Debate: Cards without backplates.

[K0MP4CT]

EDIT: So a fair amount of people voted now and it's clear that the majority are fine with cards coming without back plates UNLESS they're high end versions I.e. FTW or Classified editions/equivalents. 

Personally, I've never had a backplate and haven't had any issues. Although my case is windowed it's tucked nicely under my desk and I can't even see into it. I can however see why people wish the x70 and up all came with back plates, paying over £200 for a card, you'd expect a little bit of material slapped on the back. 

Thank you all for voting

 

Simply, should all GPUs come with a backplate? Surely after paying however many hundreds for a graphics card, the least they can do is put a backplate on it. Or, is it simply not a necessary part and would just mean throwing away money to these companies? I'm not giving my opinion, I'm just curious to hear yours.

 

 

[App4that]

Do you really think anything is free?

 

Someone is feeling the Bern LOL

[i_build_nanosuits]

no, i think only high end GPU's should have a backplate or at least the ''gaming'' or ''overclocked'' editions such as the MSI gaming or EVGA FTW for example...those should always have backplates IMHO for example MSI did NOT include a backplate on the MSI GTX 980 Gaming 4G and IMHO this is not acceptable...but if i buy a 200$ GTX 960 i won't expect to have a backplate on it obviously the money should go on better fans or just plain offer the card at a lower cost.

[K0MP4CT]

Just now, App4that said:

Do you really think anything is free?

 

Someone is feeling the Bern LOL

My bad, I messed up the question  I remade the poll.

[givegomezthegun]

Your options are flawed, there's no "no it should be an optional accessory you can buy because it's purely cosmetic in most cases"

 

edit: Ok the options are changed now lol

[ZetZet]

they make very little impact and add cost, so no.

[K0MP4CT]

Just now, givegomezthegun said:

Your options are flawed, there's no "no it should be an optional accessory you can buy because it's purely cosmetic in most cases"

Remade the poll after making the thread, my apologies

[stealth80]

Just buy a GPU that has one

 

You could say should all PSU's be fully modular with custom sleeves

 

Or Should all GPU's have 2 bios's

 

It depends on what the company is willing to provide at the $$$ for it to sell

[Guest]

I'd be okay with anything above entry level GPU's having backplates. Budget options having a backplate makes little to no sense. 

 

But form might be something that drastically changes in the future/not much time from now - so might be a bit moot. 

[Aruxx]

I've never had a graphics card with a backplate, for me it's not a dealbreaker.  Now if I were to be building a showpiece and not a workhorse sure I'd want one, but that's not my goal.

 

500th post hype.

[Atmos]

My general belief is that if the card costs more than 200 then yes, it should.

You're paying out the ass for something already, least they can do is include a 20 cent piece of fitted metal to the back to help with card rigidity. (That and they also look dope as fuck, and can sometimes help w/ cooling if thermal pads are used.)

[iamdarkyoshi]

Yes, but they have to look sexy AF

 

 

Sad to see it go  

 

On my passively cooled project I will not have the backplate or waterblock, which is a huge disappointment as the backplate and waterblock were pretty much custom made for a build like this

[Tedol]

Low cost card don't it need it 

 

[KE2012]

Am I the only one who sometimes likes looking at that pure electronic hardware porn on the back of GPU's? So no, also because it would be stupid for low end cards (Price for it could be better spent elsewhere).

Edited February 24, 2016 by KE2012
Grammar corrections

[Asses_Of_Fire]

when i buy a new gpu, it HAS to have a backplate. every high end card should have one.

 

i dont want to spend big money on a big bad gpu that twist and warp due to its own weight, backplate ftw!

[diapersarefullofshit]

backplate is only eyecandy when you have a windowcase.

[App4that]

Just now, diapersarefullofshit said:

backplate is only eyecandy when you have a windowcase.

Not entirely accurate. Actually not even remotely accurate.

 

Backplates offer

1. Structural support
2. Added cooling
3. Protection from static electricity
4. Protection from dust

[Bhav]

No because most back plates look worse than a bare PCB.

 

I'd rather spend less and not get a backplate like I did with these wind force OC 970s:

 

 

[Chirag Borawake]

Backplates are primarily for providing better rigidity for longer cards. As all the cards are mounted on one side, fixed at the back of the case, which makes it cantilever. Not having a backplate results in bending (especially while shipping, or handling the whole assembles case) of the PCB over time, eventually might result in a dead GPU, who wants that?

So, the bottom line is, if you are buying a long card, longer than 9 inches, I would suggest you to go with the one that has a backplate. Shorter cards need not have any backplate as it does not weigh as much as longer cards do.

[MMKing]

If i want to buy a ''premium'' GPU with back plate, improved cooling and maybe dual BIOS. I will pay the premium to get just that. I don't expect, nor do i want all the GPUs on the market to increase 20-30USD in price, so that the base model can have a back plate.

[Chirag Borawake]

As you can see in the image above, posted by Bhav, the Windforce cards are long, and having a backplate will help them in a good way. If you concentrate on the image, you can see that those PCBs are slightly bent towards the right. Try it.

[iamdarkyoshi]

[Festive]

So what exactly are backplates for again? I never really understood. Purely cosmetic or do they have a purpose?

[App4that]

Just now, Festive said:

So what exactly are backplates for again? I never really understood. Purely cosmetic or do they have a purpose?

 

28 minutes ago, App4that said:

Not entirely accurate. Actually not even remotely accurate.

 

Backplates offer

1. Structural support
2. Added cooling
3. Protection from static electricity
4. Protection from dust

 

[Coaxialgamer]

I don't really care,  because it doesn't offer extra performance and is mainly an esthetic thing.