Acoustic Samples: Listen to this Heatsink

The CNPS6500B-AlCu comes with the Zalman Fanmate 1 which allows users to control how fast the 92mm fan rotates, and thus how noisy it is. The first recording is a standard 10 sec bit with the fan connected directly to the power supply. The second recording is of the fan connected via the Fanmate 1, and also illustrates what happens when you turn the dial down so the fan makes less noise. Since all Zalman heatsinks of this series use the same fans, these acoustic tests are all identical.

You can see the effect visually in the second wave form image, or you can click on the pair of headphones and listen in to each recording separately. Since the Zalman heatsinks all use the same type of fan, each of these recordings applies to all similar flower heatsinks.

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	CNPS6500B-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
	ChoLiang	CB0307Z17	52.9 dB
	Dynatron	DC1207BMW	53.0 dB
	Globalwin	VA476	54.2 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 split results for the Zalman heatsinks means this; the first measurement of 47.4 dB is of the fan without the FanMate 1 in place, the second measurement of just 28.9 dB is of the fan with the FanMate 1 set to its maximum point.