Alongside our previous tests of premium 92 mm Noctua fans, we’re adding something for value-focused users. For the more affordable Prime-series card, these are a better match. We’ll measure how much quieter the card gets after swapping the stock fans for budget 92 mm Arctic P9 PWM PST models with sleeve bearings, and compare the noise to the Arctic P9 PWM PST CO variant with dual ball bearings for continuous operation.
Test build
Reviewers usually test the performance, thermals, and noise of graphics cards on open-air test benches. In such a setup, the system has virtually unlimited access to cool ambient air from the surroundings, and the warm air from the graphics card is quickly expelled into the open air. Inside a case, however, the air volume is much smaller. Once components are installed, it becomes necessary to find a balance, tuning the cooling system so that system fans aren’t too noisy, while still ensuring sufficient airflow through the case. Powerful CPUs and GPUs produce a lot of heat, raising the temperature inside the case, and component temperatures are usually higher than under ideal open-bench conditions. This is why results for clocks, temperatures, and noise in such test setups tend to look better than what you’ll see with the same components inside a PC case.
That’s why graphics cards are tested inside a PC case. For this purpose I chose the Fractal Design Meshify 2, featuring one of the most common case layouts and cooling designs. Unlike expensive, oversized cases, its size and price make it suitable for lower- and mid-range GPUs, while still being able to fit and cool even large power-hungry high-end graphics cards. In this setup, using a case with all fan mounts populated lets us compare cards under identical conditions.
All system fans are set to around 780 RPM. Although this setup is not whisper-quiet, it can keep even high-power GPUs sufficiently cool. The front panel houses three 140 mm intake fans, and an additional fan at the bottom draws air into the case and directs it to the rear section of the graphics card.
Hot air is exhausted by three Fractal Design Aspect 14 RGB PWM fans in the top panel, plus a matching rear fan.
Motherboard: Aorus X870 Elite WiFi7
The motherboard used for testing is the Aorus X870 Elite WiFi7. Engineered for the latest AMD Ryzen processors, the Gigabyte X870 AORUS ELITE WIFI7 provides a robust 16+2+2 power design. It offers four M.2 slots, including three PCIe 5.0, and features next-generation connectivity with Wi-Fi 7 and 2.5GbE LAN. Its builder-friendly design, with features like EZ-Latch, simplifies the installation process.
CPU Cooler: Noctua NH-D15 G2 LBC
These days, powerful gaming rigs often rely on all-in-one liquid coolers. I opted instead for a top-of-the-line air cooler, the Noctua NH-D15 G2 LBC in an offset mounting configuration, for two main reasons. First, it offers greater reliability and more predictable long-term cooling performance compared to liquid coolers. Second, it has a smaller impact on case airflow than an AIO.
When CPU load increases, speeding up the radiator fans on an AIO cooler can significantly change the airflow inside the case. With an air cooler, higher CPU fan speeds have much less impact on case airflow. The system fans are set to a fixed speed to maintain constant airflow, making it more suitable for comparing graphics cards under similar conditions.
Processor: AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D
Our graphics card tests run on an AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D processor. It provides sufficient cores for virtually all current titles, maintains high clock speeds, and delivers strong single-core performance. While it may not lead the charts in every benchmark, it consistently ranks among the best overall. It has a single CCD fitted with 3D V-Cache, which all cores can access directly. Unlike higher-end models, it does not suffer from latency when switching between chiplets. In games, it can make more efficient use of its thermal envelope (TDP). Thanks to this combination of factors, it can deliver the highest performance in most games.
The AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D processor runs at the motherboard’s default settings. Below is a snapshot of the hardware configuration and current setup. The current system setup may vary slightly due to BIOS, driver, and software updates.
The SVM Enable option in the advanced processor settings is disabled to improve gaming performance, which also turns off the “Core Isolation” feature in Windows Security.
The processor’s integrated Radeon graphics adapter and the onboard SATA controller are also manually disabled.
Memory: Kingston Fury DDR5-6000
The processor is paired with 64 GB of DDR5-6000 memory via two 32GB modules from Kingston. The memory is Kingston Fury DDR5-6000, product number KF560C32RSK2-64.
They support the following profiles:
- Default (JEDEC): DDR5-4800 CL40-39-39 @1.1V
- XMP Profile #1: DDR5-6000 CL32-38-38 @1.35V
- XMP Profile #2: DDR5-5600 CL40-40-40 @1.25V
- XMP Profile #3: DDR5-4800 CL38-38-38 @1.1V
In our build, it’s running on the highest EXPO profile with parameters DDR5-6000 32-38-38-38 at 1.350V. In the BIOS, XMP/EXPO High Bandwidth Support is enabled, Infinity Fabric Frequency and Dividers is manually set to 2000 MHz, and the UCLK DIV1 MODE divider is set to UCLK=MEMCLK.
Storage: SSD Kingston Fury Renegade PCIe 4.0 NVMe M.2
System and game data are stored on a fast Kingston Fury Renegade PCIe 4.0 NVMe M.2 SSD with 4TB capacity. It offers sequential read speeds of up to 7,300 MB/s and write speeds of up to 7,000 MB/s. The drive comes in two versions: one with a heatsink and one with a thin heat spreader. We’re using the thin-spreader version, cooled by the large M.2 heatsink included with the motherboard.
PSU: be quiet! Dark Power Pro 13.
The entire system is powered by a top-tier 1300W PSU—the be quiet! Dark Power Pro 13. Be quiet! Dark Power Pro 13 1300 W is a fully modular ATX 3.0 power supply with 80 PLUS Titanium certification and up to 94.4 % efficiency. It supports PCIe 5.1 (2× 12VHPWR, 6× PCIe 6+2 pin) and features six 12V rails with an option to switch to single-rail mode. Cooling is provided by a 135 mm Silent Wings fan, and the manufacturer offers a 10-year warranty.
Monitor: MSI Optix MPG321UR-QD
Our gaming performance tests are carried out using the MSI Optix MPG321UR-QD — a 32-inch 4K UHD gaming monitor with an IPS panel, 144 Hz refresh rate, and 1 ms response time. It uses Quantum Dot technology to deliver a wide color gamut (97 % DCI-P3, 99 % Adobe RGB). The monitor supports HDR600, offers HDMI 2.1 and DisplayPort 1.4 with DSC, includes USB-C connectivity, and comes with an integrated KVM switch for convenient control of multiple devices.
Monitor: Gigabyte AORUS FO27Q3
For specialized input lag tests we are using a top-tier gaming monitor, the AORUS FO27Q3 from Gigabyte. It features a Samsung Display QD-OLED panel at 2560 × 1440 with a 360 Hz refresh rate and 0.03 ms GtG response and is certified with VESA ClearMR 13000 and VESA DisplayHDR True Black 400. For gamers, the major advantage over LCD monitors is that OLED can redraw pixels with significantly faster response times.
The basic monitor specifications are summarized below. For a detailed description and demonstrations of supported technologies, visit the monitor’s product page.
- Panel: 27″ QD-OLED, resolution 2560×1440 @ 360 Hz, 10-bit
- Adaptive v-sync: FreeSync Premium Pro, VRR
- Image parameters: viewing angles 178°, brightness 250 cd/m² (Typ, SDR APL 100%); 1000 nits (Typ, HDR APL 3%), 99% DCI-P3 coverage, GTG response 0.03 ms, factory calibration with △E< 2
- Certifications: VESA DisplayHDR True Black 400, motion clarity ClearMR 13000
- Connectors: 2× HDMI 2.1, 1× DisplayPort 1.4, 1× USB Type-C (DP Alt Mode; Upstream port; Power Delivery up to 18 W), 2× USB 3.2 (downstream), 1× USB 3.2 (upstream), 3.5 mm headphone out; 3.5 mm mic in
- Audio: 2× 5 W speakers
- Supported technologies: Tactical Switch, OSD Sidekick, Black Equalizer 2.0, Dashboard, Crosshair, Timer, Counter, Night Vision, Eagle Eye, PiP/PbP, Auto-Update, KVM, 6 axis Color Control, Apply Picture Mode, HDMI-CEC, RGB Fusion 2.0, pivot 0–90°, VESA Wall Mount 100×100 mm
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I’m very grateful for this test. I always lacked motivation to check how much better my temperatures actually are after a deshroud and if using 92 mm fans might be a better option. I just always went straight for 120 mm fans, even though they were sticking out, because of the “bigger = better” assumption and both temperatures and noise were always better than with stock fans. Recently, however, I finally managed to gather the determination to roughly compare a deshroud with 2× Phanteks T30 versus 3× Arctic F9, and the results align with what was tested here. Is this the end of this saga/series, or are there still some other fan models lined up for testing?
note: the test with 2 x 140 mm fan was performed on a different graphics card. 😉
May I be curious and ask how the comparison went for you: 3 x 92 P9 vs 2 x 120 T30?
At similar room temperatures, 2x T30 (mounted in a printed shroud where fans was fully enclosed inside) reached a maximum of 85.2*C and an average of 83.3 °C with a peak power draw of 306.3 W, while 3x F9 reached 84.2*C max and 81.3*C average with a peak power draw of 312.7 W.
Test was ran by loading a CP2077 save at maximum graphic settings with path tracing enabled, without moving the character or camera, and letting it run like that for nearly an hour. The results were collected via HWiNFO64, which was reset immediately before pressing the key to load the game. Fans speeds were fixed at comparable noise levels, measured using a smartphone app. Iirc ~1250 rpm for T30 and ~1500 rpm for F9.
However, the result is not precise because I did not control temperature in the room. I only measured it with a simple rectangular meter with a humidity readout, which accuracy is questionable. The same applies to the consistency and accuracy of in-room sound level measurements taken with a smartphone app. That is why I am particularly interested in whether these results were just coincidence caused by external factors, or whether they reflect a real difference.
nice work, thank you very much for your input 👍 😉
I’d like to add my thanks as well—very nice documentation. Cyberpunk 2077 will (probably) be a serious stress test that really pushes the graphics card almost to its very limits. 🙂
Exactly. CP2077 was a good non synthetic stress for card as it never came close to 60 FPS and iirc never crossed 50 FPS mark and always was 99% loaded. Thanks for kind words and you’re welcome 🙂
Lower temperatures don’t necessarily mean more efficient cooling. Control over GPU clock speeds is also important—we address this in CPU cooler testing as well. Power draw in watts is, of course, important too, but it doesn’t allow for a clear-cut conclusion that “more is better.” Higher power consumption can often be driven by greater thermal losses precisely because cooling efficiency is lower. That said, I’m referring here to experience with processors running on motherboards. 🙂
I definitely agree! When I saw how long my comment become, I deliberately limited it to reporting only the power draw, assuming it would give a sufficient picture under assumption that higher power draw translates into higher clocks. As you rightly pointed however higher temperatures also mean lower power efficiency, which in turn leads to higher power consumption. This is very easly observable with CPUs. Der8auer once did a test on this and visualized it very well.
Thats said, to complete the picture, here are the recorded clock results for those configurations:
2x T30: core 3135 MHz max, 2833.5 MHz average; Memory temps: 76*C max, 74,1*C average.
3x F9: core 3202 MHz max, 3015.2 MHz average; Memory temps: 76*C max, 73,8*C average.
In both setups memory clocks were stable at 2833.5 MHz through whole time. I should also add that the GPU is a 5070 Ti with OC set to +400 on core and +3000 on memory in MSI Afterburner.
Now… the winner…in your case is incontrovertibly clear 😉
The fact that higher power consumption does not automatically mean higher CPU clock speeds can also be seen in our cooler tests. Beyond a certain point, as temperatures increase, power consumption may continue to rise while CPU core clock speeds sometimes start to drop. 🙂
As far as 92 mm fans go, that’s probably all for now—but tests with Arctic P12 Pro fans will likely appear soon. 🙂
…and maybe, if I’ve motivated Adam enough 🫣😀😉,
…a test with 2 140mm fans will appear later
Coolermaster has a custom ASUS built series of 5080 cards with a shroud specifically designed to enable swapping out the fans with standard 120mms with accommodations for standard thickness and other marques of fan. I wish other companies, like say, Sapphire would jump on this train.
I’ve seen that solution from CM and I really regret that it’s only a prototype/visual concept with no plans to bring it to market but that would be absolutely fantastic! Personally, I could even live with the same pricing and no stock fans included, as long as I could install my own, let’s say, 10-32 mm thickness range if only that became a standard. Ideally, though, the best solution would be something like with AIOs: you have the option to mount your own fans, but there are also “off-the-shelf” fans included out of the box.
Cooler Master likely has more motivation than Sapphire to produce graphics cards like this. They have their own fans that can be used, whereas Sapphire doesn’t really focus on offering standalone fans in its portfolio. 🙂
End user replacable fans *are* a feature that’s proliferating on modern radeons IIRC, so it may be less of a leap – especially as Sapphire has marketed CPU coolers outside of the global north before. Getting into the chassis fan market isn’t that improbable for them I’d think, if they want to diversify. IIRC, I’ve heard good things said about their cooler fan designs too, so they may be able to field some credible offerings too, with that experience.
Perhaps the possibility of entering the global CPU cooler market is closer than it seems
https://www.sapphiretech.com/en/consumer/nitro-s360a-aio-cpu-cooler
This is not new one, but it is on the global EN web
Review (TPU) from 2022
https://www.techpowerup.com/review/sapphire-nitro-s240-a-aio-liquid-cpu-cooler/
Hopefully, Sapphire AIO coolers will eventually make their way to our market as well, similar to their motherboards. 🙂
Yes, Sapphire has been involved in cooling solutions—at least in the past—when it comes to CPU coolers. However, the Vapor-X model apparently didn’t gain much traction on the market, and that may be one of the reasons why their motivation to continue in this segment declined. 🙂
The removable fans on Nitro+ graphics card coolers are excellent, and personally, I’m really rooting for Sapphire to push things to the next level. 🙂
Hi hwcooling,
What a gooood job that you made here !
I think that if you want to have a better cooling, one of the good update is to add extra rear fan (without the backplate) to help the right fan to extract hot air !
I think that if you try that, the cooling will be better !
(Sorry for my baaaddd english 😬)
well, existing examples do not support this assumption… 😉
https://www.hwcooling.net/en/aorus-geforce-rtx-5080-master-whats-the-fourth-fans-benefit/4/
the thickness of the heatsink and its density do not require a pull-push setup…
moreover, the proximity of two fans that would spin at the same speed can lead to so-called beat frequency (When two waves (like sound waves) with close frequencies combine, they constructively and destructively interfere.)
We addressed the benefits of a fourth fan on the RTX 5080 Master graphics card cooler here, as Bufo also points out. 🙂
Any chance of you releasing the stl files? Or, preferably step files so we can make changes. There are a few Asus prime shrouds out there but I really think the way you separated the legs as separate parts is clever. And looks good too.
Thx.
I plan to make it available for download here and on Printables in two weeks or so—would that be okay? I need to make a few adjustments: some screw posts on the legs don’t line up perfectly with the PCB holes—there’s a 0.5–1 mm offset. I’ll realign the screw posts to match the PCB holes, tweak the corner pockets for the silicone pads to improve printability, and add a version for two 120 mm fans.
And yes, I can provide STEP files. The model comes from Rhino 3D and will be a closed boundary representation (BREP)—a joined polysurface. It should import as a solid, but it may not behave the same as STEP files from typical parametric CAD tools.
Thanks for responding. I’d take whatever you have without you having to put more work into it.
Yeah, the shroud design looks good and it will probably work well too. There are no gaps between the fan and the shroud structure where static pressure could escape. That means airflow through the radiator should be high—though of course it still depends on which fan model is used and at what speed. 🙂
The Thermalright TL-P9 work pretty quiet on my 5070Ti Prime. They have 2200 rpm as maximum rpm and usally stay below 2000 under load through the MODDIY Adapter, which is still tolerable when gaming with desktop speakers.
I’m looking for a solution in pull configuration though, as i have the GPU in upside down orientation in an inverted sff case (McPrue Apollo SE).
Any tips on what to use there? Are Phanteks T30 worth a try?
If the 120 mm T30 fans fit, then using them as a pair would definitely be a good choice. That also applies to Noctua NF-A12x25 (G2)—or really any fans that rank at the top of our measurements on radiators. I wouldn’t be afraid of Arctic P12 Pro either, even though there are frequent user reports saying they get noisier in pull configuration. That may be true on case grilles, but it doesn’t necessarily apply to radiators. It might—or it might not. Either way, it would definitely be worth trying. Aerodynamically, the P12 Pro fans are very well designed, and given their low price point… 🙂
Based on your experience, what fan size would you recommend for the Asus TUF 5070? It has the same dimensions as Asus TUF 5070 Ti (330x140mm), which you deshrouded already. I’m leaning towards two 120mm fans (perhaps the low-speed version of the Noctua NF-A12x25 G2), but I worry that I will be far off from covering the length.
Based on what I’ve tested: if I were going with two fans, I’d probably choose the NF-A14x25 G2; if I wanted to save some money, I’d pick the Arctic P14 Pro PST instead.
https://www.hwcooling.net/en/tuf-rtx-5070-ti-deshroud-2x-140-mm-noctua-nf-a14x25-g2/7/
For a 120 mm setup, I’d install three NF-A12x25 fans or three Arctic P12 Pro fans.
In fact, it would be also interesting to compare a deshroud with two and with three 120mm fans, so it’s clear how much the third fan helps.
Thanks for the comment—I don’t think I could have replied to Taisho any better myself. 🙂
Yes, adding a third 120 mm fan could improve cooling efficiency, but compatibility then becomes an issue. The graphics card would become very long and start conflicting with many cases. With two fans, compatibility is already above average and much easier to maintain. 🙂