Just for kicks I decided to run my CPU passively cooled. It's a TBred A (stock 1700+) running at 8 x 133 @ 1.1V - under load (Prime95) it hits 55 C but normal usage yields 38 C. Sticking a 12V NMB fan back on the GC68 gets the temps down to 32 C idle and 44 C load.
I wouldn't normally have considered this, but the NMB was too loud for late-night usage. My Seasonic SS-300FS is making a bit too much noise for my liking now. I'll have to get some grommets from Home Depot.
I wish I could move to water cooling, but it's just too expensive. A real pity that. If there was a decent, complete kit available for < $90 I'd go for it.
Passive CPUs
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