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I have a XFX 5870 that I bought off one of the forum members (I bought more than one so I can't remember who sold it to me).  It's a reference card and the fan does run.  I got another fan and replaced it, but that also didn't work.  The card itself seems to run fine, but obviously won't run long without a fan.

I just noticed what appears to a spot that is shorted out right next to the power header for the fan.  Seem like this is probably the issue.  Before I try to track down the forum user and try to figure out how to RMA this, is there a quick/easy fix?

https://i.imgur.com/iSYrKl.jpg (http://imgur.com/iSYrK)

Take off the shroud and fan (leave the actual heatsink portion on), duct tape a high-CFM 80mm fan on the exhaust side, seal it as best as you can (run the airflow in reverse) and run it like that. I didnt want to spend $50 on a vf-3000a heatsink fan thinger and ghetto rigged it to do that, works just fine. getting 38c core and 64c vrm with 1060/330 1.20v with outside air. (zip code 54501). The 5870 with a vf-3000a on it is getting 48c core and 40c vrm with 1060/330 1.20v.

could take a picture but im lazy and its cold outside.

That is ghetto!

If it's not possible/practical to fix the short (I can do some soldering), then I think I'll try to RMA it.  If I can't RMA it, then I'll try your ghetto mod  ;)

the 80 mm fan probably won't have enough presure to pus enough air through.
alternativly you can just hook up the replacement fat to the PC's 12v power and it should work fine...
however no speed control. so it will run full speed... full noise.

Yeah, I thought about giving the fan external power.  I don't mind full power/noise since it will be in a data warehouse.  The problem is finding an adapter for the fan power to PSU or mobo power

If the traces aren't destroyed it'd be possible to replace the SMT component that was originally there, if they are all bets are off on anything in that sectoin of the board

Maybe I should just RMA it then.  I don't want there to be other problems in the future

just cut the end off it and attach a molex conector.
u may need to put some extention wire on it

Don't use duct tape in an environment that will be consistently hot.

Consider cable ties.

Honestly the best thing would be to use it for watercooling or sell it to someone who wants to water cool.  If it was a 5970 I would buy it from you for only slightly less than current market value.

The other option would be to get a pwm to "normal" 3/4 pin adapter.  You can then power the fan via any molex connector.   Two issues with this a) you lose all fan speed reporting.  b) you lose fan control.  Using a fan controller would allow you to gain manual fan control.

I would just take the working fan or a working fan an just run it to either the 3.3v/5.5v/12v depenidng on the requirements. Two of my 5770s are like this

Whatever burned out there, it isn't repairable.  I don't know if those are resistors or what, but there's actual dead components on the PCB, not just dead circuit paths or solder points.

I'd either figure out how to RMA it, or ghetto-rig a fan up to the heatsink.

You say that as if my idea was just that: an idea. Not something I actually did.

Well I did do that. I already said I get very reasonable temperatures. 1065/330 @ 1.2 vcore = 42c core and 67c VRM. It sits completely outside and its often below freezing where I'm at. It's also an open-air case. For comparison, I have a second 5870 @ 1055/330 @ 1.2 vcore = 41c core and 42c VRM with a VF3000A heatsink on it.

I think the 80mm fan is running about 4500rpm if it's connected on the sensor I think it's connected on.