glad you got a better fan setup. You didn't say anything the first time, but that seems to have fixed the problem.

I looked at that Thermaltake link. It looks like a fanless copper "peacock tail". (??) Your message above indicates a chip fan also. My existing monitor checks power supply fan speed, CPU fan speed and case fan speed.

I was suspicious whether a cheapo fan would deal with the x2 6400+. I would now say no.

I was concerned because I also have a naked X2 6400 black edition sitting here for a cost effective crunching idea. I've got an Antec cabinet and PSU with several case fan choices pending but am waiting for after xmas for another memory and HD sale. At the same time, I picked up one of the Zalman fans, with 3 copper loops going to a round copper fin "wind tunnel" with a 7 blade fan in the center. It sounds sort of like the same setup as the Thermaltake, with air blowing across. Got'ta check whether I've got a good EXHAUST fan in the case to get that air out of there. Exhaust fans are more efficient than intake fans since they automatically draw air in. BOTH intake and exhaust can't hurt, either. Summer will be a concern, but during the winter it can help to heat the house. The delivery and matching speeds on the phenom are not there yet, so I didn't wait, or go for a more expensive Intel multiple core lash-up. I also have to make sure that the Zalman blows toward the exhaust and not toward the intake port...

I think I'll wait for an ASUS M2N32-SLI mobo (4 memory slots) and pass on the ECS also sitting here. I would be doing more general purpose computing, with a couple of intensive tasks open. I've got TMG (The Master Genealogist) here, which coexists well with BOINC. When it runs an intensive task to validate its database, TMG gets 99%, and BOINC sits at 0% and time stands still for crunching.

The ECS mobo provided on sale with the chip is working for you, it seems. That's fine, for a pure cruncher. That's all you need.

Fry's stuff comes and goes. You have to watch. Their friday after thanksgiving was advertised as cheapest prices etc. etc. The line snaked back and forth through the entire store. It took 2 hours to get out if you wanted to buy something.

What I wanted was on sale Saturday, not Friday. Walked right in, selected, got even more stuff, paid, and was out within an hour. No lines. No hassle.