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<blockquote data-quote="dcwp" data-source="post: 400702" data-attributes="member: 25562">I haven't gotten to HDDScan yet, but I have managed to get a few things done.First I took off the chipset heatsink since I had heard that one of the reasons this board runs hot is poor thermal compound.&nbsp; As you can see in the first picture below, there was just a little smudge in a corner of the chipset.&nbsp; Whatever that stuff was, it was sure sticky.&nbsp; It took me a while but I cleaned the chipset and the bottom of the heatsink with alcohol and reset it using good silver compound.&nbsp; Already this seems to have gained me 5-10 degrees. With that help, I was able to set the target GPU temp in Speedfan to 45degrees and now it runs much less frequently and less noisily.&nbsp; Eventually I'd like to do a little more to cool the chipset and CPU with just one quieter fan.I also started experimenting with hiding my IR receiver.&nbsp; I still haven't gotten an internal USB port, but I talked with the guy at my local computer repair place and he said he takes them out of project boxes fairly regularly and will call next time he gets one.&nbsp; Nonetheless I went ahead and placed my receiver in the box.&nbsp; I just snaked the cable through an open expansion slot (I need to cover those open slots since I am down to only one card with this new setup).&nbsp; Then I coiled the mile long cable and used it as a platform to elevate the receiver so that it can see through the vent holes in the front.&nbsp; That fan it is sitting in front of is no longer used, so the placement worked pretty well.I still have some external cable management and general cleanup to do, but it's starting to look less cluttered.&nbsp; In the picture you can see the camera flash reflecting off the receiver through the vent hole.&nbsp; Normally it can't be seen and is totally hidden, but there is plenty of IR visibility and the remote works from every angle.&nbsp; Overall I'm very pleased with how that part turned out.Up next: a single large Green Drive to replace the three noisy ones and maybe some quieter fans.&nbsp; Eventually I'd like a more efficient and quieter PSU, but that will probably have to wait a bit.</blockquote>

[QUOTE="dcwp, post: 400702, member: 25562"] I haven't gotten to HDDScan yet, but I have managed to get a few things done. First I took off the chipset heatsink since I had heard that one of the reasons this board runs hot is poor thermal compound. As you can see in the first picture below, there was just a little smudge in a corner of the chipset. Whatever that stuff was, it was sure sticky. It took me a while but I cleaned the chipset and the bottom of the heatsink with alcohol and reset it using good silver compound. Already this seems to have gained me 5-10 degrees. With that help, I was able to set the target GPU temp in Speedfan to 45degrees and now it runs much less frequently and less noisily. Eventually I'd like to do a little more to cool the chipset and CPU with just one quieter fan. I also started experimenting with hiding my IR receiver. I still haven't gotten an internal USB port, but I talked with the guy at my local computer repair place and he said he takes them out of project boxes fairly regularly and will call next time he gets one. Nonetheless I went ahead and placed my receiver in the box. I just snaked the cable through an open expansion slot (I need to cover those open slots since I am down to only one card with this new setup). Then I coiled the mile long cable and used it as a platform to elevate the receiver so that it can see through the vent holes in the front. That fan it is sitting in front of is no longer used, so the placement worked pretty well. I still have some external cable management and general cleanup to do, but it's starting to look less cluttered. In the picture you can see the camera flash reflecting off the receiver through the vent hole. Normally it can't be seen and is totally hidden, but there is plenty of IR visibility and the remote works from every angle. Overall I'm very pleased with how that part turned out. Up next: a single large Green Drive to replace the three noisy ones and maybe some quieter fans. Eventually I'd like a more efficient and quieter PSU, but that will probably have to wait a bit. [/QUOTE]

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