GPU backplates

[Cs342]

Just curious, how many of you actually bothered to get a backplate for your GPU, or intentionally went out of your way to buy a graphics card with a built-in backplate? Personally I think that GPU backplates are just gimmicks as they don't do much in terms of cooling. I'd like to hear your thoughts

[TheSLSAMG]

I like backplates because they make the card more rigid and they hide a possibly ugly PCB.

[FloRolf]

Backplates make every system make look a lot better!

[Cs342]

I think any graphics card with a black PCB will look pretty good regardless of whether or not it has a backplate. That's why I was so happy when Gigabyte ditched their horrid blue PCBs

[Theo]

For looks yeah sure!

[Samdb]

I would make myself a backplate, but I have a black PCB and I can't see into my case yet so I have no need for one.

[FloRolf]

I think any graphics card with a black PCB will look pretty good regardless of whether or not it has a backplate. That's why I was so happy when Gigabyte ditched their horrid blue PCBs

yeah, black pcb is step one, step two is a backplate!

[wtfxmitchell]

it prevent the card from sagging

[UnknownEngineer]

Could be good against dust and makes the card look good, but i don't see it as that important. 

[Vitalius]

I am likely going to be making my own backplate for my 9970's (once I get them).

Their appearance is what I want. I do not like the soldering points and such as they are not conducive with a clean look, which is what I want.

I will be spray painting my motherboard as well (Yes, you can do that) to follow along with this goal. 

As for the whole "they make it cooler", they can. By like 1-2C. Most people say "well, that is not enough to care", but I disagree. There are a lot of ways to make a CPU/GPU cooler by "1-2C" and they add up. If I get enough, that 1-2C can become 9-10C. Which is a lot.

Though that is only more possible via water cooling (such as component order, flow rate, etc). 

[M-ursu]

Remember this, if you want it for look, then buy backplate, if you do not care about look, then do not buy backplate

[Mr. Expert]

OP that's completely up to you weather or not a back plate is worth it. Really it's all about looks. If the cost is worth it to you then it is what it is.

[Mr. Expert]

 

I am likely going to be making my own backplate for my 9970's (once I get them).

Their appearance is what I want. I do not like the soldering points and such as they are not conducive with a clean look, which is what I want.

I will be spray painting my motherboard as well (Yes, you can do that) to follow along with this goal. 

As for the whole "they make it cooler", they can. By like 1-2C. Most people say "well, that is not enough to care", but I disagree. There are a lot of ways to make a CPU/GPU cooler by "1-2C" and they add up. If I get enough, that 1-2C can become 9-10C. Which is a lot.

Though that is only more possible via water cooling (such as component order, flow rate, etc). 

 

1 or 2c is negligible at best and will not add to the overall life or in game performance of a GPU.

[mrconan]

they look very good and you can clean the dust off the back of your card easily

[Cs342]

I am likely going to be making my own backplate for my 9970's (once I get them).

Their appearance is what I want. I do not like the soldering points and such as they are not conducive with a clean look, which is what I want.

I will be spray painting my motherboard as well (Yes, you can do that) to follow along with this goal. 

As for the whole "they make it cooler", they can. By like 1-2C. Most people say "well, that is not enough to care", but I disagree. There are a lot of ways to make a CPU/GPU cooler by "1-2C" and they add up. If I get enough, that 1-2C can become 9-10C. Which is a lot.

Though that is only more possible via water cooling (such as component order, flow rate, etc). 

How would you go about making your own backplate?

[Cs342]

Remember this, if you want it for look, then buy backplate, if you do not care about look, then do not buy backplate

Would you spend $40 more for an ASUS GTX 770 with backplate instead of a Gigabyte GTX 770 Windforce?

[felixbearpig]

it really depends on the person you ask , ask yourself 2 questions

1. does it look good? if yes go to ?2

2.are you willing to spend money for looks? (are you cheap)

if you said no to one of those the a backplate isnt for you

and to answer your question i bought one lol

[M-ursu]

Would you spend $40 more for an ASUS GTX 770 with backplate instead of a Gigabyte GTX 770 Windforce?

yes

[Cs342]

yes

Okay how bout this, would you get a GTX 760 Hawk with backplate instead of the GTX 770?

[M-ursu]

Okay how bout this, would you get a GTX 760 Hawk with backplate instead of the GTX 770?

no

[Shrubpig]

Okay how bout this, would you get a GTX 760 Hawk with backplate instead of the GTX 770?

I would just get an ASUS Gtx 770, it comes with a backplate

[Vitalius]

1 or 2c is negligible at best and will not add to the overall life or in game performance of a GPU.

 

As I said in my post, you are right, but 1-2C adds up when there are multiple things that make a 1-2C difference. 

How would you go about making your own backplate?

Get a piece of black acrylic, cut to size, drill holes for screws, install. 

Or you could use anything that is non-conductive (plastic) or whatever you want. 

[RadSalacan]

Just curious, how many of you actually bothered to get a backplate for your GPU, or intentionally went out of your way to buy a graphics card with a built-in backplate? Personally I think that GPU backplates are just gimmicks as they don't do much in terms of cooling. I'd like to hear your thoughts

I got my eVGA 780 ACX a backplate.  Only cost me 20 bucks.  Looks even more rad, adds rigidity to the card, eve if it doesn't cool it any, I consider it money well spent.

[Mr. Expert]

As I said in my post, you are right, but 1-2C adds up when there are multiple things that make a 1-2C difference. 

what other thing add up ? You can't do anything else aside from cranking up the fan and making it create obnoxious amounts of noise pollution. A back plate makes no tangible difference for performance whatsoever. A water block might but even then a good stock aftermarket air cooler that comes on a non reference card can push any HD 7970 to is architectural limits with no problems.

[Vitalius]

what other thing add up ? You can't do anything else aside from cranking up the fan and making it create obnoxious amounts of noise pollution. A back plate makes no tangible difference for performance whatsoever. A water block might but even then a good stock aftermarket air cooler that comes on a non reference card can push any HD 7970 to is architectural limits with no problems.

Things that can make a 1-2C difference:

A backplate. (GPU only)

The order of a water cooling loop. (all components)

The arrangement of intake/exhause fans in a case. (all components)

Type of thermal paste though this can make up to 3-5C difference, it usually falls into this category. (CPU/GPU only)

Things that can make a 3-5C difference:

Slot orientation in a motherboard, such as distance from other cards/GPUs (only would matter for a GPU(s) but not for sound/network/capture/RAID cards)

CPU lapping such as sanding the top of your CPU IHS (CPU only)

Things that can make a 5-10C difference:

Delidding a CPU and reapplying new thermal paste (CPU only)

Adding it all up:

GPU: 7-13C difference

CPU: 11-21C difference

Those are beyond noticeable though YMMV.