new fan or upgrade?

[Outlawv6]

The fan on my 9500 np recently died. I contacted Newegg and they said they can probably swing a refund and that would let me get a 9800 np for about $100 more. Or I can buy a new heatsink and fan for it for about $20 (iceberg 4) I'm not really sure which would be a better choice, and I'd like some opinions.

the biggest factor is that I don't know how long the fan wasn't working, with the gold-style heatsink being cooled only by the slot cooler below it and the 80mm case fan blowing fresh air at it from the side blow hole. the back of the card got quite warm borderline hot (not enough to scald a finger, but enough to cause me some serious concern) some minor artifacting after prolonged gaming made me check up on the card. I noticed the heat, then noticed the fan wasn't spinning (could have been as long as a month without a working fan)

I'm satisfied by my current card's performance (it was/is softmodable) as it can run UT2003 at 1600 x 1200 fine, or 1280 x 960 with 4x AA and 8x AF with nice frame rates (stock clock) but I'm worried about:
1) how it will run half-life 2? and
2) if the extra heat shortened the life of the product by any serious amount?

your advice is greatly appreciated.

 

[Slappy00]

well figure it this way:

NE wants to give you a 9800np for $100
new cooler == $20 +s/h
difference is $80 for a 9800np if you went that route (figuring if went for the $20 cooler you would be out $20 by default)

I donno... your call

 

[cobra77]

Hmmm..Uprgrade from 9500np to 9800np for $80.
Sounds good to me!

 

[McArra]

Originally posted by: cobra77
Hmmm..Uprgrade from 9500np to 9800np for $80.
Sounds good to me!

 

[NYHoustonman]

Originally posted by: Outlawv6
The fan on my 9500 np recently died. I contacted Newegg and they said they can probably swing a refund and that would let me get a 9800 np for about $100 more. Or I can buy a new heatsink and fan for it for about $20 (iceberg 4) I'm not really sure which would be a better choice, and I'd like some opinions.

the biggest factor is that I don't know how long the fan wasn't working, with the gold-style heatsink being cooled only by the slot cooler below it and the 80mm case fan blowing fresh air at it from the side blow hole. the back of the card got quite warm borderline hot (not enough to scald a finger, but enough to cause me some serious concern) some minor artifacting after prolonged gaming made me check up on the card. I noticed the heat, then noticed the fan wasn't spinning (could have been as long as a month without a working fan)

I'm satisfied by my current card's performance (it was/is softmodable) as it can run UT2003 at 1600 x 1200 fine, or 1280 x 960 with 4x AA and 8x AF with nice frame rates (stock clock) but I'm worried about:
1) how it will run half-life 2? and
2) if the extra heat shortened the life of the product by any serious amount?

your advice is greatly appreciated.

Yea, you absolutely HAVE to take advantage of that offer. It would be silly of you not to. If you want, in fact, I'll pay for it and you can give me the card, and I'LL buy you the fan, lol...Seriously though, go with the 9800 np.

1-There is a thread about the release of HL2, in which there is a quote from Gabe Newell: On a P4 2.0 and R9700pro with all details at max, at 1280x1024 you are likely to get ~40 fps. So you are set with this card.

 

[Outlawv6]

Originally posted by: NYHoustonman


Yea, you absolutely HAVE to take advantage of that offer. It would be silly of you not to. If you want, in fact, I'll pay for it and you can give me the card, and I'LL buy you the fan, lol...Seriously though, go with the 9800 np.

1-There is a thread about the release of HL2, in which there is a quote from Gabe Newell: On a P4 2.0 and R9700pro with all details at max, at 1280x1024 you are likely to get ~40 fps. So you are set with this card.

sweet, thanks guys. I just needed some more convincing to hurt my wallet ;-)