I just started playing again recently, finally committing to a pure mage character. While I've been enjoying myself thoroughly, with the latest and greatest gameplay, graphics, and engine improving mods, I've found that those spell effects haven't aged quite so well. I've also been really unsuccessful in finding good replacers for them.
I've looked around everywhere, and thought it wouldn't hurt to ask the community what some of the better spell effect replacers are. I'm sure at least a couple have been released in the two or so years I've been out of the loop.