People have way different opinions on what is loud and what is not. In my case, the stock nVidia reference fan on my VisionTek GF3 was by far the loudest component in my system. The CRORB @ the full 5500RPM was almost as bad. Taking off the lid and slowing down the rpm with the 7V mod made it acceptable, but I can still hear it pretty well. Two of them @ full 5500 rpm would drive me insane.