HD 6850 Fan Died; New Fan Recommendations?

[lotherius]

So, I have a Radeon HD 6850 1GB card (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=14-102-908) ... I'm actually happy with the performance of this card. with 1k Textures I can run TCP+STEP and still pull 45-60 fps with only rare hiccups.

 

Unfortunately, whilst running around Riften today, I suddenly noticed a strange thrumming sound. I realized it wasn't the game, cranked down the speakers.... and it was my computer.

 

The fan on my precious video card was spinning itself to a very quick DEATH.... vibrating the whole computer along with it, slowing down to a stop as I watched.

 

Soooo..... here I am. HD 6850 sitting on the shelf until I can get a replacement fan. Using onboard HD 4250 graphics which are NOT suitable for game operation on ANY level....

 

I'd like to replace the fan rather than buy a new card. Does anyone have good a good recommendation of fans or fan/heatsink combo? The stock heatsink isn't bad, but could possibly be improved. If it costs too much though (more than $40-50) then I will probably just replace the fan. Not sure how hard it will be to find a fan that fits the stock heatsink correctly though...

 

Ideas/suggestions?

[Vecna6667]

You might want to look at a couple of these:

 

http://www.arctic.ac/en/p/assistant/vga/chip/5

 

Just make certain that you check the products compatability list. If you haven't replace a gpu fan before, you may want to check youtube for the procedure along with the manual. I know Skorch82 has a video on his channel of him replacing the fan on his Radeon HD 6990. It shouldn't be too much different. Other than that, you may have to get a new card since your card is discontinued and I don't know if your warranty is still valid.

Edited February 19, 2013 by Vecna6667

[lotherius]

Vecna6667, on 18 Feb 2013 - 21:39, said:

You might want to look at a couple of these:

 

http://www.arctic.ac/en/p/assistant/vga/chip/5

 

Just make certain that you check the products compatability list. If you haven't replace a gpu fan before, you may want to check youtube for the procedure along with the manual. I know Skorch82 has a video on his channel of him replacing the fan on his Radeon HD 6990. It shouldn't be too much different. Other than that, you may have to get a new card since your card is discontinued and I don't know if your warranty is still valid.

Yeah, I've replaced a fan before, just haven't ever bought a custom fan for a VGA card. I've swapped fans that have burned out between cards though, and this doesn't look too difficult.

 

My card had a 2 year "limited" warranty... that expired in December. Just my luck.

 

Looking at the cost of Arctic coolers, wow they're expensive.... I really don't want to have to get a new card, this one's still got a lot of life. Looks like I'll be just buying a fan and using the same heatsink maybe. Just not sure where to get a fan with the correct size/spacing as it doesn't look like a standard fan.

 

LOL - Here's a ghetto replacement I might just consider (same card): http://wejp.k.vu/broken_stuff/sapphire_radeon_hd6850

Edited February 19, 2013 by lotherius

[kalikka]

Those ghetto replacements are quite popular.

Like putting a CPU water-cooler on a GTX680.

Originally the cooler was installed with cable ties on different GPUs, then some guy started making brackets for it...

Edited February 21, 2013 by kalikka