Visiontek Radeon Fan / Warranty

[prolific7]

I bought a Visiontek Radeon HD 4870 in Aug 2008. Recently the fan has started marking this really loud grinding noise. Also I've noticed that my monitor flickers for half a second every 5 minutes or so. It's not a monitor issue as this only happens with this video card and not on my other computer connected to the same monitor.

I think the fan might have momentarily stopped spinning and caused the video card to overheat because the computer power was off when I came back to my room a few days ago (flickering started happening after this). Is this plausible and a possible symptom of an overheated card?

How is the warranty situation with Visiontek? Did they provide 3 yr warranties in Aug 2008? Does it even matter what the warranty period was back then or d their current policies take over?

If it isn't under warranty, I'd at least want to replace the fan. Can someone recommend a good replacement fan for this 4870? Preferably something from ncix/newegg.

 

[IGemini]

I'm not sure which particular 4870 you have, but most of the ones I find from Visiontek are either 3-year or lifetime warranties. You'll have to send an RMA request at their site to find out.

If it's an August 2008 build it probably uses that terrible v1 shroud. High RPM, high noise, high wear. I would hope that Visiontek would replace it with a more modern/efficient cooler, but if not...a Zalman VF900 is a good quality fan.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16835118001

 

[happy medium]

Before you buy a new fan, I would monitor your card temps and make sure thats the problem.

 

[blanketyblank]

My 4850 had a lifetime warranty. With visiontek I think you need to keep your receipt according to the terms, but I never had to RMA mine so don't know if they actually check.

 

[VirtualLarry]

My understanding (based on my four HD4850s), is that it's a lifetime warranty (whatever they mean by "lifetime", I don't know), and it does require a receipt to prove your ownership/purchase date.

 

[tweakboy]

My understanding (based on my four HD4850s), is that it's a lifetime warranty (whatever they mean by "lifetime", I don't know), and it does require a receipt to prove your ownership/purchase date.

That is nice of them.