When I was installing the new video card last night, I stopped for a sip of iced tea, and while I was taking a break I picked up the old card that I had already removed. The card has a fan directly attached to it to keep it cool, but when I looked at it, there was no propeller! I looked in the PC case and, sure enough, there was the little propeller sitting on top of another circuit board. That is probably why the card pooped out on us. The propeller fell out and the card overheated and burned itself out.

I don't have to worry about the new card fan burning itself out because the new one didn't come with a fan. It just has a really neat looking heat sink with a lot of intricate fins.