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TEST METHODOLOGY
Our test procedure is an in-system test, designed to determine whether the
cooler is adequate for use in a low-noise system. By adequately cooled,
we mean cooled well enough that no misbehavior related to thermal overload is
exhibited. Thermal misbehavior in a graphics card can show up in a variety of
ways, including:
- Sudden system shutdown or reboot without warning.
- Jaggies and other visual artifacts on the screen.
- Motion slowing and/or screen freezing.
Any of these misbehaviors are annoying at best and dangerous at worst —
dangerous to the health and lifespan of the graphics card, and sometimes to
the system OS.
Test Platform
Measurement and Analysis Tools
- CPUBurn
processor stress software.
- FurMark
stability test to stress the GPU.
- GPU-Z to
monitor GPU temperatures.
- SpeedFan
to monitor CPU temperature.
- A custom-built variable fan speed controller to power the system
fan
- PC-based spectrum analyzer:
SpectraPlus with ACO Pacific mic and M-Audio digital
audio interfaces.
- Anechoic chamber
with ambient level of 11 dBA or lower
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A summary of how our video card/cooler test platform is put together can
be found here.
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Our main test consists of FurMark stability test running in conjunction with
CPUBurn to stress both the graphics card and processor simultaneously. This
combination produces more CPU/GPU stress than a typical gaming session. As our
test system has very limited airflow, our results are not indicative of a real-world
situation, but rather a worse-case scenario. If the heatsink in question can
cool the card and its components adequately in this environment it means there
is some degree of thermal headroom when employed in a more conventional manner.
GPU temperatures are recorded using GPU-Z. On our HD 4870 test card, there are
three main on-die sensors, as well as three on the voltage regulators. We average
the results of each set of sensors.
The cooler is tested at various speeds to represent a good cross-section of
its airflow and noise performance. Noise is measured and recorded with the heatsink
installed in our test system with the side panel on. Our mic is positioned at
a distance of one meter from the center of the case's left side panel at a 45
degree angle.
Ambient conditions during testing were 23°C and 11 dBA.
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