Noise Levels & 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. 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 in case MSI's Command Center cannot control the fan(s). This ensures that proper results can still be obtained if the software fails. Testing is done using fan speed percentages instead of various load levels to give users the noise profile of the tested CPU cooler.

Noise Levels

The Raijintek Ereboss won't be winning an award for silence, but it does do extremely well. At just 46 dBA at 100% fan speed, the Ereboss is quieter or just as quiet as most coolers on the charts. The only competitor that stands out is the Noctua NH-U12S at 42 dBA. The Ereboss's overall noise level is par for the course when compared to similarly prices coolers—it does not distinguish itself in this test but nor does it stand out as loud.

Fan Speeds

Looking at fan speeds reveals why the Ereboss is louder at lower speeds than its competition. With a higher RPM than any other cooler at 25%, and coming in third at 50%, the fan included with the Ereboss cooler is simply louder due its higher RPM. The fan's maximum RPM of just 1626 at 100% keeps the cooler quieter at maximum speed. Faster fan speeds of course mean greater airflow, but the Raijintek cooler's noise to airflow ratio in terms of its RPM curve seems to be well-balanced.

Overall RPM and dBA readings show that while the Ereboss will be slightly louder than the competition at lower fan speeds, it will be relatively quiet when using PWM under load. A lot of this is of course due to the fan's 13 mm thick design, as such a high RPM is necessary to move the same amount of air as more traditional 25 mm thick fans. Regardless, Raijintek has balanced the sound profile of the Ereboss well, and it lacks detectable rattle due to the fan because of anti-vibration mounts out of rubber. The lack of rattle and motor noise actually has the fan sounding extremely smooth, with no buzzing or any high-pitched noise.