[hotani]

Replaced the aluminum heatsink with a copper version. Heat savings were not what I had hoped - overall it looks like 1°C, but it is much more quiet. I think the less-powerful-more-quiet case fan I put in a while ago is more able to cool the Cu heatsink - plus there seems to be better airflow through it.

My old temp ranges were from about 59 - 61. New range is 58.5 - 59.6 (59.6 is as high as it goes at about 20-21°C in the house running F@H, so basically full load). With the new heatsink I have not yet seen 60 which is a good thing, but I was hoping for a 55 average, especially after what I spent for that contraption. Oh well.

Here is an image of the two side by side:

[Detrius]

This should probably go in the mods forum. One thing to keep in mind though, is that the processor puts out the same amount of heat. The important part is that the fan is running significantly more quitely, which is what would be expected with a more efficiently cooling heatsink.

[lenox]

I performed the exact same 'mod' and was extremely pleased with the decreased noise, as my mdd is used for audio work in the studio. I used generic thermal paste but I might go back in there and re apply some arctic silver at some point.