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Acoustic Performance Test Procedures:
- We placed our Digital Sound Level Meter one metre away from the case.
- The case fans are set to maximum speed.
- The CPU cooler’s fans are set to minimum speed.
- The Corsair Carbide 330R‘s default fan configuration is: 1x 140mm front, 1x 120mm rear.
Please refer to our KitGuru noise guide for a comparison between the noise levels of this case and everyday scenarios.
KitGuru noise guide
10dBA – Normal Breathing/Rustling Leaves
20-25dBA – Whisper
30dBA – High Quality Computer fan
40dBA – A Bubbling Brook, or a Refrigerator
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 take-off/Gunshot (close range)
160dBA – Instant Perforation of eardrum
Positive acoustic performance is displayed by the Corsair 330R quiet case. A sub-40 dBa system noise output is impressive, especially when taking pollution from the graphics card and CPU cooler (albeit at reduced speed) fans into account.
Nevertheless, a basic variable resistor and slider fan controller would have allowed even lower acoustic levels to be obtained with ease. Setting the fans to adjust their speed, as controlled by the motherboard, is one way of obtaining a lower noise output. But a fan controller is arguably a better method as it places the control in a user's hands.
The foam padding mounted on each door and the roof panel seemed to do a good job of damping vibrations. Perhaps damping is the wrong word to use and transferring would be a better choice; the noise seemed to be channelled through the 330R's rear sections rather than get eliminated by the vibration-absorbing foam. This is of little concern as few users sit facing their chassis' rear panel.
