DBA Noise Levels
DBA Noise Levels
Please keep in mind that for the results on the previous page temperatures are based on default stock processor frequency with power saving options disabled (such as EIST and C1E functions) due to requiring a more accurate and stable voltage balance applied to the CPU. The default vcore is pretty much 1.2 Volts for each processor and the fan speed is automatically controlled by BIOS. Corsair H70s fans function at 1600 RPM at IDLE, while it boosts its performance up to 2000 RPM during stressful situations. Obviously LOWER = BETTER.
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With a certified dBA meter we measure how many dBAs originate from the PC. It's slightly subjective as there is always noise in the background, from the streets, from the HD, PSU fan etc etc, so this is by a mile or two not a precise measurement. You could only achieve objective measurement in a sound test chamber. Take this measurement as an indication, not a precise measurement please. Corsair H70 fans function at 1600 RPM using the resistor cables provided with the package, while if you directly plug them on your motherboard there will operate at a speed set of 2000 RPM during stressful situations. Our choice was to use the resistor cables that Corsair provides us. So, obviously LOWER = BETTER.
The human hearing system has different sensitivities at different frequencies. This means that the perception of noise is not at all equal at every frequency. Noise with significant measured levels (in dB) at high or low frequencies will not be as annoying as it would be when its energy is concentrated in the middle frequencies. In other words, the measured noise levels in dB will not reflect the actual human perception of the loudness of the noise. That's why we measure the dBA level. A specific circuit is added to the sound level meter to correct its reading in regard to this concept. This reading is the noise level in dBA. The letter A is added to indicate the correction that was made in the measurement. Frequencies below 1kHz and above 6kHz are attenuated, whereas frequencies between 1kHz and 6kHz are amplified by the A weighting.
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TYPICAL SOUND LEVELS | |
Jet takeoff (200 feet) |
120 dBA |
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Construction Site |
110 dBA |
Intolerable | |
Shout (5 feet) |
100 dBA |
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Heavy truck (50 feet) |
90 dBA |
Very noisy | |
Urban street |
80 dBA |
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Automobile interior |
70 dBA |
Noisy | |
Normal conversation (3 feet) |
60 dBA |
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Office, classroom |
50 dBA |
Moderate | |
Living room |
40 dBA |
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Bedroom at night |
30 dBA |
Quiet | |
Broadcast studio |
20 dBA |
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Rustling leaves |
10 dBA |
Barely audible |
But let's have a peek at noise levels. We take a dBA gun and point it at the working PC and take a distance of 75 CM. The cycle duty is set at 80% RPM in the BIOS. These, as such, are noise levels measured under heavy CPU load: |
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Regarding acoustic and sound measurement, we are sad to say that Corsair H70 is a tad noisy. While you are doing your daily tasks, such as browsing at Guru3D and reading our articles, the noise levels of the fans remain a little too high for our taste. We measured at 75cm distance, away from the PC. Helpfully, the cooler comes equipped with special crafted fan cables with a variable resistor inside. We used them, so the fans operated at a maximum speed of 1600 RPM set instead of 2000 RPM. However, if you want extra performance, you may avoid using them, and plug the fans directly on the motherboards 3-pin male connector.
But if you dont use the resistor cables, there will be a bad impact on the noise levels. What do we mean by that? To be more specific with numbers, the situation dramatically alternates from moderate (44 dBA) to irritating noisy levels at 48.6 dBA -- the fans are now operating at 2000 RPM. Oh, and that's just too loud for everyone, I might add.
Surrounding component temperatures
We also measured the motherboard area near the socket using an infrared thermometer gun. Picking nice spots around the 775 LGA socket, the mobos temperature was at 48 degrees in Celsius, while the rest of the circuit body was around 30 C degrees. Nearby components such as memory modules or graphics cards are affected by these hot temps.
I think that its time to overclock a bit, shall we?
