Your statement would be true if the monitors did not have a shutdown if they
see the wrong scan rate

True. But it is still a point that is worth mentioning. However, as you've
pointed, I would assume that good monitors would detect the scanrate before
ever running it to the tube as a safety. But even with safeties, it's still
best to understand the limits of your monitor and never exceed them under any
circumstances.

Anyways, if the video card is faulty for whatever reason, a replacement is
necessary if troubleshooting cannot resolve the problem.

I would advise uninstalling all the drivers for the video card and reinstalling
with the most recent updated drivers from the manufacturer's website first
before condemning the card. This is assuming that the card will allow the
machine to POST first. If it won't POST and the computer emits an audible
trouble code as a series of beeps, then it's obvious.

If the original poster still can, he should try to start his computer up in
safe mode and uninstall all the drivers of his old video card before attempting
to install the new video card and its drivers. Of course, as I've mentioned,
this is assuming that the card will allow the computer to POST first. -
Reinhart