Noise Levels and Fan Speeds

Testing Procedure

Fan noise testing is done at 25%, 50%, and 100% fan speed, with the dBA level being recorded by a Pyle PSPL25 sound-pressure-level meter at a distance of 30 cm. The fan(s) RPM results are taken at the same 25%, 50%, and 100% settings. The selected speeds are handled by MSI's Command Center software, and a Lamptron FC6 fan controller is also used as a secondary method of confirming RPM and dBA readings in case MSI's Command Center cannot control the fan(s), which ensures that proper results can still be obtained if the software fails. To give users the noise profile of the tested CPU cooler, testing is done using fan speed percentages instead of various load levels.

Noise Levels

Overall, Deepcool's Gamer Storm Lucifer proves to be a very quiet air cooler. At idle and with typical loads, the cooler runs at sub 40 dBA, which makes it quiet enough to be a barely audible whisper.

Fan Speeds

RPM readings nicely illustrate the reason for the cooler's exceptional noise levels. The RPM range being 700-1400, noise levels are kept in check while offering enough performance to cool overclocked CPUs without an issue.

Overall RPM and decibel readings show the Deepcool Gamer Storm Lucifer to be fairly well balanced in terms of airflow and noise output. Should you use it passively, it will be dead silent, but doing so seems counter intuitive given the fan Deepcool has included is whisper quiet.