Sound Level Measurements: Which Heatsink is
Quietest?
Listening
to the actual noise a heatsink makes allows you to hear what pure numbers alone
cannot get across. To further emphasize FrostyTech's reliance on cold hard facts
when evaluating a heatsink, we also take noise level measurements with a sound
level meter.
FrostyTech Heatsink Noise
Level Measurements
Noise level Decibel measurements of each
heatsinks' fan in operation are taken with the aid of a sound level
meter and sound isolating enclosure. The values may be higher than
the mfgr's listed specs, but are directly comparable to one another.
Measurements are made on the dB (A) scale, lower values are best.
Information on Frostytech's test methodology is available
here. | |
|
manufacturer: |
model no.: |
fan* speed: |
noise level (dba): |
cpu** platform |
|
Scythe |
Orochi SCORC-1000 |
|
27.8 dB |
Intel/AMD |
Scythe |
Zipang |
|
33.1 dB |
Intel/AMD |
Glacialtech |
Igloo 5750 Silent |
|
35.5 dB |
Intel/AMD |
Verax |
Helado |
|
36.3 dB |
Intel/AMD |
Glacialtech |
Igloo 7311 Silent |
|
36.5 dB |
AMD |
Intel |
Stock Core 2 Duo |
|
36.7 dB |
Intel |
Scythe |
Mine Rev.B |
|
36.8 dB |
Intel/AMD |
Glacialtech |
Igloo 7222 Light |
|
37.7 dB |
AMD |
Scythe |
Infinity SCINF-1000 |
|
37.8 dB |
Intel/AMD |
Scythe |
Katana II |
|
37.9 dB |
Intel/AMD |
Scythe |
Shuriken |
high |
38.2 dB |
Intel/AMD |
Scythe |
Andy Samuri Master SCASM-1000 |
|
38.4 dB |
Intel/AMD |
Scythe |
Kama Cross |
|
40.0 dB |
Intel/AMD |
Noctua |
NH-C12P |
high |
40.4 dB |
Intel/AMD |
EKL |
GroB Clock'ner |
|
40.6 dB |
Intel/AMD |
Noctua |
NH-U12P |
high |
40.7 dB |
Intel/AMD |
Glacialtech |
Igloo 7321 Silent E |
|
41.0 dB |
AMD |
Glacialtech |
Igloo 5063 Cu Silent E |
|
41.0 dB |
Intel |
Glacialtech |
Igloo 7312 Silent E |
|
41.1 dB |
AMD |
Asus |
Triton 85 |
high |
41.1 dB |
Intel/AMD |
Asus |
Triton 77 |
high |
41.2 dB |
Intel/AMD |
Coolink |
Silentator |
high |
41.2 dB |
Intel/AMD |
Scythe |
Ninja Mini |
|
41.7 dB |
Intel/AMD |
OCZ |
Vendetta 2 |
high |
41.9 dB |
Intel/AMD |
Noctua |
NH-U9B |
high |
41.9 dB |
Intel/AMD |
Gigabyte |
NeonCooler 8-BL |
|
42.0 dB |
AMD |
Glacialtech |
Igloo 7223 Light E |
|
42.3 dB |
AMD |
EKL |
GroB Clock'ner Blue Ed. |
high |
42.4 dB |
Intel/AMD |
Arctic Cooling |
Freezer 64 LP |
|
42.6 dB |
AMD |
Xigmatek |
S1284 Achilles |
high |
42.7 dB |
Intel/AMD |
Asus |
Silent Square EVO |
high |
42.8 dB |
Intel/AMD |
OCZ |
Gladiator Max |
high |
42.9 dB |
Intel/AMD |
Nexus |
HOC-9000 |
high |
43.0 dB |
Intel/AMD |
Auras |
SMF-660 |
|
43.4 dB |
Intel |
Glacialtech |
Igloo 5710 Silent |
|
43.4 dB |
Intel/AMD |
Coolermaster |
Hyper48 |
|
43.6 dB |
Intel/AMD |
Auras |
LPT-709 |
|
43.9 dB |
Intel/AMD |
Arctic Cooling |
Alpine64 |
|
43.9 dB |
AMD |
Arctic Cooling |
Alpine 7 Pro |
high |
44.1 dB |
Intel |
Xigmatek |
HDT-S1284EE |
high |
44.2 dB |
Intel/AMD |
Asus |
Triton 79 Amazing |
|
44.3 dB |
Intel/AMD |
Thermalright |
Ultra 120 Extreme |
|
44.5 dB |
Intel/AMD |
Akasa |
Revo (horizontal) |
high |
44.5 dB |
Intel/AMD |
Thermalright |
SI-128SE |
|
44.5 dB |
Intel/AMD |
Dynatron |
A22 |
|
44.5 dB |
AMD |
Asus |
Lionsquare |
high |
44.7 dB |
Intel/AMD |
Glacialtech |
Igloo 5610 Silent |
|
44.7 dB |
Intel |
Asus |
Arctic Square |
high |
44.9 dB |
Intel/AMD |
Zalman |
CNPS7000B-CU |
high |
44.9 dB |
Intel/AMD |
Zalman |
CNPS7000A-Cu |
high |
45.2 dB |
AMD |
Zalman |
CNPS7000-Cu |
high |
45.2 dB |
AMD |
Akasa |
AK-860SF |
|
45.2 dB |
AMD |
Glacialtech |
Igloo 5062 Cu Light |
|
45.2 dB |
Intel |
Noctua |
NH-U12 |
|
45.4 dB |
Intel/AMD |
Ajigo |
MF043-044 |
|
45.4 dB |
AMD |
Spire |
SP741B3 |
|
45.6 dB |
AMD |
Coolermaster |
Hyper 212 |
|
45.9 dB |
Intel/AMD |
Scythe |
Shogun |
high |
45.9 dB |
Intel/AMD |
Rosewill |
RCX-Z2-EX |
high |
45.9 dB |
Intel/AMD |
Scythe |
Mugen |
|
46.0 dB |
Intel/AMD |
Asus |
Silent Knight 2 |
high |
46.2 dB |
Intel/AMD |
Thermalright |
MST-977SLE |
|
46.5 dB |
Intel |
Intel |
Stock Pentium D |
high |
47.5 dB |
Intel |
Zerotherm |
FZ120 |
high |
47.6 dB |
Intel/AMD |
Coolermaster |
Hyper Z600 |
|
47.7 dB |
Intel/AMD |
Akasa |
AK-975CU |
high |
47.7 dB |
Intel |
nPowertek |
TTIC NPH-1000 |
|
47.5 dB |
Intel/AMD |
Scythe |
Kama SCKK1000 |
|
47.5 dB |
AMD |
Vantec |
VAF-1225 Aeroflow FX 120 |
low |
47.9 dB |
Intel/AMD |
3Rsystem |
Iceage 120 |
high |
47.9 dB |
Intel/AMD |
Zalman |
CNPS8700 LED |
high |
48.1 dB |
Intel/AMD |
Akasa |
AK-965 |
high |
48.1 dB |
Intel |
Akasa |
AK-876 |
high |
48.2 dB |
AMD |
Thermolab |
TLI-U Nano Silencer |
|
48.0 dB |
Intel |
Apack |
CF900 |
high |
48.3 dB |
Intel |
Apack |
CF800 |
high |
48.4 dB |
Intel |
Glacialtech |
Igloo 5058 Light E |
|
48.5 dB |
Intel |
LS Cable |
SHS-T700 |
|
48.5 dB |
Intel |
Auras |
CTC-868 (closed) |
|
48.7 dB |
Intel/AMD |
Thermalfly |
I75DUH |
|
48.7 dB |
Intel |
Coolage |
Frozen Orb F0-Z924AL |
high |
48.9 dB |
Intel |
Spire |
SP601B3 |
|
48.9 dB |
Intel/AMD |
Apack |
Zerotherm Nirvana 120 |
|
49.2 dB |
Intel/AMD |
Thermaltake |
DuOrb |
|
49.5 dB |
Intel/AMD |
Coolermaster |
GeminII S |
high |
49.6 dB |
Intel/AMD |
Asus |
Triton 75 |
|
49.6 dB |
Intel/AMD |
Thermaltake |
Silentboost K8 |
|
49.7 dB |
AMD |
Zalman |
CNPS7700-Cu LED |
high |
49.8 dB |
Intel/AMD |
nPowertek |
NPH-775-1 |
|
50.1 dB |
Intel |
Xigmatek |
HDT-S963 |
high |
50.2 dB |
Intel/AMD |
Evercool |
Buffalo HPEA-10025 |
|
50.2 dB |
AMD |
Zalman |
CNPS9500 LED |
high |
50.3 dB |
Intel/AMD |
Xigmatek |
HDT-S1283 |
high |
50.7 dB |
Intel/AMD |
Gigabyte |
3D-Rocket |
|
50.7 dB |
Intel/AMD |
Zalman |
CNPS7700-Cu |
high |
50.7 dB |
Intel/AMD |
Zalman |
CNPS7500-Cu LED |
high |
50.9 dB |
Intel/AMD |
Arctic Cooling |
Freezer 64 Pro |
|
50.9 dB |
AMD |
Sunbeamtech |
Core-Contact Freezer |
high |
51.3 dB |
Intel/AMD |
Glacialtech |
Igloo 5063 Light E |
|
51.5 dB |
Intel |
Evercool |
K802-715 |
|
51.5 dB |
AMD |
Alpha Novatech |
PRE9060M92P |
high |
51.5 dB |
Intel |
Evercool |
Transformer 6 |
high |
51.6 dB |
Intel/AMD |
Tuniq |
Tower 120 |
high |
51.6 dB |
Intel/AMD |
OCZ |
Tempest |
|
51.6 dB |
Intel/AMD |
Scythe |
Samurai SCSM1000 |
high |
51.6 dB |
AMD |
Apack |
Zerotherm BTF80 |
|
51.9 dB |
Intel/AMD |
Thermolab |
TLI-S Micro Silencer |
|
52.0 dB |
Intel |
Apack |
Zerotherm BTF90 |
|
52.1 dB |
Intel/AMD |
Cooljag |
Falcon 92-AL |
high |
52.1 dB |
Intel/AMD |
Auras |
LPT-700 |
|
52.2 dB |
Intel |
Auras |
SLC-747 |
high |
52.2 dB |
Intel/AMD |
Zalman |
CNPS9700NT |
high |
52.2 dB |
Intel/AMD |
nPowertek |
NPH K8-1 |
|
52.2 dB |
AMD |
Glacialtech |
Igloo 5750 PWM |
high |
52.3 dB |
Intel/AMD |
Coolermaster |
V8 |
high |
52.6 dB |
Intel/AMD |
Xigmatek |
HDT-S983 |
high |
52.7 dB |
Intel/AMD |
OCZ |
Vendetta |
high |
52.8 dB |
Intel/AMD |
Cooljag |
Falcon 92-Cu |
high |
52.8 dB |
Intel/AMD |
SilenX |
iXtrema IXC-120HA2 |
high |
52.9 dB |
Intel/AMD |
Zalman |
CNPS9500 AM2 |
high |
53.2 dB |
AMD |
Zalman |
CNPS9500 AT |
|
53.3 dB |
Intel |
Glacialtech |
Igloo 5057 E |
|
53.4 dB |
Intel |
Jetart |
JAX801 |
|
53.5 dB |
AMD |
Apack |
Zerotherm BTF92 OC Ed |
high |
53.6 dB |
Intel/AMD |
Coolermaster |
Hyper TX2 |
|
53.7 dB |
Intel/AMD |
Thermalright |
Ultra 120 |
|
53.7 dB |
Intel/AMD |
nPowerTek |
NPH-Big K8 |
|
54.0 dB |
AMD |
Rosewill |
RCX-Z1 |
high |
54.1 dB |
AMD |
Vantec |
VAF-1225 Aeroflow FX 120 |
high |
54.2 dB |
Intel/AMD |
Coolermaster |
Hyper6 |
high |
54.7 dB |
AMD |
Xigmatek |
AIO-S80DP |
high |
55.0 dB |
Intel/AMD |
Verax |
Quattro 1 |
high |
55.4 dB |
Intel/AMD |
Zalman |
CNPS9300AT |
high |
55.5 dB |
Intel/AMD |
Arctic Cooling |
Silencer 64 Ultra TC |
high |
55.5 dB |
AMD |
Evercool |
Magic Cooler |
|
55.5 dB |
AMD |
Cooljag |
OAK-H2 |
high |
55.6 dB |
Intel |
Cooljag |
OAK-H |
high |
55.7 dB |
Intel |
Gigabyte |
Volar GH-PSV21-FB |
high |
56.1 dB |
Intel/AMD |
Thermalright |
Ultra-90 |
high |
56.2 dB |
Intel/AMD |
Akasa |
AK-960E |
|
56.3 dB |
Intel |
Dynatron |
SK-V24 |
|
56.4 dB |
AMD |
Zalman |
CNPS9700 LED |
high |
56.5 dB |
Intel/AMD |
Zalman |
FS-C77 |
|
56.5 dB |
Intel/AMD |
nPowertek |
NPH-775-140HC |
high |
56.7 dB |
Intel/AMD |
Gigabyte |
3D Rocket-Pro |
high |
56.7 dB |
Intel/AMD |
Vantec |
Mach1 |
high |
56.9 dB |
AMD |
Xigmatek |
HDT-SD964 |
high |
57.2 dB |
Intel/AMD |
Thermaltake |
MaxOrb |
high |
57.4 dB |
Intel/AMD |
Zalman |
CNPS8000 |
high |
57.4 dB |
Intel/AMD |
EKL |
V8 |
high |
57.5 dB |
Intel/AMD |
Sunon |
Waturbo |
|
57.5 dB |
Intel |
Antazone |
AS-C1000 |
|
57.6 dB |
Intel/AMD |
Noctua |
NH-U9 |
|
58.4 dB |
Intel/AMD |
Rosewill |
RCX-Z3 |
high |
58.6 dB |
Intel/AMD |
Thermalright |
SLK-948U |
|
58.8 dB |
AMD |
Alpha |
PAL-8150 |
|
58.9 dB |
AMD |
Enzotech |
Ultra-X |
high |
59.2 dB |
Intel/AMD |
Akasa |
AK-920 |
high |
59.2 dB |
Intel/AMD |
Akasa |
AK-873 |
high |
59.2 dB |
AMD |
Coolermaster |
Aquagate Mini R80 |
high |
59.2 dB |
Intel/AMD |
Glacialtech |
Igloo 5610 PWM |
high |
59.5 dB |
Intel |
Thermaltake |
V1 |
high |
59.6 dB |
Intel/AMd |
AVC |
Z7U3301001 |
high |
59.9 dB |
AMD |
Rosewill |
RCX-Z2 |
|
59.9 dB |
Intel |
Spire |
Fourier IV SP607B3-C |
|
60.2 dB |
Intel/AMD |
Akasa |
AK-922 (EVObue) |
high |
60.3 dB |
Intel/AMD |
Ajigo |
MF064-074 |
high |
60.3 dB |
AMD |
Thermalfly |
F1-IACSHA |
high |
60.4 dB |
Intel/AMD |
Cooljag |
SFO-Q |
high |
60.6 dB |
AMD |
Cooljag |
SFO-H |
high |
60.6 dB |
AMD |
Akasa |
AK-961 |
|
60.7 dB |
Intel |
Thermaltake |
Jungle512 |
high |
60.8 dB |
Intel |
Intel |
FCLGA4-S Reference (P mode) |
high |
61.1 dB |
Intel |
Ibuypower |
IBP-Z001 |
high |
61.7 dB |
Intel/AMD |
Gigabyte |
3D Cooler-Pro |
high |
62.5 dB |
Intel/AMD |
Gigabyte |
3D Cooler-Ultra |
high |
63.0 dB |
Intel/AMD |
AVC |
Z7U7414001 (stock AM2) |
high |
63.0 dB |
AMD |
Titan |
TTC-K8ATB/825/SC |
|
63.1 dB |
AMD |
Evercool |
PT02-9232CP |
|
63.3 dB |
Intel |
CoolJag |
SFO-D(18SC) |
|
64.0 dB |
AMD |
nPowertek |
SF 775-2 |
high |
64.6 dB |
Intel |
Gigabyte |
GH-PCU23-VE |
high |
65.6 dB |
Intel/AMD |
ASUS |
Starice |
high |
67.4 dB |
Intel/AMD |
Thermaltake |
Polo 735 |
high |
68.0 dB |
AMD |
Thermaltake |
Venus 12 |
high |
68.1 dB |
AMD |
Thermalfly |
I75DUB |
high |
68.5 db |
Intel |
Gigabyte |
G-Power Pro |
high |
71.9 dB |
Intel/AMD |
|
|
|
noise level (dba) |
|
*unless noted, for reference heatsinks with
variable-speed fans only the 'high speed' (12V) fan noise measurement is
included in the comparison sheet; more detailed results for the low fan
speed (~5V) tests reside in each specific heatsink review. ** 'AMD'
denotes compatibility with socket 754/939/940 & AM2 processors where
applicable. 'Intel' denotes compatibility with socket 775
platform. |
The 120mm
PWM fan on the Vantec Aeroflow FX 120 heatsink spins at 2200RPM by default, and
this creates about 54.2 dBA noise. On any recent Intel/AMD motherboard, the BIOS
will automatically scale down fan speed to as low as 1600RPM depending on the
current thermal requirements. At a reduced fan speed, the Aeroflow FX 120
produces as little as 47.9 dBA.
The AMD
thermal test results are up first, then it's on to Intel!