I have not had any problems with the 2tb reds (I hear the 3tb reds are bad and the red pro's are bad) I have never had problems with death star either, but they do run hot, very hot! so you for sure don't want the death star with that cpu in that small case lolool
Have you gone into the bios and changed the ramp up speed of the fans? With that cpu I would either do the bios change, some have bent one of the pins (Not sure right now which one it was) but with one of the pins not connected, the fans run at full speed, I would not want that.
The bios fan speed is complicated I hear (assuming you have ex-490 or x-510) (also assuming you have the video to see) you have to turn off fan automatic and then fiddle with the % to get them to ramp up with the heat the way they need to.
Found this: http://www.mediasmartserver.net/forums/viewtopic.php?f=25&t=14449&hilit=FAN+SPEED+BIOS
I believe there is a thread about the fans and that cpu might search for.
Found This: http://www.mediasmartserver.net/forums/viewtopic.php?t=1240
I believe there is also some threads maybe in ex-490 about better fans that move more air and are quieter.
Found This: https://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.aspx?Submit=ENE&N=100007998&IsNodeId=1&Description=80mm%20PWM%20Fan&name=Case%20Fans&Order=BESTMATCH&isdeptsrh=1
Sorry, I'm not much help, I did the Intel E5800 and my system runs about 5C cooler then with the stock cpu, go figure. I guess it is not having to mwork as hard.
Then I "can air" clean the system out 2-3 times a year.
Good Luck, let us know what you end up doing. I know that cpu is getting cheaper and more people are getting it for 2012E and R2.
P.S. Also to your question (do fans slow down after time.) I would say they could, if they get dirt caked on them after years of use or the bearings start to go dry, they could run slower/less efficient. I'm assuming the house is a non-smoking house, because we all have seen what smoke does to fans after time.
The fans are controlled by the third wire, so I would guess they would run the same speed that they are told to by what power they get. But again, if they are not clean, they could be moving less air, but I would think the system would speed them up to get to the correct temp.
Sorry, just thinkin out loud.
My system with E5800 and reds: The system runs at 36C and the drives run at 33C-35C course it doesn't get very hot in Wyoming
I sleep the system at night when everybody is asleep, shuts down at 11:00pm and fires up at 6:00am.
2