fan noise on 9800 Pro or 9800 NP?

[kasplat]

Are there any reviews that measure the db of the fan on one of the 9800 NP or Pro cards? It looks like ATI and the Sapphire ATI cards also use different fans.

I'm sorely tempted to drop back to a 9600 Pro Ultimate which is probably still usable or spend the extra bucks for a 9800 Pro Ultimate, but am a bit concerned about the heat on the latter as well as the extra front/back space required by the heatsinks on the 9800 Pro Ultimate.

I got a bit more interested in the Ultimates today after noticing some decent discounts on refurbished models at newegg. Of course buying refurbished mail-order could lead to great pain if in fact the cards aren't up to snuff.

Anyway, comments on fan noise welcome, I'm trying to reduce the PC noise in my life while still having new games like HL2 be playable, preferably at 1024x768 resolution.

ka

 

[Wedge1]

I share your same interest in having a quiet system. When I get a new card I will attempt to cool it with an 80mm Panaflo L1A (quiet fan for those who are wondering), and I'll unplug the stock hummer that usually comes with any graphics card. Hopefully it will work.
It has worked perfectly for an overclocked GF3 Ti200 so far (230/430).

 

[ethebubbeth]

i can't hear my 9800np over my case... i have an antec truepower 380 (supposedly quiet), 2 panaflo 120mm L1A, an 80mm L1a and an 80mm M1A, and a 90mm L1A on my heatsink. not a terribly quiet case, but not noisy either.

 

[JammingJay]

Below is a quick comparision of the last 4 video cards I've used in terms of DB. Granted I did not use a 9800np/pro as your question asks, but I figure the 9700pro I've used is very similar if not the same in terms of DB if it is built by ATI.

Systems they were installed in. Dell 8250, Compaq 8000z, and Dell 400sc

Most quiet - BFG? FX5600 (Was barely audible above the case fan even under a load)
- Built by ATI Radeon 9700pro (Was a bit more slient than a FX5600 at idle, but becomes more audible when under a load)
- Visiontek Radeon 9100 (Was louder than a 9700pro at idle/load)
Loudest - PNY Ti4200 (Out of the 4, this card is a screamer out of the 4, yet I've heard louder from other people's rigs)

Just goes to show that faster, necessarily doesn't mean louder. I've also tried passively cooled (heatsink only) video cards such as the FX5200 (64bit bus verisons), and a Geforce 2MX card. Obviously the cards themselves are silent, however the cards simply created another problem in itself. The case fan in my rigs had to work overtime to dissapate the heat. I hope this bit of info helps in any way. Best of luck to you.