Passive cooling for Radeon 9600?

[kevral]

My Radeon 9600 Fireblade has started generating this horrible screeching noise; its the cooling fan and it sounds like it has dry bearings (best case) or an unbalanced fan.

This leaves me with a couple of options:
-Return the card to the shop, who will either give me a new fan or a new card (in which case I'll trade for something a little better). They are required by law here to fix it for me.
-Try and lube the bearing, which will probably void my warranty
-Replace the cooling fan, which will also void the warranty.
If I were to replace it, I have this passive Zalman 47 Northbridge heatsink lying around which looks like it will fit the card, and I have the space in my box to fit it.

What should I do?

[Rocko[DPC]]

Well first I would just oil the fan. On most fans, and probably the fan on yours as well, if you lift up the sticker on the hub, there is a small hole for oil. Put a drop or 2 of gun oil in there, spin it a few times by hand, then start it up.

I wouldnt replace the fan it is as easy as it sounds to just return it and get another. I dont possibly see how putting oil in the fan would void the warranty either. Thats why they put the hole there instead of sealing it completely.

Edit: If you dont have gun oil, a drop of vegetable oil will work as well. The best way is to get a drop of it on the tip of a pin, and then let it drip off.

[Col_Loki]

Other than that get a zalman heatpipe fanless cooler for it......... and dont ever worry about it again!! Plus you can just stick it onto a newer card if you upgrade.

[Strida]

Arctic cooler will A. Do a better job of cooling than the Zalman. and B. Is a LOT easier to put on.

HOWEVER, using a custom HS is the best route if you're at all good with tools.

[kevral]

Thanks, guys.
One drop of thick bicycle oil under the sticker seemed to quieten it down, at least.