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TEST RESULT
Baseline, with Integrated Graphics: First, here are the results of
our baseline results of the system with just its integrated graphics, without
a discrete video card. We'll also need the power consumption reading during
CPUBurn to estimate the actual power draw of discrete card later.
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VGA Test Bed: Baseline Results
(no discrete graphics card installed)
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System State
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CPU Temp
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System Power
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AC
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DC (Est.)
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Idle
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22°C
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73W
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Unknown
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CPUBurn
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39°C
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144W
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115W
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Ambient temperature: 21°C
Ambient noise level: 11 dBA
System noise level: 12 dBA@1m
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Note: In our new semi-anechoic chamber, our VGA test bed now
measures 12 dBA@1m. Ambient is only 11 dBA.
Asus ENGTX260:
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VGA Test Bed: Asus ENGTX260
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System State
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Fan Speed
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System SPL@1m
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GPU
Temp
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PCB Temp
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CPU
Temp
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System Power
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AC
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DC (Est.)
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Idle
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700 RPM (40%)
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15 dBA
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43°C
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38°C
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25°C
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113W
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88W
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CPUBurn
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700 RPM (40%)
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15 dBA
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44°C
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39°C
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44°C
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184W
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150W
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CPUBurn + ATITool
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880 RPM (50%)
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21 dBA
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72°C
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62°C
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51°C
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269W-
290W
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220W-
237W
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Ambient temperature: 22°C
Ambient noise level: 11 dBA.
System noise level (minus graphics card): 12 dBA@1m.
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When the test system was first fired up, the fan was easily audible, but quickly
ramped down by the time the POST screen appeared. Once the system booted up, we were
were amazed at how quiet the card was. We actually had to double-check that
the fan was operating. In our semi-anechoic chamber, the system at idle registered
only 3 dBA higher than the system without the card installed — indeed it
was very difficult for us to detect the difference. What's more the GPU temperature
was very low at 43°C. Within a few inches of the card, we could hear the
fan ticking slightly, but behind the side panel of the case, this wasn't audible.
After stressing both the CPU and GPU for half an hour, the fan speed increased
by less than 200 RPM, but the noise level was much higher at 21 dBA. In
a quiet environment, this would be audible. Enclosed in our test system, the
fan's less desirable attributes seemed to blend away and what remained was benign and inobtrusive.
The card does suffer from the same high-pitched whine on load
that seems to be endemic with modern high performance graphics cards. Although the system's power draw reached levels we've never seen in our lab
before while testing a video card, the GPU temperature was more than acceptable at
only 72°C. Stock VGA coolers rarely do this well, in terms
of both performance and noise.
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