What are the quietest GPUs when gaming?

[5ubsonic]

I'm on the lookout for a new graphics card to replace my MSI RX 6600 and would like to keep my system as quiet as possible. I mostly game using speakers rather than headphones so can hear when the GPU fans ramp up. Most cards nowadays seem to have a zero-RPM fan mode so should be silent when not gaming, but are their any brands to look out for or avoid when the card is under load?

For example, do Nvidia cards tend to be quieter than AMD because they are more efficient? Are there certain card manufactuers than have better fans or tend to have less coil whine? Is it better to just buy a more powerful card because it then shouldn't need to work as hard to reach the same FPS? Am I better off just improving the airflow in the case?

 

[mickyflinn]

Most GPUs ramp up under heavy load but usually you can set a custom fan curve and also undervolt the GPU.

Best to read reviews of the GPU your interested in especially customer review to get a accurate account of how it is. Also a GPU that is a£100 more for the same family will tend to have better components and cooling but that's not always the case.

You could also buy a way more powerful gpu than you intend to use so it's only running at 50% of it's total so won't ramp up the noise , but this would be a waist of money.

 

[SpudMaster]

My watercooled 7900XT

 

[5ubsonic]

I just noticed the Techpowerup reviews seem to have tables compaaring the noise levels of different versions of a card (for example). Are there any other reviews sites that do this kind of thing? Is there a database somewhere like the Cybernetics or Cultists ones for PSUs?

 

[5ubsonic]

My watercooled 7900XT

How much of a difference does watercooling make? I assume it still needs fans?

 

[Captain_Bosh]

How much of a difference does watercooling make? I assume it still needs fans?

If you build your loop to be silent pretty much completely silent. 140mm radiators/fans are the best as you can run them at lower speeds.

 

[SpudMaster]

How much of a difference does watercooling make? I assume it still needs fans?

Yeah still needs fans but you can run them silently if have the radiator capacity and enjoy better cooler to boot. My 7900XT hits ~45°C @ 2850mhz in games like Cyberpunk.
Downside....cost!

 

[heatonpkmassive]

All depends on the case you have. For example, this 4080s FE card makes no noise at all in this particular tower, but it's a pretty big tower. Others will tell you different things about the FE cards.

 

[Grim5]

I can tell you what's the quietest but it also the most expensive

best: any water cooled GPU attached to a big radiator

2nd best: a stock Asus Strix RTX4090, then open MSI afterburner and lower the power limit to 70%. You'll never hear the fans again

I suppose there is a 3rd option, you can get a passive cooled Nvidia gt1030 but goodluck gaming




But since I'm in a good mood I'm gonna give you another option that will blow your mind. Just buy this PC case and cool your GPU without any fans at all

SG10 Copper Edition - Fanless Gaming Case

Introducing the SG10 Copper Edition, an exclusive version of the SG10 that features a stunning FULL COPPER condenser. This limited production run aims to give something back to the community backers who supported the original project, with a total quantity of 500 units, after which only the...

shop.streacom.com

 

[Tetras]

I just noticed the Techpowerup reviews seem to have tables compaaring the noise levels of different versions of a card (for example). Are there any other reviews sites that do this kind of thing? Is there a database somewhere like the Cybernetics or Cultists ones for PSUs?

Most sites/YouTube channels don't review the number of cards that TPU do, but where there are roundups you might find that kind of information:

I'm not aware of any databases.

For example, do Nvidia cards tend to be quieter than AMD because they are more efficient?

Yes and no and yes and no.

The problem is that a card using less power also means the manufacturer can fit less effective cooling, so it really comes down to the question: how overbuilt is the cooler?

While you can build a 100 watt cooler a lot cheaper than a 300 watt cooler and still get lower noise, you can also more easily get away with a cheap heatsink and a fast noisy fan!

Are there certain card manufacturers than have better fans or tend to have less coil whine?

Manufacturers, not so much, but models: yes.

Generally speaking: a lower tier model is going to be noisier than a higher tier model. E.g. MSI Gaming X versus MSI Ventus/Mech.

The more overbuilt the cooler, the better the noise profile can be (for a given temperature and power use).

Some manufacturers prefer to optimise for lower noise, like Sapphire cards often have slower fans as they tolerate higher stock temperatures.

Many cards have a switch where you can have a quiet mode, or a performance/OC mode.

Coil whine: from what I've seen on the forums and elsewhere, there's no guarantee that you can avoid coil whine and premium models can be whiners just as much (or even more) than cheaper models.

Is it better to just buy a more powerful card because it then shouldn't need to work as hard to reach the same FPS?

This is a complicated question.

Is it easier to make a more powerful card quiet? Yes. Is a more powerful card automatically quieter? No.

For example: if you run a 4090 at 1080p with a 60 fps frame cap, it will be laughably silent (I doubt the fans will even turn on because it will consider it idle load).

But, if you run that 4090 at 4K with no frame cap, it will use a lot of power and the noise will increase as a result.

There are a few options available to you:
- Set a frame cap.
- Change the fan curve (to allow higher temperatures).
- Undervolt/power limit.

Am I better off just improving the airflow in the case?

Well, it might help the card run cooler, but if that increases the average noise of your PC it won't help much.

 

[Freddie1980]

Just buy the GPU you want and control the noise by configuring the fan curve in the GPU's software.

 

[5ubsonic]

But since I'm in a good mood I'm gonna give you another option that will blow your mind. Just buy this PC case and cool your GPU without any fans at all

SG10 Copper Edition - Fanless Gaming Case

Introducing the SG10 Copper Edition, an exclusive version of the SG10 that features a stunning FULL COPPER condenser. This limited production run aims to give something back to the community backers who supported the original project, with a total quantity of 500 units, after which only the...

shop.streacom.com

Wow, that's quite some case. It reminds of this custom machined aluminium "heatsink" case I saw on Reddit recently: https://www.reddit.com/r/sffpc/comments/1gtz7zi/a4_silent_pc/

 

[5ubsonic]

Most sites/YouTube channels don't review the number of cards that TPU do, but where there are roundups you might find that kind of information:

I'm not aware of any databases.

...


Well, it might help the card run cooler, but if that increases the average noise of your PC it won't help much.

Thanks for the detailed response @Tetras that gives me a lot to think about!

 

[5ubsonic]

I just watched the video you shared and there's quite some difference in noise between the different models. 9dB. It pays to look up reviews and benchmarks before buying.

 

[Alt0153]

dont put the pc next to your face. problem solved

 

[Alt0153]

All depends on the case you have. For example, this 4080s FE card makes no noise at all in this particular tower, but it's a pretty big tower. Others will tell you different things about the FE cards.

FE 4000 series card make a **** loads of noise when the fan first ramps up from idle to 1500+ rpm when 0 rpm mode kicks off

 

[5ubsonic]

dont put the pc next to your face. problem solved

Mine isn't located on my desk, it lives on the PC shelf beneath my desk, but I still hear the GPU fans when they ramp up, even using a custom fan curve.

 

[Grandmaster Fap!]

My Gigabyte 6800XT is very quiet when left to its own devices but i dont enjoy it getting up to 60+c when gaming so i set a fan curve that keeps it at 50c or less. Sadly the fans are VERY quiet at 30% speed but anything above that sounds like a Hoover so its a balancing act of speed vs sound and hitting a sweet spot.

 

[heatonpkmassive]

FE 4000 series card make a **** loads of noise when the fan first ramps up from idle to 1500+ rpm when 0 rpm mode kicks off

I can only say that I don't have that and that is purely anecdotal from my experience, but then I have set a fan curve in AB and perhaps that's why. I don't like zero fan, I prefer low fan speed at low temp and a gradual increase with temperature increase. And as a consequence, this thing is quiet.

Edit: And again, maybe that's because of the case. Highest I've seen this 4080 Super go is 58 Celcius, maybe that's why it isn't noisy as well.

 

[Meddling-Monk]

I suppose there is a 3rd option, you can get a passive cooled Nvidia gt1030 but goodluck gaming

I believe the most advanced retail GPU that's passive (100% silent bar Coil Whine) is the Palit 3050 6GB. It won't run the latest graphics intensive stuff at 4K well, but anything else in between with adjusted settings and resolutions, it should be viable still. However, there are very few instances where the rest of your system rig is quiet enough where it warrants such a card over another card that has been undervolted or has a large cooler, etc. So getting a card like this really is only suitable for very specific build/goal instances.