I found an ASUS RTX 2070 that appears to be in excellent condition and comes with its original box. Two fans work normally, but the middle fan has three missing blades. The asking price is $100. Is replacing the fan practical, and would this still be a worthwhile purchase? I'm also planning to sell the completed build later, so I'm concerned that a damaged or improvised fan setup could hurt its resale value.
4 Answers
Check whether replacement fans are available for that exact ASUS model. They’re often inexpensive and can be swapped without replacing the whole cooler. If you found a matching replacement, that’s the cleanest solution for a future sale.
You could technically remove the shroud and attach regular case fans to the heatsink with zip ties, but I wouldn’t do that if you plan to sell the build. A proper replacement fan or a complete donor cooler will look much more trustworthy.
Before buying, find out why the blades are missing. A simple accident may only have damaged the fan, but a hard impact could also have affected the heatsink, shroud, or circuit board. Test the card thoroughly for temperatures, fan operation, artifacts, and stability.
At $100, the deal may not be attractive once you add the cost and effort of replacement. I’d only buy it if the card works properly and you can confirm that an exact replacement fan is readily available. Otherwise, negotiate a lower price or pass.
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