Upgrading Fans with a Custom Shroud on a RTX3090 – Goodbye Fan Noise
boilingsteam.com
boilingsteam.com
1. The paste shouldn't touch the perimeter conductors at all and
2. Ideally should be less than 1mm, manufacturing specs put this at less than 50um!
As for noise I feel like you should at least mention the "Shroud" and baffle have nothing to do with the noise reduction - the fans are 50% larger, require 1/3 the rotational speed(I did no calculation beyond personal experience math nazis) and have no baffle at all.