Your Take on Vid Card Backplate?

[TDKMate]

I Googled video card backplates and there seems to be two camps. One camp says it's a good heatsink and makes things look nicer. The other says it's just a dust trap that adds weight to the system.

I have no experience with them so I figured I'd ask your opinions on backplates.

 

[AddRAM]

I wouldn`t have a card without one, today there`s no reason not to have one, they cost $20 if the card doesn`t come with one already.

Look how nice this MSI 980 Ti looks with a plate

I mean this is the part we see so, it may as well look the best it can be

 

[ThrashZone]

Hi,
As far as I've seen the ones that come with back plates preinstalled have better cooling
Ones that don't come with them do so because they lack the extra cooling features acx or something like that ?

 

[Layback Bear]

1. Back plates look good.
2. Back plates help dissipate heat.
3. Back plates add rigidity to the video card.
4. Back plates cover circuits that should not be touched.

If a back plate is a dust trap for what ever reason; that is good.
It stopped the dust from getting into all the things that it is covering up.
If your back plate is catching a lot of dust you have more problems than a back plate.
Filtering all intake air would be a good place to start.

 

[Lady Fitzgerald]

1. Back plates look good.
2. Back plates help dissipate heat.
3. Back plates add rigidity to the video card.
4. Back plates cover circuits that should not be touched.

If a back plate is a dust trap for what ever reason; that is good.
It stopped the dust from getting into all the things that it is covering up.
If your back plate is catching a lot of dust you have more problems than a back plate.
Filtering all intake air would be a good place to start.

I totally agree except not all back plates help dissipate heat.

 

[AddRAM]

I totally agree LF, but that`s not what they are designed for, it`s just an added bonus if they do.

Which they rarely do because they don`t even touch the chip.

It`s not even something to consider when buying a backplate.

Once again, look at the MSI card I posted, it`s beautiful.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...CE_GTX_980TI_GAMING_6G-_-14-127-889-_-Product

 

[Layback Bear]

Well like most things, the opinions on cooling are all over the place.
I haven't done any tests to prove one way or the other.
I would think that it depends on the video card and the air circulation path through the case.
Just looking good is enough reason for me to have backing plates.

Some examples. I haven't found and definite answer.

Benefits of metal backplate on graphics card? - Super User

Does the backplate really do anything? - EVGA Forums

GPU backplate?

 

[TDKMate]

I wouldn`t have a card without one, today there`s no reason not to have one, they cost $20 if the card doesn`t come with one already.

Look how nice this MSI 980 Ti looks with a plate

I mean this is the part we see so, it may as well look the best it can be

Yeah, that looks nice! I only glimpsed at mine, weeks ago, and I think it's only just a plate. I'll have to take a closer look; maybe on the other side it's got something worth looking at, LOL.

 

[TDKMate]

1. Back plates look good.
2. Back plates help dissipate heat.
3. Back plates add rigidity to the video card.
4. Back plates cover circuits that should not be touched.

If a back plate is a dust trap for what ever reason; that is good.
It stopped the dust from getting into all the things that it is covering up.
If your back plate is catching a lot of dust you have more problems than a back plate.
Filtering all intake air would be a good place to start.

I like points 3 & 4. They make good sense since I'm 'one of those' that goes more for function over form (but form is cool, too!).

 

[TDKMate]

1. Back plates look good.
2. Back plates help dissipate heat.
3. Back plates add rigidity to the video card.
4. Back plates cover circuits that should not be touched.

If a back plate is a dust trap for what ever reason; that is good.
It stopped the dust from getting into all the things that it is covering up.
If your back plate is catching a lot of dust you have more problems than a back plate.
Filtering all intake air would be a good place to start.

I totally agree except not all back plates help dissipate heat.

Yeah, I think more physical contact would be necessary for heat dissipation...

 

[TDKMate]

I totally agree LF, but that`s not what they are designed for, it`s just an added bonus if they do.

Which they rarely do because they don`t even touch the chip.

It`s not even something to consider when buying a backplate.

Once again, look at the MSI card I posted, it`s beautiful.

MSI GeForce GTX 980 Ti DirectX 12 GTX 980TI GAMING 6G 6GB 384-Bit GDDR5 PCI Express 3.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Support ATX Video Card - Newegg.com

Yes it is!

 

[TDKMate]

Well like most things, the opinions on cooling are all over the place.
I haven't done any tests to prove one way or the other.
I would think that it depends on the video card and the air circulation path through the case.
Just looking good is enough reason for me to have backing plates.

Some examples. I haven't found and definite answer.

Benefits of metal backplate on graphics card? - Super User

Does the backplate really do anything? - EVGA Forums

GPU backplate?

The common agreement seems to be: looks, rigidity, and protection.

 

[TDKMate]

Thanks for all the posts and the education!

 

[TDKMate]

Update: I finally got around to putting in the video card in the new build today, and yes I used the back plate

Again, thanks Everyone!

 

[Lady Fitzgerald]

Update: I finally got around to putting in the video card in the new build today, and yes I used the back plate

Again, thanks Everyone!

It didn't happen unless you post pictures (not to mention we are all nosy curious).

 

[ron7000]

i would argue against any impact on heat dissipation, because even if the back plate were aluminum or copper it would not help dissipate heat since the heat source is coming from the gpu on the other side of the pcb. there is no path of conduction for heat to travel along metal on to the metal back plate to then dissipate.

all the graphics card cooling is happening on the front side of the card above the gpu thanks to the cover and the fans there, along with any heat sinks or heat pipes mounted onto the gpu.... just like how a cpu cooler works.

 

[TDKMate]

Update: I finally got around to putting in the video card in the new build today, and yes I used the back plate

Again, thanks Everyone!

It didn't happen unless you post pictures (not to mention we are all nosy curious).

That's a good one! OK, photo of the back plate attached. I guess for aesthetics, I should have removed that red SATA cable going to my optical drive first...
.

 

[ThrashZone]

Dang anyone tell you to back up a little
Those wires do look close

 

[Lady Fitzgerald]

i would argue against any impact on heat dissipation, because even if the back plate were aluminum or copper it would not help dissipate heat since the heat source is coming from the gpu on the other side of the pcb. there is no path of conduction for heat to travel along metal on to the metal back plate to then dissipate.

all the graphics card cooling is happening on the front side of the card above the gpu thanks to the cover and the fans there, along with any heat sinks or heat pipes mounted onto the gpu.... just like how a cpu cooler works.

Actually, there are some GPU card back plates that do dissipate heat. Here are some examples:

[guide] gtx 275 backplate for gtx 260 installation/compatibility - EVGA Forums

asus 6870 Dcu rasa uni gpu

 

[TDKMate]

Dang anyone tell you to back up a little
Those wires do look close

LOL - Well... I didn't know how else to get a shot of the back plate

It doesn't look like it, now that you mention it, but that cable is well away from the heat sink fan, and I have it tied up so it doesn't move around any.