Noise Levels and Fan Speeds

Testing Procedure

Fan noise testing is done at 25%, 50%, and 100% fan speed, with the dBA level being recorded by a Pyle PSPL25 sound pressure level meter at a distance of 30 cm. The fan(s) RPM results are taken at the same 25%, 50%, and 100% settings. These 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 in case MSI's Command Center cannot control the fan(s), which ensures that proper results can still be obtained if the software fails. 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

The ETS-N30 proves to be extremely quiet at 25% fan speed, tying for the top spot with the be quiet! Dark Rock 3 and Titan Dragonfly 4. Fan noise increases rapidly at 50%, hitting 41 dBA, which places Enermax's cooler into the middle of the pack. At 100% fan speed, however, the cooler climbs toward the top third of the chart by hitting 50 dBA and tying the Raijintek Aidos, a similar design. Regardless, this cooler is very noisy when the fan is spinning at full tilt. Not quite in the same relay as AIO coolers since those are obnoxiously loud at full speed, it is still a bit louder than I would have personally liked.

Fan Speeds

Looking at RPM readings at 25%, 50%, and 100%, noise levels seem to fit considering the fan's 92 mm size. Still, 50 dBA at 2551 RPM isn't terrible given the fact the fan is rated for 2800 RPM, which would probably have it emit 52 dBA or so.