Oh boy.. I'll try to keep things short.
For a few weeks now, I've noticed my video card running way hotter than usual (78-83°C). So I popped opened my computer and checked the fans.. no still running. I noticed there was quite a bit of dust in there, so I took the computer to the garage and blew air into it to dislodge the dust. Plug the computer back in, same thing. Way hotter than usual.
I went my local electronics shop and bought a can of compressed air. Open the computer again and I blew air into the conduits of the video card heat sink. Oh my! There was a LOT of dust, probably enough to clog a few of the conduits. Plug the computer back in, temperatures back to normal (52-57°C). All's good in happy land.
Then, yesterday evening, I thought it was time to reinstall Windows. So install Windows. Install video drivers. Out of curiosity, I checked the temps at stock fan speeds (I usually run a tool to force my fan at 55% speed). I thought since I was forcing my fan at 55%, there must've been a reason. What do I find? Card is at 85°C with fan at only 9%! So I rushed to install the fan setting tool and set it at 55%. Back down to a much more manageable 55°C. I went online to Asus' site (my card's builder) and they had a BIOS update to fix that. So I thought why not? Asus themselves posted it, what harm can it do?
Bad Idea....
I saw the warning that in the case of a failed BIOS, warranty is void and you end up with a paperweight. I thought hey, Asus wouldn't post this without testing, right?
Bad Assumption....
Download the BIOS. Launch BIOS install...... "ROM programming failed"... only button is OK... Click OK... Windows freaks out. Screen is down to 640x480 16 colors, telling me to reboot. Start -> Shut Down -> Restart ... Bam! Blue Screen! uh oh.... Power off the machine... NOTHING! Blank screen, no POST data, no nothing!
So, I now have a nice(ish) 165$* paperweight
* Depending on what value you count. Original purchase price was around ~260$. Replacement I just got today is down to 165$.
Moral of the story? When you find a workaround that works (forcing the fan at 55%) without danger.. DO NOT try the more "involved" fix!
And I can tell you, it's the last time I try flashing a video card!
