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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
All the cards are quiet when idle, as the two fans can spin slowly to keep the temperatures in check. As we load the GPU when playing a game, the fans spin up to compensate. None of the cards generate much noise, although when loaded with Furmark they are clearly audible. They are all using the same basic cooling system, although the faster cards generate more heat and require higher fan speeds.
Very nice indeed, HD6870 is by far b est value, thats a bargain.
Excellent, I agree HD6870 is best and its very well priced. I dont get paid for 2 weeks sadly 🙁
Thought they had vanished off the face of the earth there for a while. nice to see them back … with a bang.
Never mind the 6870, the 6790 is really more than most people would ever need, quite surprised how well it performs even at 1080p. But for the small price increase, 6870 is much better value.
Very good, thanks for review.
I like XFX< always had good luck with their cards. shame they stopped the cool X shaped boxes they used to have.
are they the first to have used a direct touch heatpipe cooler like this?
Two of the HD6870s seem best to me, just a little more than one of the 6950’s.
They should lower the 6950 price to £199 inc vat IMO or even £190.
Great review man, im really looking at one of those 6790s for my media center, but it seems poor value when the 6870 is only 25 quid more.
6870 FTW. those are great cards. XFX DD version is a bargain, orfered one.
really cool. And the price isn’t really bad…