I cant just disappear without an update and the promised pics. First I removed the honeycomb from the back of the case with pliers. I lapped the cpu and heatsink: here are before and after (no cpu shots) http://www.shrani.si/f/2j/7c/46gq81cy/2/p9252168.jpg http://www.shrani.si/f/2z/Wp/14rG2yvR/2/p92...

Yes, i removed that PSU bar that you're pointing at and all works well.

I'm not sure fanless 6770 is a fact...there were no fanless 5850 (which performances will be similar). 6850 will be even more powerfull so wishing it will be passive...

A question about passive cards in general: Are they released same time as active ones or do they come later?
Since 67xx card will prolly have the performance of 58xx card is there any possibility of it running passive?

What harm could removing the stiffener bar do?

suh: I'll post a pic in my next post, promise :) How it fits? It doesnt :p You have to remove horizontal bar that slightly supports PSU. HR-02 is just too big to mount motherboard properly with that bar in there (maybe depends on motherboard, on mine p5q that bar had to be removed). Another test: Di...

quest for silence..in next few days i'll probably remove mesh grill at the back and try that test

even though cpu temps are "ok" i'll probably also lap cpu and heatsink - that should lower temps by a few degrees, after that i might experiment with ducting hr-02 to exhaust fan

Thanx guys for replies. I did some testing with Prime and Furmark (slots below gpu open): cpu 77 degrees..few hours, stable gpu 107 !!! no artifacts, stable...at 107 gpu downclocks to give it a little breathing room side panel off: cpu 63 degrees no difference..ie 107 degrees and downclocks side pan...

Hello. I have put togeter this system: q9550 p5q pro ... 1 HD, 1 ssd, passive 5670 Ultimate, Seasonic X-400 (installed with mesh upwards as manufacturer suggests) and cpu cooler HR-02 run passively. All in Solo case with 1 Noctua fan at the back 500 rpm. The thing is SILENT. Problem may be temps. GP...