Radeon 5870 Weird fan noise

[Phrosen]

Hi.

I have a ASUS ATI Radeon HD 5870 graphics card.
It works perfectly, and has done so ever since I got it.

However, yesterday it started making a weird noise. It is kinda hard to describe.
It sounds like the fan isn't revolving as it should.

I tried to dust off my computer, take out the graphic card and dust it off thoroughly.
I use one of those spray cans called "Dust off".
A lot of dust came out. I put the card back in, and I still get that weird noise.

I tried to google my problem, and found a "solution" that kind of fits my issue.
It's a youtube clip of someone which has a graphics card that sounds about the same as mine:
YouTube - Ati Radeon hd 5870 Noisy fan (Not related to fan speed ventilation)

As you can see in the clip; the guy puts his computer on the side.
EDIT: I just tried to do like the guy in the clip does, and it worked. However, my casing is not built to "lie down", so that's not really a solution.

The sound is driving me insane.
The card works, though. I've stress tested it and everything.
I even cranked the fan speed up to 80%. -It kinda removes the weird noise that is my issue, but when I turn it back down to 25-30% I still get the weird noise..

I'm hoping someone knows how to solve this problem.
My plan B is to replace the GPU cooler, but I would rather not do that. I've never done it before and don't feel confident enough in doing it. It's also quite expensive, I believe, and I wouldn't know what cooler to get.

Any help is very much appreciated.
Thanks in advance.

 

[bassfisher6522]

What it sounds and looks like to me is the casing/shroud enclosure of the GPU is loose and fan is rubbing on it. Pull out the card and check to make sure it's seated properly and tight. It also could be that the fan itself has come loose from all the vibration it's giving off. Pull card out and take off casing/shroud enclosure and check/tighten down fan. First clue for me was the slight touch/push on the GPU which intern correctly aliened the fan.

 

[HQuest]

As you can see in the clip; the guy puts his computer on the side.
EDIT: I just tried to do like the guy in the clip does, and it worked. However, my casing is not built to "lie down", so that's not really a solution.

My plan B is to replace the GPU cooler, but I would rather not do that. I've never done it before and don't feel confident enough in doing it. It's also quite expensive, I believe, and I wouldn't know what cooler to get.

Noise on any fan usually means your fan is either loose or is dieing any time soon. Maybe if you try to remove the fan from the heat sink and apply some proper lube (you may need to remove some seal to access its internals), you can extend its lifespan in a short while.

However, your plan B is the best approach for a proper fix. Coolers from Arctic Cooling, Thermaltake or Zahlman are (IMHO) the best choices. Look for one who fits your card model and your pocket and get it replaced.

Last though: A VGA cooler is usually cheaper than a new video card

 

[Lemur]

This solution was interesting:

YouTube - Replace a noisy graphic card fan

But like HQuest said, you can get a really cheap cooler or slot fan.