Would this help with a Linux project I am working on? Or do I need something else?

Simply replace the cases fans with better quality ones. They even come with thermo sensors now [but you knew that]

Unhook them one by one see if noise level changes, sometimes it is enough to just have good air flow front to back. Most after market coolers can lower there speeds when not under full load! simply check your bios settings [something like cool and quiet]. As always make sure system is clean and dust free....

Mr Gordon it might help getting an after market cpu cooler [something like Corsair CWCH60 Water Cooler] then reducing the number of case fans you have. 120mm plus fans run slower and shift more air [as you well know].

Use Virtualbox to test my Archbang iso builds

This looks like a job for Sugru

Possibly clean with bicarb and flush it out