The noise output of the DTA-12 is negligible. Given an average system configuration you would be hard pressed to hear the heatsink over the power supply, hard drives and possibly even video card fans.

To listen to this heatsink, click on the pair of headphones.

Synthetic Temperature Test Results: *Ranked according to 100W small interface die test results.

FrostyTech Synthetic Temperature Test Platform Results
	Mfg.	Model	Ambient Temp.	27mm large copper block	15mm small copper block		27mm large copper block	15mm small copper block	Thermal pad	No. Fans	Fan Noise	Clip force
				50W	50W		100W	100W
1	Thermal Integration	TI-V77L	26.5	39.1	44.4		57.5	63.6	grey	1	med	med
2	Swiftech	MCXC370	21.4	38.3	43.4		53.5	65.7	none	1	med	med
3	OCZ	Gladiator	21.4	33.3	47.3		50.6	70.3	none	1	very loud	med
4	Vantec	CCK-6027D	27.4	45.4	49.6		64.9	73.4	none	1	med	med
5	Swiftech	MCX370	22.3	42.0	46.1		60.3	75.6	none	1	med	hard
6	Akasa	Silver Mountain	26.6	46.2	51.5		65.0	76.1	none	1	loud	med
7	Vantec	CCK-6035D-Retail	26.5	44.2	52.8		63.2	77.9	none	1	loud	med
8	Thermaltake	Volcano 6cu+	26.5	40.3	55.3		58.6	84.4	carbon	1	loud	med
9	Spire	5T060B1H3R	26.7	42.7	57.5		64.6	85.1	none	1	low	med
10	Thermalright	CB-6L	24.6	50.3	57.7		73.8	92.7	white pad	1	low	med
11	Chauh Choung	DTA-12	23.8	47.6	62.9		68.4	97.7	none	1	low	easy
12	Fortis	A92	26.7	45.6	65.8		67.8	97.8	none	1	loud	stiff
				50W	50W		100W	100W

Despite the really well finished base, and impression of good cooling via high fin density, that just doesn't seem to be the case. About the only possible reason for this less than expected thermal performance centers around the tips of the skive fins, and what if any treatment they have received. More on this in a moment, lets see what the final temperatures are...