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. The NOSPIN Group is now offering Free PC Tech support at our newest website: http://freepctech.com