Gigabyte GTX 460 SOC - Noise level?

[Aneon]

Hi guys,

I'm planning to build a quiet gaming PC and want the quietest graphic card I can find out of the box as I want to avoid replacing the cooler.

The ASUS Radeon 6850 DirectCU seems like a real treat: http://www.silentpcreview.com/article1126-page9.html

But so does Gigabyte GTX 460 SOC, according to some:
http://www.hexus.net/content/item.php?item=27537&page=12

However, it's hard to find additional reviews of the Gigabyte GTX 460 SOC, and I've only seen one or two that deals with noise level. I'm especially worried that the noise level at idle will be too loud, because I've read that the fans has a minimum speed of 40%.

Does anyone of you own a Gigabyte GTX 460 SOC? If so, how much does it sound compared to your other components?

Thanks!

 

[tviceman]

The gigabyte SOC will be very quiet when idle and at load. Their cooler is both more powerful than the reference design and quieter at the same time. 40% on both of the past video cards I have owned has been the threshold between being virtually silent 3 feet away and barely audible.

 

[deimos3428]

I don't have that precise model, but my cards have the same Windforce 2X cooler (two in CF). I wouldn't recommend leaving the fans on auto, but if you force them to something between 20 to 40% they'll stay reasonably quiet and provide adequate cooling.

 

[timma]

i have a gigabyte's GTX 460 SOC
it's very quite when running Folding@home @ full load
fan still @ 40% max temp 58 °C room temp 24°C

 

[mnewsham]

the quietest thing you could get would be a passively cooled water loop with a water cooled GPU