EVGA GTX 480 Backplate mini review w/pics

[Hauk]

Hopefully this isn't too much a sleeper.. just wanted to share some quick pics. It's a nicely designed add-on. Enjoy..

The plate arrives in a bubble pouch, wrapped in cling film. Also included is a color installation page and bag of screws which will replace eight specific ones removed from pcb:

The backplate has a nice brushed finish, quality standoffs, little spacer bumps, and a good size thermal pad. The pad is soft and will gently engulf a sizeable area behind the GPU, wicking away a bit of heat and spreading it across the backplate. Temp drop is very minor; but it's nice to know the backplate has some functionality:

A trick to removing the foam strip.. point a hair dryer at it for a minute or two. Then peel an end away, insuring the adhesive is coming off with the strip. Afterwards, simply follow installation instructions. In a few minutes ur done. Here are mine..

 

[Powermoloch]

:thumbsup:

 

[Cookie Monster]

You also have the highflow bracket?

Any difference in temps using the backplate?

I wish I could get the GTX470 backplate, but EVGA doesn't ship outside of NA

 

[Hauk]

You also have the highflow bracket?

Any difference in temps using the backplate?

I wish I could get the GTX470 backplate, but EVGA doesn't ship outside of NA

I didn't get the high flow bracket, just the backplates. I believe the high flow bracket helps by opening up the airflow path so less air finds its way out of the side vent on the cooling shround which vents into the case. I have a large amount of air flowing across the cards internally so there's little opportunity for the shroud vent exaust to build up around the cards. Sure I'd use them, but didn't feel they'd make much a difference in my case. For those with less airflow around the cards internally (or with lower volume case exaust), the high flow bracket may prove more beneficial.

 

[Rubycon]

That should be standard with the shipping boards.
They put a foam strip on the back to prevent the heatsink on front from touching (and shorting out!) the board on the back when you have back to back mounted cards in 3X/4X SLI. This prevents that entirely. If those pipes weren't there it would look almost like a 295.

 

[OCGuy]

Damn those are sexy cards!

 

[Skurge]

Damn those are sexy cards!

+1

 

[Hauk]

Thanks! They are quite sexy.

I agree a 1000% Ruby. The foam strip seems ludicrous in comparision regarding short prevention. Too bad the plates aren't standard.

 

[Zap]

Looks nice! I just wish they didn't cover up the fan opening. I know it is perforated, but being completely open just in that area would have been nice.

 

[MJinZ]

I got hte high flow backplate. TOo lazy to install it.

Same with this one.

 

[darckhart]

hm so how much did this cost?

 

[Patrick Wolf]

No before and after temps.

Have you replaced the stock TIM?

 

[Capt Caveman]

hm so how much did this cost?

I believe it's around $20.

Note based on the model purchased, the backplate and highflow bracket may already come installed.

Reading at the EVGA forums, it doesn't offer any real thermal improvement and is more just for aesthetics.

I recently installed the Highflow bracket and found my temps decreased by a couple of degrees.

 

[Hauk]

No before and after temps.

Have you replaced the stock TIM?

I have replaced the stock TIM. Temp difference is very minimial, a degree or two.

@ Zap, I wish they didn't cover the fan cutout either; but there's a bit of clearance between pcb and plate. With that and the holes, I'm betting the cutout is grabbing nealry the same amount of air.

 

[Hauk]

hm so how much did this cost?

$19 each w/free shipping in US. On EVGA site under accessories

 

[Rakewell]

I can see the backplate costing extra,

But the bracket should have been included in the original purchase.

 

[Capt Caveman]

I can see the backplate costing extra,

But the bracket should have been included in the original purchase.

It's free if you bought a GTX 470/480 EVGA card and it didn't come with the card, however, you do need to pay for shipping.

 

[Rubycon]

Are they going to have backplates like this for 580 users as well?
As much as these cards cost the entire PCB should be enclosed. My original 280 (EVGA) was.

 

[Patrick Wolf]

Are they going to have backplates like this for 580 users as well?
As much as these cards cost the entire PCB should be enclosed. My original 280 (EVGA) was.

http://www.evga.com/products/moreInf...ly=Accessories - Hardware&sw=4

 

[Annisman*]

A GTX 580 with backplate, high flow bracket and replacement of the orginal TIM (with some IC Diamond maybe?) Should decrease load temps dramatically.

 

[Patrick Wolf]

http://www.evga.com/products/moreInf...ly=Accessories - Hardware&sw=4

Doesn't include the 580. But why the hell don't they just use those anyway?!

 

[Rubycon]

http://www.evga.com/products/moreInf...ly=Accessories - Hardware&sw=4

That's actually pretty nice.

For the 480 they really SHOULD have had the pcb back covered from the factory. Instead they had little foam strips across the back in case you were running SLI. This prevented the PCB from shorting out on the exposed metal heatsink cover of the card above. That would be really bad.

 

[chris89]

the pics don't work and i'm really interested in seeing the installation. Are there quite a few thermal pads to install? Since evga stopped making the gtx 470 backplate and the ek backplate is for the waterblock, i'm going to be custom engineering my own preforated copper backplates for my gtx 470s in sli. Please get the pics working, thanks.