My first 5770 was a Sapphire

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814102858

After only a month the fan starting getting too noisy. I replaced it with
an XFX

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814150462

and although it seems to be a better quality card than the Sapphire, after
less than three months the fan is starting to get a bit noisy on it as
well. It's not horrible or anything, but if it's noticeably louder after
less than three months then I'm guessing it will only get worse.

Is there a retail 5770 with a quality fan, or do you have to resort to
aftermarket solutions if you want a quiet system?

"Foke" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed)...
> My first 5770 was a Sapphire
>
> http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814102858
>
> After only a month the fan starting getting too noisy. I replaced it with
> an XFX
>
> http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814150462
>
> and although it seems to be a better quality card than the Sapphire, after
> less than three months the fan is starting to get a bit noisy on it as
> well. It's not horrible or anything, but if it's noticeably louder after
> less than three months then I'm guessing it will only get worse.
>
> Is there a retail 5770 with a quality fan, or do you have to resort to
> aftermarket solutions if you want a quiet system?

My question would be "Why has the noise level changed?" Is it out of
balance, or is there dust/debris caught in it? Did you change the fan speed
control through your drivers, or maybe are using programs that stress the
card more than before? Figure out WHY it's louder, then base your decision
on that. If it was a cheap fan to begin with, then definitely switch it out
for a better, aftermarket solution. If it's something else causing it, then
address the specific cause.

On Sat, 12 Jun 2010 12:26:13 -0400, "KCB" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:

>
>"Foke" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
>news:(E-Mail Removed)...
>> My first 5770 was a Sapphire
>>
>> http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814102858
>>
>> After only a month the fan starting getting too noisy. I replaced it with
>> an XFX
>>
>> http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814150462
>>
>> and although it seems to be a better quality card than the Sapphire, after
>> less than three months the fan is starting to get a bit noisy on it as
>> well. It's not horrible or anything, but if it's noticeably louder after
>> less than three months then I'm guessing it will only get worse.
>>
>> Is there a retail 5770 with a quality fan, or do you have to resort to
>> aftermarket solutions if you want a quiet system?
>
>My question would be "Why has the noise level changed?" Is it out of
>balance, or is there dust/debris caught in it? Did you change the fan speed
>control through your drivers, or maybe are using programs that stress the
>card more than before? Figure out WHY it's louder, then base your decision
>on that. If it was a cheap fan to begin with, then definitely switch it out
>for a better, aftermarket solution. If it's something else causing it, then
>address the specific cause.

My guess is that ATI's partners are using cheap fans and the reason the
noise level has changed is because the bearings are going south.

Outside of the occasional game, I don't do much to stress the vid card.
The driver keeps it at 35% fan speed and I haven't changed that, except to
lower to 20% to verify that it's indeed the vid card fan that's making the
noise. I regularly inspect the inside of the case for dust buildup, so
it's not that, but even if I were not cleaning it regularly it shouldn't
have developed a noise-inducing whine after less than three months.

I just wish Nvidia would step up to the plate and get some decent,
competitive cards on the market. I've always used Nvidia products in the
past, but when I built my current system there just wasn't anything in the
midrange market to compete with ATI in terms of performance vs heat
production. And it's not just the evidently poor manufacturing quality
that disappoints... the drivers leave a lot to be desired as well.