Noise emissions (“volume”) and fan speeds
The fan curves of the MSI GeForce RTX 5080 SUPRIM SOC are designed to achieve an optimal balance between cooling performance and noise development. MSI once again relies on three separate fan controls, which allow the fans to be operated at slightly different speeds. This approach serves to minimize acoustic noise such as resonance, hum and frequency modulation that can occur with synchronized fan speeds.
Synchronized fan speeds can cause mechanical resonances caused by the superimposition of vibrations. These resonances lead to an increased acoustic effect, which is noticeable as an unpleasant humming or roaring noise. This effect is often amplified in closed enclosures, as the resonance frequencies of the enclosure can interact with the vibrations of the fans. The use of individual controls with slightly different speeds prevents these overlaps and significantly reduces the risk of resonance effects.
Another advantage of asynchronous control is the reduction of so-called humming, which occurs when synchronously rotating fans generate uniform air flows. This leads to periodic pressure changes, which can be perceived as low-frequency humming. This uniformity is interrupted by different fan speeds, which reduces the humming and makes the air circulation more even. Frequency modulations in the audible range, which are caused by slight fluctuations in fan speed or by the simultaneous operation of several fans with different frequencies, are also attenuated. The distribution of these modulations over a wider frequency spectrum makes them less noticeable to the human ear and ensures a more pleasant acoustic perception.
Instead of a clearly perceptible tone or a dominant noise, the result is a more diffuse sound profile that is perceived as more pleasant. I’ve averaged all three values here and have spared myself the gaming mode, which in my opinion is superfluous without OC, because I can live with the 1100 rpm and the gaming mode only brings about 1 K lower board temperatures with around 100 rpm more in terms of cooling:
The measurements in the acoustic chamber show that the noise development of the MSI GeForce RTX 5080 SUPRIM SOC is primarily influenced by the fan speed. At low to medium speeds, the background noise remains remarkably inconspicuous, which can be attributed to several technical optimizations. The aerodynamically designed fan blades reduce turbulence in the airflow, while the low-vibration bearings minimize mechanical noise. As a result, the card operates extremely quietly under moderate loads and is barely perceptible in normal environments.
Under intensive load, when higher speeds are required, the noise level increases as expected. Nevertheless, the noise development remains lower compared to previous generations. This indicates a significant improvement in the fan design and cooling strategy. Even at maximum performance, the background noise remains controllable and does not reach unpleasant levels that could impair the user experience. The card’s precisely tuned fan control plays a central role in this. It avoids sudden and sharp changes in fan speed, which could be perceived as acoustic peaks. Instead, the fan speed is adjusted gently, which makes the operating noise appear more even and pleasant for the user.
The measured noise levels, expressed in dB(A), correlate directly with the temperature curves of the card. This underlines the fact that the fan curves have been carefully designed to offer an optimum balance between effective cooling and minimal noise development. In silent mode, the average is only around 31.9 dBA, which is barely audible. This means that this card is roughly as loud as the MSI RTX 5080 VANGUARD SOC, which may also be due to the fact that the coil noise was roughly the same for both cards, while the fans were barely audible, if at all.
And to round it all off, the recording of the MSI GeForce RTX 5080 SUPRIM SOC in silent mode. The cards runs in Cyberpunk 2077 and UHD with 99% load for over 15 minutes:
The only thing that is a little annoying is the coil noise, but you only notice it because it is not covered by the fans. But that’s complaining at the very highest level. Unfortunately, there are no completely noiseless coils, especially as certain manufacturing tolerances cannot be ruled out even with these high-quality components. A bit of lottery is also involved, unfortunately.
- 1 - Einführung, übersicht und technische Daten
- 2 - Testsystem und Equipment
- 3 - Teardown: Platine und Kühler
- 4 - Materialanalyse und Wärmeleitmaterialien
- 5 - Gaming Performance
- 6 - Leistungsaufnahme, Lastspitzen, Netzteilempfehlung
- 7 - Temperaturen, Taktraten und Thermografie
- 8 - Lüfterkurven und Betriebsgeräusch
- 9 - Zusammenfassung und Fazit
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