The fan used here, a PowerLogic brand, is pretty quiet and not much different in noise from the kind used on the Taisol CEP426151A for example. Chances are a standard case power supply will drown out the noise this fan makes. To hear this heatsink for yourself, click on the little headphones below and download the MP3 file of the cooler in operation.

FrostyTech Acoustic Sampling Chamber
Standard Waveform view of a 10 second recording. Click on the headphones to listen to an MP3 recording of this heatsink in operation.

Sound Level Measurements:

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 Decibel readings with a sound level meter. These results may be higher than the manufacturer's listed specs, but then again these are real world measurements.

FrostyTech Sound Level Results
-	Manufacturer	Model	Noise Level	Scale
	Zalman	CNPS6500-AlCu	47.4/28.9 dB	quiet
	Intel	Socket 478	42.5 dB
	Cho-Liang	CL-CB0094-1A	49.8 dB
	Cho-Liang	CL-CB00881	50.2 dB
	Taisol	CEP426151A	50.7 dB
	Dynatron	DC1207BMW	53.0 dB
	Swiftech	MCX4000	53.6 dB
	Dynatron	DC1206BMV	55.1 dB
	ChoLiang	CB0309Z17	55.7 dB
	AVC	117140	56.1 dB
	NengTyi	NW6700	58.0 dB
	Coolermaster	IHC-H71	64.4 dB	louder

The noise levels register a bit higher from directly above the heatsink than they do from any one particular side. So while the Omega HHSL1 sound meter registered 55 dB, it doesn't seem to be that loud in practice. That may be a bit confusing, but if you listen to the Frosty Acoustic recording you'll probably understand what I mean.