After my upgrade to the Phenom I was starting to get very twitchy about CPU temp under load, consistently hitting the CPU peak (66C) and occasionally exceeding it. This with an EVO120 HS & Fan, which really bothered me.
Did some searching and I've invested in a Titan cooler today. Fitted and tested and have cut a massive 17C off peak operating temp.
Cool :)
Steve
I wonder if the small amount of liquid in those cooling pipes leaks away over time and reduces the efficiency.
Should not do if it is a sealed unit. But it's always down to quality.
I'm not convinced the EVO had failed - it was doing fine on the Athlon. I think maybe the coolermaster paste was more at fault - I've had it a couple of years, and I understand it has a shelf life, so to speak.
I could probably have got away with spending a fiver on a tube of new paste, but then I'd be missing the almost inaudible fan I have now, compared with my old one.
Bottom lime, for under £28 I got a double whammy, though the total cost has gone above my £200 budget.
That'll teach them to send me a gold card :)
Steve