Previous pages showing detailed presentation of the 25 cooler tested here will be the basis of the following analyses and conclusions. In terms of noise levels, the rotation speed is only an indication to draw pertinent conclusion.
Measurements of noise level are, however, essential and are really representative of nuisances perceived by the user. This analysis is based on results obtained with these measurements. The graph below presents the noise level for each of the 31 possible configurations and for the four main fans voltages. Data was then selected at 12V from the least noisy (above) to the noisiest (below). Each 150-mm step corresponds to 28 dB(A) of background noise.
Important :This classification is the one given for 12V. According to the fan, rotation speeds aren’t systematically proportionate to the voltage. Obviously, this classification would be different with a voltage of 5, 7 or 9 V. That means that it is therefore impossible to have an objective classification for each voltage. The next pages, however, introduce the concept of performance/noise ratio to emphasize the efficiency of each model to evacuate the most heat with the lowest noise level possible. So here you have to make up your own mind and compare all the coolers with the data provided above.
