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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 card is basically silent, reaching the lower limits of our sound meter – both fans spin around 1,100rpm. When gaming, the fans spin up to around 2,300 rpm, emitting only 32.2 dBa of noise. When stressed with Furmark, the fans don't spin any higher which explains the temperature increase on the previous page.
It is a very clever profile however as the card is quiet at all times, even when stressed synthetically beyond the current demands of gaming titles.
That is awesome, out of my price league, but fleX rocks.
They make great cards. only problem i can see with this card will be the price, fleX normally ads £30 to the price. it might end up around £380, which is only £20-30 less than the cheapest 7970’s.
Nice looking card. I reckon it will cost closer to 400
I d love this card? Competition anyone? 🙂
This system wouldnt cost that much. Three 24 inch screens around 450 total. System about 1500.
Really kick ass. But i might prefer the 670 from asus.
Very impressive. I want a third screen this year
I like their new coolers,mthey are very quiet