AM4 backplate plastic protector insulation vs bare metal, short protection, ground

[MaximilianKohler]

The default AM4 backplate that comes with my B450 motherboard has a white plastic protector between the backplate and the motherboard. I'm guessing this is to prevent metal from coming into contact with the motherboard? The backplate that came with an aftermarket AM4 CPU cooler does not have such a protector, and thus the metal contacts the motherboard. Should I remove that plastic protector from the motherboard's backplate and attach it to the AM4 kit's backplate? I'm seeing conflicting information about the necessity of this. And in some youtube videos I see other aftermarket coolers look like they also have a bare metal backplate touching the motherboard.

 

Even the screw holes that extend out of the aftermarket cooler's AM4 backplate are bare metal, whereas the ones on the MB's backplate look protected: https://youtu.be/sx0LUq1mjVo?t=33

You can also see the white plastic protector on the default back plate: https://youtu.be/9tIUNh_vEew?t=39 and here

 

This is an AM4 kit I bought for an older cooler. And even for the old AMD and Intel mounts that originally came with the cooler, all of them have some sort of protector between the metal backplate and the motherboard.

 

This video shows another aftermarket bare metal backplate being installed https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9tIUNh_vEew

[LogicalDrm]

What cooler would this be? Usually its enough that there's rubber o-ring washers where the screws are.

[MaximilianKohler]

There are no rubber o-ring washers with my CNPS10X Optima cooler. Nor are there any in the Cooler Master Hyper 212 Evo Installation Guide for AMD FM2 Socket video or the CM AMD Ryzen AM4 Upgrade Kit Installation video I linked. All seem to be attached bare.

 

This is the Zalman AM4 kit https://zalmanoutlet.com/products/amd-am4-kit-for-zalman-coolers

[LogicalDrm]

17 hours ago, MaximilianKohler said:

There are no rubber o-ring washers with my CNPS10X Optima cooler. Nor are there any in the Cooler Master Hyper 212 Evo Installation Guide for AMD FM2 Socket video or the CM AMD Ryzen AM4 Upgrade Kit Installation video I linked. All seem to be attached bare.

 

This is the Zalman AM4 kit https://zalmanoutlet.com/products/amd-am4-kit-for-zalman-coolers

212 has rubber-like material on bracket on the side where it sits on mobo. So does that Zalman by the looks of it.

[MaximilianKohler]

The Zalman AM4 kit definitely has no rubber-like material on the backplate. Though the original one for older AMD and Intel CPUs each had some kind of protection/cushioning.

 

I don't see any sort of rubber-like material or protection in either of the two videos I linked. Except on the default backplate.

[WoodenMarker]

6 minutes ago, MaximilianKohler said:

I don't see any sort of rubber-like material or protection in either of the two videos I linked. Except on the default backplate.

It's clear insulation tape on the metal. See how it's less reflective than the other recessed side of the backplate. 

[MaximilianKohler]

Ah, you're right. The youtube videos aren't that clear, but I had another look at the aftermarket kit I got and there is indeed a very thin clear plastic lining that separates the main part of the backplate from the motherboard. However, the screw holes that extend through the motherboard's holes do seem to be bare metal, but that's the same for motherboard standoffs.

 

Anyone know of a link that explains the need (or lack of) for these various things?

[WoodenMarker]

4 minutes ago, MaximilianKohler said:

Anyone know of a link that explains the need (or lack of) for these various things?

There are just contacts on the motherboard pcb that aren't necessarily meant to be bridged so metal causing a short can cause problems.