Hi Michael
You've already received some very expert advice (which I wish I had last year :-). I have a nice 4200 series GeForce AGP card with 128 megs memory which I bought a few years ago for flight simulator flying. I've been very happy with it except for the small noisy fan. I lubed the original, it got noisy again, and I bought what I thought was a good quality replacement fan. It started screaming again after a few months. I started looking for a passively cooled card, with no fan. I was unable to find one for my motherboard. I bought a Zalman heat sink cooler to replace the fan and am very happy. It was a little work to install it properly but now I have a nice quiet computer. I didn't get the optional fan. I don't recall the model number, but it looks like this. It's a high quality, attractive, product although a little hassle to install. It would be another option for you if they have a model to fit your video card.
Bob Lendrim

http://sharkacomputers.com/za80duhevgac.html 

>From: Richard Glazier <[log in to unmask]>
>Subject: Re: [PCBUILD] 3d party fan for ATI 9700 Pro video card question
>
>Being a year old, (and being a $300-400 card?) I would contact
>ATI and ask them about this...
>
>IF you can get the fan off, I would look for any and all markings.
>Count the number of wires and if more than two, it likely has
>a sensor chip...
>The model number of these types of fans generally is the size and
>specs.
>Example: my MB Northbridge (sleeve bearing) chipset fans are marked:
>ec4010m12s, or a4010m12s. (These are 40x10mm fans.)
>
>I replace them with:  ec4010m12ca (ball bearing)... 
>Getting a "better fan" is always the "best fix"...
>
>That said, I have never found a fan I could not oil...
>(This could be "that type" though, VMMV...)
>(How lucky do you feel.?..) <grin>
>This is the "cheap and easy" version, if it goes well...
>
>Disclaimer:  I have NEVER had to oil a ball bearing fan...
>SO, this only applies to sleeve bearing fans, and that is likely
>what you have. Either that or VERY bad luck with a ball
>bearing fan...
>
>Disclaimer: this only works well if the fan is ONLY sluggish
>(AS IN: oil "dried up" or stiff) and the fan is NOT making ANY
>type of noise, etc... After the bearings get scored, (or start to
>burn out), it is way too late for this to work well, (or for too long.)
>It "can't hurt" in a pinch (more later), or if there is NO other choice...
>
>Here is what I do, with as much detail as I can think of...
>
>The fan MUST install with screws, (AS IN:  It must be easily
>removed with no damage to it, or the mounting...)
>
>If you can't get the fan off, stop now... (I saw your "card" on the
>Internet...)
>
>There are two sides to a fan. One side has the bars (supports)
>that hold it in shape.  This is the side where the bearings are.
>There is generally a sticker with model numbers and manufacturer
>name, etc. on this side... This sticker is on the center of the side
>that does not move... (NOT on the fan blade.)
>Carefully peel off this sticker. 
>Be careful not to damage it.and keep the glue side clean, as you
>need to put it back later to re-seal the bearing...)
>
>This is where you get to choose how far to "go"...
>The simple and quick "add a little oil" version, (add oil and spin the fan
>by hand a couple minutes to work it in.)
>
>OR the disassemble, clean
>and re-oil version...  ("Add a little oil" is safer, but may not work as long...)
>Use a good quality "light weight" oil but NOT Three-In-One oil. It tends
>to get gummy, the exact condition you are trying to "correct"...
>At this point, you should see a small plastic washer on the shaft of the fan.
>Sometimes it is split, sometimes not...
>You need to get in there with a jewlers screwdriver (or something)
>and gently pry that washer off the end of the shaft...
>Be careful now and later. These tend to go flying and are "almost impossible"
>to find when that happens... <grin>
>
>If it is a stiff hard washer, do not try too hard as it is hardened "too much"
>from heat. And since it is PART OF the fan, you need it "unbroken" to put
>the fan back together...  (I would stop and "add a little oil" at this point...)
>
>IF the washer comes off easy,
>Look for any thrust washers and/or spacer washers just under it.
>(Keep them, marked with their location...)
>Slide the entire fan blade assembly and shaft out of the fan assembly.
>Check for washers stuck in oil on both ends of the bearing, or shaft...
>
>Clean the shaft and bearing hole with a crushed "q-tip" or something.
>Use OIL as the cleaning fluid...  "Soak" the bearing with oil, but not to
>where it is running anywhere... (Just enough....)
>
>Reverse the above to re-assemble...
>
>I did all this with a PS fan in a 486DX4-100 years ago, (after the
>PS fan "failed" for the second time, and it ran "forever". (Still does
>if I turn on that machine...)
>
>Disclaimer: While this has ALWAYS worked for me, I can't see
>your exact conditions, or know your level of comfort (or expertise)
>with an operation of this type...  So all I can say is "good luck"...
>(New fans are always better...)
>
>                                              Rick Glazier
>
>From: "Michael Eisenstadt" 
>Subject: 3d party fan for ATI 9700 Pro video card question
>> The original fan on this video card, after 1 year's use,
>> just started not working unless encouraged for awhile
>> by my index finger when I turn on the computer. 
>> 
>> There are a number of 3d party fan replacements for this
>> model. I would appreciate any specific model you might 
>> be in a position to recommend for when the fan dies or
>> I get tired of hand-starting it. 

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