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 Reeven Steropes proves to be relatively quiet in most situations, as you won't notice it not until the fan hits 100%. With a maximum of 47 dBA, it is still quiet even then, quieter than the Enermax ETS-N30 of similar performance.

Fan Speeds

Looking at its RPM readings at 25%, 50%, and 100%, noise levels match recorded fan speeds well. A thicker fan would have offered better cooling performance, but such a fan would have, if even remotely close to 2000 RPM, also been louder. All things considered, the Steropes is relatively quiet considering the fan's RPM range, and that is certainly a good thing.