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Started by mechan | | 38 answers
Hello Tom's Hardware community. As you may have seen in The Myths Of Graphics Card Performance: Debunked, Part 1, we've introduced a new type of test that compares graphics cards performance at a set noise level. We arbitrarily picked 40 dB(A) as a starting point. We've received quite a bit of feedback as different users feeling different levels were more/less appropriate. Now we'd like your input into what noise level should become the actual "reference" level. Answering "I don't know - it's your job to figure it out!" is fine!
As always, we appreciate your input!
- Filippo Scognamiglio
As always, we appreciate your input!
- Filippo Scognamiglio
FunkyFeatures
October 10, 2014 9:16:34 AM
zcfbhsfh
October 9, 2014 11:08:45 PM
jenojaxx
September 8, 2014 8:31:59 AM
I think the frequncy of the noise and coil whine is also important...!
What i say is that i don't mind some noise(or some more) unless it's a high pitched sound .
Well , idle noise levels are already 'silent' , but max rpm is kinda loud in some cases.(with shitty fans mainly )
Recommandation : always use larger fans , they are quieter and have higher CFM (or m^3/h) . Never use cheapo' 5-8$ fans !
What i say is that i don't mind some noise(or some more) unless it's a high pitched sound .
Well , idle noise levels are already 'silent' , but max rpm is kinda loud in some cases.(with shitty fans mainly )
Recommandation : always use larger fans , they are quieter and have higher CFM (or m^3/h) . Never use cheapo' 5-8$ fans !
I have the computer on my desk a bit less than 50 cm away from my face. I have 5 be quiet! fans which 3 of them spin at 500 rpm (9 db rated), two of them are at 700 (11 db) rated. PSU is be quiet! as well. Hyper 212 Evo is always and always at fan speed 1 (800 rpm). Asus GTX 650TI never spins more than the lowest speed. All in all - the fridge, which is 8 meters away is louder than the computer. Even so, I wish the PC could have been quieter. 20 db is loud for me. 40 db is unbearable for work. I watch movies at 40 db.
FunkyFeatures
September 6, 2014 1:04:35 AM
smeezekitty said:
Shneiky said:
Anything over 30 db at 50 cm is too much.... Even 20 is plenty for me. You are kidding me. 20db would be essentially silent to most people.
This room is almost always 40db ambient.
But that is background noise generally, say a car driving by from quite a bit aways. If you have 40db in your face, it would be louder since its a constant noise right... well, in the face.
Boblyton
August 19, 2014 6:02:50 AM
I'm a student acoustic engineer, so I have a bit of experience in this sort of stuff.
I'm curious as to what is the 40dB measurement is you are getting? is it Laeq, instantaneous or something else? There are many ways to measure the noise of something and just as many ways to categorize it!
This does seem like a good way to compare the sound pressure level of the graphics cards.
I think it may also be important to measure the Laeq, the SPL meter should hopefully have this measurement (this is basically the average sound pressure level throughout the duration of the measurement) and to not throttle the sound pressure level of the card and run benchmarks during the Laeq measurement. This is also handy as most benchmarks have a set time, so the Laeq time will be the same for each card.
It may also important to consider running the computer without the gpu and running the same benchmarks, (though this may not be accurate due to the other computer components having to work harder) or running all the other fans at set speeds, to see how loud it is without the graphics card so that the sound pressure level of the graphics card can be calculated, gpu noise level = 10*log10(10^(computer with gpu/10)-10^(computer without gpu/10)
This gives in even more easier comparison between graphics cards as a single number can be show for just the noise coming form the gpu.
I personally think 40db is ok, by looking at your myths debunked stuff the R290X, 690 and Tian are about 35dB idle each, using the off and idle sound pressure levels and using the equation I mentioned above.
Looking at the 40dB levels on the same table they fan % levels of the gpus seem to be at a good number as well.
But once you start pumping them up to full (OC) levels they go above 40dB, which shows that they are they dominate sound source at these levels, though I doubt someone would have the gpu's at these levels all the time!
I hope that this has shown some light upon the matter!
I'm curious as to what is the 40dB measurement is you are getting? is it Laeq, instantaneous or something else? There are many ways to measure the noise of something and just as many ways to categorize it!
This does seem like a good way to compare the sound pressure level of the graphics cards.
I think it may also be important to measure the Laeq, the SPL meter should hopefully have this measurement (this is basically the average sound pressure level throughout the duration of the measurement) and to not throttle the sound pressure level of the card and run benchmarks during the Laeq measurement. This is also handy as most benchmarks have a set time, so the Laeq time will be the same for each card.
It may also important to consider running the computer without the gpu and running the same benchmarks, (though this may not be accurate due to the other computer components having to work harder) or running all the other fans at set speeds, to see how loud it is without the graphics card so that the sound pressure level of the graphics card can be calculated, gpu noise level = 10*log10(10^(computer with gpu/10)-10^(computer without gpu/10)
This gives in even more easier comparison between graphics cards as a single number can be show for just the noise coming form the gpu.
I personally think 40db is ok, by looking at your myths debunked stuff the R290X, 690 and Tian are about 35dB idle each, using the off and idle sound pressure levels and using the equation I mentioned above.
Looking at the 40dB levels on the same table they fan % levels of the gpus seem to be at a good number as well.
But once you start pumping them up to full (OC) levels they go above 40dB, which shows that they are they dominate sound source at these levels, though I doubt someone would have the gpu's at these levels all the time!
I hope that this has shown some light upon the matter!
t99
July 21, 2014 1:30:20 PM
FunkyFeatures
July 14, 2014 9:52:17 AM
This is for the tests - i said why i picked 40. 40 is acceptable. 30-35 is just of course more quiet. I have seen very few mid end, and even fewer high end cards being able to pull of 40 or lower decibel at full load.
I of course would not find a good deep noise in a graphics card, but some bigger fans at low rpm(maybe 100mm) are actually fairly neutral. I have seen MSI gaming cooler, where it sounds pretty good and neutral compared to the damn r9 290x. The 290x at full speed oh lawd. When the gaming cooler gets loud, it is not this "high pitched" sound. It is definitely not as good as 120-200mm fans, but for graphics cards, i would go for the one with the deepest and lowest noise.
I of course would not find a good deep noise in a graphics card, but some bigger fans at low rpm(maybe 100mm) are actually fairly neutral. I have seen MSI gaming cooler, where it sounds pretty good and neutral compared to the damn r9 290x. The 290x at full speed oh lawd. When the gaming cooler gets loud, it is not this "high pitched" sound. It is definitely not as good as 120-200mm fans, but for graphics cards, i would go for the one with the deepest and lowest noise.
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