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), 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 Scythe Ashura is dead silent until the fan cracks the 75% barrier. It hits 45 dBA at full speed, which puts it into the middle of the pack. With that said, the cooler is still not loud by any means, though it fails to take the top spot.

Fan Speeds

Looking at the fan's RPM readings at 25%, 50%, and 100% fan speed clearly shows that Scythe's included fan has a PWM range skewed more toward operating silently at low loads. The fan hits 1459 RPM and 45 dBA at full speed, which is acceptable if compared to the competition.

Overall RPM and dBA readings show that the PWM range of Scythe's fan is great, offering low noise levels until the cooling performance is truly needed. Scythe's approach then manages to offer a product that is silent 95% of the time, which most users can appreciate.