SPCR

Can someone explain to me how the Scythe Kama Flow 2 900rpm 120mm EX-FDB SP1225FDB12L fan can be 32dba or are X-Bit Labs testing methods completely out of wack. I don't see how 900rpm fan can be 32dba somethings wrong with the test.

http://www.xbitlabs.com/articles/cooler ... -1_14.html

Each test is different. There are so many differences you can't really compare the results of one test to that of another. In this case the Nexus got about the same results as the Kama Flow.... so that is about right.

Because it's tested in open air with the noise meter only 150mm away from the fan. Note the noise meter only goes down to 30dB. So, who knows what the fan is actually adding to the baseline noise floor. Always look at the test setup in these reviews...

SPCR tests 1 meter away with a 10dBA noise floor and attached to a testbed heatsink.

Just the difference in distance accounts for ~16dB. (hope I did my inverse square law math right )

CA_Steve wrote:Because it's tested in open air with the noise meter only 150mm away from the fan. Note the noise meter only goes down to 30dB. So, who knows what the fan is actually adding to the baseline noise floor. Always look at the test setup in these reviews...

SPCR tests 1 meter away with a 10dBA noise floor and attached to a testbed heatsink.

Just the difference in distance accounts for ~16dB. (hope I did my inverse square law math right )

That's pretty much what I thought I was going purchase two these to try out becuase the 120mm Scythe Gentle Typhoon,and Noctua NF-S12B FLX are twice as expensive not to mention the 1200rpm S-Flex FDB was the best fan. I expect them to be around same noise level or bit higher then 800rpm,1200rpm S-Flex FDB.

<nods>

The x-bit labs setup is still useful because you can get a relative feel for difference between fans.