Blackbird also gets a new HSF

Just as Nighthawk got a new Zalman CNPS9700 LED HSF (Heat sink & Fan) last weekend, Blackbird will be getting the same HSF to replace the stock Intel HSF this weekend.

The photo on the right shows the size difference between the stock HSF and the Zalman HSF.

The Intel Core 2 Duo E6700 CPU in Blackbird has run cooler with the stock HSF than the same CPU (also with the stock HSF) in Nighthawk. In fact, Blackbird has been successfully overclocked to a stable 3.4 GHz with the stock HSF, whereas the maximum stable overclock Nighthawk was able to achieve with the stock HSF was 3.2 GHz.

At idle, Blackbird overclocked to 3.4 GHz with the stock HSF runs at 39C/102F for the CPU, but interestingly enough, the motherboard runs warmer at 35C/95F than Nighthawk. However, note that Blackbird has six 750 GB disk drives packed in its case whereas Nighthawk has only two 500 GB disk drives.

Here's another photo of the stock HSF and Zalman HSF in front of Nighthawk (on the left) and Blackbird (on the right.)

This time around, I will document the removal of the stock HSF and the installation of the Zalman HSF in Blackbird with photos.

I wonder whether I will have the same experience with this operation on Blackbird as I encountered with Nighthawk. This operation will begin after breakfast tomorrow morning.

Here's a "ground level" view of the two HSF's. Notice the smooth, mirror finish of the Zalman CNPS9700 LED HSF.

It will be interesting to see how much cooler the Core 2 Duo E6700 will run with the Zalman HSF in Blackbird.