Originally my computer had a 128MB NVIDIA GeForce FX 5200 (AGP) it had no fan, so obviously it made no noise. I recently upgraded to a 512MB ATI x1650 Pro (AGP) and here is the problem the fan is running at full speed or a loud speed all the time. I have upgraded the PSU from a 250-watt to a 470-watt (the PSU makes very little noise). Is this something that is common in video cards now a days, loud fans? I am almost 100% certain that there is nothing physically wrong with the fan, like it is not hitting anything; it really pushes the air (even more than my CPU fan does). I see that there is a 256MB card “ATI Radeon 9550 / 256MB DDR”(AGP), this is an older card I think from 2004, and it has no fan, I even wonder if I could go back to my old 250-watt PSU with that Card? The most advanced game that I play is Sim City 4, and I will do the occasional video editing. The thing is that it would be an almost even trade, because for some odd reason both video cards cost about the same amount. And does anybody know the Windows Experience Index for the 9550? So is it worth the trade, or just put up with the fan noise? Thank You, Jesse

Yeah, most low-end to midrange video cards have loud, fixed-speed fans. Only the higher-end cards with their larger, variable-speed fans are quieter. I don't know exactly what the WEI would be for a 9550. My laptop's GMA 950 scores a 3.0, so I'd imagine that a 9550 would be a little higher. 3.5ish? Just put up with the fan noise, man! The x1650 Pro is a much, much faster card. Super Pentium III: NOW WITH 7950GT AGP! PIII-S cpu overclocked to 1.66GHz--As fast as a 2.5GHz P4! 2GB of PC2700 memory QDI Advance 12T board Audigy 2 Vista Home Premium

Asus 7600GS Silent 256 Mb AGP was my choice to replace the FX-5200.If has no fan.Plays DirectX 9.0c games like Oblivion at almost best resolution.Nvidia did a good job with this one.You can also get the 7600GS card with 512 Mb RAM and a fan for just about the same price but... A friend of mine insists on getting the best graphic card with fan to play at maximum resolution and FPS over the web but the card don t last much more than a year.The choice will always be yours. 9000 card series is more or less obsolete with newer games. If you play games via the web people tend to upgrade to the most powerful cards like the new nvidia 8800 series with fan to get max FPS.All those cards with a fan and may get noisy at times. The RAM you get on a new video card is one thing to consider but should not be the first criteria on your list.It does not make the video card more powerful.The GPU specs is more important.

"but the card don t last much more than a year" That is something that I never thought of, would the fan have to be replaced a lot since it is running at full speed all the time? I plan on having this card for about 3 years, I imagine they are not easy to get parts for. For Sim City 4 or the Sims 2 what is needed to get fast game play? Thank You, Jesse

I don t think the fan can be fixed but under 3 yrs extended warranty from some sources like Future Shop you can probably get a replacement video card.Retain the box and sale receipt for service under warranty.

Contact the card manufacturer. You didn't mention the brand name, but Sapphire recently had a run of excessively noisy fans & was offering free replacement.