Acoustic Samples: Listen to this
Heatsink!
The Xigmatek AIO-S80DP heatsink is moderately audible under power.
Its self-contained 80mm fan rotates at 3600RPM, which produces 55 dBA noise. We have also recorded the sound levels when
the PWM fan is running on 6V, and thus
at a reduced speed of about 1800RPM. In typical practice, the computer BIOS will adjust fan speed to
match current CPU thermal load. On non-PWM compliant motherboards the fan defaults to full speed
operation. The pump operates quietly, and isn't especially audible apart from the noises created by the fan.
To listen to this heatsink in operation, click on the little headphones icon below
and play the sample MP3 files.
| frostytech acoustic sampling chamber - full
speed |
 |
standard waveform view of a 10 second recording.
click on the headphones icon to listen to an mp3
recording of this heatsink in operation. the fan is rotating at 3600
rpm. |
 |
| frostytech acoustic sampling chamber
- low speed |
| |
standard waveform view of a 10 second recording.
click on the headphones icon to listen to an mp3
recording of this heatsink in operation. the fan is rotating at 1800
rpm. |
 |
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 |
|
| Arctic Cooling |
Silencer 64 Ultra TC |
low |
27.6 dB |
AMD |
| Verax |
Helado |
|
36.3 dB |
Intel/AMD |
| Thermalfly |
I75DUB |
|
38.7 dB |
Intel |
| Gigabyte |
NeonCooler 8-BL |
|
42.0 dB |
AMD |
| Coolermaster |
Hyper48 |
|
43.6 dB |
Intel/AMD |
| Arctic Cooling |
Alpine64 |
|
43.9 dB |
AMD |
| Dynatron |
A22 |
|
44.5 dB |
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 |
| Noctua |
NH-U12 |
|
45.4 dB |
Intel/AMD |
| Ajigo |
MF043-044 |
|
45.4 dB |
AMD |
| Spire |
SP741B3 |
|
45.6 dB |
AMD |
| Scythe |
Shogun |
high |
45.9 dB |
Intel/AMD |
| Xigmatek |
AIO-S80DP |
low |
46.9 dB |
Intel/AMD |
| Intel |
Stock Pentium D |
high |
47.5 dB |
Intel |
| Scythe |
Kama SCKK1000 |
|
47.5 dB |
AMD |
| Apack |
CF900 |
high |
48.3 dB |
Intel |
| Apack |
CF800 |
high |
48.4 dB |
Intel |
| Thermalfly |
I75DUH |
|
48.7 dB |
Intel |
| Spire |
SP601B3 |
|
48.9 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 |
| Zalman |
CNPS9500 LED |
high |
50.3 dB |
Intel/AMD |
| Gigabyte |
3D-Rocket |
|
50.7 dB |
Intel/AMD |
| Zalman |
CNPS7700-Cu |
high |
50.7 dB |
Intel/AMD |
| Arctic Cooling |
Freezer 64 Pro |
|
50.9 dB |
AMD |
| Evercool |
K802-715 |
|
51.5 dB |
AMD |
| Alpha Novatech |
PRE9060M92P |
high |
51.5 db |
Intel |
| OCZ |
Tempest |
|
51.6 dB |
Intel/AMD |
| Scythe |
Samurai SCSM1000 |
high |
51.6 dB |
AMD |
| Apack |
Zerotherm BTF80 |
|
51.9 dB |
Intel/AMD |
| Apack |
Zerotherm BTF90 |
|
52.1 dB |
Intel/AMD |
| nPowertek |
NPH K8-1 |
|
52.2 dB |
AMD |
| Zalman |
CNPS9500 AM2 |
high |
53.2 dB |
AMD |
| Zalman |
CNPS9500 AT |
|
53.3 dB |
Intel |
| Jetart |
JAX801 |
|
53.5 dB |
AMD |
| Thermalright |
Ultra 120 |
|
53.7 dB |
Intel/AMD |
| nPowerTek |
NPH-Big K8 |
|
54.0 dB |
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 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| Gigabyte |
3D Rocket-Pro |
high |
56.7 dB |
Intel/AMD |
| Vantec |
Mach1 |
high |
56.9 dB |
AMD |
| Zalman |
CNPS8000 |
high |
57.4 dB |
Intel/AMD |
| EKL |
V8 |
high |
57.5 dB |
Intel/AMD |
| Sunon |
Watrubo |
|
57.5 dB |
Intel |
| Antazone |
AS-C1000 |
|
57.6 dB |
Intel/AMD |
| Noctua |
NH-U9 |
|
58.4 dB |
Intel/AMD |
| Thermalright |
SLK-948U |
|
58.8 dB |
AMD |
| Alpha |
PAL-8150 |
|
58.9 dB |
AMD |
| Akasa |
AK-920 |
high |
59.2 dB |
Intel/AMD |
| Akasa |
AK-873 |
high |
59.2 dB |
AMD |
| Coolermaster |
Aquagate Mini |
high |
59.2 dB |
Intel/AMD |
| AVC |
Z7U3301001 |
high |
59.9 dB |
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 |
| 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. |
With its
80mm PWM fan spinning at 3600RPM the Xigmatek AIO-S80DP heatsink generates 55.0 dBA noise. By way of comparison, the stock Intel Pentium D heatsink produces about 47.5 dB at its fastest speed, the stock AM2 heatsink 63.0 dBA.
When fan speed is reduced to about 1800RPM, noise levels drop to 46.9 dBA; not as big a decrease
as we would have expected.
Surface Finish and Flatness
Surface finish is an important factor that we all
look for when holding a new heatsink. Flipping a cooler over to see how well the
base has been machined is a quick way to judge the attention to detail that was
put into making it. The following test involves the use of a Surface Roughness
Comparator, which offers a concise cross section common machine surface
finishes.
The Xigmatek AIO-S80DP heatsink has a surface roughness
of approximately 8 microinches, which is considered excellent. Next, let's see
how this heatsink handles the heat compared to a selection of other
heatsinks!
