Noise Levels & Fan Speeds

Testing Procedure

Fan noise testing is done at 25%, 50%, and 100% fan speed, with a Pyle PSPL25 sound pressure level meter recording the dBA level at a distance of 30 cm. The fan(s) RPM results are taken at the same 25%, 50%, and 100% settings. The selected speeds are handled by MSI's Command Center software, and a Lamptron FC6 fan controller is also used as a secondary method of confirming RPM and dBA readings. This ensures that proper results can still be obtained if MSI's Command Center cannot control the fan(s). To give users the noise profile of the tested CPU cooler, testing is done using fan speed percentages instead of various load levels.

Noise Levels

While cooling performance is mediocre, the Shadow Rock 2 has a wonderfully low noise profile, being one of the quietest coolers I have tested to date. With readings of 35 dBA at 25%, 37 dBA at 50% and 42 dBA at 100%, the only competition in terms of low noise levels comes from Noctua's NH-U12S and be quiets!'s very own Dark Rock Pro 2. When it comes to noise levels, this cooler is effectively silent, definitely living up to be quiet's name in this regard.

Fan Speeds

Overall RPM and dBA readings are interesting. The low noise levels at 25% and 50% are due to the fan's very low RPM of 504 and 936 respectively. However, its low noise level at 100% with a fan speed of 1640 RPM is a nice surprise. be quiet! definitely lives up to their name with the Shadow Rock 2.