Find the right replacement for your Dell T320 cooler.
Find the right replacement for your Dell T320 cooler.
I recently changed my Dell T320 to a T420 with dual CPUs. I followed the same steps: purchased a Noctua NH-D9DX i4 3U cooler that fits under the original cooling shroud. This setup helped maintain low temperatures. Here are some temperature readings using two E5-2470 V2 processors with the same coolers and a Noctua NA-RC7 resistor in-line with the factory case fan to reduce noise. The outcome was a nearly silent system that still handled high loads well, with ambient temps around 21°C. Idle power draw was 31c, and during a 30-minute Prime95 test it reached 45c. Under load it peaked at 49c, but the fan noise stayed minimal. Overall, it performed powerfully without excessive heat.
I shared a gallery I created quickly. For best results, use the factory cooling duct. Running the rear case fan at low speed with each processor having its own quiet fan creates an efficient airflow. It also helps cool the memory. From my past CPU readings, you can easily tell which processor is cooler than the one ahead, showing strong airflow and efficiency even at low speeds. For thermal paste, I applied Thermal Grizzly Kryonaut on the CPUs, a southbridge unit, and an H310 Raid processor. When I started with just a T320 motherboard, the original E5-2430 and its heatsink performed well—about a 5-degree temperature difference. I haven’t tested the new 2470 V2 or Noctua coolers yet, but the temps I’ve seen suggest they’re unnecessary.
Thanks! Everything got a much-needed refresh. That cooling shroud looked pretty bad at first, but it’s actually quite impressive! I managed to snag the T420 for $150. It’s a solid investment even though it adds up. The E5-2470 V2 costs around $155 each, and upgrading the power supply from 350W to a dual 1100W unit is about $275. Heatsinks are another $60, and the 192GB ECC DDR3 RAM comes in at $390. All together it’s roughly $1,245. Luckily I got the original T320 for free during a trade. It’s a good deal for a home VM or server setup. Keep an eye out for cheaper E5-2470 V2s—they’ll make a noticeable difference. The specs are solid: 1.9 to 2.4ghz, two extra cores, 5MB more L3, 25% faster single-core performance and about half the time for multi-tasking.