Recently we have changed our method of measuring noise levels. For most reviews we have built a system inside a Lian Li chassis with no case fans and have used a fanless cooler on our CPU. We are using a heatpipe based passive power supply and an Intel SSD to keep noise levels to a minimum. The motherboard is passively cooled and we use a Sapphire HD5670 Ultimate Edition graphics card which is also passively cooled. Ambient noise in the room is kept as low as possible. We measure from a distance of around 1 meter from the chassis and 4 foot from the ground to mirror a real world situation.
Why do this? Well this means we can eliminate secondary noise pollution in the test room and concentrate on only the components we are testing. It also brings us slightly closer to industry standards, such as DIN 45635.
We normally use air conditioning which generates noise levels around 21dBa. We disabled air conditioning to lower ambient noise to 16.2dBa.
We use a SkyTronic DSL 2 Digital Sound Level Meter (6-130dBa) from a distance of 1 meter.
KitGuru noise guide
10dBA - Normal Breathing/Rustling Leaves
20-25dBA – Whisper
30dBA - High Quality Computer fan
40dBA - A Bubbling Brook, or a Refridgerator
50dBA - Normal Conversation
60dBA - Laughter
70dBA - Vacuum Cleaner or Hairdryer
80dBA - City Traffic or a Garbage Disposal
90dBA - Motorcycle or Lawnmower
100dBA - MP3 player at maximum output
110dBA - Orchestra
120dBA - Front row rock concert/Jet Engine
130dBA - Threshold of Pain
140dBA - Military Jet takeoff/Gunshot (close range)
160dBA - Instant Perforation of eardrum
The Vantage proves to deliver a very modest set of noise figures considering the limited radiator size. It is programmed to deliver idle temperatures between 28-30 c and when in performance mode it is noticeable, but not intrusive. When under full load and trying to cool a 6 core Intel Cpu at 4.5ghz however it becomes audible. That said, there are not many occasions, even during gaming when a 6 core processor is fully loaded so the noise levels at extreme settings are normally only apparent when running Prime or Cinebench.
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August 23, 2010
#1
As always Zardon, wicked overclocking skills
August 23, 2010
#2
nice overclocking on a locked processor. I saw one site saying it sucked compared to 980X and they struggled to hit 4ghz!
Good product, if a little costly.
August 23, 2010
#3
I love this product, the LED screen is worth the 50 quid !
August 23, 2010
#4
My friend had a domino, it leaked, but its good to see the build quality has improved.
August 23, 2010
#5
Nice idea of including the CPUZ verifications, ive often wondered how you did it, but clearly you have mad skilzz
August 23, 2010
#6
Wow that is such an awesome looking product, thanks for including the videos lately they really help spice the content up. Lovely chassis that, fell in love with it at the weekend.
August 23, 2010
#7
If you’re building yourself, then the Noctua and Frio still look like great options.
But they put an awful amount of weight on a mainboard and at 90 degrees.
This kind of water cooling might not be the best at cooling in the market, but it’s probably the safest way to get a strong OC without risking a problem during shipment.
August 23, 2010
#8
Thanks to everyone for the positive comments!
When it comes overclocking, Zardon was cutting his teeth in the XtremeSystems.org forum when most of the world’s long-haired-lurkers were still in nappies
Unfortunately skill, experience and patience are not available in Primark.
Zardon’s in the minority that forces the hardware to his way of thinking. I’m with the great majority of people who just can’t do it
August 23, 2010
#9
Fantastic review and this looks to be a very impressive product, love the video showing all the options.
August 23, 2010
#10
Domino was terrible, but it was a good novelty item at the time, i read threads on anandtech with people’s systems destroyed! It would make me wonder if this is ok long term but I trust Zardon as he has helped me build my last 3 systems. Great review, but that goes without saying.
August 23, 2010
#11
I just ordered one, I hope its as good as you say.
August 23, 2010
#12
The fact you managed to get a core i7 970 to 4.5ghz is rather impressive. most of the main stream press can barely get a 980X to this. kudos Mr Z.
August 23, 2010
#13
Im probably one of the few people who knows his secret name on xtremesystems
guy used to lead the charts in the old days. much respect Z 
August 23, 2010
#14
id buy that for a dollar. well 180 of them
August 23, 2010
#15
Shit that 970 processor isnt as bad as I thought. everyone says its a waste of money, but clearly if you got the right motherboard (kudos MSI) and the right man on the case (Z) then the results are up there with the 980x!
August 23, 2010
#16
Wish you made systems and id buy them. nice product, looks brilliant in a case like that lian li. love it. just a bit much dosh for me
August 23, 2010
#17
Very impressive product. id rather have it than the noctua NH D14 for all the reasons Zardon listed in the conclusion. I bet that hurt though, he seems married to noctua
August 23, 2010
#18
damn, that is sexy. it really is. shame the LED aspect is ramping up the price so much, 105 quid for a cooler is almost as bad as paying 250 for the corsair ax1200. makes for a very expensive system build.
August 23, 2010
#19
Top review, nice product, well done coolit.
August 23, 2010
#20
drop the price by 30 and id buy it, its too much cash for what you get right now.
August 23, 2010
#21
I would buy this, but I need to get a CPU first. probably pick up a 1055T cheap here.
August 23, 2010
#22
I already bought one of these last week and im very impressed. im embarassed to say I havent tried overclocking yet, but if I can get close to 4ghz with my 920 ill be happy.
August 23, 2010
#23
It is a lot of money to part with for a cooler, but it seems not too far off the Noctua NH D14 but without the massive bulk. thats the only thing that puts me off that cooler. its bound to be a nightmare to fit, stress on the pcb. and getting near the mobo for other work? impossible. this looks to be ideal, if I can work out how to get the cash toghether
August 23, 2010
#24
Too rich for my blood, but my friend read this earlier and ordered one online,. hopefully it sucks :p (he is rich)
August 23, 2010
#25
How does this compare to H70, any review of H70 coming up Kitguru?
August 23, 2010
#26
I have had the h70 here a while, and testing is done, just need to get time to write it all up
August 23, 2010
#27
So this is better than H50 or much the same but over 100 quid? ilike the display, but once its set up does anyone really look at it all the time ?
August 23, 2010
#28
50,000 hours life is good, that 5 years 24/7, or 10+ for most of us. will be on the next generation slots in 1 year, by 10 years these slots will all be long extinct!
August 23, 2010
#29
I think its worth the money to be honest. NH D14 from noctua is clearly the best heatsink on the market but look at the downsides? the size for one. blocked ram slots, inability to get near half of the mobo. this is so small and not far from the performance levels.
August 23, 2010
#30
Great review, video sold me when I saw it in operation. selling my left kidney on ebay as we speak.
August 23, 2010
#31
All hail the Z – 4.8ghz on a 875K and 4.6ghz on a locked 970. 4.45ghz usable.
**bows**
August 23, 2010
#32
Zardon I dont believe this will hit 4.5ghz, I bet this is the CPU right at the limit, no way it hits 4.6ghz.
Show me a CPUZ vailidation with the CPU over 4.5ghz and ill eat my hat.
August 23, 2010
#33
What hat are you going to eat? http://valid.canardpc.com/show_oc.php?id=1358922
August 23, 2010
#34
OMG pawned. I just pissed myself. anyone else? haha
August 23, 2010
#35
Comedy hour on KG, love it
August 23, 2010
#36
mwahahahahahahahahaha.
(good review).
August 23, 2010
#37
lol.
Hey good review, im tempted to pick one of these up for my new Core i7. thanks!
August 23, 2010
#38
very good review – seems like a good product
August 23, 2010
#39
4.44ghz stable with an entry level liquid cooling unit. thats hella impressive. Coolit have clearly delivered the goods this time.
August 23, 2010
#40
very nice indeed. very enjoyable to read, that screen Coolit made is a brilliant idea. the rotation options are inspired.
August 24, 2010
#41
Nice review Z. Seems a lil’ Expensive but it sure looks worth the money… are we going to see a head to head with the H70?
Brilliant OC on the 970. Best I’ve Ever seen, I bow to your Overclocking prowess.