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

Cooling performance, while amazing, comes at a great cost in terms of noise. At 100% fan speed, the H80i GT hits 56 dBA, which is, as you might have guessed, quite loud. Hitting 44 dBA at 50% fan speed, Corsair's AIO enters high-end air-cooling territory, but to keep noise at this level will result in a reduction in performance. At 25% fan speed, the cooler stays below 40 dBA with a reading of 36 dBA, which makes it near-silent; however, listen closely and you will hear the pump.

Fan Speeds

The RPM readings show why the Hydro Series H80i GT is so loud. Hitting 2500 RPM at full throttle, it is no surprise it got loud. Still, if noise is not an issue or extreme performance isn't a priority, limiting the fan to 50% results in a happier mean between performance and noise.