video card fan noise
 

I noticed after coming home from work, that my video card (GF fx 5200), has started to make noise. It almost sounds like a rattle, like something metal just barely touching metal, repeatedly. I tried cleaning it out with some compressed air, but no luck.

Any home remedies that you can suggest? Or should I just take it in and get it done proper?

its probably moved out of alignment, in my experience you can often make it ok for a while, then it'll start again, so i always end up replacing them. Plus its not worth it, if its actually a fault developing in the motor or something, the card could get fried.

I wouldn't get it fixed if it's gonna cost money. That card isn't worth fixing if ya ask me! Spend $70 and get a GeForce 4 TI4200 (at least 2 times more powerful than the FX 5200). I'm not making fun of your card or you, I'm simply saying that it would be more reasonable to buy a better card if it's gonna take money to fix that one.

I know that there are replacement fans that you can buy for videocards, but you'll have to get the exact size and wattage that you need. Any screw-ups in that department and bad things could occur! I know how ya feel about the noise though. I can't stand when computers make noises, especially fans. The PSU in my current PC makes weird noises and it used to drive me crazy until I got used to it.

Whatever you do, good luck!

-Lasereth

A friend has the same prob with his GF3 Ti 200. He replaced the fan.

when mine went out i just glued on a heatsink (didn't find a fan that matched the mounting holes)