What material is better for making a GPU backplate?

[Ehrix]

I am thinking of making my own GPU backplate and was wondering which material would be better. Would acrylic, polycarbonate or plexiglass be the best for making a custom GPU backplate that will be painted with spray paint? Also is it better to paint on only the back of the material or paint the front and back for a custom design?

[ThePD]

5 minutes ago, TheDeathDragon said:

I am thinking of making my own GPU backplate and was wondering which material would be better. Would acrylic, polycarbonate or plexiglass be the best for making a custom GPU backplate that will be painted with spray paint? Also is it better to paint on only the back of the material or paint the front and back for a custom design?

If I am not mistaken, the purpose of the backplate in theory is to operate as a heat draw from some of the component. A backplate out of acrylic or plexiglass would act as an insulator as they do not have good thermal conductivity. Backplates also help strengthen the card so it doesn't bend or flex.

Are you doing this for purely aesthetics or performance with a cool design?

[Ehrix]

21 minutes ago, ThePD said:

If I am not mistaken, the purpose of the backplate in theory is to operate as a heat draw from some of the component. A backplate out of acrylic or plexiglass would act as an insulator as they do not have good thermal conductivity. Backplates also help strengthen the card so it doesn't bend or flex.

Are you doing this for purely aesthetics or performance with a cool design?

Im doing this for aesthetics. My plan was just to lay it onto of my GPU.

[SupaKomputa]

16 minutes ago, ThePD said:

If I am not mistaken, the purpose of the backplate in theory is to operate as a heat draw from some of the component. A backplate out of acrylic or plexiglass would act as an insulator as they do not have good thermal conductivity. Backplates also help strengthen the card so it doesn't bend or flex.

Are you doing this for purely aesthetics or performance with a cool design?

GPU backplates are recent "innovation" i think the purpose is to protect the tiny components more than as a cooling apparatus.

Many old (hot) GPU doesn't have it, and they ran just fine.

It's the same -not so important- "innovation" as memory heatsink seen in today's dram sticks.

I'm not sure using a plastic backplate would insulate the heat, but it would be safer to use a metallic material like a slab of aluminium.

[W-L]

2 hours ago, TheDeathDragon said:

I am thinking of making my own GPU backplate and was wondering which material would be better. Would acrylic, polycarbonate or plexiglass be the best for making a custom GPU backplate that will be painted with spray paint? Also is it better to paint on only the back of the material or paint the front and back for a custom design?

Acrylic would be best and easiest to work with, you can even get it black or colored to match your color scheme so no painting needed.