GFFX Reborn? - HardOCP
- Thread starter DeeW
- Start date
THe_KELRaTH
Regular
Yeah.. the NV30 could have been twice the speed of the 9700Pro and I still wouldn't have bought it just because of the noise. It's not like I play in a busy office or something - it's just me, my computer in my computer room. The loudest noise is the tapping on the keyboard!
The only thing thats not clear is if you get the same noise level when in 3D or is that quieter too - cuz that was loud.. too loud.
The only thing thats not clear is if you get the same noise level when in 3D or is that quieter too - cuz that was loud.. too loud.
Doomtrooper
Veteran
The performance in high resolution with AA and AF and the poor overall quality of those settings is what should be worked on.
Give me a break, who doesn't game with sound on...having to crank it up to drown out background noise is another story...64 DB is normal conversation level and is more than Delta fan level(54.5dBA)...if anyone has heard a delta fan then they have a good idea.
Give me a break, who doesn't game with sound on...having to crank it up to drown out background noise is another story...64 DB is normal conversation level and is more than Delta fan level(54.5dBA)...if anyone has heard a delta fan then they have a good idea.
Thanks for the news, DeeW. As NV has already stated with delivering the review cards that the final boards will have a revised FXFlow system in a clear housing, I wouldn't say this was a last-minute solution. 
A question to Brent / Kyle: 5db less is considerably more quiet than before. You mention, though, that the fan is still about as loud as it was. Do you know how NV measured the noise? Is it db(A), even?
ta,
-Sascha.rb
A question to Brent / Kyle: 5db less is considerably more quiet than before. You mention, though, that the fan is still about as loud as it was. Do you know how NV measured the noise? Is it db(A), even?
ta,
-Sascha.rb
Since a 3db swing is doubling (or halving) power from a reference point, I would think that a 5db defeciet would be make the fan at least half as loud as before. But seeing that I do not know how sound is measured in decibels and its relation to the ear (non-linearity), I'm not sure about that.
Typedef Enum
Regular
You've got to take these things with a huge grain of salt, IMHO.
So far, they have addressed the issue in 2D operations. Kool. Of course, it also required downclocking the chip as well (we'll see what effect, if any, it has down the road).
More importantly, it seemingly doesn't address the G.E. 701-C effect (that would be a turbine engine) that you get when you actually use the thing for its main purpose/mission in life...cranking out pixels. The lame statements made by both nVidia and others, such as "Hey, just put on headphones!" or "I play with the sound on" blah blah blah don't really bode well at all, IMHO.
More importantly, I have seen Gainwards little PR move, detailing the quietness of their FX solution. Until I see/hear it with my own eyes/ears, I won't believe it.
So far, they have addressed the issue in 2D operations. Kool. Of course, it also required downclocking the chip as well (we'll see what effect, if any, it has down the road).
More importantly, it seemingly doesn't address the G.E. 701-C effect (that would be a turbine engine) that you get when you actually use the thing for its main purpose/mission in life...cranking out pixels. The lame statements made by both nVidia and others, such as "Hey, just put on headphones!" or "I play with the sound on" blah blah blah don't really bode well at all, IMHO.
More importantly, I have seen Gainwards little PR move, detailing the quietness of their FX solution. Until I see/hear it with my own eyes/ears, I won't believe it.
DeathKnight
Regular
Honestly, I don't see any other onboard cooling solution with a smaller footprint that would work with those clockspeeds. Then you have to realize why it's loud. The blower is forcing air through an enclosed system with one inlet and one outlet, both of which are fairly small in size. Pressure is created and the moving air makes more noise.
I'd really like to see what some other companies come up with for cooling solutions so we can see if there really is a better overall solution. Obviously the best solution for people who must have the card but can not put up with the fan noise is to water cool the beast.
I'd really like to see what some other companies come up with for cooling solutions so we can see if there really is a better overall solution. Obviously the best solution for people who must have the card but can not put up with the fan noise is to water cool the beast.
Joe DeFuria
Legend
Right.
I mean, apparently nVidia is concerned enough not with just cooling the chip, but removing the excessive heat from the case. So solutions like "very large heat-pipes and a quieter fan" in and of themselves don't appear to be a valid alternative. You may be able to cool the chip similarly, but you're just dumping all that heat in the case. That's not a good thing.
Water cooling of course addresses that issue. But that of course has its own set of drawbacks. (Cost...and are they going to rely on consumers for proper set-up?) I don't see any retailer actually shipping cards with water cooling solutions.
I agree that it should be the "preferred mod of choice" for those who buy a FX.
Doomtrooper
Veteran
For anyone that has not heard some of the fans on the market today then here is a little wav file (380 K) testing noise level from quietest to loudest you will hear the Sanyo Denki 60mm, the Ystech 50mm, the Innovative 50mm, the GoldenOrb fan, the Delta 50mm, the Top Motor 50mm, the Ystech 60mm, the JMC 52mm and finally, the loudest of all, the Delta 60mm which is 54dba...now I did have a Delta installed on Thermalright SK6 and after about a hour I was ready to start trashing stuff...some people have different tolerances to noise so this will give a idea.
This wav file was produced for people to understand what level of noise associated with different brands of fans and comes from "Speedy 3D" fan and cooler review.
If Nvidia knocked off 5dba then it would come in around 59-60 according [H] and Anand claimed 77 so 72 there..have no idea why sound readings were not the same.
Fan Noise Comparison
This wav file was produced for people to understand what level of noise associated with different brands of fans and comes from "Speedy 3D" fan and cooler review.
If Nvidia knocked off 5dba then it would come in around 59-60 according [H] and Anand claimed 77 so 72 there..have no idea why sound readings were not the same.
Fan Noise Comparison
Fan comparison is meaningless unless the same tool is used to record data, at the same distance, under the same environment, etc... Sound is very localized so directional positioning is also very important.
With the posted variance of sound magnitude from all of the websites, it is hard to make any conclusions other than the fact that the fan is unusually loud, however how loud is an extremely debatable topic, especially since the size of the cooler and the nature of the delayed product alone seems to have psychologically enhanced everyone's irritability toward its loudness.
Anyone have access to an anecoic chamber?
With the posted variance of sound magnitude from all of the websites, it is hard to make any conclusions other than the fact that the fan is unusually loud, however how loud is an extremely debatable topic, especially since the size of the cooler and the nature of the delayed product alone seems to have psychologically enhanced everyone's irritability toward its loudness.
Anyone have access to an anecoic chamber?
Doomtrooper
Veteran
Depends on the frequency.
A difference of 4-5dBA is only just easily noticeable. Certainly no big deal and definitely not "much quieter".
Nice to hear that it spins down in 2D apps though - I wonder if the effect of that is instantaneous or whether there is a "cooling-down" period where the fan will continue to operate at full pelt for a while after you have stopped playing a game. Feedback from the diode and from the system should be "live" of course - just a question of whether the PWM controller logic on the ASIC has been designed to "force" a high fan speed until the chip is at a reasonable temperature regardless of the app.
MuFu.
Nice to hear that it spins down in 2D apps though - I wonder if the effect of that is instantaneous or whether there is a "cooling-down" period where the fan will continue to operate at full pelt for a while after you have stopped playing a game. Feedback from the diode and from the system should be "live" of course - just a question of whether the PWM controller logic on the ASIC has been designed to "force" a high fan speed until the chip is at a reasonable temperature regardless of the app.
MuFu.
True, but it also depends on placement. High frequencies are exremely localized (and reflective), but low frequencies depend on placement even if they aren't. For example, place a subwoofer in the middle of a room, listen to it, and then place it in a corner, and listen to it again. The woofer creates a reverberation in the walls, effectively increasing body and perceived "volume".
Doomtrooper
Veteran
Yes I wasn't very popular in the Neighborhood with my Sub Box in my younger days..bass travels through objects reaaaal good
Yeah, and low frequencies travel farther as well, mostly because high frequencies are absorbed by the atmosphere. For example if you live next to the ocean you can hear the low rumble of the waves rather than the splashing, or the sea lions roaring rather than the sea gulls cackling!
I'm sure that when you've gotten complaints it wasn't because of the vocals or the lead guitarist, but rather the drums or bass guitar!
I'm sure that when you've gotten complaints it wasn't because of the vocals or the lead guitarist, but rather the drums or bass guitar!
Doomtrooper
Veteran
Actually I'm quite familiar with sound frequencies since I work in a Industrial atmosphere and was responsible for sound control in alot of my projects.
Yes the Bass could be heard for blocks in the neighborhood.
Yes the Bass could be heard for blocks in the neighborhood.
7-10dBA is about twice as loud in terms of perceived volume, DeeW (usually engineers use 10dB as a convenient approximation). With the kind of difference that nVidia are talking about (5dBA) you would not really be able to tell "before" from "after" without a side-by-side comparison.
Regarding frequency response linearity - dBA is a weighted measurement anyway, designed to appoximate the FR of the human ear (I think we are more sensitive to 1-5kHz or thereabouts). Positioning is a critical issue, as you already mentioned. The subwoofer exmple isn't quite right though - placing it in a corner increases axial room mode resonance hence creating a peaky, "boomy" sound. Placing it up against a wall (being careful not to put it equidistant from adjacent walls) just provides a large reflective surface to reinforce low frequencies. In effect it doubles the output of the sub by allowing propagation in only one direction.
MuFu.
Regarding frequency response linearity - dBA is a weighted measurement anyway, designed to appoximate the FR of the human ear (I think we are more sensitive to 1-5kHz or thereabouts). Positioning is a critical issue, as you already mentioned. The subwoofer exmple isn't quite right though - placing it in a corner increases axial room mode resonance hence creating a peaky, "boomy" sound. Placing it up against a wall (being careful not to put it equidistant from adjacent walls) just provides a large reflective surface to reinforce low frequencies. In effect it doubles the output of the sub by allowing propagation in only one direction.
MuFu.