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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. The motherboard is also passively cooled. This gives us a build with almost 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 Sparkle GTX650 OC Dragon Series is quiet when idle, and the fan slowly spins up under load to generate 32.2dBa of noise. This will be drowned out when installed in a chassis. Furmark tasks the fan further, although these aren't realistic every day situations.
Seems like a decent card for the money. good for a media center, but may they will bring out a single slot version.
Its a good point, I remember when a low end card struggled to get good frame rates at 1280×1024.
> It is worth pointing out that onboard graphics solutions just don’t make the grade for me, as I crave the highest image quality possible, only achievable from either Nvidia or AMD discrete solutions.
This might be about to change with the release of AMD’s desktop trinity parts (rumoreded for the 1st of October)
I would really like to see this card tested at more appropriate resolution and details. Its a $100 card its not meant to push 8AA@fullhd res.
The fact it can though is pretty incredible ! I was amazed to see it can cope with many engines at 1080p. I dont know anyone who games at 720p anymore anyway. but you can be sure it will cope with it if it can at 1080p