So, the GPU fan in my main desktop workstation finally really went out this morning. It has been buzzing off and on for weeks now, and I knew it was only a matter of time.
So off to Micro Center I go. But it turns out that you can't get a similar fan there - they literally laughed at the idea... They suggested perhaps contacting ATI (like I can live without my machine for a couple weeks for ATI to mail me a $5 part)... I make my living off using the damn computer after all.
So I bought the only fan they had of a similar size for $14.
When I get back to my office I find that heat sink on the old fan and new one don't match, so I removed the old heat sink.
But then it turns out that the new heat sink doesn't have the same holes for fastening it to the board. It is useless.
So I drilled new holes for the fan into the old heat sink, put the old heat sink back on the card, with the new fan.
But then it turns out that the new fan's power cord won't fasten to the card like the original. Fortunately there's an adapter to hook it directly to the computer's power.
Now it works - life is good.
But geez, who'd a thought it would be such a PITA. I hate hardware.