replacement for 4 months then gave up.