Comp was running a bit warm, idled at 45C, ran games at 75-80C.  Not horrible, i7's run hot, but it was still warm.  Just bought a Scythe Mugen 2 heatsink and temps went up 5C  Air flow in the case should be good, kept the thermal PASTE to a thin coating.  I did notice, however, upon picking up the heatsink, that instead of leaving a full plate imprint on the CPU, it was more of an I shape.  Not enough SURFACE contact maybe?  Also, when I booted up the comp, it registered the "new" motherboard, said hit F1 to configure system settings, F2 to load default settings.  I just loaded default, that's ok I assume?  Any other suggestions would be much appreciated.  Need to take out the motherboard for the backplate installation, and disconnecting everything, tweeking, and rewiring only to see RealTemp show high temps again is getting old.

http://i294.photobucket.com/albums/mm105/UgarteTheRogue/003.jpg
http://i294.photobucket.com/albums/mm105/UgarteTheRogue/004-1.jpg
http://i294.photobucket.com/albums/mm105/UgarteTheRogue/005.jpgAm I to understand that you installed the Mugen without the backplate?

In the pictures, you have the fan facing up.  The air runs right into the PSU. If it's possible, I would think that having the fan blowing thru the HS and out the back of the case would be preferable.  Since you had a 'weird' thermal paste pattern, you might try using a small rice sized grain in the center of the CPU and let the HS spread it out.

Did you really get it to stay without the backplate? Really?

Post your temps after you get done!  I removed the motherboard to install the backplate, just saying that it is getting to be a hastle, seeing how everything is reconnected each time I want to start it up to view temps 

I'm stumped on airflow, having it blow halfway into the PSU isn't good, I'm sure, but 3 of the 6 RAM sticks I have are tall Patriot ram with heatspreaders, doesn't leave much room on the right there.

I'll try that method for spreading thermal paste later today and see if I can't make the connection between HS and CPU a bit tighter.  PROBLEM is, the backplate screws are threaded half-way, so it's really tightened as much as possible already.

5th time's a charm?  Heh, not sure what did it, but this time around everything must have fallen into place.  Just redid all the connections the same as before.  I did try placing the blob of thermal paste on the CPU and let it spread itself with the HS this time, could have very well increased the surface contact.

Very happy with the temps now.  Idles at 35, games peak at 65, and I'm running [email protected] at 68 right now.  Heatsink is pretty darn big, though.

Kept the HS fan at the bottom, sucking in air.  Intake fan on the lower-side panel should provide cold air, not concerned with Graphics Card ambient heat.  The intake fan on the top-side had to come off to fit the heatsink, so I just threw it on the rear, blowing air out to the rear exhaust fan.  Didn't want a fan closer to the PSU or one sitting on top of my RAM, so figured that was the way to go.Congratz!  Very nice idea on the fan placement, all things considered it looks LIKE a good compromise.  Now you can enjoy what you've done so far or you can start to TACKLE those cables.