Yes, I did the clean install. I guess the integrated graphics must be working through the dead card, because I disabled the card and the monitor is still working.
As a follow up to this to those interested.
About a hour after you posted this I smelled something funny and monitor shut off. Every time I turned it on it shut off a second later. Weird thing was the picture for that second was fine.
I always paid special attention to my heatsink assembly (I end up getting huge monster that barely fit the case) when I was building my own boxes, especially if you plan on overclocking or taxing your CPU. It's a relatively small investment to increase the life and performance of your CPU in most cases, compared to the cost of other components. Even getting a good thermal compound can make a several degree difference. iirc, you want a copper conductor plate and aluminum fins as copper conducts heat better and aluminum dissipates it faster. Just make sure you ground yourself when removing CPU/heatsink...I've known several people who have fried their CPUs by not being grounded...it's rare, but it happens often enough to not be a myth.
