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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
This is one of the quieter coolers we have tested in recent months. They say ‘two is better than one' and in the case of this cooler, it certainly proves the point. The fans can spin slower, generating less noise, but keeping the components across the full length of the PCB cool.
Thats a nice looking card for the price. like the cooler a lot. dual fans on a card with a modest power delivery is always going to work well.
Interesting to see they have opted for direct contact heatpipes. seems to work a treat.
Might be a better deal than the £105 HD5850 from sapphire, close call though.
I still think Sapphire have crapped on the 6 series mid range party with the HD5850 at that price, its a better card overall, and costs less. unless you want multiple screens or something, id still opt for it at the reduced price.
Very nice. THese are the cards people buy, not HD6990’s. i could insure my car for a year for that.
Good card, but, and its a BIG BIG but. The HD5850 which sapphire brought out again with awesome cooler.
Surely this is THE buy of the moment? or am I missing something
Big fan of dual fan cards myself, bought an ASUS Direct CU recently and its so much quieter than my last card
CFx is really good, but for £230 you could almost get a 6970.
Great looking board for the price, its 15 euros cheaper than sapphires here.
Dual fan coolers always work well and thankfully the companies know not to cut costs by using crappy fans that make a lot of noise. I think this one is a winner for XFX. price is good too, I was expecting it to be 130.
I want to aim higher, but im having problems getting the funds I need. this might do me and I can upgrade with another later in the year.
Just remember that when you are moving to CrossfireX that it is very driver based. if a new game is out it is a good chance you will have it beaten by the time AMD sort out the profile. it sucks from that point of view.