The Notebook Review forums were hosted by TechTarget, who shut down them down on January 31, 2022. This static read-only archive was pulled by NBR forum users between January 20 and January 31, 2022, in an effort to make sure that the valuable technical information that had been posted on the forums is preserved. For current discussions, many NBR forum users moved over to NotebookTalk.net after the shutdown.
Problems? See this thread at archive.org.

    How to measure decibels?

    Discussion in 'Hardware Components and Aftermarket Upgrades' started by ITemplate, Dec 18, 2008.

  1. ITemplate

    ITemplate Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    2
    Messages:
    136
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    Hi,

    Some reviews and manufacturers display the laptop decibels, for example Lenovo does that in their laptop specs. I cant seem to find any reference about how/where this is measured and if we are talking peak or average noise level...

    Anyone knows some more information about this? Perhaps some links?

    Thanks.
     
  2. DetlevCM

    DetlevCM Notebook Nobel Laureate

    Reputations:
    4,843
    Messages:
    8,389
    Likes Received:
    1
    Trophy Points:
    205
    Physics...
    decibels is - n*log base 10 of presure caused by the soundwave - I believe... its been a while.
     
  3. Mr._Kubelwagen

    Mr._Kubelwagen More machine now than man

    Reputations:
    398
    Messages:
    744
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    Yeah, Detlev, that's the theoretical way, but far from practical. I assume they use a regular microphone at various places on the laptop, and use software to figure out how loud it is.
     
  4. DetlevCM

    DetlevCM Notebook Nobel Laureate

    Reputations:
    4,843
    Messages:
    8,389
    Likes Received:
    1
    Trophy Points:
    205
    Yes - any "decibel measuring device" (about the size of a larger BlackBerry, at least the older ones) will use a microphone.
    And you get a little needle (old one) showing you how much noise there is...

    (Used one in physics in Germany about 2.5-3 years ago...)