I think I fried my Video card...

[rendermandan]

Ok guys, here's probably the biggest f'up I've done in a long time. I started to put together some old computer parts for my wife and son so they can have their "own" computer. That way they can install whatever crap they want on it and I don't have to worry about it screwing mine up.

So here is the deal. I took my old ATI 1900 XTX out of Motorized Madness. I didnt' want to go through the hassle of watercooling it just yet. so I reinstalled the old air cooling fan on it. in doing so, I used some AS5 on the memory and chip. I also installed some on the voltage regulator heat sink. I got everything installed and powered it up. Everything came on except the vidoe card. there is a small red led on it that has the word "Fault" on it.
The fan spun up but I had no video. then after a few minutes the fan shut off. Now it wont' come back on at all and the led light stays red.

Not sure what happened, it worked fine in the last computer. It may be possible that I got some AS5 on the board around the voltage regulators. but I tried to clean it as best as I could. Do you think this would cause this problem? Should I bother trying to remove the heat sink and try cleaning it again? or is it fried and just buy a new video card. If that is the case, what do you guys recommend. They are only going to be using this computer for web surfing and kids (4-5yrs.) games. Nothing 3d, or intensive by today's standards.

Thanks.

[Luke122]

How did you attach the heatsink? Is it possibly not sitting level, or maybe it's over tightened? On my Xbox360 I over tightened the heatsink screws, and it made contact with the top of a capacitor on the board, causing a short. Backing out the screw 1/4 turn solved the issue.

If they arent doing anything intensive, integrated video (if the board has it) would probably be fine for them. Otherwise, any of the 7200-7300 series cards can be had for almost nothing, and would work great. :) I have a 256mb 7300gs that is passively cooled, and works great even for WoW.

[rendermandan]

I went home over lunch and took the cooler off and cleaned off all the AS5. PLugged it in just to see if the error light would go off, and as soon as I turned on the power, I small a small puff of smoke from one of the voltage regulators. So, its fried. :(

[billygoat333]

awww thats sad. poor dead graphics card :( RIP!

[rendermandan]

to replace the video card I ordered one of these. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814500080

It shoudl do just fine for what they are going to do on it.

[nevermind1534]

Good choice. Good price, too.

[EspoNation]

that should be a good card for that. sorry to hear about the 1900. these old ati cards are great still.